This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled to the former Upward Stars Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for our annual Memorial Day Classic. Although this event typically features an overabundance of teams, this iteration actually provided the opportunity to get a deeper, thorough analysis of several programs and individual prospects. Like always, we will highlight five personal favorites from the event. Let’s take a closer look…
6’4 ’30 Dante Kirksey (Team KST)
Quite clearly the most enticing long-term prospect in the building, Dante Kirksey legitimately has the tools to be a potential star. The game is so effortless for him that it’s unclear if he’s even aware of how special he could be. Only an eighth-grader, Kirksey is already a walking mismatch with the size, skill, and athleticism to dominate opponents in several different ways. At 6-foot-4, he possesses a rare level of polish and refinement in his skillset, specifically as a perimeter player, and is able to do a lot of impressive things with the ball in his hands. He’s an extremely smooth creator with the twitch, craftiness, and three-level scoring prowess to get seemingly any shot he wants. Kirksey is capable of filling it up in a variety of ways. He’s largely unstoppable when getting downhill and attacking the basket, but also appears very comfortable applying pressure from midrange or beyond the arc. There isn’t a shot he doesn’t like, probably because nearly anything he attempts seems to find its way through the net. He’s a willing passer who sees the floor well, but looks to assert himself as often as possible. Kirksey is a quality rebounder with a magnet-like attraction to the ball. He has serious upside as a defender as his motor increases, but already displays the natural instincts to force turnovers. There are tons of talented young players, but guys like Kirksey are rare. Should he continue to progress, he has all the tools to be among the top prospects in the country.
6’3 ’27 Jayden Evans (Chattanooga Elite)
It’s always rewarding to see new next-level talent from outside of our usual area, which certainly includes Jayden Evans and his cohorts from the Chattanooga Elite squad. Despite some ups and downs as a team, there was a lot to like about the way he led this group on both ends of the floor. Evans is a very smooth, polished all-around offensive piece who reliably dictates the action as a main creator, moves without the ball, and applies consistent scoring pressure from all levels. He shoots the ball at a high level from beyond the arc, picks his spots in the midrange, and puts pressure on the basket whenever possible. Although he often operates as the main creator, Evans’ ability to knock down jumpers at a high clip allows him to seamlessly find success as an off-ball option. In addition to his ability to fill it up as a scorer, he displays sharp vision and strong playmaking instincts to set up others. Evans makes smart, unselfish decisions, yet also knows when to assert himself and take over a game. He’s a terrific rebounder and useful defender whose size allows him to toggle between multiple positions. Evans should be an obvious target for scholarship-level programs.
6’3 ’27 Fabian McClintock (Upward Stars Upstate)
Although we’ve seen Upward Stars Upstate several times during the travel ball season, it seems like Fabian McClintock always seems to stand out through his nonstop production. Regardless of setting or opponent, he simply knows how to make his presence felt. McClintock possesses IQ, positional size, and the versatility to apply pressure in a healthy variety of ways. He truly scores the ball from all levels, showing the ability and understanding of how to properly attack defenses based on what they give him. McClintock utilizes his strength to regularly post up smaller players, where he displays the touch, footwork, and creativity to finish, hit turnarounds, or pivot his way into a favorable shot. He knocks down jumpers at an efficient rate from midrange and beyond the arc, and will also attack the basket whenever available. Between his shot volume and ability to score in basically every possible way, McClintock mixes it up extremely well to keep defenses guessing. He’s also a strong rebounder for his size with the ability to push the break and make plays in transition. McClintock is a switchable defender and useful playmaker who appears comfortable in various roles. Expect him to attract a lot of college coaches over the next few months.
6’4 ’28 Kaleb Griffin (Savannah Mavericks)
Clearly one of the most impressive and productive performers on display, it’s impossible to ignore everything Kaleb Griffin did to lead this Savannah Mavericks squad. He’s strong, physical, and efficiently fills it up as a scorer. Griffin is an exceptional penetrating threat who can get downhill and put pressure on the rim whenever he desires. It didn’t seem to matter whether he attacked in transition or the half-court, no one was able to stop him from getting to the basket. Griffin is a terrific finisher who plays above the rim and very well through contact. He’s a strong two-way rebounder who routinely capitalizes on second-chance points and turns normal transition play into fast-break opportunities. Griffin is a smart, willing passer who sees the floor well and looks to get others involved as much as possible. He can knock down jumpers at a respectable rate, but still looks to play to his strengths as a penetrator. Griffin is also a reliable defender with the length, instincts, and athleticism to cause problems for opponents. It’ll be fascinating to follow his progression over the next twelve months.
6’1’ 27 Kayson Dawson (Upward Stars Pee Dee)
It’s no secret that the Upward Stars program has such a depth of talent that we regularly see notable players emerge from Upstate, Columbia, and Pee Dee (among others), and Kayson Dawson certainly fits that bill. He’s a very crafty shot-maker with excellent length, polish, and ability with or without the ball in his hands. Dawson heats up quickly and is capable of filling it up from all levels in a hurry. He’s a knockdown shooter with the ability to pose a lethal spot-up threat or consistently generate clean looks off the bounce. Dawson will gladly apply pressure from beyond the arc if opponents allow, but he often mixes in a nice blend of midrange pull-ups and downhill drives to keep defenses guessing. He welcomes and embraces big moments. Additionally, Dawson competes with energy defensively, rebounds his position, and makes smart passes to set up others. He clearly stands out as a leader for this group, and his general polish and scoring ability should definitely appeal to college coaches looking to bolster their roster.