This past weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual March Madness at Rise Indoor Sports in Bermuda Run, North Carolina. Although the travel ball season is still in its early stages, there were plenty of noteworthy teams, players, and storylines from the event. Several guys stood out during the weekend, and this article will take a closer look at five players who made a lasting impression…
6’6 ’28 Mason Collins (Team CP3)
There are a lot of appealing prospects in North Carolina’s Class of 2028, but Mason Collins is arguably in a tier of his own. After being heavily involved as a freshman on possibly the best team in the state in Christ School, the 6-foot-6 wing pivots to being a focal point for a highly talented Team CP3 group. It’s usually easy to recognize and appreciate a player’s dominance at a younger age. However, there is something different about Collins. In addition to possessing excellent size, Collins is a quality athlete with an impressive blend of IQ, skill, and general instincts. He’s comfortable initiating the offense or playing without the ball. Collins is a reliable creator, both for himself and others, with a smooth shooting stroke and terrific feel for making decisions with the ball in his hands. He’s able to score from all levels and naturally cause matchup problems for various types of opponents. Collins can legitimately do it all. Add in the fact that he defends multiple positions and rebounds at a solid rate, and it’s difficult to say anything other than positives. Right now, he has no real weaknesses within his game and will be a high-level prospect given his current trajectory.
6’0 ’26 Lincoln Raper (Carolina Riptide)
Although we’ve watched him shine countless times in high school settings, Lincoln Raper is already seamlessly establishing himself as an unselfish leader for Carolina Riptide. The floor general offers amazing balance from the point guard position. He’s very smart with an amazing combination of pace, vision, and scoring instincts. Raper plays with a calm demeanor and shows almost no emotion on the court. He sets the offense and prioritizes creating for others, yet asserts his scoring presence whenever defenses reward him with any space. Raper’s knockdown shooting ability really forces opponents to suffocate him at all times. He probes the paint, forces defenses to collapse, and makes phenomenal reads when attacking. However, Raper is more than capable of finishing with craftiness, hitting an array of in-between shots, or knocking down jumpers from midrange or beyond the arc. He’s a pure gamer and terrific leader by example. Raper is an absolute pest at the point of attack defensively, and anticipates well to force turnovers. He also rebounds very well for his size/position. Expect him to be a major target for college coaches throughout the summer, as he’s quietly one of the more impressive point guards in North Carolina.
6’0 ’27 Bryce Ward (Middleton Hoops)
It’s truly amazing to see how quickly Middleton Hoops has blossomed as an organization across multiple age groups. They have a ton of talent within their program, and Bryce Ward is someone folks should be talking about more over the foreseeable future. He’s an extremely quick, heady point guard who sets the tone on both ends of the floor. Ward possesses a tight handle, sharp playmaking sense, and the ability to consistently generate clean looks for himself and others. His speed in the open floor and quickness off the bounce makes him very difficult for opponents to keep in front. Ward is willing to take what the defense gives him but can also generally get what he wants offensively. He scored at a seemingly constant rate from all levels. Ward showcased a healthy mix of downhill drives, midrange pull-ups, and jumpers from beyond the arc. He sees the floor well and looks to get others involved as much as possible, but doesn’t shy away from open opportunities offensively. On the other end, Ward is a tough, pesky defender whose quickness and anticipation make him problematic for opponents. The value of two-way floor generals will always be high, which should make Ward a player for coaches to monitor closely going forward.
5’10 ’26 Ayden Johnson (CP3 EYCL)
We preach so much about kids playing in a situation that allows them to shine, which is exactly the case with Ayden Johnson and CP3 EYCL. Possibly the quickest guy in the building, Johnson was tasked with dictating the action while actively asserting himself as a scorer from all levels. Between his pesky defense, useful playmaking, and constant scoring pressure, he visibly sets the tone for this group. Johnson is a knockdown shooter who can dismantle defenses with just a shred of open space. He possesses deep range, a quick release, and the ability to hit shots off the catch or bounce. Though he’s normally seen as a shooter and scorer, Johnson highlighted his ability to reliably run a team and create for others. He also defended with energy, forced turnovers, and regularly made plays in transition. Expect Johnson to appeal to college coaches throughout the summer as a leader for this group.
6’1 ’28 Noah Dulin (Team Pittman)
Although some pieces have changed, the newly formed Team Pittman (previously Team FLY) is already back to their status as a well-oiled machine. Various guys stood out across the weekend, but it’s impossible to ignore the strides Noah Dulin continues to make. While he has visibly added strength, Dulin has maintained his blend of shooting, athleticism, and off-the-bounce ability. He hit jumpers, both off the catch and bounce, and appeared comfortable toggling between operating as a creator and threat without the ball. Dulin mixed in a nice array of downhill drives and finishes through contact or at the rim. He utilizes his length well defensively to intercept passing lanes and push the break in transition. Add in his usual rebounding sense, and it’s easy to see the appeal with the two-sport athlete. Folks should anticipate Dulin and Team Pittman to have a notable travel ball season.