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 Dawson McAlhany of Bishop McGuinness.
We've seen and covered McAlhany countless times, including on our most recent piece, where we stated, 'Fortunately, the question was rhetorical'as there is currently no logical explanation for his lack of scholarship opportunities. Given all the madness over the last fourteen months, Covid especially hurt guys like McAlhany. He's simply the type of player that seems to resonate and excite folks much more through an in-person viewing. Sure, McAlhany is a quality athlete and bouncy leaper, but his overall identity expands far beyond his ability to meet opponents at the rim. His general desire to improve and address any possible deficiencies within his skillset has been evident over the last few years. For example, McAlhany used to be very skinny, so he put in legitimate work to add strength and developed his frame. Although his production continued to shine and leadership qualities began to emerge, he still found attributes worth progressing. After getting stronger, McAlhany placed clear emphasis on becoming a reliable three-point shooter. Though folks were already on notice because of his athleticism and advanced abilities at a young age, the addition of an efficient stroke from beyond the arc would ultimately make him an all-around force.'
Since then, McAlhany has only continued to dominate as the primary option for the Villains. He's showcased a clear desire to propel the team forward as their leader, whether by playing hard, setting the tone as a scorer, or simply producing by example. McAlhany is capable of scoring in a variety of different ways, both with or without requiring the ball in his hands. He displays an active motor and useful feel on either side of the ball. McAlhany looks to get downhill and attack whenever possible, but can create clean looks off the bounce'both for himself and others. He's a capable defender and rebounder with a willingness to involve himself in the action and mix it up whenever possible. His lack of recruitment is still perplexing, but some program will get a very nice piece in McAlhany.
