On Martin Luther King Day, Phenom Hoops traveled to Southern Alamance High School for the 11thAnnual Anthony Francis Perrou Memorial Showcase. There was a quality mix of games on tap, which certainly included the first varsity contest of the day between Richmond and Walter Williams. Richmond High School is a very intriguing team with a unique roster composition, featuring a ton of size/length and very few guards. They look to push the pace whenever possible and outwork the opposition in transition. Meanwhile, Williams is slightly more patient and showcased a willingness to operate within their halfcourt sets for better looks. Nasir Johnson did not play due to a groin injury, which made this game surprisingly competitive.

 

The first half featured incredibly sloppy basketball for both teams and they entered halftime with a combined 36 points. Fortunately, things began to pick up in the second half, when Kennedy Miles started to start gradually mounting a comeback for Williams. Sure enough, he was great down the stretch and carried his team to a hard-fought 54-48 victory over Richmond High School.

 

Williams:

6'0 '20 Kennedy Miles

The point guard prospect was easily the most impactful all-around performer for either team during this contest. He's somewhat small, but very quick and is able to navigate wherever he desires with the ball in his hands. Miles showed the ability to get by his man and make plays within the arc, both for himself and others. He's unselfish and does a great job of looking to create and set up his teammates. Miles didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but has all the necessary tools to be a reliable shooter. His competitive streak and overall leadership ability really shined in this setting, so we'll be keeping a close eye on his development going forward. Final stats: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.

 

5'11 '19 Rashaud Alston

Though undersized, Alston was easily the most imposing interior presence on the floor. He's strong, sturdy, and plays like an absolute dog'scrapping for rebounds, fighting on every possession, and doing anything to provide his team with an edge. Honestly, Alston is inch-for-inch one of the best rebounders in the area and was incredibly significant in crunch time. Final stats: 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals.

 

Richmond:

6'5 '19 Xavier Pettigrew

As mentioned above, this Richmond team possesses an abundance of length and size. However, Pettigrew was certainly the most productive two-way prospect of this group. He has the best balance between strength, length, and skill. Pettigrew pursued the ball exceptionally well and showed the ability to rebound in space or traffic. He displayed nice touch around the basket and was arguably the most reliable performer for this team. Final stats: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.