Following last weekend's successful first session of our Phenom High School Jamboree, things got back in action today for Part 2. Over 32 teams arrived for the day's competition in Greensboro, NC, again both taking place at Northwest Guilford High School and Proehlific Park. Assigned to my familiar territory on Court 3 in Proehlific Park, here are my standout players for the first portion of the day.

 

DeMarcus Johnson '19 ' Pine Lake (Mooresville, NC)

The 6'4' guard showed one of the more polished games all morning in his ability to score at all three levels and defend multiple positions. While he can also play pretty much anywhere on the wing with his size, I feel Johnson works best as a primary ball-handler; he looks to make plays for others before anything else. When Pine Lake needed him to score, the poised senior went on an absolute tear, making shots from long range, close areas, and finishing strong around the rim. Appalachian State has offered and I expect more programs to come calling Johnson's name quite soon.

Macon Stovall '21 ' West Davidson HS (Lexington, NC)

West Davidson should have great confidence in their young 6'1' combo guard leading the way this season. I'd classify Stovall as more of a scorer who can get his shot off any time using a remarkable handle. His shiftiness had defenders slipping all over the court and he only needed an inch of space to knock down three-point attempts; about four of these came in the first half of Game 2. He must realize that isolation play cannot afford to take place all the time, no matter how well he can take over. If Stovall can show more of a knack for getting others involved, his recruitment should take a bigger jump.

Drew Wright '19 ' West Davidson HS (Lexington, NC)

Few displayed a toughness throughout the morning likewise to Wright, who pretty much singlehandedly took over for West Davidson in the second half of Game 2. The 6'1' scoring guard gets in the lane at will without relying on many dribbles. Once he gets a piece of the paint, Wright uses his strength well to shield the ball and softly knock down floaters. As Game 2 went on, he started to look more for his outside shot and went on an outpouring of three-pointers. A main consideration currently pertains to how he's pretty undersized at the way he plays. Similar to Bennett's situation, he'll need to show a willingness in acting more of a floor general who can dictate an offense.

D'Angelo Elliot '19 ' Carolina Day School (Asheville, NC)

The widely talented 6'4' wing dominated Game 3 from the jump in putting points on the board pretty much anytime he got his hands on the ball. His nose for the ball aids in frequent quick scores under the basket and he moves around the perimeter very well to spot up for triples. His infectious personality and confidence helped give Carolina Day a boost in Game 3 that they would not relinquish. Elliot definitely benefits from his solid build, making him a man amongst boys when matched up against other wings. I feel he can definitely shine on the defensive side of the ball but must get out of the habit of gambling. When looking to set up others, he does solid but tends to try making the pass too flashy.

Carson Lowder '19 ' North Stanly HS

With an exceptionally strong frame, the 6'2' Lowder bullied his way to the basket throughout Game 5 to convert strong finishes and AND-1s. He pushes the ball very well in the open floor to find other teammates cutting and makes his presence felt on the boards. I wouldn't call him a knockdown shooter but he certainly showed the capability to seek and cash in jumpers. His patience with the ball and ability to draw fouls appeared as two of his biggest strengths. He earned about three AND-1s in a row during a second half stretch. Free throws need to improve a bit more, considering he should spend a lot of time at the line.