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Phenom’s Capital City Jam Will Feature a 4-Star Superstar’s Homecoming
Juwan Gary transferring out of Columbia to play his senior year at Liberty Heights Academy in Charlotte, NC has been well documented to this point. But what has come of that transfer is an already superstar prospect, the 6’6″ wing is already committed to Alabama, is a major leap in his efficiency and game management. Gary has always been a competitor, this summer he led his Team...
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Phenom Hoops’ Game Recap — Pinnacle (AZ) Vs. San Joaquin Memorial (CA)
Game Recap: It was a high-scoring affair on Thursday between Pinnacle and San Joaquin but the stars were out, showcasing why these two teams can be so potent with their talented prospects. Nico Mannion for Pinnacle and Jalen Green kicked off the first quarter, scoring almost every point for each team. Both teams started to slow down but the outside shooting for Pinnacle took over. Pinnacle was...
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You Want to Know Why IMG Academy IS the Best Team in America
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch'v=qpQXhHyZ0AU] Last night Lavar Ball was caught on camera saying that “IMG knows they can’t compete with this…” The “this” in this sentence is his son Lamelo Ball’s Spire Academy team. Of course we all know Ball is known for his outlandish statements, falling back on “speak it into truth.” Well this one...
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The Can’t Miss Performances from Day 1 at Bojangles Bash
6’8″ 2021 Jonathan Kuminga Our Savior New American (NY) 30 Points, 12-22 FG, 4 Assists, 5 Steals, 2 Blocks It was clear who the best player on the floor today was. It is astonishing Kuminga is only a sophomore, but it is also clear that Kuminga is one of the five (5) best sophomores in the country. The strong and hyper-explosive wing ran the floor and finished high above the rim when...
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Dunk Mountain not afraid to Flex on the big boys
With their latest recruitment class Dunk Mountain have made it absolutely clear they aren’t afraid to recruit against bigger schools at the division one level, and with their recent track record why would they' Banner Elk, North Carolina- Tucked away in the Mountains of a modest town in North Carolina, Banner Elk boasts one of the top division two hoops programs in the state and they love their...
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Phenom’s Capital City Jam Will Feature The Best Prospect in SC Who No One Knows … YET
It was a good summer for Lakewood junior Quentin Hodge. He ran with the 16u version of Team South Carolina (the same program Nick Claxton and Ja Morant played with) and really expanded his game. Along the process he picked up his first two offers, Florida Gulf Coast and Mercer. Last season, his sophomore year, the 6’5” wing averaged 13.7 points, 6 boards and 4.2 blocks per game. Yes, you read...
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Phenom’s Capital City Jam Will Feature a Cousin Duo of SCs Top Freshman Point Guard and an Unknown Superstar
There is talent all over the state of South Carolina, this is becoming a known fact. Looking toward the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery, two South Carolina prospects (Zion Williamson and Ja Morant) are slated to be drafted among the Top 10. Keeping pace with the great part about South Carolina basketball is that the talent pops up all over the place. Williamson came from Spartanburg Day School, a 2A...
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Phenom’s Capital City Jam Will Feature South Carolina’s Top 2-Sport Prospect
It is no surprise that senior Mikey Dukes of First Baptist puts up stats. No matter the sport, not matter the ball, Dukes is just built differently from most, be it his physical stature, his quick twitch and vertical explosion or his competitive nature, but a ball in Dukes’ hands and he’s going to do something you’ve never seen before. Just this season, on the football field for First Baptist (a...
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NCAA Hot Takes — Week of December 3
Each Wednesday we hold a round table where we give our guys are given the platform to give their “NCAA Hot Takes”. **The Week of December 3 Rick Lewis Recruit in-state players and you will be successful There is no secret that the state of North Carolina is a hot bed for collegiate basketball prospects. Last year, 70 plus players committed to D1 programs. Coach Wes Miller of UNC-Greensboro has...
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Takeaways from HPU VS EKU
On a day Tubby Smith was honored for his 600th win in the pregame, fans also received an absolutely exhilarating assortment of hoops. It was truly a tale of two halves for High Point as they dropped a 24- point lead to Eastern Kentucky, in a 70-69 dog fight. High Point, North Carolina- The Colonels used an inspirational second half comeback and a dagger from beyond the arc at the buzzer to steal...
