USA Today has called it “One of the Nation’s Top Tip-Off Hoops Events.” Max Preps said it was a “Must-See Hoops tournament.” What is it about Phenom’s National High School Showcase that makes it the premier high school showcase in this region for November'
Before we look into this event, we need to acknowledge that North Carolina is widely known as the Hoop State. Why is it known as the Hoop State' Well, you have Tobacco Road, you have blue-blood programs, you have Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, Chris Paul and 30 others currently playing in the NBA.
North Carolina has become known as a factory of high-level basketball talent. So, we acknowledge North Carolina IS the modern-day Hoop State.
With that being said, Phenom’s National High School Showcase kicks off the basketball season in the Hoop State. It is a tip-off event where you can see all of the most talented teams the Hoop State has to offer matched up against some of the best talent that the country, and Canada, has to offer. After the entire summer of hearing and talking about who is the best, we finally get to tip it up and play the game.
Elite talent, battle elite talent.
Not only does this event tip off the season for the Hoop State but Phenom’s National High School Showcase also celebrates the Hoop State’s own stars. There are numerous Division 1 signing days, which include the likes of Grant Williams (Tennessee) and Sacha Killeya Jones (Kentucky) in front of the national media, family, and friends. As we just touched on, it also brings in scouts from around the country which includes writers, analysts, and videographers. A good showing in this event will springboard recruiting, rankings, and reputations for players. This event pretty much celebrates all things good in North Carolina basketball.
Let’s take a look back at the event, which started in 2013 and came out the gates in a very boisterous manner with the likes of NBA draft picks Miles Bridges, Dwayne Bacon, Thomas Bryant, and Grant Williams. Year 1 featured national powers like Oak Hill, Huntington Prep, Providence Day (who would go on to the Dick’s Nationals) and Northside Christian (who participated in the Dick’s Nationals the previous year). The event was held at Forsyth Country Day School and the media and coaches in attendance were robust.
In the years since the event moved to Greensboro Day School where we were able to use two gyms to split the event in a national and regional bracket. Colleges from all around the country attended the event and national media continued to fly in to catch the talent. All eyes were on this event and it has continued over the years. With the continued support of the fans, the coaches and media, we have outgrown Greensboro Day School and will move the event for 2019 to Ravenscroft School.
Make no mistake, the 2019 version of Phenom’s National High School Showcase will be no different. In 2019, we have moved the event from the Triad to a bigger venue in Raleigh, North Carolina’s state capital. The field is as strong as ever, headlined by nationally ranked players as well as teams who stay in the Dick’s/Geico National’s field.
As you will see below, the list of players who have attended this event is robust. In the event’s 6 years of existence, there have been 147 players that went on to play Division 1 basketball, there have been 10 McDonald’s All-Americans as well as 10 who are in the NBA. That is a ridiculous hit rate on players.
That it is why, every year, the sidelines are filled with coaches, national scouts, and videographers.
Phenom’s National Showcase List of Alums
In The NBA
Dwayne Bacon (Florida State/Charlotte Hornets), Thomas Bryant (Indiana/Los Angeles Lakers), Harry Giles (Duke/Sacramento Kings), Coby White (UNC/Chicago Bulls), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Virginia Tech/New Orleans Pelicans), Grant Williams (Tennessee/Boston Celtics), Nick Claxton (Georgia/Brooklyn Nets), Ignas Brazdeikis (Michigan/New York Knicks), Luguentz Dort (Arizona St/Oklahoma City), Jalen Lecque (Phoenix Suns), Miles Bridges (Michigan State/ Charlotte Hornets)
McDonalds All-Americans
Sacha Killeya Jones, Dwayne Bacon, Miles Bridges, Thomas Bryant, Billy Preston, Devon Dotson, Coby White, Josiah James, Oscar Tshiebwe and David McCormack
D1 Commitments
