The Phenom Hoops crew’s back at it again with another successful camp. Session Two of the NC Phenom 150 has been ongoing all day. Here are my standouts from the first few games of the day on Court 3.
No. 107, 6'3' 2019 Brevin Goodlett – North Rowan HS (Spencer, NC)
The strong, senior guard plays with a full head of steam and gives all opponents trouble with his CONSTANT hustle around the rim. Some hustle guys tend to get out of control at times but Goodlett shows a great capability of playing at his own tempo without any issues. He has good strength and body control to physically take guys to the rim in either direction, draw fouls, and grab own misses at will. He's a fierce offensive rebounder only at 6'3.' Goodlett didn't really take any jump shots; something he will have to show in order to keep defenders honest.
No. 122, 6'3' 2021 Lucas Taylor – Heritage HS (Raleigh, NC)
One of the best defenders during the morning, Taylor came on the court as a big time spark plug for his squad. The young wing has great energy, mobility, and length to consistently bother guys with the ball. Showing a tendency to spot up for long range looks (especially in the corner), I think he can develop as a productive ‘3&D' player. The game has started to see an evolution of these such players in recent years especially. Taylor doesn't have a fast release, however, and will need to keep working to get it off quicker against bigger defenders. High ceiling as a sophomore.
No. 135, 6'4' 2020 Jayden Beloti – Apex Friendship High (Apex, NC)
Playing as a combo guard, the Apex native has a good frame and height on him to aid in getting to the rim over smaller defenders. His playmaking for others also stands out greatly. Beloti excels the most in the open floor; he can operate as a one-man fast break and also find others cutting toward the rim. He threw down a couple of dunks as a result of his off-ball game and running the floor. When off of the ball, he does a smart job of moving around the perimeter and paint area. His shot still needs work in a more fluid release.
No. 166, 6'7' 2019 Nate Dunlop – Augusta Christian (Graniteville, SC)
Similar to Goodlett, the bouncy forward competes with great energy and aggression. Once Dunlop gets a clear opening, expect him to rise up and try to flush it. He shows nice skill in using a variety of shot fakes and pivots. He crashes the glass hard on both ends and scores on a number of put-backs by patiently using his strength. His way of looking to make the right play in a non-forceful way also impresses. Right now, Dunlop has a pretty solid-looking shooting form but must continue to work on his touch to knock more attempts down. The mechanics are there; just will require more and more reps.
No. 172, 6'8' 2020 Jeremyah McWilliams – New Life Christian Academy (Spring Lake, NC)
The power forward is still working into his body but shows great potential as a versatile defender and rebounder. McWilliams has a natural feel on the defensive end, using his height and wingspan well to pick off steals and contest shots. His motor doesn't jump off of the page at the moment but he definitely can produce on the glass and inside when he gets in a rhythm. He will need to keep adding on muscle and improve his lateral quickness to take his game farther. Developing a reliable mid-range game (which he shows some flashes of), will also make the game a lot easier for him.