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Phenom Open Gym Tour: “Myers Park, A National Level Team”
Phenom Open Gym Tour: 'Myers Park, A National Level Team' Phenom Hoops travelled to Charlotte to cover Myers Park open gym. Charlotte, Old Dominion, and Wofford were in attendance for the Friday afternoon workout and scrimmage. Last season, Myers Park finished 17-9 playing one of the most difficult and challenging schedules for a NCHSAA public school team, but coach Scott Taylor has plenty to be...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: “Lake Norman, the future looks bright.”
Phenom Open Gym Tour: 'Lake Norman, the future looks bright' Phenom Hoops travelled to Lake Norman High School to kick start the 2022-23 basketball season to cover open gym. To put it mildly, Coach Grant Hodges has plenty to be excited about, and the 'The Lake Show' should be one of the favorites in the Greater Metro 4A Conference. Last season, Lake Norman finished 17-11 overall, 5-7 in...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: “Don’t Sleep on Mooresville”
Phenom Open Gym Tour: 'Don't sleep on Mooresville' Phenom Hoops traveled to Mooresville to kick start the 2022-23 basketball season to cover open gym. Last season, Coach Armard Moore led Mooresville to one of the most successful years for the Blue Devils. Mooresville finished 10-2 in the Greater Metro 4A and an impressive 21-4 overall record. Coach Moore lost his top three players due to...
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Clover (SC) High School: Open Gym Report
Clover High School: Open Gym Report Phenom Hoops travelled to Clover, South Carolina to cover open gym for new head coach Darris Jackson, who is replacing Bailey Jackson. Coach Jackson stressed fundamentals to his new team, highlighting ball handling, shooting and playing off two feet. Now, let's take a closer look at the players on the 2022-23 Clover High School roster. 6'3 2023 JJ...
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Open Gym Report: NC Spartans 17U Haidinger
On Wednesday, Phenom Hoops (Jeff Bendel, Tyler Lewis, and Colby Lewis) traveled out to Bishop McGuinness High School for the NC Spartans Media Day. The Spartans should be well-known as one of the better independent programs across the Carolinas, and their current group is no exception. Josh Thompson is the director, but Herb Liles, Kerry Graves, Curtis Patton, Ryan Haidinger, Michael Bowers, and...
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Open Gym Report: NC Spartans 16U Liles
On Wednesday, Phenom Hoops (Jeff Bendel, Tyler Lewis, and Colby Lewis) traveled out to Bishop McGuinness High School for the NC Spartans Media Day. The Spartans should be well-known as one of the better independent programs across the Carolinas, and their current group is no exception. Josh Thompson is the director, but Herb Liles, Kerry Graves, Curtis Patton, Ryan Haidinger, Michael Bowers, and...
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Open Gym Report: NC Spartans 16U Graves
On Wednesday, Phenom Hoops (Jeff Bendel, Tyler Lewis, and Colby Lewis) traveled out to Bishop McGuinness High School for the NC Spartans Media Day. The Spartans should be well-known as one of the better independent programs across the Carolinas, and their current group is no exception. Josh Thompson is the director, but Herb Liles, Kerry Graves, Curtis Patton, Ryan Haidinger, Michael Bowers, and...
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Team Preview: Strong Center Elite 2023
Another excited year of travel basketball has started. Last week, Tyler and I had the opportunity to lead a practice with Strong Center Elite 2023. One thing that stood out with this team is that they are all made up of players who are from the same area and have been playing together for years. Let’s take a closer look at this year’s roster. 5’10 2023 Micah Jones (Holly...
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Phenom Open Gym: Rocky River
Phenom Hoops continues to make their way around the state of North Carolina, checking in on teams before the season starts. One stop that we recently made was at Rocky River, as this is a program that will have some fresh faces coming in and looking to make their mark. Let's dive into what we saw on the court during their open gym. Senior Leadership Rocky River had to replace several...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: Metrolina Christian
Phenom Hoops continues to hit the road this offseason to check in on programs as they prepare for the upcoming high school season. We made a recent stop at Metrolina Christian, a program we have seen quite a few times throughout the Hoop State League as well. We took in another practice to check in on the program, and there are several names that should have your attention. Seniors Leading...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: Ardrey Kell
Ardrey Kell had a special season last year, making a deep run in the playoffs before ultimately falling just short in taking home the championship. But now the Knights are back under Coach Craft and though they may look a little different than last season, they are still a very dangerous team. Let's dive into what we saw on the court. When you talk about Ardrey Kell, you have to start with their...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: Porter Ridge
Phenom Hoops continues to make it a point to check out teams around the region, as we had a busy Thursday afternoon on the road. One stop we made was also Porter Ridge high school, as the Pirates are looking to replace a senior-led team from last year with a few new names and players looking to step up. Let us dive into the roster a little bit more. When you talk about leaders for...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: Providence Day
It was a wild Thursday hitting the road for Phenom Hoops, traveling all around the state. But the first stop that we had to make in the early morning was Providence Day, a program that has produced some incredible talent and is looking to get back in making its mark on the state of North Carolina. Head coach Ron Johnson is looking to lead the charge and get the Chargers back near the top. They...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: North Meck
Phenom Hoops was in for a treat Wednesday night, as we went back out on the road to check in on another open gym. This time, we went down the road to North Meck to check in on what the Vikings had going on this season. They lost a few key players but if you have followed the tradition at North Meck, you know that this is still going to be a talented program… and they will be...
