At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, hundreds of 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 Chris Britt of Gaston Day School.
We've seen Britt various times, including at our NC Top 80, where we stated, 'Starting things off, we look at a player that continually stands out with his sharp, quick, aggressive scoring prowess, Chris Britt. He's a tough, heady lead guard prospect with the ability to reliably and effortlessly create quality shots out of little to nothing. Britt is excellent at blowing by his man and finishing around the basket or converting his incredibly lethal midrange pull-up. He's a capable playmaker and great on-ball defender with the tools and understanding to force on-ball turnovers with regularity. Next in his development process is working on his ability to move without the ball, as it would allow him to play alongside another primary ball-handler with relative ease. Coach Baker on Britt: 'Chris is a great kid that plays hard and shows a willingness to compete on both ends of the floor. He showed his ability as a true point guard during camp but also displayed a great jumper. Chris has a high IQ!' Britt proved to be an asset during camp and should continue to stand out as a consistently productive piece for Gaston Day going forward.'
His transition from scorer to scoring point guard has been something to see, especially given his overall comfort level when tasked with running the team. Previously, Britt's approach naturally led to him posting high point totals. He's definitely quicker than a vast majority of opponents, which allows him to effortlessly breakdown defenders, touch the paint, and finish or make the appropriate pass to an open teammate. Britt also generates enough separation to reliably access and convert pull-up jumpers from various spots on the floor. He's also a pesky defender with sharp anticipation for forcing turnovers and pushing the break in transition. That being said, Britt has visibly progressed as a true floor general. He still takes advantage of scoring opportunities as needed, but displays IQ, patience, and unselfishness with the ball in his hands. Given the development of their big man, Britt is as focused as anyone when it comes to getting touches to the post. Expect him to be a useful piece at the next level.
