Brandon's Takeaways: #PhenomCapCityJam
Our Cap City Jam featured eight of the top high school programs in all of the Carolinas going at it, in front of a packed crowd mixed with spectators and colleges coaches from around the country.
Let's examine some key points that stood out after an afternoon of action-packed rim-rocking hoops!
1. Charlotte Christians best basketball is ahead of them
It sounds kind of odd focusing on the future when dealing with a roster that features a majority of Juniors, but that is indeed the case for the Knights out of the Queen City. Coach Brown's unit features a talented backcourt led by a couple of late bloomers, 2019's J.C. Tharrington and Efosa U-Edosomwan have taken major strides over the last several months. Tharrington is a silky smooth floor general with next level basketball I.Q. At this stage; offensively Tharrington is a sharpshooter from deep, he attacked Spring Valley's guards off the dribble and got to the cup effectively, Tharrington is also capable of breaking down defenses with crisp pinpoint passes.
Edosomwan is more of a combo guard he can create off the dribble or playoff ball and score the rock. At 6'2 Edosomwan is long and has an athletic frame which allows him to guard multiple positions on the wing. This dude was in full attack mode at Ben Lippen, and it seems Edosomwan is just scratching the surface on his game.
These two guys along with 2019 Paul Hudson, and 2020's Logan Jones and Luke Drees give Charlotte Christian a lot to look forward to, but at (9-4) there is also a lot to like presently.
2. Eric Moulds is Super effective off ball
It was impressive to watch Moulds movement all over the floor without the basketball, this dude will never get caught stagnant.
Moulds utilizes screens and solid footwork to get himself open for easy jumpers, at 6'2 he has a quick and fluid release. Division II programs should be looking hard at Moulds, his scoring ability could be a late boost to any 2018 class. Moulds showed confidence when he put the rock on the floor and attacked the cup as well against a loaded Hartsville backcourt.
On the year Mould's averages 12 points along with five dimes, which shows there is potential at either guard spot at the next level. Nation Ford will play one of the toughest schedules in all of SC so the unsigned senior will have plenty of opportunities to deliver on some big stages.
Bob Jones University has shown strong interest, after Moulds performance at the showcase his phone should ringing a little more than before.
3. Trae Hannibal and Hartsville are even better than advertised!
This group is full of athletes that live above the rim and the leader of the bunch is 2019 6'2 Trae Hannibal.
This dude is an absolute dog and Hannibal really knows how to put on a show, in front of Frank Martin and many others he decided to throw a pass to himself off the glass and finish it with a one-handed tomahawk. Hannibal literally shut the gym down and respectively picked up an offer from Oklahoma State after the Cap City Jam.
6'3 2018 Jontavius Blakney also put a poor soul on a vicious poster, Blakney caught a nice dime off a backdoor cut and punished his man at the cup.
2018 6'7 Kyron Gray may have the most long-term upside out of everyone, Gray's natural athletic ability, length, and motor give him scary potential.
At 6'7 Gray can defend the one through four and although he is still raw offensively Gray is still a walking mismatch. Against Nation Ford Gray was extremely effective around the basket, he also rebounded the rock aggressively in front of dozens of scouts.
6'7 2021 Cesare Edwards is one of the top freshmen in the state of South Carolina, he is already polished offensively and can score at all three levels. Edwards has serious range on the J and he isn't trigger shy, the young forward is also a reliable option in the paint. Edwards versatility and length allow him to cause havoc defensively, as he grasps the game more Edwards could evolve into a nice two-way player.
4. Myles Tate is deserving of National consideration
Myles Tate is held as the top prospect in the class of 2020 for the state of South Carolina in most circles. As a Sophomore, he's the leader of the 5A defending state champions that are ranked as the top squad in SC. At point guard, Tate is Dorman High's most important player and that is something he understands well. The youngster doesn't get rattled in any situation and as an underclassman, he wants the ball in the winding seconds to decide the game.
With his team trailing the number one team in 4A Wilson HS, Tate nailed consecutive deep balls to force OT where he guided the Cavaliers to a major victory. Schools like South Carolina and Ohio St are already taking notice and showing strong interest. Tate has been a commodity in the Southeast since eighth grade and he has continued to progress over the last two years. This summer Tate really impressed on the Adidas circuit with Team Loaded. Dorman looks primed for another title run and it appears Tate is prepared to lead the way, Tate will run any system and rarely turns the ball over. It's truly special to see a player his age with such a calm and mature demeanor.
