Phenom’s Open Gym Tour
Lincoln Charter (Denver, NC)
By Jamie Shaw
Phenom Hoop Report travelled down to Denver, North Carolina to cover Lincoln Charter's open gym. Coach Brad Gabriel has done a fabulous job in building Lincoln Charter into a NCHSAA 1A powerhouse. The school has only had a basketball program for seven years and has made the regionals for the past four years, not to mention winning the NCHSAA 1A championship last season. Coach Gabriel's team finished 30-4 last season and has good reason to be optimistic for the upcoming season. Lincoln Charter returns 5'11 senior Kody Shubert (Presbyterian commit), 6'3 senior London England (Lees-McRae commit) and a host of key returning players. Lincoln Charter is going to be a fun team to watch. They will implement a fast tempo utilizing their overall speed, athleticism and tremendous 3-point shooting ability.
Now, let's take a closer look at the players that will make an impact this coming season.
5'11 '18 Kody Shubert (Presbyterian)
Kody Shubert has never received the proper credit he deserves. The sub six-foot point guard simply has game. He's a terrific athlete and has tremendous bounce. He can score from all three levels and is crafty with the ball. He has tight handles and does a masterful job of changing speeds with the hesitation and stop and go dribble. We have always been impressed with his court vision and ability to make plays. Kody averaged 20.1 PPG and 7.6 APG last season.
6'2 '19 Jackson Gabriel
Jackson is one of the top perimeter shooters in the state. He has tremendous range on his 3-point shot and can easily shoot off the dribble or the catch. Jackson has excellent shooting mechanics, which adds consistency. He has become more confident in his play making ability and has the ability to create his own shot. Jackson has a quick release and is currently getting interest from Presbyterian, Navy, and UNC-Greensboro. 'Jackson averaged 18.2 PPG and 5.4 RPG and hit 133 3-pointers last season.
6'2 '19 Levontae Knox
Levontae is blessed with elite level athleticism and has really enhanced his game with his perimeter shooting. Known more for his slashing and driving ability, he has expanded his game and now can knock down 3-pointers with consistency. In addition, Levontae has superb lateral quickness and plays outstanding 'on the ball' defense. He already sports an offer from Appalachian State and is getting interest from Winthrop. Levontae almost averaged a double double last year. He averaged 11.2 PPG and 8.3 RPG and 3.6 SPG.
6'3 '18 London England (Lees McRae)
London is an athletic wing forward that has certain smoothness to his game. He can score from all three levels and has also improved his perimeter game. 'London plays with confidence and poise and will also help anchor down the team's defense. London averaged 12.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 3.3 APG last season.
6'1 '19 Trian Barnes
Last year, Trian was 'Home Schooled' in Durham and the family moved to the Denver area. Trian has an explosive first step and plays with a high motor. With his lateral quickness, he could become one of the team's best defenders.
6'0 '18 Zeke Mayfield
The southpaw enjoyed a really good open gym and will open up some eyes at the D2 and D3 level. He has excellent quickness and range out to the 3-point line.
6'0 '20 Axel Holm
Axel will be able to provide depth and perimeter shooting
6'8 '18 Jehlon Johnson and 6'4 '18 Josh Haudek was not able to participate in open gym due to injuries.