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 J3 Swindell of Caldwell Academy.
We’ve seen Swindell throughout his high school career, recently stating, “The longest-tenured veteran of this team, Swindell, really shined as a connector throughout this contest. He’s a big, strong, versatile wing/forward whose ability to do so many different things on the court naturally causes matchup problems for the opposition. Swindell’s well-rounded skillset allows him to adapt and produce within a variety of roles. He’s a reliable shooter, penetrator, and post-up option with vision, ball skills, and the ability to play through contact. Swindell consistently outworked his assignment on the glass while making critical passes and scoring timely buckets on offense. He did the little things to make a nonstop impact and then asserted himself when the Eagles needed a scoring punch. Swindell should collect offers sooner than later.”
It’s quite shocking that Swindell doesn’t currently have more opportunities to play at the next level. For those who haven’t necessarily followed his journey, the production is nothing new. Whether at Westchester Country Day, Caldwell Academy, or during the summer season, Swindell is a guy who has always known how to assert himself. However, it’s easy to see the general evolvement of his game over the years. Swindell is a highly polished player with a strong, physical frame and versatile skillset. He can create his own shot in several different ways, including post-ups, pull-ups within a few dribbles, attacking the basket, or as an off-ball cutter. Swindell is a lethal shooting threat who can get hot and knock down jumpers in bunches. He utilizes his body well to finish and generate contact around the basket. Swindell is also a willing rebounder and capable defender. Given everything he’s shown, college programs would be wise to get involved.
