This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to Rise Indoor Sports for our annual 336 Showcase. The event featured an intriguing mix of talented teams and individuals across several age groups. Considering that the Live period is rapidly approaching, plenty of teams used this as an opportunity to get fully prepared for next week. As always, this article will highlight some personal favorites from the event. Let’s take a closer look…
6’2 ’29 Carter Motley (AWigg Elite)
There are a lot of different adjectives that could be used to describe Carter Motley’s game, but “smooth” seems to be the keyword that consistently comes up. He’s already an incredibly smart, poised floor general who effortlessly controls a game from the point guard position. Motley possesses a uniquely calm demeanor and a silent confidence that is commonly seen among high-level players. His tremendous pace and tight, crafty handle allow him to get basically anywhere he desires off the dribble. Motley is a brilliant playmaker who hunts to generate opportunities for others at every possible opportunity. His advanced vision and understanding of angles/spacing make highly difficult passes appear routine. Add in the fact that he can make all the basic reads and simple passes (which not all modern guards can reliably do), and it’s easy to appreciate how refined his game is. Motley scores at an efficient rate and is capable of expanding his production as needed, but is aggressively hunting to manage the team and put others in favorable positions as often as possible. He’s a quality defender and rebounder for his size/position. Although he does so many things to impact a game, his mentality might be the biggest separator between him and other players. When things get tense, Motley is always the calmest, coolest guy on the court. Opponents simply cannot bother him or derail his unwaveringly consistent approach to the game. Motley truly has all the tools to be special.
6’3 ’28 Noah Dulin (Team Pittman)
No matter how much the roster changes for this squad, folks can always rest assured that Noah Dulin is ready to shine as a focal point. Although he already took a leap during the most recent high school season, it feels like he’s only continued to steadily progress since then. Dulin is a long, explosive guard with an excellent combination of IQ, size, skill, and strength. He’s a quality shot-maker who can create for himself and others, or play without the ball. Dulin does a terrific job of mixing it up offensively to keep opponents guessing. He gets downhill and puts constant pressure on the basket, both as a finisher through contact and above the rim. However, Dulin also shoots the ball at a quality percentage from the perimeter—both off the catch and bounce. In addition to overwhelming opponents with his skillset, he utilizes his athleticism to cause a ton of problems for opponents on both ends of the floor. Dulin is an active rebounder and strong, physical defender with the anticipation to force turnovers on a consistent basis. The two-sport athlete should only continue to elevate his game over the next twelve months.
6’5 ’29 Trace Dukes (AWigg Elite)
It’s easy to be tantalized by a young prospect like Trace Dukes, who possesses an incredible toolkit with natural instincts and a world of long-term upside. He’s a very long, fluid athlete with explosiveness and a blossoming skillset. Dukes is already capable of impacting the game through his high energy and strong nose for the ball. He regularly flies around to secure rebounds, block shots, and finish lobs or putbacks. Dukes utilizes his quick second and third jump to create constant problems for opponents on the glass. He displays solid touch around the basket, but also highlights flashes of being able to space the floor and make plays off the bounce. Dukes embraces physical play well, and will only become more imposing as his body develops. Additionally, he’s a useful shot-blocker with great timing and the ability to push the break in transition as needed. Although he’s already able to impact the game in various ways, Dukes is really just beginning to harness his long-term potential. It’ll be fascinating to see how much he grows and develops his skillset going forward, but the foundation of a notable prospect is certainly in place.
6’6 ’27 Jaden McCandies (All Carolina)
It’s a known fact that players develop on all kinds of different timelines, but arguably no prospect in North Carolina has elevated their game more than Jaden McCandies over the last twelve months. He’s a long, wiry wing who has grown several inches and made massive strides within his physical development. McCandies is a smooth shot-maker who can fill it up from the perimeter as a creator or threat without the ball. He does an excellent job of picking his spots within the flow of the action and mixing it up from all areas on the court. McCandies is very reliable off the catch, but also knows how to convert pull-ups within a few dribbles or attack the basket and use his length to finish. He plays hard to make his presence felt as a defender and rebounder, and shows a willingness to adapt to several different roles. McCandies still has clear upside remaining, but should already appeal as a prime target for college coaches this summer.
6’1 ’29 Jayce Williams (AWigg Elite)
As the game of basketball evolves, we’ve seen a declining number of players who stand out for their defense, toughness, or physicality, however, Jayce Williams embodies all of those qualities. He leads by example and consistently sets the tone through his rugged, dawg-like approach. Williams is one of the few players you’ll see who actually wants to pick up ball-handlers full court. He suffocates opposing guards for the length of the floor, showing the ability to consistently turn them, create turnovers, and force pickups. Williams provides the right blend of strength, quickness, and physicality to absolutely wreak havoc defensively. Add in the fact that his motor seemingly never stops, and there’s so much to love about what he brings to a team on that end of the floor. Offensively, Williams is a smart, well-rounded piece who can run the offense, score from all levels, make the extra pass, and do the dirty work. He finishes through contact and knocks down jumpers at a high percentage but doesn’t need a ton of touches to make his presence felt. Williams rebounds his position extremely well and is adaptable to team needs on both ends of the floor. He’s the type of player who can find success with any collection of teammates. Expect his game to keep blossoming going forward.