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 Kyle Bean of Carmel Christian.
We've written about Bean and his specific value to the Cougars various times, stating, 'Off the bench, guys like Kyle Bean and Bryson Pisacano understand how to successfully operate within their role and make plays within the flow of the team. Bean is a knockdown perimeter shooter with size, length, and spot-up ability while Pisacano also has the makings of a capable shooting threat. The roster continues with capable varsity contributors, but overall, it's easy to see what has Carmel Christian atop our NCISAA rankings.' Which was later followed by, 'The lone junior on this list, Bean finds a ton of opportunities on a veteran-laden Carmel Christian squad. His possesses size and efficient perimeter shooting, which gives him a place with virtually any type of team structure. He defends multiple positions at an effective rate while carrying his weight on the glass as a rebounder. Bean's 42% three-point shooting ranks within the top twenty across North Carolina, making the ideal recipe for an extremely useful role player. Expect him to receive plenty of attention over the next calendar year as a major contributor for the Cougars.'
Since then, Bean has only continued to further solidify his importance to this Carmel Christian roster and their overall game plan. While his numbers aren't necessarily going to pop-off the page, that's because he has clearly taken a lesser role for the betterment of the team. Bean understands how to find opportunities through playing hard, doing the dirty work, and filling in the gaps on both ends of the floor. He provides an active presence on defense and as a rebounder. Bean moves well without the ball in his hands and regularly capitalizes on second-chance buckets through sheer effort. He also shoots the ball at a high percentage from distance and can attack closeouts as needed. Bean brings a very useful, adaptable presence to this talented Cougar squad.