This past weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual George Lynch Invitational at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. The two-day event featured a slew of notable teams and prospects, including top programs on both the men’s and women’s sides. There were countless meaningful takeaways for those who attended, and we will take a closer look at several throughout the week. Right now, we will highlight the impressive depth of talent within the Mooresville roster…
So much of their approach starts with the production of Nolan Ericson. The Hampden-Sydney commit is an excellent shooter who can initiate the offense, create off the bounce, or consistently knock down shots along the perimeter. Ericson is great in standstill situations, but is more than comfortable hitting jumpers in a variety of ways. He displays a smooth midrange pull-up and solid finishing ability for his size. Ericson sees the floor well as a passer and provides quality effort as a defender at the point of attack. When his shot is falling, this team becomes extremely difficult to defend.
Given all the ways he affects the game, Eian Bailey is easily among the most impactful players on this roster. He’s a strong, tough, physical piece with the versatility to operate in several positions on both ends of the floor. Bailey excels at doing the dirty work and filling in the gaps on either side of the ball. His blend of size and strength allows him to defend multiple positions and rebound much bigger than his size. Bailey finishes well through contact and regularly secures (and converts) second-chance opportunities inside the paint. He can also knock down jumpers at a solid rate. Bailey is a clear x-factor for this group.
It feels like Christian Wilson is one of the more overlooked players for the Blue Devils. At 6-foot-7, he provides a long, wiry, inside-out presence with a high motor and a quality nose for the ball. Wilson is a low-maintenance forward who can finish, space the floor, and consistently battle on the glass. He’s a nice athlete with the size and scrappiness to disrupt opponents defensively. Wilson is capable of setting the tone with his ability to block shots, secure rebounds, and fill in the gaps offensively.
Despite being new additions, guys like Taurean McKinnon and Jordan Walton have already become extremely valuable to this group. McKinnon is a natural utility piece who consistently does the little things to give his team an edge. He’s tough, physical, and plays hard on both ends of the floor. McKinnon is a long, fluid athlete who possesses an excellent nose for the ball. He’s a quality defender with the ability to guard multiple positions and force turnovers at a nice rate. McKinnon rebounds well for his size, makes hustle plays, and fills in the gaps as needed offensively. Meanwhile, Walton is a heady floor general who knows how to generate consistent offense as a main creator. He’s a capable scorer, but arguably finds the most success through his ability to break down opponents, penetrate, and make correct reads with the ball. Walton sees the floor well as a playmaker and defends with toughness at the point of attack. Both guys are key pieces.
Rounding out this squad, guys like Carson Schaen, Tyler Morrison, and Chase McDonald are all capable of providing quality minutes. Schaen is a hustle player who can do the dirty work while defending, rebounding, and capitalizing on easy scoring chances within the flow of the action. Morrison is another scrappy piece who can hit shots and defend with energy. McDonald provides solid secondary ball-handling and creation ability. Given their depth and slew of senior leaders, Mooresville should be poised for a very strong season.