At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over one hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today’s edition will highlight Max Rogers of Asheville Christian Academy.
We recently saw Rogers and Asheville Christian at our Tip-Off Classic, where we stated, “Although Kavan Horton was sidelined, the Lions were able to effectively fill his void with phenomenal production from Rogers. He’s a noted shooting threat, but he did far more than idle within a spot-up role. Rogers moved without the ball, attacked off the bounce, and asserted himself as a scorer from all levels. He also stood out defensively with his toughness and ability to contain his assignment. With his recruitment seeing a recent boost, one should expect Rogers to continue gaining traction from programs at the next level.” Along with high regards from Khalil Shakir, “[Max] simply makes shots. His ability to be patient and take what the defense gives him is a skill in itself. He has a beautiful stroke and can really catch fire from behind the arc. He also possesses the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to his midrange with ease. With him, you know exactly what you are going to get from him on a nightly basis. He also takes care of the ball and rarely turns it over; he makes the easy plays and is very fundamental.”
With shooting at such a high premium, it seems like Rogers’ identity should genuinely sell itself to all types of college coaches. He’s shown the ability to be effective without necessarily requiring a ton of offensive touches. Rogers’ spot-up presence alone is enough to instill fear within opponents—forcing opposing wings to stay attached at the hip as much as possible. He possesses nice shooting mechanics, a quick release, and deep range from beyond the arc. Over the last year or so, Rogers has continued to develop his game off the bounce and as a playmaker. Though he still operates within the flow of the action and creates within one to two dribbles, he has the capability to expand production based on team need. Rogers is also a solid defender and rebounder with a high motor and quality feel for the game on both ends of the floor. Expect him to earn various opportunities at the next level.