CC Elite
6’4 ’20 Elijah Hightower- The long, wiry wing prospect was really difficult for the opposition to contain in this contest, especially from beyond the arc. Hightower looked quite strong when spotting-up and working without the ball, but also showed some solid creation skills when taking opponents off the bounce. He utilized his length well on defense and outworked his assignment on the glass.
7thNation Warriors
6’7 ’20 Brandon Johnson- The strong-bodied forward was arguably the most versatile prospect for either team in this showing. He displayed the ability to handle the ball decently well for his size and was able to initiate offense. Johnson is a capable floor-spacer with touch around the basket and the ability to control the glass on both ends of the floor.
NC Flames
5’9 ’21 Chris Britt- Though somewhat undersized, the quick-twitch lead guard was able to get wherever he wanted off the dribble. He handles the ball well while offering an excellent blend of scoring and playmaking. Britt attacks the basket regularly and is capable of finishing quite well for his size. He displays quality vision and looks ahead for open teammates in transition.
Lowcountry Storm
6’2 ’20 Maliek Brown- The strong-bodied guard applied constant attacking pressure throughout this showing. He was able to take any opponent off the dribble and to the rim with relative ease through utilization of his strength, athleticism, and overall body control. Brown has exceptional physical tools and knows how to properly use them. He’s a great rebounder for his position and can be overwhelming for the opposition in transition.
Charlotte Nets
6’0 ’20 Deuce Blake- The smart, well-rounded guard prospect did a terrific job of playing smart, conservative basketball while making the game easy for his teammates. Blake is a useful scorer but typically looks to manage the offense and make plays for others. He plays well within himself and the team concept.
Charlotte Royals
6’2 ’20 Davis Grooms- No player in this contest showcased more polish than Grooms, who did an excellent job of reading the floor and making smart decisions with the ball in his hands. He scored the ball efficiently from all levels and was able to highlight his smooth three-point stroke quite regularly. Grooms plays with a great pace and is capable of creating for himself or others at an effective rate.
Royal Knights
6’2 ’20 Kalib Matthews- The long, athletic guard was easily among the most energetic and physical performers on display during day one of Phenom’s Challenge Live. He overwhelmed numerous opponents on defense and the glass with his aggressiveness and quality positioning, which allowed him to force plenty of turnovers and push transition play on a regular basis. Matthews should have college coaches interesting in his potential at the next level.
WCBA
6’5 ’20 Jared Moore- There aren’t many people that were able to affect the action as well as Moore, who seemed to be all over the place throughout this showing. He switched across all positions on defense and stood out as their best rebounder on either end of the floor. Moore scored the ball efficiently around the basket and secured numerous extra possessions on offense.
UC27 DreamChasers
6’7 ’21 Keeyan Itejere- The extremely long, wiry forward has arguably been the best prospect on display thus far, especially when you consider that he’s only beginning to scratch the surface of his upside. He already handles the ball and creates very well, but is also capable of scoring in a variety of different ways. Itejere has unbelievable defensive upside and does a terrific job of altering shots within the paint.
Team F.L.Y.
6’3 ’20 Latavian White- The strong-bodied post was arguably the most impressive performer from this contest, given the way he controlled the paint on both ends of the floor. White did an exceptional job of clearing out space and rebounding the ball, which led to easy transition play. He consistently displayed touch and a quality feel for operating around the basket.
Built Not Born
6’5 ’20 Zach Murphy- The smooth, wiry guard prospect did a phenomenal job of asserting himself as a scholarship-level player throughout this contest. He was the most polished scorer on either team and was able to create a clean look out of nothing. Murphy utilizes his length very well when attacking the basket and has the necessary vision to make crafty reads for cutting teammates.
Team Swish
6’2 ’20 Lee Langstaff- The wiry guard prospect was arguably the most dominant performer on display through the first day of games. He scored the ball with efficiency and regularity while highlighting his ability to get it done in a variety of different ways. Langstaff handled the ball, created for himself and others, and outworked bigger opponents for rebounds/second-chance opportunities. He did everything possible in this contest and should be considered a definite scholarship-level prospect.
Team Loaded 434 Kirwan
6’6 ’20 Andrew Nwaoko- Few players were more intriguing than the strong, athletic post prospect. He operated with an absolutely relentless motor and was one of the top rebounders on display throughout the day. Nwaoko has a terrific body and fluid athleticism, which should make him very appealing for the right program.
Team Stacked
6’4 ’20 Miles Merriweather- The strong-bodied wing prospect does a lot of different things for this team and typically operates as their main glue-guy. He doesn’t necessarily require offensive touches to impact the game and knows how to make plays without the ball in his hands. Merriweather is tough and plays bigger than his size on defense.
Upward Stars Columbia Joyce
6’5 ’20 Rolando Howell- The long, athletic wing/forward prospect brought a ton of intrigue with his skillset and two-way performance to end the day. He displayed versatility on both ends of the floor and was able to initiate offense fairly often. Howell has terrific leaping ability and plays with an impressive motor, which allows him to cause problems for opponents as a rebounder and all-around defender.