Phenom's Open Gym Tour
Garner High School (Garner, NC)
By Jamie Shaw
If you have been around North Carolina basketball for any amount of time you know about Garner High School. They are perennially one of the top teams in the loaded 4A east. With alums such as NBAs David West, UNCs Donald Williams and Nebraska's Thomas Allen, they continually churn out scholarship level talent, year after year.
This year is no different. Garner is stacked with a senior laden team, a team full of talent, full of under rated scholarship level athletes. They have toughness, they have explosion and they have guys who can put the ball in the basket.
Let's take a look at the squad…
6'3' 2018 Marque Maultsby
Maultsby may be the best on the ball defender in the state of North Carolina right now. He has great length and plays with incredible toughness. Maultsby is a natural leader by example. He has a tough handle and he gets into the paint, and to the rim almost at will. He finishes high above the rim and makes everyone around him better. It is startling that he only has a St Augustine's offer, Maultsby should have LMs looking in and high level D2s camping out on his doorstep.
6'5' 2018 Sal Bey Young
Young is the unsung hero of this team. He is the glue man, not afraid to do the tough guy stuff, but also able to make shots and push the break. Young has very long arms and a non stop motor. He shoots the ball well off the catch and can set up the offensive as a secondary handler in the half court. Very interesting player, D2s should be looking hard here.
6'6' 2018 KD Burt
Burt is one of the all out tough and rugged prospects in the region. The undersized four man, makes up for height with an oversized heart. He is a walking double double, as he is probably the best pound for pound rebounder in North Carolina. He has the ability to take his man off the dribble and finishes well around the basket. Burt wins you games. He currently has offers from Limestone, Fayetteville State, Mt Olive, Chowan, St Augustine's and more…LMs should be watching here.
6'3' 2018 Jaren Ellerbe
The second you walk into the gym you will see Ellerbe's incredible explosion. Getting downhill or in transition, Ellerbe finishes high above the rim. His jump shot is streaky, but improving. With his length and quick twitch ability he has upside as a lock down type defender. His athleticism can change the entire momentum of a game and there is upside here to end up a nice division 1 prospect after a quick JUCO stint.
6'4' 2018 Demetric Horton
As Horton goes, so will Garner this season. He is the one who is able to go off for 30+ on any given night. Horton has good length & athleticism, but it is his ability to really shoot the ball that sets him apart. He has a quick trigger and a short memory, there will be games this year where he really turns heads with massive scoring totals. He is a scholarship level player, high D2s and LMs should come through and see what they think.
Others to Watch
6'6' 2020 Mahki Townes
6' 2018 Trevon Ferrell
5'11' 2018 Donovan Evans
