By: Ethan Reece
Now that we're through March, April, and two Live Periods, there's a lot to unpack and look back on. Who's made an impression and who are important names to start tracking as we head into the summer' There's so much to note after the first two months of the travel season, so here are some of my takeaways from Phenom's spring events.
Team Hope Gripper's Depth and Balance
You can spot many different examples of balanced rosters throughout the season, but Team Hope Gripper easily has made an argument that they should be at the top of the list over the last year. Sheerly from their deep rotation and various lineup possibilities due to versatile guard play, they've made quite the statement and routinely find themselves playing for hardware to take home on Sunday afternoon. They've brought an entertaining small ball style with quick guards and no true post pieces, beating teams with their ball movement, ability to carve out driving lanes and play off each other naturally in the flow of action. And everything starts with 2025s Braylen Bowman and Brady Dunn who have consistently delivered one of the most compelling PG pairings. While both have lead guard instincts with playmaking abilities, neither has to dominate the ball or overdribble to get things done. They're smart and self-sacrificing facilitators who make it a habit of getting deep in the lane and finding the best look for someone else or for themselves adjusting to finish craftily in traffic. Next, there's the addition of Braxton Winston, which elevates the whole dynamic of this group. He's a strong and physical enforcer that plays both sides of the ball with commanding confidence and gives you the option to put the ball in his hands and let him go get you a bucket when you need one. And while he has proven tough to stop getting to the basket, his biggest impact has been felt as a lockdown defender that can take away your best weapons. Then, you have guys like Deangelo Walker, Ahmari Hicks, and Chandler Little. They all buy in and fill out their roles as steady contributors across the board that bring the necessary toughness when guards have to match up with bigger guys. Walker also has the defensive authority and versatility of Winston but typically does his damage as a thief in the passing lanes with quick, active hands leading him to showcase his open-court transition instincts. Hicks has shown to be one of the better shooters you'll want to find in kick-out situations while Little has the motor and ball hawk knack to effectively wreak havoc in the paint as a smaller guy that will play through you. And wrapping up with the lone 2026 on the roster, Jordan Buzzard works as the primary 5-man, although has all the qualities to work in the faster-paced with a blend of inside-out skill. He's good at finding defensive holes and facing up on the catch to survey options without slowing the game down and stays consistently ready rolling to the basket for dish-off finishes. There's a reason they went 4-0 in Raleigh, don't expect anything but a lot of W's to show up in their schedule as the summer months play out.
Calvary's Backcourt Firepower
Several of these guys have already made their impact felt this past year both in HS and AAU, with those being Dane Cassada, Owen Calvert, Bryson Mickey, and Asher Tolbert. But now seeing two more of the pieces coming up to join them from JV, Carson Barnett and Nathan Keegan, Calvary is clearly making the case for one of the top backcourts in the state. They won't pass the eye test but trust me. It's rare to have an assemblage of such high IQ and skill that aren't upperclassmen, five are 2025s and one is 2026, so there's good reason for Coach Rybak to be extremely excited over the next few years. And while normally you might look to see if they're all playing together in AAU, I'd dare to say that they're all showing signs of growing individually as leaders of their own units this spring which will only make the unit stronger when they lace ’em back up together.
We'll start with Dane Cassada and Owen Calvert of Big Shots Elite NC. Steady and consistent are two admirable qualities, and when you're bringing that to every category of the game like Cassada, it becomes irritating for defenders. He plays at his own pace and has the footwork, IQ, and court awareness to outsmart you at every turn. His playmaking and scoring prowess are at an elite level with a balance that allows him to interchangeably deviate which method he'll beat you with, and he's absolutely taken his overall impact as a defender and rebounder to the next level as of late, starting to flirt with double-double and triple-double stat lines every game. Calvert, on the other hand, has built his reputation as the silent sniper of the group that you don't really realize hurt you so bad until you look back at the scoresheet and film. He's an opportunistic scorer with the ultimate confident stroke from downtown that you can't let gain momentum. He plays well off ball and maximizes touches with crafty at-the-ready moves but is more than capable of stepping in to handle primary ball-handling duties as well.
