If you missed it, Phenom Hoop Report recently released the teams, the schedule, and players to watch for the 7th annual Phenom National High School Showcase. You can find the full post: Field set for loaded 7th Annual Phenom National High School Showcase
But if that doesn’t get you excited enough, then take a look at just a few among others that should have the crowd and atmosphere off the charts.
Cannon vs. Greenfield showdown
It’s that time of year and the high school season is right around the corner. Coming up is the National High School Showcase that will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina November 15-16. Each game has its own storyline and once again, the event is loaded with nationally level and ranked teams, not to mention the top players in the country. That being said, the Friday night finale between defending NCISAA 1A Greenfield and NCISAA 4A Cannon is one game that really intrigues me. Greenfield returns the majority of its roster and will once again be in the hunt for a repeat of the NCISAA 1A championship along with The Burlington School. On the other hand, Cannon is also loaded with young talent and looks to challenge Greensboro Day for supremacy in the NCISAA 4A. This will be a great early season matchup and will help shape the landscape on the private school front. On Saturday, the matchup between Piedmont Classical and Moravian Prep could be the sleeper game of the event. Last season, 6’0 point guard Shakeel Moore laced it up with Piedmont Classical and decided to transfer to Moravian Prep. The loss of Moore from Piedmont probably “stung” just a tad and we look for that game alone to be one filled with emotion.
Keon Ambrose vs. Josh Hall matchup on Friday night
People in North Carolina all know Josh Hall. He is a Top 25 prospect in the country, his pro prospects have been spoken about ad nauseam, and he is only getting better and better, by the day. However, let us introduce you to Keon Ambrose of ISA Osborn Academy in Ohio. Ambrose has a lot of the same skills and attributes as Hall. He is a lengthy and very skilled wing in the 6’8”/6’9” range. Ambrose, who is also a Top 100 prospect, cut his teeth this summer playing with the Canadian U18 National Team. He has recently taken official visits to his final 5 schools NC State, Arkansas, Southern Cal, Alabama and Dayton and will be making a decision soon. Fans, this is a must-watch matchup with high major implications, not to mention both teams are also nationally ranked programs to start the season. When you add in side dishes of Top 150 Shakeel Moore, Top 25 Charles Bediako, Top 100 Kordell Charles and Jamahri Harvey, Javarzia Belton and more I know the national media will be all over it, the Hoop State should be too…Sit back and enjoy…
Oak Hill’s 2020 G Cam Thomas the best scorer in the country
Already posting 39, 37, and 31 points in “preseason” scrimmages, 2020 guard Cam Thomas looks to be on a mission this year and there may not be anyone that can stop him. When you talk about a player being a “bucket getter,” Thomas fits the mold perfectly. This is a player that is coming off averaging 29.5 points per game on the EYBL circuit and is the clear go-to option for Oak Hill when they need a bucket. Whether it is knocking down three’s, getting to the lane and showing off his floater, or finishing through contact, Thomas simply can’t be stopped. Fans will simply be sitting in amazement when you watch him on the court, as he could be looking to average 35 or more points per game. He is worth the show by himself!
The Battle of 1A Championship Contenders
Perhaps we, at Phenom Hoops, feel a little extra excitement whenever we see “Henderson Collegiate,” given how well their team and individual players have performed in front of our eyes throughout the last six months. It should go without saying that Rob Salter has done a tremendous job in building and establishing Greenfield as a powerhouse program, even without Coby White. Both of these programs have made major strides over the last three years, Greenfield going from a quality playoff team to a yearly championship contender while Henderson Collegiate has gone from nonexistence to being the new up-and-coming program in North Carolina. That being said, there’s an obvious amount of intrigue with this contest. Greenfield has Dji Bailey (Wake Forest commit), Creighton Lebo, Jordan Lynch, Hampton Evans, and Trey Pittman, which already make five college-level players at first glance. On the other side, Henderson Collegiate will strut out Javonte Waverly, Kalib Matthews (Queens commit), Akhiris Holden, and Nick Green. There’s certainly no lack of talent between these two and the Bailey versus Waverly matchup will be worth the price of admission alone.
How ready is Elijah Fisher for the big stage?
There’s a lot of talk in basketball circles about Elijah Fisher, the young 2023 prospect from Canada that possesses unique talent. He has a chance to make a statement in the HoopState when his Crestwood squad matches up against national power Oak Hill and HoopState force Trinity Christian in back to back games. With the bright lights on how will Fisher respond? There will be a bevy of national/local media outlets as well as college coaches from every level in attendance to see how the young Canadian prospect will handle the big stage. People are saying Fisher is the best Canadian prospect in the modern era, can the 6’6 wing steal the show and have everyone in the gym talking about him when they leave? I can’t wait to see and these are two games you need to be in the building for!
