North Carolina Phenom 150 Camp Evaluations

 

Team 12

Coach Scott Harrill

 

#72: 5'7 '23 Casian Richard (Winston-Salem, NC)

Starting things off, we look at a player that showcased a lot of productivity and long-term potential throughout camp, Casian Richard. He's a young point guard prospect that played up with the high school group and seamlessly highlighted his playmaking ability. Richard excels when creating for others and also scores efficiently on all three levels. He's a nice defender when committed and will get better with added strength. Next in his development process is working on having a consistent approach from one possession to the next. Coach Harrill on Richard: 'Casian is a young point guard with a great deal of potential. He needs to get stronger and not over dribble. Casian is going to be an excellent point guard/playmaker with time. He has a competitive nature and really does well with the ball in his hands. He's very good in a pick-and-roll situation and gets the ball to the post well and in areas to finish. I would like to see him work on getting his teammates involved more often. Casian is going to be good. He has a will to win and compete at a high level.' Richard is already able to contribute quite well and will only continue to improve, making him a prospect worth watching.

 

 

#89:5'9 '21 Jackson Fewster (Fort Mill, SC)

Next, we look at a player that showed a lot of poise and maturity during his time at camp, Jackson Fewster. He's a pretty young guard prospect that can thrive without the ball in his hands, given his spot-up shooting and ability to move without the ball. Fewster displays a solid feel for the game and competes hard on both ends of the floor. Next in his development process is working on finishing through traffic, as it would raise his offensive ceiling. Coach Harrill on Fewster: 'Jackson has a good jumper and a lot of potential. He can be a great spot-up option. Jackson needs to work on finishing with both hands. He's good at getting into the paint. He's a very coachable young man and possesses a strong work ethic. Jackson is a good teammate and brings a positive attitude. Jackson is in position defensively, but still needs to work on his quickness. He has a chance to become a really good shooter.' Fewster should be worth keeping an eye on, especially since he's within the Fort Mill pipeline.

 

 

#119:6'0 '19 Brandon Dixon (Raleigh, NC)

Moving onto a player that showcased the ability to enter the paint whenever he desired, Brandon Dixon. He's a point guard prospect with excellent playmaking instincts and excellent strength to finish through contact at the rim. Dixon is a smart on-ball defender with nice quickness and the ability to force turnovers at a solid rate. Next in his development process is working on his transition defense, as it would allow him to truly set the tone on both ends of the floor. Coach Harrill on Dixon: 'Brandon is a very good combo guard with size and strength. Brandon has excellent vision on the court and sees the open man. He has the ability to be a good defender. He needs to work on his effort at all times. Brandon is a great teammate and does the little things to help a team. He's quiet on the court and his demeanor is positive. Brandon makes everyone around him better and has a contagiously positive attitude.' Dixon should see an uptick in minutes this season, especially if he is able to maintain his strong presence from camp.

 

 

#138:6'0 '21 Zion Connor (Greensboro, NC)

Continuing onto a player that showcased a nice crossroads between production and long-term potential, Zion Connor. He's a pretty athletic guard prospect with phenomenal finishing ability, able to consistently get downhill, attack the rim, and finish through contact. Connor showed great upside as a shot-maker and creator for others. Connor is a quality defender, though he could improve his focus when slotted off-ball. Next in his development process is working on the use of his off-hand, as it would allow him to utilize the entire court and attack more angles. Coach Harrill on Connor: 'Zion has a very nice shot from the outside and is great at finishing with his left hand. He needs to work on finishing with his right hand in the paint. Zion plays the game hard and with great emotion. He has a very competitive nature and can knock down shots. He has a clear will to win. Zion can be as good as he wants to be, especially if he keeps working on his outside shot. He's a quick leaper and sees the court well.' Connor is another noteworthy prospect in the Class of 2021 and could enjoy a productive season in the backcourt for his high school.

