This past weekend, Phenom Hoops kicked off our travel ball season with multiple events: Phenom Opening/Post Grad Nationals and the Beast of the East. Given the amount of talent in the gym, there’s certainly a lot to talk about. Although each of the events featured a variety of notable prospects, we will highlight a handful of my personal favorites from the Opening. Let’s take a closer look…
6’5 ’30 Khyri Tomlinson (St. James)
Some players simply possess an “it” factor, and that clearly applies to Khyri Tomlinson. Although we spoke extremely highly of him as a sixth-grader nearly two years ago, it’s unbelievable to see his evolution as a player. After establishing his foundation as an all-around piece with a destructive motor, excellent feel, and phenomenal physical tools, he’s morphed into a legitimate matchup nightmare. Now bigger, stronger, and taller, it’s rare to find any opponents who can actually guard him. Tomlinson is so physically overpowering when attacking the basket that fouling him is often the opposing team’s best course of action. Double-teams, triple-teams, sending extra help on the catch (and drive)…none of it works. He barrels through anyone standing in his path to put constant pressure on the rim, yet isn’t reckless enough to put himself in foul trouble. Naturally, people will assume that his physical advantages won’t last as he plays older competition. He played up two age groups. Even if he played up three, it’s difficult to envision anyone stopping him. Despite being able to get to the basket virtually whenever he wants, Tomlinson is more than just a physical specimen. He’s very skilled, it’s just not as evident as him throwing defenders in the bleachers. Tomlinson is a brilliant passer who sees the floor really well and makes sharp reads with the ball in his hands. He can initiate the action, but also finds a ton of opportunities cutting, posting up (both on the low block and mid-post), and attacking from the wing. Tomlinson has a quality jumper with smooth mechanics that he can utilize as needed. He’s also a tenacious rebounder who outworks and outmuscles opponents to control the glass. Should he continue on his current trajectory, Tomlinson will be one of the top prospects in the country.
6’6 ’28 Kam Lucas (KSR)
It’s not totally uncommon to see players who have “all the tools” to become a noteworthy prospect, but it’s difficult to think of many guys in North Carolina with more long-term appeal than Kam Lucas. He’s the type of player who can actually decide how good he wants to be. At 6-foot-6 with length, pop, natural instincts, and an intriguing skillset, there’s already so much to like. Lucas is a fluid, explosive athlete who plays hard, flies around on defense, and rebounds his position exceptionally well. His ability to do a lot of different things on the court makes him undeniably impactful. Lucas wreaked havoc at the top of the press to force turnovers while setting the tone on the glass, consistently pushing transition play, and making smart decisions with the ball in his hands. He’s a switchable defender who can guard multiple positions, both up and down a lineup, with relative ease. Lucas is a well-rounded offensive piece who showed the ability to create his own shot, set up others, and consistently exploit zone defenses with his polish 15 feet and in. He can also attack from the wing, initiate the offense, or space the floor at a nice rate. Furthermore, Lucas stood out as a real leader who set the tone with his energy, unselfishness, and communication. Folks should be eager to follow his progression.
6’0 ’30 Brody Johnson (Durham Hurricanes)
Though several guys from this roster consistently warrant attention, Brody Johnson always seems to stand out through his ridiculous motor and physicality. He’s one of the few players who can dominate a game without ever needing to score. Johnson’s full-throttle approach allows him to wreak havoc defensively, rebound the ball at a high level, and work his way into scoring opportunities. That being said, he’s a very well-rounded offensive piece who can operate in various types of roles. Johnson excels at getting downhill, utilizing his phenomenal frame and athleticism to put excellent pressure on the rim, and finishes well through contact. He’s a respectable shooting (and cutting) threat with the handle, vision, and feel to make plays with or without the ball in his hands. Although he has a lot of translatable skills, Johnson’s uniquely high motor and rugged nature is what separate him from his peers.
6’0 ’29 Ricardo Oriol (Apex Spurs)
Despite his unassuming look, it doesn’t take long to recognize that Ricardo Oriol is a very smooth, polished player. He’s a wiry guard who knows how to completely command an offense as the main creator. Oriol displays a crafty handle, sharp vision, and the ability to apply efficient scoring pressure in a variety of ways. He handles the ball with poise and reads the floor effectively when attacking off the bounce. Oriol can knock down three-pointers, apply pressure in the midrange, or finish with craftiness around the basket. He’s capable of playing without the ball, but clearly proved to be the main source of offense for this group. Oriol is also a pesky defender with nice instincts in the passing lanes. Given all the ways he stood out as a leader and focal point, it’s easy to see his appeal.
5’11 ’31 Cruz Webb (St. James)
Although it might seem shocking to see a seventh-grader appear on a list mainly consisting of high school players, there are plenty of reasons why Cruz Webb is a prospect worthy of attention. Like his teammate above, he played up several age groups (three) yet didn’t seem deterred or overwhelmed at all. Webb’s individual production from this weekend probably won’t explode off the page, but you can see what makes him different from his peers. Already possessing great size for his age and position, Webb is a legitimate point guard who knows how to run a team with exceptional poise and patience. He sees the floor incredibly well and is already capable of making basically every type of pass. Webb has a tight, crafty handle and understands how to take care of the ball. He processes quickly, identifies openings early, and reliably puts the ball in scoring positions. Webb is a capable shooter and penetrator, but the scoring prowess will come with time. Right now, the little things arguably stand out the most. Webb is also a scrappy defender with great instincts at the point of attack. Expect him to trend upward over the foreseeable future.