Being in South Carolina for the Phenom Queen City, we were excited to check out a few teams and players from the state and we got a great opportunity to check out some of the upcoming talent that you will be wanting to learn more about sooner rather than later.
2028 Noah Smith (Upward Stars):
We had our good friend 2028 Noah Smith back in the building, with our last time learning about him at our Phenom MS Elite Camp where he took home MVP honors. Smith has continued to flourish as a young forward and each time we watch him, he is one that brings a lot of intrigue with his game. Whether it is his size, his fluidity, his ability to create and make plays from multiple levels, and his overall comfort level from an array of areas on the court, Smith brings a lot to the table. And again, he is just starting his story. He was excellent again out in transition, on the glass, and showing his early skillset inside and out, as he will be a name worth monitoring more.
2028 CJ Moore (Upward Stars):
Moore was a player that earned an invite as one of just a few eighth graders at our SC camp this past year, and if you watch him closely you can see why he is a name that brings a lot of intrigue. Moore has a unique blend of size and ability to make plays from several positions. He is long with a good frame, is comfortable in being a presence and attacking the rim but also stepping out as well, can defend multiple positions, and does a great job in getting downhill. Moore has a lot of upside in his game, which makes us extremely eager to see him in the coming years.
2028 Kiedis Smith (Upward Stars):
Smith was a new name that earned our attention and praise at the event. There is a lot to like about how this 6’5 prospect moves and operates, as he can create so many mismatches on the court. No matter where he was on the floor and where he was looking to operate, Smith was able to make plays offensively; knocking down shots from three and stretching the floor, hitting mid-range jumpers off the dribble, attacking the paint and finishing against smaller defenders… he did it all. He has a smooth feel to his game and should only continue to develop more as a prospect, as he should get on more college coaches’ radars in the coming years.
2028 Rodrick Davis (Carolina Rebels):
Talk about potential and eagerness to see how a player develops, Davis has the making of being something special if everything comes together as he gets older. He checks off a lot of boxes early on with his 6’5 frame, his athleticism, his wide range of skill, and his upside with his game. He has a lot of the physical tools that you like with his length, fluidity, athleticism, and playmaking ability. Davis shows flashes of being a high-level talent who can be effective from multiple positions on the floor, as he will be a name worth checking out in the Class of 2028.