Curt Jones (Indiana), Miles Bridges (Michigan State), Josh Reaves (Penn State), Braxton Key (Alabama/Virginia), Khadim Sy (Virginia Tech), Terrence Phillips (Missouri), Lindell Wiggington (Iowa State), Matt Coleman (Texas), Devontae Shuler (Ole Miss), Tyshon Alexander (Creighton), Levi Cook (Depaul), Sacha Killeya Jones (Kentucky/NC State) Mario Kegler (Mississippi State/Baylor), Justin Jackson (Maryland), Mike Okauru (Florida), Nick Claxton (Georgia), Jethro Tshisumpa (Arizona State), Maciej Bender (West Virginia), Harold Baruti (Washington), Daniel Giddens (Ohio State/Alabama), Eli Wright (Mississippi State/Western Kentucky), Ted Kapita (NC State), Darius Hicks (NC State/Eastern Kentucky), Jordan Bowden (Tennessee), Sedee Keita (South Carolina/St John’s), John Fulkerson (Tennessee), Grant Williams (Tennessee), Nickeil Alexander Walker (Virginia Tech), Ebuka Izunda (Miami), Jalen Harris (New Mexico State/Arkansas), Blake Harris (Missouri), Brandon Huffman (UNC), Billy Preston (Kansas), Deshawn Corprew (Texas Tech), Ian Steere (Creighton), Rasir Bolton (Penn State), Coby White (UNC), BJ Mack (Virginia Tech), Tyler Maye (VCU), Josh Hall (Nevada), Justice Kithcart (Pittsburgh/Old Dominion), Adam Sledd (Western Carolina), Greg Williams (Missouri State), Ian Kinard (SC State), Mamadou Diarra (Cinncinati), Renathan Ona Embo (Tulane), Joe Hampton (Penn State), Marquell Frazer (VCU), Ian Dubose (Houston Baptist), Lysander Bracey (Norfolk State), Keshon Montague (Pacific), Jakub Mijakowski (Penn), Clifton Powell Jr (Cal State Fullerton), Matt Halvorsen (Western Carolina), Morgan McKay (Arkansas State), Issac Johnson (Appalachian State), Josh Howard (Brown), Marquis Godwin (Richmond), James West (Howard), Devin Cooper (Radford), Rayjon Tucker (Florida Gulf Coast/Arkansas Little Rock), Ronshad Shabazz (Appalachian State), Aboubacar Diallo (Eastern Illinois), Anthony Pratt (Eastern Kentucky), James Dickey (UNC Lipscomb), Quentin Jackson (Charlotte), Bollo Gnahore (New Mexico State), Andrien White (Charlotte/Wake Forest), Nate Grimes (Fresno State), Isaiah Maurice (Kansas State), Dontae Caldwell (Maryland Eastern Shore), Max Hoekstra (American), JP Moorman (Temple), Jordan Perkins (NC Central), John Newman (Clemson), Bryce Schneider (Richmond), Michael Hueitt (Old Dominion), Jalen Knight (Hartford), Rayshawn Neal (SC State), John Meeks (Bucknell), Blake Preston (Liberty), Philip McKenzie (Houston Baptist), Nate Hinton (Houston), Devon Dotson (Kansas), Will Dillard (Georgia Southern), Manny Bates (NC State), Daniil Kasatkin (Penn State), Flo Thamba (Baylor), KC Hankton (St Louis), Daniel Sackey (Valparaiso), Trey Wertz (Santa Clara), Issac Suffren (Lafayette), Elijah McCadden (Georgia Southern), Christian Lorng (Wake Forest), Aaron Nesmith (Vanderbilt), Josiah Jeffers (Radford), David McCormack (Kansas), Damon Harge (Texas Southern), Qon Murphy (Houston Baptist), Jairus Hamilton (Boston College), Jack Hemphill (Boston College), Mike Wynn (Wake Forest), Joel Ntambwe (Texas Tech), Giir Ring (Coppin State), Kenny Nwuba (UCLA), TJ Smith (Toledo), Juwan Gary (Alabama), Khalil Robinson (Howard), Tommy Bruner (USC Upstate), Oscar Tshwiebe (West Virginia), Josiah James (Tennessee), JC Tharrington (Appalachian State), DJ Burns (Tennessee/Winthrop), Audiese Toney (Pittsburgh), Joey Baker (Duke), Josh Nickelberry (Louisville), Eric Rustin (UT Martin), Nick Evtimov (Western Carolina), Brandon Stone (LaSalle), Jackson Gammons (Citadel), Sam Wolfe (VMI), Ford Cooper (Missouri State), Jason Thompson (Houston Baptist), Damian Baugh (Memphis), Mike Green (South Carolina), Travion McCray (Western Carolina), Paul Hudson (Dartmouth), Elias King (Mississippi St), Donovan Gregory (Appalachian State), Deangelo Epps (College of Charleston), Martin Maide (Liberty), Myles Pierre (Houston Baptist), Jake Boggs (UNC-Wilmington), Greg Gantt (Providence), Jake Van Der Heijden (Bucknell), Trae Hannibal (South Carolina), Prosper Obidiebube (UT Chattanooga), Curt Lewis (Eastern Kentucky), Ahmad Harvey (Coastal Carolina), Desean Allen-Eikens (North Dakota), Kenny Isnord (Florida International), Jacco Fritz (Canisius), Jermaine Marshall (North Alabama), Malcolm Farrington (Arkansas State), Kmani Doughty (New Orleans), Moulaye Sissoko (Dayton), Addison Patterson (Oregon)
2020 D1 Commits
Jaylon Gibson (Wake Forest), Dji Bailey (Wake Forest), Carson McCorkle (Virginia)
Uncommitted with D1 offers
Josh Hemmings, Evan Johnson, Kahari Rodgers, Kam Edwards, Josh Taylor, Camren Hayes, Justice Ajogbor, Norance Berry, Isaiah Todd, Josh Massey, Josh Hall, Justin Thomas, Brady OConnell, Myles Evans, Jamahri Harvey, Jaden Seymour, Shakeel Moore, Gethro Muscadin, Madit Lueeth, Gabriel Wuor, Ginikachukwu Ojiako, Keano Calderon
2021 Prospects
Moussa Diabate, Frank Anselem, Bretner Mutumbo, AJ Smith, Jacori Owens, Sekou Sada Kalle, Camron McDowell, Rafael Pinzon
2022 Prospects
Jaden Bradley, Jalen Hood Schifino, Jean Montero, Jalen Carruth