Devon Dotson has quickly risen from obscurity to a Top 25 player in the country and will carry a heated high major recruiting battle.
Our first time watching Dotson was at our NC Jr Phenom 150 camp in February of 2013. There we wrote: “Dotson has an advanced skill set blended with athleticism that will make him one of the top players in his class in NC. He was one of the top 5 performers in camp and one of the best ball handlers/playmakers at this level. He was a “lockdown” defender and can make shots at all levels on the court.”
Our first time watching Dotson in the school ball setting was later in 2013, as Dotson started his 8th grade year. We went to lunch with Muggsy Bogues, who was then the coach at United Faith Christian Academy in Charlotte, NC. After we finished eating, Muggsy urged us to come with him and watch his middle school team, that he had a couple of high level players. We went over to watch the team play, and Dotson put on a show that day.
Fast forward to the summer of 2015. Dotson is a main stay as the starting point guard for Team Charlotte. The same Team Charlotte team that won the Under Armour Finals, behind the play of Dotson. Dotson carried that success into his high school season.
Currently Dotson carries offers from Clemson, Georgia, Rutgers, Tennessee, Charlotte, and others. He is being recruited by the traditional blue bloods, having taken multiple visits to the likes of Kentucky and North Carolina. As soon as updated rankings come out, Dotson should be ranked by all services among the Top 25 players in the country.
Dotson leads with his toughness. Defensively, he locks in his man for 94 feet. He has a tenacity and plays with a huge, very noticeable, chip on his shoulder. He has a lightning quick first step, who gets him into the lane at will. Once in the lane Dotson is a developing decision maker. He makes great reads, and delivers passes on time. Dotson, sets the tone and is a winner.
A rapid maturation is also taking place for Dotson. During the Phenom National Showcase, Dotson played against two national level teams, Oak Hill and Mountain Mission. While extremely talented, he was sped up by the pace and occasionally let emotions get into his game. Fast forward two weeks to the Charlotte Hoops Challenge. He again played against two (2) national level teams, Word of God and High Point Christian. Instead of playing at the game’s pace, Dotson dictated the pace of the game. Instead of letting his emotions get the best of him, he channeled that into his defense.
It has been fun to watch his maturation over the last six (6) months. There is still room to grow, and we have no doubt that he will continue to grow. Without question, he is among 2018s best point guards in North Carolina, in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and in the U.S.