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 Dontavious Pettaway of Greene Central. 

We've seen Pettaway throughout the years, and wrote about him most recently on our Raising Young Men feature piece, where we stated, 'Though Taylor delivers the perimeter shooting, Dontavious Pettaway easily provides the most versatility anyone within the program. His lack of recruitment is especially confusing, considering most skilled, athletic, 6-foot-4 wing/forwards tend to receive a ton of attention. Add in his incredibly consistent production, and it simply doesn't make sense. Pettaway's IQ, size, and well-rounded skillset make him somewhat of a matchup problem for various different opponents. He's an excellent rebounder with the ability to reliably push the break and make decisions with the ball in his hands, both as a scorer and playmaker. Pettaway creates well for himself and others, and understands how to apply downhill pressure with regularity. He's also a quality defender with a high motor, nice anticipation instincts, and the ability to actively toggle between multiple positions. Like Taylor, Pettaway should see a definite boost in his recruitment going forward.'

Since then, Pettaway's versatile two-way game has allowed him to continue shining as a complete leader for the Rams. He's posting nightly averages of 10.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 1.9 SPG while shooting 45% from the floor. Pettaway's naturally productive, adaptable identity really makes him a useful piece within any context or alongside any collection of teammates. He's a steady rebounder and scrappy defender who can comfortably contain two or three positions at the high school level. Pettaway prefers to attack the basket or utilize his size to finish inside, but can also set up others and knock down the occasional perimeter jumper. He's at his best in transition, but still effectively coexists with or without the ball in his hands within the half-court. Furthermore, the Rams are 13-4, largely thanks to everything Pettaway is bringing to the table. As the season winds down, expect various programs to get involved.