The Phenom HoopState Championship brings you some of the best teams that haven’t competed for a state championship in NCHSAA and NCISAA, all under one building to compete for a championship. Last year, Moravian Prep took home the title but this year, it looks to be even deeper and it is anyone’s ball game. To get geared up for the event, we want to preview some of the matchups you will see on Friday, with much more coverage coming.
In our final preview of the first round, we look at two teams that have won some impressive games and it might seem crazy to think that two teams that have won over 25+ games this year meet in the first round. That is what we have between Moravian Prep and Word of God.
For Moravian Prep, they have been the giant slayer this year and may have been a surprise for many. However, this is a united team that competes on both ends, plays their game, and is led by their two seniors in BJ Freeman and Raekwon Horton. They are a scrappy team that simply has players that know their role and is a balanced team; they also aren’t afraid of anyone. This is why they have racked up several impressive wins.
Word of God has played an extensive schedule and brings in talent that holds offers all over the country. 2022 Jai Smith leads the charge with a ton of high major offers, as he has seen his recruitment sky-rocket over the summer. Word of God also added one of the top 2022 prospects in Freddie Dilione, an athletic wing that is a fluid scorer and one that could in for a big spike this summer (why not start it here). They have length and athleticism with Saiquone Harris and the Nwosu twins, to go along with guard play and shooters in Khalil Marshall and Po’Boigh King.
Again, in any other year that has two teams that have won as many games as these two, you may see them further along in the tournament but with how deep this event is, they find themselves in the first round.