This past weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual Summer Havoc at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in downtown Rock Hill, South Carolina. There was a ton of basketball between the two sessions and four total days of action, which presented college coaches of all levels to get out and evaluate prospective talent. While there were numerous standouts, one could argue that no prospect did more to boost their stock than Lawrence Bartee of Next Level South Carolina. Let’s look at why…
While their entire roster is worthy of attention from college coaches, Bartee had so many college coaches buzzing about his showing from our first session. It began with a matchup against a noteworthy opponent on Thursday, where he absolutely dominated his assignment in all facets of the game. Bartee finished, rebounded, and altered an abundance of shots, but it was his improved aggression and toughness that seemed to stand out above all else. After previously showing some signs of being slightly passive when fighting for position, he brought an entirely different demeanor to Summer Havoc. Bartee welcomed physical play and displayed legitimate ruggedness inside the paint on both ends of the floor.
While his current abilities should already appeal to various types of scholarship-level programs, Bartee’s trajectory and overall upside is arguably even more enticing. He possesses incredible length and has only truly begun to physically develop in terms of adding muscle to his wiry frame. However, Bartee already knows how to excel within a low-maintenance role and do the “big guy” things on either side of the ball. He’s tough, instinctual, and runs the floor effectively in transition. While Catabwa is his only offer at the moment, folks should expect to see his recruitment explode within the coming months—especially if Bartee continues to perform at such a high level.