By: Miles Masercola
Check out the standouts from the Phenom Grassroots TOC per Miles Masercola
17u:
– Cole Cloer (Team CP3): Cole has a clear and defined role on this team and its paying great dividends to his overall game. He’s out there to hit shots, make things happen in transition, and help have an impact on the glass. His ability to do those things are all at a very high level at this point to go with his upside as an individual creator in the half-court when he picks his spots in that aspect of his game. He looks really really good right now and if this continues his stock will only continue to trend in the right direction.
– Lance Barnes (Upward Stars): Good size for a PG with a well rounded skillset. Does a great job putting the guys around him in positions to succeed while maintaining a good level of aggressiveness when searching for his own offense. Can play in a variety of lineups due to his positional size, strength, and high basketball IQ. Expect him to have a bevy of quality division one options when it’s time for him to make a decision.
– Noah VanBeurden (Carolina Riptide): Smooth playmaker with size and an excellent feel. Comfortable scoring from all over the floor and knows when to exploit mismatches with a smaller or slower defender is guarding him. Does a great job keeping the offense in its flow which is something the Riptide have a ton of pride in as a program. Still uncovering a lot of the ability for everyone to see but he has a lot to like and is someone that could end up having a big summer if the right coaches see him.
– Myles Smith (Charlotte Aces): An unsigned senior coming off of a special high school season at Salisbury as they went on a deep playoff run, Smith is still searching for that next level opportunity. I think he’d be a great late add for a D2 or high level JuCo situation with his natural scoring ability and athleticism in transition. He showed flashes of a real skill from time to time to go with his undeniable productivity in multiple settings and could end up being a real gem by the time his college career is over.
– Will Robinson (Upward Stars Gold): Robinson is a classic bruiser with flashes of modern big man touch. Probably utilized best as a mismatch 5, his ability to blend his force with his touch is a valuable asset to this Upward Gold team. He can make some plays for others out of the short roll or mid-post and is a reliable low post scorer when he gets the touch with a deep seal. Expect a very productive spring/summer for Robinson on the Adidas Gold Circuit.
16u:
– Thomas Vickery (Upward Stars): Unwavering confidence epitomized. Vickery is simply a gamer, ran the show for Upward Stars 16s who had an unbelievable weekend, maybe the best weekend of any program in attendance. Vickery made plays for himself and others when his team absolutely needed it while doing it against elite competition. He has a ton of athleticism and looks to be consistently out-performing guys ranked ahead of him… typically that’s how rankings shift. If he can sustain this, expect him to gather a lot of attention.
– Blake Smith (Carolina Riptide): The younger brother of Myles Smith (from 17u standouts) is carving out his own spotlight as a guard with great size and ability to touch the paint at will. Still finding himself as a player in some ways but he has an undeniable presence defensively and is an excellent guy to have when things break down offensively as he can make shots off the bounce. One to watch!
– Connor Hodgson (Future Prep): Uber confident shooter that has the ability to attack a closeout and make a play when needed. Legit 6’3 with a strong frame. He is a clear leader for this team as well who has won a lot of games at Phenom events so far this spring/summer. Keep an eye out for him as he is the kind of kid to really pop off in Future Prep’s next high profile matchup wherever it may be.
15u:
– Isaac Smith (Team United): One of my favorite prospects to watch from this weekend, this rising sophomore recently grew from 6’3″ to 6’7″ with a smooth and skilled game that will immediately grab your attention. Has really great touch off the bounce or catch, possesses the ability to make things happen with the ball in his hands in transition and looks like he’s not even close to being done growing. On a team that is stockpiled with talented prospects, Smith really stood out to me.
– JJ Sati-Grier (Team United): Probably the most skilled player in the 15u division. Grier came off the bench for Team United but provided an incredible spark and a ton of reliability as a ball-handler. He’s a really special below-the-rim finisher with the ability to get hot from range. An extremely difficult guy to check 1v1, Grier uses that to his advantage to give his team more opportunities for high quality shots. Expect Grier to have a lot of special moments with this very special team.
– Brice Wiersma (Upward Stars): Strong bodied young big with great touch and a real nose for the basketball. Wiersma had multiple big performances this weekend and continued to show that at 6’7″ he can be the most impactful kid on the court. He made timely plays for Upward in their win over Team CP3 and is proving to be one of this teams key pieces early on.