This past weekend, Phenom Hoops wrapped up the summer season in Greensboro, North Carolina with our annual Summer Finale. There was an abundance of talent in the gym, offers were given out, and high-level competition took place per usual. This article will take a closer look at some of the top standouts from the event'
6'0 '21 Jamarii Thomas (New Light Disciples)
The New Light Disciples have been must-see entertainment throughout the summer season, as they have quite a unique style and quality talent at every position. It's easy to become enamored with their gritty, no-nonsense approach, which often starts with their leader and floor general, Jamarii Thomas. He was truly beginning to hit his stride prior to his injury last year, but still fought back and quickly returned to the hardwood without missing a beat. Honestly, Thomas is even better than before in legitimately every facet of his game. He's undeniably hungry and looks to prove doubters wrong each time out, which he's done time and again. Thomas is smart and poised, which allows him to calmly dictate the offensive action as a scorer and playmaker, but also checks all the physical boxes that coaches should be looking for. He's very quick off the bounce, which allows him to relentlessly attack the basket, make plays for others, and finish at the rim through contact. Thomas is also a quality shooter and intense on-ball defender, essentially giving him an edge over a majority of the point guards in North Carolina's Class of 2021. At this point, everyone should be excited about Thomas, as he's a special type of prospect that simply possesses that 'it' factor.
6'4 '19 Noah Dunn (Greensboro Warriors Unsigned Seniors)
When players suffer a major injury, folks tend to forget just'how'effective they were, and Noah Dunn is a perfect example. Here's a guy that was being heavily recruited by various Division I and Division II programs before being sidelined. Dunn put on some weight but has worked incredibly hard to play himself back into shape and has genuinely gotten better (and leaner) every single time we've seen him over the summer. His ability to consistently be the focal point of an efficient offense has made quite the impression over these last few months. Dunn truly plays and approaches the game like a savvy, seasoned veteran. He's such a matchup problem at this stage, as he's far bigger than most wings but way too skilled for most forwards to contain. Dunn has a beautiful three-point stroke that he can regularly utilize off the catch or bounce, but also possesses an incredible amount of craftiness with the ball in his hands. He frequently takes opponents off the dribble and understands how to absorb contact and finish when attacking the basket. Dunn rebounds the ball well and has the necessary knowledge to operate in a variety of different roles on both ends of the floor. He's only going to continue to trend upward, especially given his trajectory over the summer season.
6'6 '20 Darlinstone Dubar (Charlotte Aces)
In all actuality, there might not have been a more talented prospect than Darlinston Dubar in attendance at Phenom Summer Finale. At 6-foot-6 with a high-level blend of guard skills, it's easy to see the appeal with Dubar. He's an impressive scorer that can operate as the primary creator for himself and others with relative ease. Dubar effortlessly lights it up from beyond the arc, but also possesses the necessary craftiness and athleticism to attack the basket whenever he desires. He displays an advanced all-around feel for the game and has the tools to be a walking-mismatch on both ends of the floor. Dubar seemed to continuously stand out for his scoring ability, but it was his passing that made the most lasting impression. He's simply a big-time offensive player with all the tools to become a game-changing defender as well. Dubar has a flurry of HM offers and his showing with the Charlotte Aces made it fairly obvious as to why.
6'0 '20 Jajuan Carr (WBC Elite)
With our last summer event now behind us, it's only appropriate that we give deserving attention to Jajuan Carr, who has been arguably the most consistent two-way player in North Carolina over the last few months. We've written extensively about his talent-level and ability to run a team with poise, intelligence, and leadership by example. He's definitely one of the more perplexing prospects to come through our doors, as he seems to do everything at a high level while carrying himself in a mature, team-first manner at all times, but only holds three scholarship offers. While it's three more than most have, Carr is simply better than other 'highly-touted' point guards in North Carolina's Class of 2020. His ability to touch the paint and make the correct read is truly unparalleled, as he does it with unwavering consistency. Carr is an excellent all-around defender that mirrors his assignment and forces turnovers at a strong rate. He actively pursues and secures rebounds, which allows him to push transition play at every opportunity. There's no real knock on his game, which begs the question: what more do college coaches want from Carr'
6'2 '22 LeBron Thomas (FIBA)
It should come as no surprise to those who have followed Phenom Hoops over the last year, but LeBron Thomas is definitely a prospect that HM coaches need to invest in immediately. He's already the type of leader and young man that coaches should want in their program, but Thomas is even more enticing after eliminating any and all weaknesses in his game. Thomas is a brilliant playmaker with vision, craftiness, and an advanced two-way feel for the game. He defends as well as any point guard in the region and simply has the ability to wear down on his assignment throughout the course of any given game. Thomas is also a noteworthy rebounder that can reliably penetrate and attack the basket literally whenever he wants. That being said, he took his ability to an entirely different level over this past weekend by shooting 8-of-17 from beyond the arc. Thomas was already a prospect deserving of high-level attention, but the addition of a consistent three-point stroke just vaults him into a new territory.