It’s no secret that the state of North Carolina is filled with an overabundance of basketball talent. Though it seems like a positive thing at first glance, this surplus makes it easy for teams or individuals to get overlooked by the masses. The shoe-sponsored programs, coupled with the emergence of countless “circuit” teams, have consumed a sizable portion of the talent pool. However, there are still plenty of underrated squads worthy of attention—including BMSA Myers. They have multiple pieces who should appeal to college coaches, but an entire roster of tough, physical guys who know how to compete. Let’s take a closer look…
So much of their success starts with Bray Hubbard, an obvious target for next-level programs, and his production as a leader on both ends of the floor. At 6-foot-5, he possesses a terrific frame with length, fluidity, and quality athleticism. Hubbard is a quality penetrator and smooth perimeter shooter with the ability to hit jumpers off the catch or bounce. He applies pressure as a finisher, both through contact and above the rim, but also identifies cutters and open shooters when attacking. Hubbard burdens a lot of the creation duties, but is more than comfortable operating as a cutter, exploiting seams within zones, and finding opportunities in transition. He’s a switchable defender with the instincts and physical tools to toggle between multiple positions. Hubbard rebounds his position well on both ends of the floor. Given all the ways he shines as an all-around leader, expect college coaches to get involved sooner than later.
Similarly, Ely Phillips has shown the ability to bear a heavy load for this group. He’s a capable creator with the handle, vision, and scoring prowess to consistently generate offense with the ball in his hands. Phillips mixes it up well from all levels, highlighting a healthy blend of downhill drives, midrange pull-ups, and jumpers from beyond the arc. He shows flashes of playmaking instincts and provides solid activity as an on-ball defender. Phillips is also able to secure rebounds and push the break in transition as needed.
Guys like Donald Jackson, Korrell Griffin, Elijah Gordon, and Brayden Harewood consistently find ways to make contributions. Jackson is a useful initiator with a solid passing and scoring ability. He knocks down jumpers, touches the paint at a quality rate, and defends with great energy. Griffin is a nice hustle piece who understands how to fill in the gaps and expand his production as needed. Gordon plays hard and does a lot of the dirty work. Harewood displays the length, athleticism, and versatility to make plays with or without the ball in his hands. Furthermore, pieces like Braylon Currie, John Lusiana, Sodienye Fubara, and Jeremiah Daniels find ways to make an impact within their respective roles on both ends of the floor.