Phenom Hoops was on deck throughout the weekend at Forsyth Country Day for the NCISAA Live Period (Session 2), where teams throughout the state of North Carolina came to compete in front of college coaches. It was great to see all the teams and players in action over the weekend, as we are looking to bring you the stars and stock risers for each class from the weekend. We will start with the stars that showed out from the class of 2022.
2022 DeAnte Green (Asheville Christian)
Coming in, college coaches were making Green a priority to come and watch, especially teams that made his final list. And it is easy to see why, as Green showed why he is one of the top players in the country. What makes him so special with his unique game is his feel, his footwork, and how versatile he can be on the floor. Whether placing him along the outside with his perimeter game or his continuing growth and strength to battle down low, Green is simply a matchup nightmare for opponents. This is why his final schools were lining up to show how much they would love to have him down the road.
2022 Christian Reeves (Cannon)
Man, it is great to see Reeves back healthy and on the court again… and it seems that he is ready to show why he is a rising talent in the country. The 7-footer was dominant all throughout the weekend, showcasing his touch and his ability to dominate down in the post. Reeves is such a unique big with his mobility, his timing, his touch, and is now showing more of his assertive side of his game. He is such a difference-maker for Cannon on both sides of the floor, and with his growing confidence, Cannon looks to be right back in the picture for a state title and his recruitment should continue to take off.
2022 Cade Tyson (Carmel Christian)
One can see the growth and rising level of confidence in Tyson’s game and now with a few guys gone from last year’s team, Tyson looks to be one of the firm leaders and go-to players for Carmel Christian. He showed that he is ready to take on that role, as Tyson was more assertive in his attack offensively. Whether it was knocking down outside tough shots from three or with the mid-range game, or if it was putting it on the deck, finishing at the rim, or finishing against contact, Tyson showed that he is continuing to take the right steps and is ready to be in the bigger spotlight.
2022 Noah Ross (Trinity Academy)
We have known Ross for quite some time now and we have seen his elevated play with his game, impacting more of the game in all areas of the court. It was on full display this weekend during the Live Period, as time after time he made terrific decisions and made his team better with his presence. Whether it was getting on the boards, finding teammates for easy baskets, or laying his body on the line defensively, Ross made winning plays and was a vocal leader. Add that on top of his size and ability to score in an array of ways, he really had a terrific weekend at Forsyth.
2022 Xavier McKelvy (United Faith)
There is no denying that McKelvy has been a player rising up the rankings and he showed why. He has a unique ability to play within the game and his team’s offense but also has that take-over mentality when needed. He may have had one of the best performances of the weekend with his 37-point outburst, scoring from all three levels, showcasing his athleticism, and his terrific feel/pace for the game. McKelvy sees the floor so well and picks his spots to attack; his ability to impact the game is big-time and it is easy to see why schools are really starting to come his way more with offers.
2022 Will Kelly (Gaston Christian)
I really enjoyed watching Kelly on the court. We have seen him countless times and he has had some terrific performances, something he continued to show over the weekend at Forsyth. Kelly just has a natural, smooth feel to his game, creating for himself, penetrating the lanes, and scoring in an array of ways. He plays with a tremendous IQ, has terrific lift on his jumper, and doesn’t force much on the floor.