This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled to Greensboro Day School in the heart of Greensboro, North Carolina, for our Freddy Johnson Showcase. This event brings us back to the famous Dillard Gymnasium, where we’ve hosted a ton of noteworthy games throughout the years. Saturday was no different. There were multiple highly entertaining contests (including one of the best matchups of the year) and plenty of storylines worth examining. Let’s take a closer look…
Although there are several young pieces throughout this roster, the Eagles are currently led by their battle-tested group of seniors in Jayden Adams, Jalen Sheppard, and Cassius Lee. Each of these three provides their own valuable wrinkle to this group. Adams is arguably the most consistently productive player on the roster. He’s a scrappy, well-rounded piece whose energy and effort lead to constant involvement on both ends of the floor. Adams is capable of dictating the action or playing without the ball. He does a nice job of finding scoring opportunities in transition or within the flow of the offense. Meanwhile, Sheppard is a highly explosive athlete with length and shot-making ability. He’s at his best in the open floor, but is more than capable of finding chances in the half-court. Sheppard poses a constant lob threat and routinely meets opponents at the rim for finishes. Rounding out this trio, Lee stands out as a natural glue-guy and someone who can operate in several different roles. He’s a useful connector who can defend, rebound, and fill in the gaps offensively.
That being said, guys like Adrian Long, JT Williams, and Cavion Stokes represent the future of this program. Although Long is already a junior, he already stands out as a useful two-way piece who can hit shots, defend with toughness, and rebound his position. He finds a ton of success as a spot-up threat who knows how to move without the ball and attack closeouts as needed. Williams is still finding his stride as a main creator and focal point, but truly has as much long-term upside as anyone on the roster. He’s a quick, heady guard with vision, craftiness, and a lot of appeal as a freshman. Lastly, Stokes is a tough, scrappy guard who knows how to make an impact within his role. He can score as needed but mainly stands out through his consistent effort and willingness to do the dirty work.