This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled to First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina for another loaded slate of basketball. Chad Williams founded this meaningful event last year to represent and honor his father, the original “good guy.” Although competitive, these players and coaches approached this event with class and respect. Now, let’s take a closer look at some personal favorites from the event…
6’5 ’21 Drake Maye (Myers Park)
After leading his team to a pair of wins over the weekend, it should be no surprise to see Drake Maye’s name appear on any list of standouts. Although well known and highly regarded as a football talent, Maye is equally as dominant on the hardwood. He has the physical tools and all-around ability to control every facet of the game while leading and not forcing the action. Maye can operate as the primary creator with relative ease and has the IQ/decision-making to run an efficient offense as the focal point. He’s crafty, attacks the basket with relentlessness, and finishes nearly anything he attempts on the interior. Maye is easily among the most versatile two-way players and should be (minimally) considered a top-three prospect within North Carolina’s Class of 2021. He consistently leads by example, fills up the stat sheet, and would have an extremely interesting basketball recruiting process if he weren’t committed to play football at Alabama.
5’8 ’23 Daylinh Brown (South Central)
Despite being the smallest and youngest prospect on this list, Daylinh Brown already showcases an incredibly advanced and intelligent two-way game. If he were slightly taller, the floor general would already hold multiple scholarship offers. Regardless, Brown deserves to be regarded among the best players in the current freshman class. He’s a more than capable scorer and perimeter shooter, but his playmaking sense is what simply sets him apart from similar point guard prospects. Brown is so poised and wizard-like with the ball in his hands, able to chop up his assignment with tight, crafty ball-handling skills and then manipulate the opposing defense with his vision and blinding quickness. He’s an exceptional on-ball defender with sharp positioning and the ability to force turnovers through mirroring opposing ball-handlers. Brown is a phenomenal leader and legitimately knows how to make everyone better on both sides of the ball.
6’7 ’20 Henry Coleman (Trinity Episcopal)
No prospect entered Good Guys Versus Cancer with more excitement and anticipation than Duke commit Henry Coleman, and rightfully so, as he’s established himself as a national-level talent. There’s a lot to like about his game, especially given his blend of IQ, strength, and two-way versatility. Coleman is unbelievably physical, able to control the glass, finish through contact, and outmuscle the opposition for extra possessions. He handles and creates well, particularly for his size, and does a great job of being a leader on both ends of the floor. Coleman is an excellent athlete but also highlights a quality amount of skill with the ball in his hands. He’s a clever, willing passer with a useful arsenal of post moves and the ability to exploit mismatches at a high rate. Coleman looks to enjoy a quality career at Duke, especially if he continues trending upward over these next few months.
6’3 ’21 Bennie Brooks (East Carteret)
There has been a lot of circulating discussion about Bennie Brooks over the last calendar year and, after seeing him for the first time last weekend, the hype is definitely worth looking into. He’s a big, strong guard with size, creation skills, and a well-rounded approach to the game on both ends of the floor. Brooks is a quality shooter but arguably stood out more as a penetrator, given the way he was able to breakdown opponents and attack the basket. He leads by example, always looking to make smart plays and working for extra possessions however possible. Brooks made multiple clutch plays and ultimately rose to the occasion whenever his team was in need. He might be in a pocket of North Carolina, but his game is certainly translatable to the next level.
5’8 ’20 Rashod Smith (Washington)
Few players could transfer and immediately take the reigns as an undisputed leader, but Rashod Smith has clearly fit that description for Washington. His showing against East Carteret was nothing short of spectacular, truly doing everything for the team and exemplifying leadership qualities in every possible way. Smith is so smart and understands how to constantly make plays, both with or without the ball in his hands. He’s a great playmaker and three-level scorer with no real weaknesses, despite giving up size to basically every opponent. Smith even rebounds quite well on both ends of the floor, which allows him to apply nonstop pressure in transition. His winning attributes and all-around game are enough to look past his size, as he has the ability to succeed at the next level.