From the Sidelines

NC Phenom 150
Team 8 Evaluations

No. 8 5'8 '18 Matthew White (Hargrave Military, Danville, VA)

Matthew White played like a seasoned veteran and showcased an all-around game for a point guard. He is one tough-nosed defender and plays with an extremely high motor. White demonstrated a terrific attitude, basketball IQ, effort and played well within the team setting. He may have been one of the quickest players in attendance, not to mention a solid jump shot. White finished well at the rim and he could be even more effective if he learns to change speeds.

 

No. 21 5'10 '21 Ethan Pegram (Salem Baptist, Stokesdale, NC)

Ethan received unbelievably high marks in regards to attitude, basketball IQ, effort and overall team play. You have to love a young player that plays with as much heart, passion and desire as Ethan. He has advanced ball handling skills, excellent court vision and has the ability to score from all three levels. While Pegram only averaged 7.7 PPG, that only begins to tell his story. He is a passer friendly point guard that simply makes his teammates better. As a matter of fact, he received two game MVP honors and was selected to the All-Camp team for the 2021 class.

 

No. 36 5'11 '19 Aaron Scott Pierce (Dixon High School, Sneads Ferry, NC)

One thing is for certain Aaron Pierce will give you maximum effort, energy, and will hustle his tail off. He was a consistent scorer especially in his first two games. More importantly, he demonstrated a winning attitude and team-first approach to the game. Pierce has solid fundamentals and a great overall feel. He will compete and has all the intangibles to overcome his lack of overall size.

 

No. 49 6'0 '19 Marcus Metcalf (Wayne Country Day, Goldsboro, NC)

Marcus Metcalf is blessed with tremendous speed and athleticism. He finished well with strong aggressive moves to the rim, not to mention a solid jump shot. Talk about consistency, Metcalf scored eight points in all three camp games. While he can literally jump out of the gym, he has the ability to become a stronger defender which he has the capability of doing. 'The next step in his development is to bring more defensive energy at times. That being said, he had a solid outing and even earned one game MVP award.

 

No. 64 6'1 '19 Jake Smith (Enka HS, Asheville, NC)

While most players at camp get their notoriety from the offensive end of the court, Jake Smith made a huge impression with his aggressive on ball defense. He simply got after it on defense and was always matched up against the opposing team's best player. Smith did show he could hit the perimeter jumper along with driving forcefully to the rim, however he brought as energy on the defensive end of the court of any player in camp.

 

No. 78 6'2 '21 Garrett Bizyak (Broughton HS, Raleigh)

Garrett Bizyak is a fundamentally sound player that plays his role extremely well in a team setting. He demonstrated an excellent attitude and showed glimpses of his scoring abilities. Only a freshman, Bizyak knows the game really well and is a good decision maker with the ball. The next step in his development is to play with more confidence. That being said, he does have a high basketball IQ and knowledge of the game.

 

No. 95 6'3 '21 Jalen Walker (Fellowship Baptist, Durham, NC)

Jalen Walker is a solid defender, but his biggest attribute is his high motor and relentless work ethic on the court. He's a tough all-around player with a heart that won't quit. Walker has good length and athleticism and has the ability to play and guard multiple positions. He is still somewhat raw offensively and once his overall skillset matches his length and athleticism, what out, he could be one to watch in the freshman class.

 

No. 109 6'4 '19 Cliff Harris (Calvary Day, Mocksville, NC)

Talk about an unbelievable work ethic! Cliff Harris is Mr. Hustle. He simply gives it everything he has and is blessed with good athleticism and the ability to score from all three levels. Harris brings that 'Lunchpail' blue-collar effort to each and every game. We have always been impressed with his toughness and those intangibles and attributes are the reason he already has a few D2 offers, not to mention he is a solid all-around player that knows how to play!

 

No. 124 6'6 '20 J.D. Davis (Home School, Kannapolis, NC)

J.D. Davis is a long athletic young prospect that also plays with a high motor. While he has an unorthodox shot, he is highly efficient in his scoring opportunities. Davis rebounded extremely well and used both hands for the majority of the time. More importantly, Davis has a chance to really be a highly successful high school player. With continued skill development and improvement, he could be a major sleeper in the 2020 class.

 

No. 137 7'1 ’19 Nickola Vuksanovic (Rabun Gap School, Rabun Gap, GA)

What's the old saying, 'you can't teach height.' It was hard not to notice Nickola Vuksanovic and yes, he has a chance to be really really good. Like many talented Europeans, he is a highly skilled rebounder and has the ability to score inside/out. We were also impressed with his soft shooting touch, but more importantly, he showed some toughness and grit on the court. Once he gains additional strength, he is going to be a legit D1 prospect.