This past weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual Stay Positive Showcase in Kernersville, North Carolina. Although we only had games on Friday and Saturday, there was still an abundance of overall talent in the gym. We caught all the action on Friday, including a closer look at Dub Salem—a squad that has an intriguing mix of developing prospects. Coach Whit Holcomb-Faye has a variety of pieces who could potentially warrant attention on this younger squad. Let’s highlight some of the main pieces within the roster…
The guard duo of 5’11 Solomon Shirey and 5’10 Jordan Jacobson handle a lot of the ball-handling responsibilities for this group. Shirey is a very scrappy, energetic guard who does a lot of the dirty work. His constant energy allows him to impact the game without needing to necessarily score a ton of points. Shirey is a capable penetrator and finisher with a willingness to make the kickout to an open teammate when available. He also provides a useful defensive presence with the strength and toughness to guard bigger or more athletic opponents. Meanwhile, Jacobson is a smart guard with a strong, compact frame and useful playmaking sense. He’s at his best when attacking downhill, especially in transition, and putting pressure on the basket. Jacobson sees the floor well as a passer and finishes effectively for his size. He’s also a pesky on-ball defender.
Guys like 5’11 Josh Caldwell and 6’0 Caden Bregu also carry a sizable load for Dub Salem. Caldwell consistently highlighted the ability to finish through contact or score in various ways off the bounce. He’s a capable shooting threat who can get to his spots in the midrange or convert difficult/off-balance buckets around the basket. Caldwell is a solid athlete who anticipates well to secure rebounds and make plays defensively. Meanwhile, Bregu is a steady, well-rounded piece who operates well within the flow of the action. He can do a little bit of everything and expand his production as needed.
Although they have a variety of additional pieces, 6’3 Riley Lail stood out through his consistent involvement on both ends of the floor. He’s a capable shooting threat with nice size and the ability to spot-up or make plays off the bounce. Lail showed the ability to mix it up from all levels offensively while offering activity as a rebounder and defender. Add in their missing pieces, and it’s easy to see this group continuing to trend upward over the coming months.