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The Expansion of the Carolina Riptide
Just four years ago, Grant Hodges, Greg Forest, and seven kids from the greater Lake Norman area came together to form the Carolina Riptide. Despite some roster changes over the years, the core grouping of Clay “Smoke” Hodges, Trace Forest, Christian Taylor, and Callahan Reed have remained firmly intact since first forming. Thereafter, the Riptide players could be seen attending various camps...
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Open Gym Report: Lake Norman High School
Not many teams across the state practiced at 8:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day, let alone really attacked the day and improved. One team did. Lake Norman High School. One of my biggest pet peeves that I look for when I attend a practice, is whether or not the players arrive early to get in extra shots and are actually in a sweat ready to go at the actual start of practice. If practice starts at...
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POB’s Eye Catchers: Halloween Havoc/ HoopState League (Part 1)
Michael Dulin 2021 Michael Dulin (Carolina Riptide 2021): Dulin does a tremendous ability blend of scoring and being a playmaker on the court. What makes him so tough on the court is that one can use him in so many ways and his length creates trouble for defenders, as he attacks the basket well but is also unselfish. 2022 Jonathan Foust (RC Kings): Just seemed to have a knack to be around the...
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Evening Standouts at Day Two of Phenom Queen City Showcase
6’6 ’20 Garreth Edgecome (Defenders Elite) The unsigned senior was easily one of the more impressive performers throughout this contest. Edgecome caught heat early on and was able to consistently assert himself as a spot-up threat. He has great size and length, but also understands how to embrace his role without forcing the action on offense. 6’4 ’21 Camren Little (Charlotte Nets...
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Coach Rick’s All Hustle Team “Effort, Energy, and Enthusiasm”
Coach Rick’s All Hustle Team “Effort, Energy and Enthusiasm” No matter the talent level, there’s an old saying. “You can’t teach effort.” There are just some players that have the “Hustle” gene. It’s in their DNA. They know one speed and that’s all out. Simply put, there are players that are wired to play with effort, energy and enthusiasm. Below are the players that we’ve seen countless times...
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Lake Norman scores impressive win over West Rowan
Lake Norman scores impressive win over West Rowan Lake Norman 68 West Rowan 58 Phenom Hoops travelled to Mooresville, North Carolina to cover North Piedmont 3A West Rowan and I-Meck 4A Lake Norman. West Rowan came into the contest with a 9-5 record while Lake Norman sported a 10-6 record. It was a close and exciting game as both teams exchanged leads throughout the first half. Midway through the...
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#PhenomHSJamboree: Miles Early Standouts/Storylines
AJ Smith Leading the Way at Hickory Grove Christian Hickory Grove Christian is a relatively new look roster this season. They lost key contributors Jacori Owens (Combine Academy) and Regin Larson (Graduation/Pfeiffer) but Junior Guard AJ Smith is back and ready to take over. He’s an incredibly difficult player to contain when he’s in attack mode and his leadership ability will called upon this...
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A Closer Look: Carolina Riptide
At Phenom Hoops, we’ve seen a considerable amount of programs come through our doors, but none that represent the team concept better than the Carolina Riptide. For starters, this group has been together throughout the entire process and possesses chemistry that other teams simply can’t match. It all starts with their fiery head coach, Grant Hodges, who has proven to be one of the modest, yet...
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Bendel’s Best: Phenom Summer Havoc
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled back to Rock Hill, South Carolina for the final live period of the summer. We hosted our Summer Havoc from Thursday to Sunday at Comenius, Catawba Ridge, and Nation Ford. There were over one hundred college coaches to walk through our doors and various players received offers across the event. This article will take a closer look at some of the most...
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Early Player Standouts at Phenom David Rose MDC
Capital City Pacers 6’2 ’21 Donavon Martin- The long, athletic wing prospect was pretty productive throughout this contest. He stood out as a primary scoring option on offense and played with consistent aggression on defense. Martin attacked the basket whenever possible and was able to thrive in transition. Carolina Riptide 5’10 ’21 Trace Forest- In many ways, Forest is one of the unsung...
