Phenom Hoops continues to make their way around the state of North Carolina, checking in on teams before the season starts. One stop that we recently made was at Rocky River, as this is a program that will have some fresh faces coming in and looking to make their mark. Let's dive into what we saw on the court during their open gym.
Senior Leadership
Rocky River had to replace several seniors from last year's team that found success on the floor but they will be having a few new seniors looking to step up and take over in that area this season.' 2022 Anthony Franchi is a new name to North Carolina, as he comes from Beaver Falls HS in Pennsylvania.' The 6'3 prospect brings experience and a strong build to the floor.' He also is one that plays with a good motor, operates at a nice pace, and really is a glue-type guy that can impact the floor in an array of ways. They will also have 2022 Javares Green, a 6'2 prospect who displays tremendous point guard instincts, sees the floor extremely well, gets after it defensively, can be effective from outside, and is looking to showcase more of his outside game.' 2022 6'5 Jahivanni Ratchford helps in the size department for this team, as he brings a long frame that moves well, runs the floor, and is active on the boards. They will also have 2022 5'11 Will Ham, a shifty, creative guard who is also a good on-ball defender.
Juniors Stepping Up/ Sophomore depth
This is an area to watch for this Rocky River team, as they have a few intriguing guys that should be ready to step up into the spotlight. The first one you should look at is 2023 6'2 Jaden Lyles. He has been at a few Phenom Hoops camps, even winning Mr. Playmaker. That is what he does; he has terrific size, displays his IQ and feel for the game, penetrates well, and is showing that he has worked more on his outside game. 2023 Henry Price will be a big help down low, as the 6'6 prospect moves well, is a vocal leader, can step out and stretch the defense, but also operate down low in the paint. 2023 Jameian Baccus caught some eyes with just how scrappy and hard he works. He plays with a tremendous motor, is shifty with the ball in his hands, and understands that he needs to get to his spots quickly to make an impact from the perimeter. Rocky River will also have 6'3 Malachi Alston and 5'9 Edwin Brown to help as well.
Part of the 2024 class, Kamal Brantley (younger brother of Khalil Brantley) is a very good creator with the ball in his hands. He is able to set up his teammates well, create off the dribble, and help on the offensive end. Also keep an eye out for a few other guys, especially down the road in 2024 Jayden Cooper, 2025 Shawn Warren, and 2025 Jayden Ross.