This past weekend, Phenom Hoops concluded our final event of July with our PHL Finals. The two-day event featured an impressive mix of Division I, II, and III (in addition to JUCO and NAIA) prospects. Although coaches finished up most of their recruiting trips over the last few weekends, there was still a slew of intriguing pieces throughout the tournament. Among those pieces is Ja’Nolan Mathis of Keenan and Upward Stars Columbia. Let’s take a closer look…
Although he’s already quite productive and able to make his presence felt on the court, Mathis is truly just beginning to harness his long-term gifts. He’s an extremely long, fluid athlete with flashes of versatility and the ability to cause matchup problems on both ends of the floor. Mathis highlights solid scoring polish from multiple levels and doesn’t shy away from physical play around the basket. He appears somewhat skinny but actually has the wiry build to battle with opponents around the basket. Mathis is capable of defending multiple positions and forcing turnovers at a solid rate. Offensively, he has the tools to play with or without the ball in his hands. Mathis is a capable finisher and floor-spacing option who knows how to find opportunities as a cutter. The flashes are encouraging, and additional strength and skill development would make him a real nightmare for opponents.
Going into the upcoming high school season, Mathis should be expected to take another step in his progression. Keenan is a program known for its ability to produce college and professional-level talent over the years. Fortunately, Mathis’ unique blend of skills and physical tools should make him a matchup problem for opposing wings and forwards. Expect him to turn heads and attract college coaches throughout the next calendar year.