At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over a 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 under-recruited, and today’s edition will highlight Michael Wilson of Metrolina Christian.
We’ve seen Wilson throughout his basketball journey, recently stating, “After losing basically the entire summer season due to injury, Michael Wilson will be forced to fight for appropriate recruitment over these next few months. On one hand, coaches have already seen a ton of kids and determined who they will pursue. However, Wilson is simply better than a lot of those guys who were seen and could easily end up higher on recruiting boards before the new year. He’s a skilled, polished forward prospect with touch, post moves, and floor-spacing ability. Wilson moves well for his size and naturally causes matchup problems for most opposing forwards. He’s a steady two-way rebounder with enough skill to push the break and make decisions with the ball in his hands. Wilson is a quality passer and reliable defender who does a great job of playing within himself on both ends of the floor. His return should be very exciting for a slew of college programs, as he could be a steal.”
It’s been a challenging season for the Warriors, especially given how many key pieces graduated and moved on to the next level. However, Wilson has maintained his status as one of the clear focal points for this group—both in terms of production and leadership. He’s a skilled forward with touch, vision, perimeter shooting, and useful ball skills. Wilson is able to initiate the offense, make plays off the bounce, and take advantage of mismatches based on defensive assignment. This season, he’s averaging 15.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 1.2 SPG while showcasing the ability to apply scoring pressure from all levels. He’s a useful defender and rebounder who doesn’t shy away from physical play inside the paint. Wilson is a solid all-around athlete who utilizes his body well to absorb contact as a finisher. He possesses a lot of ability and would be a quality investment for a slew of college programs.