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#PhenomChallengeLive: Miles Magical Five
6’5 2020 Keishon Porter: Team Trezz Porter’s development has been nothing to overlook, standing at 6’5 he can create for himself off then bounce, defend four different positions, and use his incredible athleticism to finish above the rim and defenders in his way. He’s arguably the most important player on this team and showed to everybody once again that he’s a bonafide D1 level talent. 6’1 2020...
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Tennessee Phenom 150 Camp Evaluations: Team 8
Team 8 Coach: Grant Hodges #34: 5’10 ’21 Clay Hodges (Hiddenite, NC) Starting things off, we look at a player that stood out with his unbelievably scrappy, blue-collar approach on both ends of the floor, Clay Hodges. He’s a smart, high-motor point guard that offers a terrific balance of playmaking and three-level scoring. Hodges is like a coach on the floor and will do anything possible...
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#PhenomStayPositive: 16U Gold Championship Game Recap (Carolina Riptide Vs NC Ice)
On Sunday The Carolina Riptide got the better of the NC Ice in the Phenom Stay Positive 16U Gold Championship game in an 80-67 victory that provided an opportunity for both teams to showcase their talents in a major way. The game was really close for the majority of the first half with both teams neck and neck throughout the first half. As the 2nd half got going 5’10 2021 Clay Hodges and...
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#PhenomOpening: Miles Early Standouts
5’10 2021 Clay Hodges: Carolina Riptide Hodges is an incredibly smooth operator at the PG position, constantly willing his way into the teeth of the defense and making the right play. He’s a tough competitor that is always willing to get his hands dirty if it means creating something positive for his team. He and his backcourt mate Callahan Reed are always in sync with one another, making this...
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Phenom Opening Team Preview: Carolina Riptide 16u
Phenom Hoops is heading to North Carolina, bring in one of the best events we have ever had to start the AAU season. Check out some of the players in attendance.
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Afternoon Standouts at Tennessee Phenom 150 Camp
#34- 5’10 ’21 Clay Hodges- The high-motor point guard simply knows how to make his presence felt at all times. He plays convincingly hard on defense and is capable of setting the tone on that end of the floor. Hodges looks to make the right play whenever possible and will do anything to provide his team with an edge. #64- 6’1 ’21 Brandon Brown- Though somewhat reserved, the wing prospect has...
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North Carolina Phenom 150 Session 2: Evaluation Team 8
North Carolina Phenom 150 Session 2: Evaluation Team 8 Team 8 Coach: Dre Simmons #9:5’8 ’22 Percy “PJ” Wyatt (Richmond, VA) Starting things off, we look at a player with an impressive feel for the game, given his age, Percy “PJ” Wyatt. He’s a young point guard prospect that maintains a strong motor and nonstop team-first approach. Offensively, Wyatt showed the ability to score on...
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NC Phenom 150 Session 2: Coach Thread’s Standouts
No. 18 5’10 2020 Adrian Suffren (Charlotte, NC) Suffren is a tough guard that handles the ball really well. He was a blur on the court today getting out in transition and finish really well at the rim. He is also really good on the defensive end. Moving his feet and stay in front of his opponent. Has great hands and gets a lot of deflections playing in the passing lanes. No. 21:...
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#PhenomCP3 Morning/Early Afternoon Standouts
We got a lot of the young guys over at Proehlific Park today! Chris Sause, Kedrick Flomo, Myself, and many others will be bringing you all of the action from over here today! Let’s take a look at some of the top performers! 5’9 2021 Clay Hodges: Carolina Riptide/Lake Norman Hodges is such a consistent performer for this Carolina Riptide group in the way he sets the tone with...
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#PhenomDavidRose Day One Mid-Day Standout’s: Ben L Smith Court One
Well well well… another David Rose Memorial Day Classic, another viral moment. Since the last article I wrote that Treyvon Byrd play has amassed nearly 100K views on various social media platforms and this event continues to live up to the hype when it comes to jaw dropping moment in a fantastic annual tradition. ICYMI:<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”...
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