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Josh Nickelberry IS the Best Scorer in North Carolina Right Now … PERIOD
Watch 2:47 of Raw Footage of Nickelberry’s 7 Games So Far: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch'v=PrzWyBE5RWU] Josh Nickelberry is scoring the ball at an absolutely prolific rate. In fact, the senior hooper at Northwood Temple has a chance to be one of the most prolific scorers, on record, in North Carolina high school basketball history. Currently, the 4-star Louisville commit is...
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NC State and Va Tech Offer Prospect Ranked Outside of Top 200 … **News Flash** National Rankings are Flawed and This Player Shows Why
After this past weekend’s Battle at the Rock, Jaden Seymour further showed that he has star potential. In fact he carries so much star potential Director of Player Analysis for Phenom Hoops Jeff Bendel wrote, “Personally, I think he’s minimally vaulted himself into top-75 status, based on the other prospects nationally ranked within this range.” This should come as no...
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Phenom Hoops’ Monday Morning Crowd Report
Our staff is on the road all week and we bring you wall to wall coverage on the court. Here is what we think about the crowds a the game. We bring you some professional scores from the atmosphere at each game we walk into throughout the week… Miles Masercola: Mount Pleasant: 7.8/10 Mount Pleasant did an excellent job packing the gym and bringing in 50 or so students into the student...
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High School Hot Takes — Week of December 3
Each Monday we hold a round table where we give our guys are given the platform to give their “High School Hot Takes”. **The Week of December 3 Jeff Bendel: Jaden Seymour is Ranked Too Low Nationally It seems somewhat peculiar that the 6-foot-8 athletic forward just recently cracked the top 150 on Rivals.com and still remains at #229 on 247sports.com, seeing as he’s blossomed from a high-major...
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Phenom Hoops Game Report – Holly Springs Vs. Heritage
Holly Springs – 98 Heritage – 57 Coaches from UVa, UNC-Wilmington and Hampden Sydney were in the Stands… It was a masterful game plan from the Holly Springs sidelines with Coach LJ Hepp having his team pound the ball inside. Working with a pair of high major bigs working the high low really opened everything up in the second half. Kadin Shedrick and Kaleb Scott have a great...
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Battle at the Rock Friday Night Storylines We’re Watching For
Can Josh Nickelberry Continue at his Torrid Pace It has been no secret how great Josh Nickelberry has been to start this season. He is the second leading scorer in North Carolina high school right now, putting up close to 30 points per game. Nickelberry has been playing like a Top 50 player in the country should, a player who has signed with Louisville (who currently has the #1 class in the...
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North Carolina’s Sophomore Breakouts to Watch For
6′ Jaquante Harris Hoke County HS (Raeford, NC) Harris is a tough player who you cannot put into an archetype bubble. Just know he steps on the floor and makes plays on both ends. The guard has a tough handle and is a lock up point of attack defender. He is a very good rebounder and has the ability to both attack the paint or shoot from range. Without question he should be seeing offers...
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Seven Unsigned Senior Point Guards in South Carolina Coaches Need to See
5’11” Crosby James Ridge View HS (Columbia, SC) Offers: SC State, Limestone, Coker, Clayton St, Francis Marion James is coming off a summer that saw him make a major name for himself. Playing an aggressive schedule with the Upward Stars Columbia squad, James went at every major name point guard he came across. He is a bucket getting lead guard who plays with a chip on his shoulder....
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Phenom Hoops Game Report – Holly Springs Vs. Green Hope
Holly Springs – 68 Green Hope – 45 Holly Springs jumped out early and pretty much kept the gas to the floor for the entirety of the game. This was the start of the LJ Hepp era at Holly Springs and he came out the gates charged. The Holly Springs students and fans created a great environment throughout the event, obvious they are hip to the fact this could be a special year. Holly...
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Six Unsigned Senior Point Guards in North Carolina Coaches HAVE to See
6’2” Travian McCray Village Christian (Fayetteville, NC) Offers: USC-Upstate, Campbell, Radford, Stetson, SC State Toughness is the key here, explosion and toughness in every sense of the word. He is a winner who makes everyone around him elevate their game. McCray is a strong and sturdy lead guard who makes shots and takes care of the ball. Sure he is a volume guard, but his wins games and...