 

 

#147:6'1 '20 David McCallum (Concord, NC)

Next, we look at a player that really embraced his ability to affect all facets of the game, David McCallum. He's a point guard prospect that scores effectively from the floor and does an excellent job of getting his teammates involved whenever possible. McCallum rebounds the ball exceptionally well for his size/position and was able to contain his assignment quite well on defense. Next in his development process is continuing to work on his catch-and-shoot consistency, as it would add a new wrinkle to his offensive approach. Coach Harrill on McCallum: 'David is a young man that plays with a great deal of energy. He's a great offensive rebounder. David has one of the best attitudes on the team and works quite well without the ball in his hands. He needs to work on his catch-and-shoot ability. David can become a good on-ball defender. He's very coachable and will do the little things to make his team better. David has a knack for getting deflections on defense.' McCallum was quite productive at camp and should have a strong junior campaign, especially if he maintains his two-way approach to the game.

 

 

 

#153:6'1 '20 DeAndre Rodgers (Charlotte, NC)

Moving onto a player that was able to consistently provide energy and excel within the team-first concept, DeAndre Rodgers. He's a wiry guard prospect that can really shoot the ball from midrange and three-point territory. Rodgers torched the nets from beyond the arc and moved pretty well without the ball. He displayed a high motor throughout the day and overwhelmed numerous opponents with his activity level on defense. Next in his development process is working on his consistency when finishing around the rim, as it would make him a more complete offensive threat. Coach Harrill on Rodgers: 'DeAndre is a high-energy guy that has a clear will to win. He gives effort for all four quarters. DeAndre has a good jumper when left open. I would love to see him become more aggressive on offense. He has a great attitude on the court and is very coachable. He is a total team-first guy. DeAndre has the athletic ability to create off the dribble. He needs to work to get stronger, but is a very good player overall.' Rodgers will likely be among the most useful backcourt options for his high school and should gradually improve over the course of his junior season.

 

 

#108:6'3 '19 Brian Brandwein (Greensboro, NC)

Next, we look at a player that possesses an incredible motor and passionate two-way approach to the game, Brian Brandwein. He's a forward prospect that is willing to do anything possible to give his team an edge. Offensively, Brandwein is very unselfish and does a great job of moving the ball to open teammates. He attacks the rim hard and exerts an unbelievable amount of energy on defense. Next in his development process is working on his ability to create off the dribble, as it would make him a more dynamic offensive threat. Coach Harrill on Brandwein: 'Brian is a great teammate with a love for the game of basketball. Brian does a great job at setting picks and he possesses the ability to pop or roll off the screen. He is not afraid to take a charge. Brian has decent range with stepping out to shoot the three-point shot. He can be undersized in the post, but tires hard to make up for it with heart and effort. Brian is a young man that you'd like to have on you team. He can continue to work on quickness.' Brandwein should be the top player for his high school team this upcoming season, especially if he maintains his quality all-around presence.

 

 

#195:6'4 '21 Alex Massey (Chapel Hill, NC)

Moving onto a player that is ready and willing to do whatever necessary to provide his team with an edge, Alex Massey. He's a long-bodied wing prospect that possesses a nice amount of upside as a glue-guy. Massey can score pretty well within the arc and showed signs of a formidable three-point stroke. He moves really well without the ball and displayed excellent footwork throughout the day. Next in his development process is working on his consistency as finisher, in order to maximize his offensive abilities. Coach Harrill on Massey: 'Alex is a great teammate that can do the little things to help his team. He can shoot the outside shot and has a short memory. Alex passes the ball well to open teammates. He needs to work on his ball-handling a little more, but is young and possesses the potential to grow and stretch the defense. Alex has good vision and court awareness. He will continue to grow.' Massey has a pretty intriguing skillset and enjoyed a quality showing at camp as a result.

 

 

 

#229:6'7 '22 Shane Fernald (Mount Pleasant, NC)

Finishing up, we look at a player that truly knows how to affect all facets of the game, Shane Fernald. He's a well-rounded forward prospect with an advanced physical frame and pretty solid athleticism. Offensively, Fernald can score on all three levels and operates well on the perimeter and inside the arc. He has an excellent feel for the game and possesses terrific long-term potential. Next in his development process is working on his consistency as a shooter off the dribble, as it would allow him to dominate opponents on offense. Coach Harrill on Fernald: 'Shane is a young post player that has a good feel for the game. He can step out and shoot the ball well from beyond the arc. Shane needs to work on controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. He has the potential and tools to become a very good college player. The way he can pull an opposing big man out of the paint is impressive. Shane will work hard for his coach and gives good energy. The sky can be the limit for this young player.' Fernald is just beginning to realize his upside and should certainly continue improving over the next four seasons.