This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled up to Virginia Beach Sportscenter for our annual 757 Showcase. The event has featured a ton of noteworthy players over the last five years, and this trip was no different. Although we had the opportunity to see several new faces, this also gave us the chance to get a closer look at the Apex Spurs—a team that has consistently trended upward as a regular at Phenom Hoops. Though young, they already have a variety of pieces worthy of attention. Let’s highlight their core…
Although there are a lot of vital players on this roster, it’s difficult to ignore everything Ricardo Oriol does to stand out as a leader and focal point. We’ve written about him extensively, but there’s already so much to like about his game. Oriol is a smart, crafty, polished guard with a tight handle, sharp playmaking sense, and the ability to fill it up as a scorer. In spite of his wiry frame, he’s able to reliably get where he wants off the bounce and make quality decisions with the ball in his hands. Oriol dictates the offense as the main creator and displays excellent balance in his approach. He understands how to consistently get others involved while picking his spots as a scorer from all levels. Oriol displays deep range and shoots the ball at a high clip from beyond the arc, but also applies strong pressure in the midrange and finishes well around the basket. He’s a capable rebounder who anticipates well to force turnovers defensively. It’s safe to say that Oriol’s game should only continue to blossom.
It doesn’t take long to see all the ways Lane Edwards is able to involve himself in the action on both ends of the floor. He’s a smart, scrappy guard who shines through his nonstop motor and lethal three-point shooting. Edwards is a well-rounded piece who can initiate the offense and create for himself and others as needed, but doesn’t need the ball to make an impact. He’s a quality cutter and terrific spot-up threat who can fill it up as a perimeter shooter. However, Edwards’ energy, toughness, and nose for the ball make him a valuable defender and rebounder as well. Though early, he’s shown the makings of a potential next-level player.
Although those two carry a heavy load for this group, guys like Chase Medford, Cade Terrell, and Jenner Ybarra each produced nicely within their respective roles last weekend. Medford is a natural glue-guy who plays hard and fills in the gaps on both ends of the floor. Terrell is a long, mobile forward with nice touch and rebounding ability. Ybarra plays hard and always seems to find a way to involve himself in the action through his scrappy nature and nose for the ball. Each of these guys makes a meaningful impact for this group.