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 Ethan Nsiona of Combine Academy.
We’ve seen Nsiona various times over the years, recently stating, “While it probably goes without saying, this Combine AAU group continues to improve across the board—which certainly includes Nsiona. He’s a tough, scrappy, polished guard prospect with a pure knack for scoring the ball. Nsiona is a capable perimeter shooter, but is arguably at his best when utilizing his quick first step to get downhill and finish at the basket. He understands how to set up others, contain his assignment defensively, and compete well for rebounds.”
Between his overall ability and time with Combine Academy, there’s ample reason for college coaches to pursue Nsiona as a next-level piece. He’s able to initiate the offense, create for himself and others, and apply scoring pressure from all levels. Nsiona is capable of making an impact with or without the ball in his hands, but is competent enough to consistently generate looks off the bounce. He utilizes his quickness to get downhill, where he’s able to finish or make the appropriate pass to an open teammate. Nsiona competes defensively at the point of attack, forces turnovers at a solid rate, and pushes the break in transition. He’s capable of adapting to whatever the team needs, but can also assert himself as a leader (especially as a scorer) when necessary. For programs in search of a late guard addition, Nsiona could be a worthwhile prospect.