The Phenom Hoops headquarters relocated to Fayetteville for the weekend and discovered quite an impressive amount of talent at our Give God Glory Showcase. Given the amount of talent, we didn't expect there to be an overwhelming amount of high-upside prospects, but there were.

 

6'1 '22 Kamonte Collins (Team TIBF)

Those who have followed Phenom Hoops closely over the last year might recognize the name 'Kamonte Collins' from NC 150 Camp in October, where he jumped onto our radar as a very young, intriguing prospect. Fast forward to May and he's playing up two age groups with Taking It By Force while showcasing his variety of tools. Physically, Collins has a quality frame and has considerable upside as an athlete, but he's still rounding out facets of his game in terms of offensive polish. He has potential as a versatile defender, given his wingspan and ability to pursue the ball. We will certainly keep an eye on Collins as he continues to grow on both sides of the floor.

 

6'9 '20 Myles Evans (NC Empire)

There were many impressive long-term prospect at the high school level, but none of them could match the upside of Myles Evans of NC Empire. It seems like so long ago that Evans suited up at NC 150 Camp, albeit with a much thinner frame and much more to prove. Now, we get to see the 6-foot-9 big man climb his way towards stardom after expanding his abilities on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Evans is still growing, but he's already shown signs of a workable post game and touch out to the three-point line. The defensive end of the floor is where he has the most upside, because if he can add lateral quickness, the sky is the limit for Evans.

 

6'2 '19 Malik Johnson (Flight 22)

In terms of talent, no prospect could match the ability of a motivated Malik Johnson. There were only a handful of times where we saw Johnson turn it on and truly dominate the competition. Offensively, he has three-level scoring ability, but Johnson is usually known for the deep range on his jump shot. Johnson is a plus-level defender when engaged, capable of forcing turnovers and converting them into fast break opportunities. Now slated to attend Word of God next year, Johnson will be under quality coaching and should be able to take a leap on both sides of the floor.

 

6'9 '20 Josiah Shackelford (Hoop State Elite-Rexrode)

The Hoop State Elite-Rexrode squad was one of the most enticing teams on display, given their terrific mix of athleticism and shooting. Josiah Shackelford is atop their list of quality athletes and, at 6-foot-9, he is able to soar above any opponent en route to the rim. Offensively, he is constantly building his skillset, but dunks and energy are his best avenues for points right now. The big man has an incredible motor, which far surpassed any of the opponents Hoop State Elite faced over the weekend. One could argue that Shackelford has as much upside as anyone from this event, and they'd have a legitimate case, considering no player made a bigger impact on the defensive end of the floor. We will be monitoring his progression and recruitment quite closely over these next three months, as Shackelford could become one of the most coveted assets around.

 

6'4 '20 Lemario Wilkerson (NC Empire)

The NC Empire team has enjoyed a constant flow of quality basketball over the last month, and a lot of their success can be credited to Lemario Wilkerson. Standing at 6-foot-4, Wilkerson is a huge matchup problem for opponents; he is long and athletic enough to torment smaller guards but also quick and crafty enough to expose big men on switches. He has just begun to hit his stride over the last few months and is now one of the most intriguing prospects in the state. On one hand, he has the ability to play two or three positions comfortably, however, it's unclear where he's best suited. Wilkerson has the necessary ball-handling and passing to play as the lead guard, the scoring to play off-ball, and the defense-rebounding combination of a forward. There were few prospects who consistently overwhelmed opponents like Wilkerson, but he can be even more dominant upon improving his three-point stroke.