At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over one hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today's edition will highlight Khalid Hinds of Ben L. Smith and Greensboro Warriors.'
In an era where massive scoring totals, flashy ball-handling, and supreme athleticism have taken precedence, smart, gritty, unselfish players like Hinds are forced to work even harder to earn appropriate recognition from college coaches. He's a heady floor general with vision, patience, craftiness, and the ability to get everyone involved. Hinds can get downhill to attack the basket, pull-up from midrange, or knock down three-pointers at a solid rate. He understands how to run a team without forcing the action while creating havoc with his defensive prowess. Hinds is a useful cutter that can find success with or without the ball in his hands. It's somewhat surprising that he doesn't already hold multiple offers, given that his game is so reliable and straightforward.
Between the summer and high school seasons, Hinds has become somewhat of a regular at our events. We most recently saw him in Smith's battle against Southwest Guilford, stating: 'The scrappy, rugged, extremely tough two-way presence of Hinds is one of the most important elements to their identity as a team. He's a shifty, intelligent floor general that penetrates the paint and makes plays on offense while being a relentless all-around defensive dynamo at the point of attack. Hinds plays bigger than his size, especially on the glass, and simply has a knack for locating the ball. All types of college programs should be taking a hard look at Hinds.'
Since then, he's received an offer from Mid-Atlantic Christian and has seen an uptick in interest from various different schools. However, it still feels like Hinds doesn't get enough credit or overall attention from the general public. Low-maintenance players that maximize their role and understand how to set the tone on both ends of the floor should be rewarded with scholarships. Hinds is the type of guy that doesn't have to register a single point or statistic to make his presence felt, though he's proven to consistently fill the stat sheet'regardless of setting or surrounding teammates. He's a great two-way player but also an excellent teammate on and off the court, which should only make him more coveted. Hinds has all the tools, both mentally and in terms of skill, to make others better and simply succeed at the next level. Hopefully coaches realize his value before it's too late.