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Open Gym Report: Grimsley High School
On Tuesday, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the heart of Greensboro for an exciting open gym session at Grimsley High School. Being the oldest and longest-standing school in the city, everyone should already know about the historic program and the nonstop success they've enjoyed over the last century (and beyond). Regardless, Coach Darren Corbett is entering his third season since returning to the...
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Wayne Country Day Open Gym Tour
Last week, Phenom Hoops travelled to Goldsboro NC to watch Wayne Country Day. The Chargers roster is filled with talent and youth. Coach Faulk and his team will make a ton of noise this year in North Carolina. Even with the loss of Jaden Cooper, this team still has a chance to make a run to the state title game again this year. Players To Watch 6'5 2023 Collin Tanner Collin is...
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Phenom Open Gym Report: Gaston Christian
We continue to make our rounds around the state, recently heading over to Gaston Christian to check out the talent that will be on the court this year. After a strong season last year, this is a program that will have a few new names coming in but have the talent to really make some noise. Let's dive into what we saw and who will be the players to watch. To start, you have to look at one of the...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: Cox Mill
Phenom Hoops went back out on the road on Thursday to check out more teams throughout the Charlotte area, with our next stop being Cox Mill. Coach Johnson has done a tremendous job with this program and they look to be making a deep run in the playoffs once again. But let us dive into what we saw on the court as this will be a fun team to watch. 2022 Marcus Morgan looks to be the...
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Phenom Open Gym Report: Catawba College
Phenom Hoops got a special treat on Wednesday afternoon, checking in on a little college ball action. Patrick O'Brien went out to Catawba to check in on the talent they will be having on the court this season. What makes this group so interesting is that it is full of Phenom Alums and players that played in the state of North Carolina, along with a few other talented prospects. ...
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Phenom Open Gym: Mooresville
After checking at Catawba College on Wednesday, we headed just about 30 minutes down the road to check in on Mooresville high school. It is a program led by Coach Moore and is one that continues to put in the work to get better each year. When watching this team during practice, you can see that they are going to have some nice pieces this year in hopes of making some noise. ...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: Butler
Phenom Hoops traveled out in the Charlotte area, this time to check in on Butler high school. Coming off a 4-5 season and going 3-4 in the Southwestern 4A, the Bulldogs are hoping they can build off from last season and make strides this upcoming season. Let's dive into what we saw in our latest open gym. Ty Black Butler will have a few intriguing names to watch for this season, first...
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Open Gym Report: Dudley High School
On Thursday, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the heart of Greensboro for another quality open gym session at Dudley High School. The Panthers have seen a variety of talent come through their doors over the years, including some of the best athletes in North Carolina's history. This program has never struggled with getting kids to the next level, as evidenced by their slew of college players in the...
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Open Gym Tour: Louisburg High School
Last season was a weird one for just about everybody. It was especially difficult for public schools with their limited schedule and for Louisburg High School essentially nothing went right and a lot of it was beyond their control. This group struggled but you take into account players being quarantined and the fact that Head Coach Michael Sheldon was only able to coach in 3 of his teams 13...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: JL Chambers
Phenom Hoops continues their road trip around the region, this time checking in on a very talented group in Charlotte and certainly one that has big aspirations coming into the season. We traveled out to check out the talent JL Chambers had and there was plenty to go around. 2022 Daniel Sanford looks to be the leader once again for this squad, as the senior is a known prospect around the state...
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Open Gym Tour: Henderson Collegiate
Last week I made the trip to Henderson to check out Henderson Collegiate as they get ready to stake their claim in the NCHSAA 1A classification yet again this upcoming season. This group lost a few program mainstays, including Akhiris Holden and Javonte Waverly who both moved onto the next level at Cape Fear Community College and UNC Pembroke respectively. This group has the pieces to help carry...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: Under the Radar Players (Part 2)
With all the trips we have been making during our Phenom Open Gym Tour, it has shed some light on a few players that have been going under the radar and should be ones to watch this season with their play. Coaches could certainly use players like these in their program to help their winning ways. Here is Part 2 of the series, as these players will play pivotal parts for their team. 2022 Tyrone...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: Under the Radar Players (Part 1)
With all the trips we have been making during our Phenom Open Gym Tour, it has shed some light on a few players that have been going under the radar and should be ones to watch this season with their play. Coaches could certainly use players like these in their program to help their winning ways. Here is Part 1 of the series, as these players will play pivotal parts for their team. 2023 Derek...
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Phenom Open Gym Tour: Mallard Creek
Phenom Hoops continues to make it a point to get out and watch the talent around North Carolina. Last week, we went down the road to Mallard Creek to check in on what the Mavs will be bringing to the court this year. Though a heavy guard team, expect this team to get after it and look to create havoc on both ends. There will be a few key leaders that will need to step up along...
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Open Gym Report: Ben L. Smith
On Friday, Phenom Hoops traveled out to another quality open gym session with one of the Triad's top public-school programs in Ben L. Smith. Coach Derrick Partee is entering his tenth season at the helm, maintaining their success while consistently getting his players to the next level. Just in the last five years, he's put over a dozen prospects into the collegiate ranks. Although they were...
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Grace Christian: Open Gym Report
Tuesday night, Phenom Hoops had the opportunity to workout the team and watch open gym at GRACE Christian in Raleigh. Coach DeShannon Morris is entering his 7th season with the Eagles. He took over and rebuilt the program. During his tenure at GRACE Christian, he has had several players play at the next level including Keeyan Itejere, Jaylon Gibson, Olsbey Mercer, Messiah Pankey, Stefon McLeod,...
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