Now we'll move on to the other four who can all be found in NC Spartans jerseys. The trio of Bryson Mickey, Carson Barnett, and Nathan Keegan have already found success within a fundamentally sound and balanced group with Coach Henderson. Mickey is looking as confident as ever, advancing his scoring arsenal off the bounce with more comfort using his body and changing his pace of attack, while also starting to separate himself from others into a higher tier of shooters in NC. Barnett is the most true point guard of this group, with his head always up reading the floor and making a huge impact without needing to score. He sets others up for great looks even if he has to pass up his good one, protects the ball, and rarely makes mistakes even when under pressure. And Keegan is just as dangerous a scorer as any of these guys from multiple levels that's bound to capitalize in a lot of ways due to attention set on others as well as his motor in finding the ball. To have a guy like him coming off the bench and could easily go off if given any room to work is scary. Lastly, there's Asher Tolbert with Coach Patton's group. He poses the most versatile threat among this 6-deep backcourt with his length. Like the others, he's someone that can get hot quickly and will make defenders regret giving any space but also can mix up his attack and may be called upon to play bigger in a small ball lineup next year. June is right around the corner, so we'll get a chance soon to see this backcourt during the NCISAA live periods.
Midstate Magic's Dynamic Duo
The Midstate Magic has been a staple in NC's grassroots scene for years but this year's 17u team has made quite the impression to create noteworthy buzz and excitement around somewhat of a reemergence just to remind us who they are. And I love how they're doing it with a dynamic duo from an under-the-radar area like Randolph County in 2024 Jerquarius Stanback (Asheboro) and 2025 Tyshaun Goldston (Randleman). Stanback is coming off a conference championship and Player of the Year honors in the Mid Piedmont 3A. And tracking back to a year ago, you can see where he's taken all the potential people talk about with guys his size and put in the work to fully develop his game and produce. He's skilled at 6'7 with comfort on the perimeter and shown to be dangerous in isolation converting well-defended shots. He's mobile, grabs every rebound, and offers the shot-blocking presence that makes guys hesitate to take good looks and isn't easily drawn out of the paint. Meanwhile, Goldston is a long, active wing that brings the motor and scoring ability to consistently make plays and create personal runs to change the energy of a game. He's high flying and has all the potential to become a premier defender with his willingness to sit down and anticipate where ball handlers try to go. Given the clear upside and room to grow for both with the already significant two-way value they offer, expect a big summer and the excitement to follow them back and out eyes on Randolph County next HS season.
New Names to Know
2026 Will Koonin (Big Shots Elite NC)
There's just no shortage of electric guards at Mt.Tabor, as Will looks set to be the next one in line to join and add to the dynamic playmaking of 2025 Snook Peterkin and 2024 Joah Shay. He plays an efficient brand of basketball working off quick action moves right off the catch and earning easy opportunities through transition play. He has lots of energy running the floor and a sense for following the ball and filling open spots as a cutter to make the game easier on himself. This team is highly balanced and entertaining, and he just has a natural way of staying involved with good activity on both ends to produce in a low-maintenance manner unlike a lot of guards in today's game that won’t always have the ball in their hands.
2025 KJ Younger (Team Hope Noch)
An intriguing discovery I first saw playing with Weddington in the fall league, his most recent showings displayed that he's developing that 'it' factor. KJ has a dominant frame, a lead guard's skill set, and the strength to play bully ball with a downhill initiative. Few guys with his package setup of size and athleticism are able to handle the primary ball-handling responsibilities with such control and finesse. He's a superb passer, doesn't rely on his explosive athleticism to make plays, and plays with good emotion fueled by a strong motor. Expect a larger role with the Warriors next year where he can show off all facets of his game with great weapons and leaders around him to play off of.
2026 Mack Walters (CC Elite)
The 15u division offers so much excitement and new names weekly to enjoy and make projections of. Some work out and some don't, but it's easy to see with Mack that there's a lot to look forward to both in what he offers now and in his development. That's because of his effort on the court. Mack has that 'Energizer Bunny' quality to keep going and going. He's relentless in the passing lanes and always looking to push the ball so the defense can't rest. He has the strength and athleticism with a raw skillset to take advantage of, and as long as he's making hustle plays to outwork opponents like he was in my viewing there's nothing but big breakthroughs ahead.
