On Martin Luther King Day, Phenom Hoops traveled to Southern Alamance High School for the 11thAnnual Anthony Francis Perrou Memorial Showcase. There was a quality mix of games on tap, which certainly included the most anticipated contest of the day between Greensboro Day and The Burlington School. The gym was packed from baseline to baseline and we were fortunate to see a phenomenal matchup with two of the top private schools in the area. Greensboro Day has begun to really hit their stride lately, winning each of their last five games and looking closer to full strength with each passing day. Meanwhile, The Burlington School had won seven straight before entering this contest and looked to solidify themselves as a top-tier team within the private school ranks.
Both teams are very poised, patient, and well-coached, which led to a halfcourt battle for most of the game. The first quarter was extremely competitive and provided a taste for how intense this showdown would ultimately become. Greensboro Day secured and maintained a slight lead for most of this game, but The Burlington School simply refused to quit and applied enough pressure to make the Bengals feel somewhat uncomfortable. This was a must-see contest, which Greensboro Day claimed by a score of 69-61 over The Burlington School.
Greensboro Day:
6'3 '21 Carson McCorkle
It goes without saying, but the Virginia commit has continued to earn the reputation as one of the smoothest scorers in North Carolina. He was simply brilliant in this showing, scoring consistently and effortlessly from all over the floor. McCorkle mainly stuck to the fundamentals, knocking down spot-up opportunities, finishing well inside, and going a perfect eleven-for-eleven from the free-throw line. He didn't place as much emphasis on rebounding as he normally does, but his scoring punch was absolutely necessary for this group to secure a win. Final stats: 30 points and 3 assists.
6'5 '19 Noah Dunn
After being sidelined for most of the last calendar year, Dunn has continued to work himself back into basketball shape. Before suffering the injury, he was receiving a ton of interest from higher-level D2s. Now that he's begun to regain his confidence, Dunn looks increasingly likely to get back to his previous form and assert himself as a quality D2 prospect. His unique skillset and ability to cause mismatches continues to be problematic for opponents. Dunn can shoot, penetrate, create, and handle the ball at a reliable rate, and he showcased that throughout this contest. Final stats: 10 points and 6 rebounds.
6'0 '19 Austin Inge
The unsigned senior point guard continues to make his case as a college-level basketball player with his solid two-way contributions for this Greensboro Day squad. Inge makes plays when necessary and understands how to manage the team without making mistakes. He offers a calming presence on both sides of the floor and contains his position quite well. Inge can play at the next level, especially in the right situation, so it'll be interesting to see what schools get involved going forward. Final stats: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal.
The Burlington School:
5'11 '19 Michael Wade
There were times throughout this contest when Wade was simply the best player on the floor. He consistently showed the ability to overwhelm his assignment through utilization of his blindingly-quick first step. Wade scores the ball effectively from all three levels and effortlessly touches the paint. He quite intelligent and offers an excellent balance between scoring and playmaking. At 5-foot-11, Wade outrebounded everyone from the point guard position and pushed transition play at every possible opportunity. His end-to-end speed is simply ridiculous and it's almost unfathomable that he doesn't at least hold five or so scholarship offers at this point. Final stats: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.
6'6 '21 Ja'Dun Michael
There were a lot of talented prospects between these two rosters, but Michael could realistically be the most appealing long-term from either side. He's a special type of player with incredible offensive and physical gifts. Michael can be the primary offensive anchor for a successful team, given his overall unselfishness and ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He is capable of creating for himself (and others) with relative ease and understands how to properly mix it up on offense. It's somewhat uncommon for a player of his size to possess such natural gifts in terms of skill and feel for the game. Michael is also a reliable defender that can actively switch across three to four positions at the high school level. Folks should start going all-in on Michael, as he has all the makings of a big-time prospect. Final stats: 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal.
6'2 '20 Ji'Lil Michael
One can truly argue that Michael's showing against Greensboro Day was among the main driving forces for The Burlington School's late-game comeback. He continually hit shots when the moments mattered most and make multiple intelligent plays down the stretch. Michael is a pretty well-rounded wing prospect that college coaches should start noticing sooner than later, as he's already performing at a college-worthy level. Final stats: 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.