This weekend, Phenom Hoops will be hosting events in three different locations. Between the Freedom 828 Showcase, Ish Smith Showcase, and Tourney Town Showcase, there’s a ton of quality hoops throughout North Carolina. Now with the season fully underway, folks have a clearer understanding surrounding the “who’s who” in the high school scene. Each event brings its own set of storylines, matchups, and notable prospects on display. Let’s take a closer look at each, starting with the Tourney Town Showcase…
Outside of the hosting Golden Eagles, Salisbury enters this event as the only other undefeated program in the field. It’s somewhat shocking to consider that Juke Harris graduated two years ago and this program has basically seen no decline. Meanwhile, Dudley has the makings of a top public-school team. They always make noise and compete at a high level, and this squad is no different.
The Hornets have found consistent production behind the likes of Braylon Taylor, Jon Ross, Blake Smith, and Royce Perkins. Taylor and Ross have been staples of this team for several years and have made seamless transitions into leadership roles. The duo is accounting for nearly half of the team’s scoring and a heavy majority of the playmaking responsibilities. Both guys have continued to solidify themselves as college-worthy prospects. Meanwhile, Smith has taken a massive leap over the last calendar year. His all-around game has clearly elevated to another level. Smith offers a versatile presence with excellent size, rebounding instincts, and overall nose for the ball. Rounding out their core, Perkins is already finding reliable production despite being the lone freshman on the roster. He possesses a nice combination of IQ, playmaking instincts, and scoring polish.
On the other side, the Panthers have a veteran-led squad with multiple key sophomores in the mix. Young pieces like Kam Taylor and Nyshawn Hughes continue to visibly trend upward. Taylor has already stood out as a focal point this season while Hughes seems to show improvement with each viewing. However, the upperclassmen grouping of Sherrod White, Christian Daye, Bryce McKenzie, and Darius Barnett provide valuable production for this squad. Their tough, battle-tested approach should make this a definite contest worth seeing.