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 Marley Gordon of Gaston Christian.

The story seems to write itself with Gordon, who has displayed IQ, polish, and an all-around skillset with each viewing. He truly has all the necessary tools to run a successful team at the next level and should be looked at more highly as a scholarship-level player. Gordon is sharp, quick, and decisive with the ball in his hands, always looking to attack the opposition and create scoring opportunities for himself and others from within the arc. He handles the ball with poise and possesses quality vision, particularly in traffic, and offers a phenomenal balance between playmaking and three-level scoring. Gordon is a capable three-point shooter, especially off the catch, but also knows how to play within himself quite well. He defends well, forces turnovers, and is great in the open floor'with or without the ball in his hands. Gordon has a certain electricity to his game that other point guards simply do not. 

We've had the privilege of seeing Gordon's progression throughout his high school career, including most recently at our HS Jamboree, stating: 'This Gaston Christian squad has a bunch of useful weapons, but Gordon remains the clear leader of this group. He's so smart, crafty, and plays incredibly hard at all times. Gordon is a sharp playmaker with nice vision, the ability to breakdown opponents off the bounce, and three-level scoring prowess. He finishes strong through contact, gets everyone involved offensively, and knows how to outwork his assignment on defense. Gordon is somewhat underrated and should see an uptick in his recruitment sooner than later.'

In addition to all of that, Gordon has been nothing short of incredible as the undisputed leader and cornerstone of Gaston Christian. He's arguably the most scholarship-worthy point guard in the state that has no offers. Gordon has averaged 17.2 PPG and 5.1 APG on 52% from the floor (all team-highs) throughout the current season while sprinkling in a slew of exciting highlight-level plays. It's impossible to point to his location, production, or overall leadership as reasons for a lack of recruitment. That forces the question to be raised: what more will it take for a college program to take a chance on Gordon' It's easy to see how his abilities will translate to the next level, now it just takes the right coaching staff to get involved.