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SW Guilford impresses vs Hosts RJ Reynolds in Bobby Martin Classic
Southwest Guilford put on an impressive offensive display at the Bobby Martin Classic in front of a packed gym at RJ Reynolds in a 85-69 victory over the hosts. Winston Salem, North Carolina- Keyshaun, (23 pts) and Kobe Langley (12 pts), really stole the show. The hosts RJ Reynolds battled hard but two things stood out above all in this contest, ball movement and defensive pressure, something...
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Jamie’s Upside Picks (The Future is Bright) — Hoops and Dreams Showcase
7’ 2020 Jeriah Coleman Great Bridge Christian (Norfolk, VA) Coleman walks onto the floor with a great frame. He is a very fluid athlete who has great hands and natural timing. He was able to knock down his free throws and transition effortlessly from defense to offense. Coleman is new to Virginia, transferring down from Alaska this summer. So he is new to the radar and conversation, however he...
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Jamie’s List of Five — Hoops and Dreams Showcase
6’3” 2020 Zavian McLean Village Christian (Fayetteville, NC) McLean had one of the better weekends a player could have. Going head on against a pair of top 50 teams, McLean was awarded the MVP of both games. He is a hyper athletic 2-way wing who showcased the ability to both defend the perimeter and create offense. He scored the ball at each level and was a deciding factor down the stretch. This...
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Hoops and Dreams Showcase — Early Day 1 Names You Got to Know
6’ Unsigned Senior John Michael Wright Fayetteville Academy (NC) Wright has always been a productive player. A very explosive, downhill guy who plays with a chip on his shoulder. This game he showcased his ability to make the right play. He touched the paint often and was able to deliver great passes or finish in the paint. Surprising he doesn’t have any Division 1 offers, they should be coming....
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Must Watch Storylines for Hoops and Dreams Showcase (Part 1)
The first annual Hoops and Dreams Showcase was one of the most live events Eastern North Carolina saw last year. This year will have a deeper field. It will have incredible talent and the match ups are off the charts. With 3 teams ranked among the nation’s top programs, 9 players ranked among the nation’s Top 100 prospects and 11 players who have signed to play college basketball...
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Diving in With: Paul Hudson Baller and future Prosthetist
Paul Hudson is a senior leader on the Charlotte Christian Basketball team, he has taken that talent to earn a free Ivy League education at Dartmouth and the opportunity to pursue his dream as a Prosthetist. Charlotte, North Carolina- The ball stops bouncing for everyone at some point and one has to have a plan or passion to pursue when that chapter comes. Hudson is a man with a plan for the next...
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Phenom’s National High School Showcase Recaps … The Must See Unsigned Seniors
6’8” Prosper Obidiebube Aspire Academy (KY) Obidiebube walks onto the court, looking the part. He has long arms, broad shoulders and an athletic frame. He runs the floor very well and he can shoot the ball with 3-point range off the catch. He finishes the ball high above the rim and carries a 3.8 GPA. Obidiebube recently took an official visit to Holy Cross, his only offer. Perplexing as it may...
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Jamie’s List of Five — Phenom’s National High School Showcase Day 2
6’10” 2020 Moussa Diabate DME Academy (Dayton Beach, FL) Diabate has all the tools you look for in a long term prospect. His frame is off the charts and he has a natural fluidity and athleticism in his cadence. Already, Diabate is a high level defender with the ability to block shots, rebound and switch on the perimeter. He has some Jaren Jackson, Jr. in him on that side of the floor....
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Jamie’s List of Five — Phenom’s Natinoal High School Showcase (Night 1)
6’10” 2021 Moussa Diabate DME Academy (Daytona Beach, FL) Diabate came into the event with a heavy reputation. He is the #3 player in Europe’s 2002 generation. He is also ranked as the #7 player in the 2021 class by both ESPN and Rivals.com. It took him a quarter to get warm, but once he did it was apparent to see. He is a high level defender, in fact he has the ability...
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5-Star Watch — Phenom’s National High School Showcase (6’3/2021 Cam Hayes)
6’3” 2021 Cam Hayes Greensboro Day (Greensboro, NC) Friday (November 16) – 6:30 PM Vs. Christ School Saturday (November 17) – 4:30 PM Vs. Carolina Day School People come out to basketball events to watch the stars play. In the recruiting world, you cannot get more stars by your name than five. Fortunately for the 5th Annual Phenom’s National High School Showcase, set to take place at...
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