EVENT NEWS
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Player Standouts at Phenom Prep/Post Grad Nationals (Part Two)
6’5 ’26 Cedric Haynes (TD Prep) Despite some ups and downs as a group, it’s impossible to ignore everything Haynes did to propel this team forward. He’s an incredibly strong, physical, polished guard with excellent size and overall ability with the ball in his hands. Haynes scores the ball at an aggressive rate from all levels. He’s able to get downhill with ease and finish above the rim or...
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Phenom Hoops Names Sosuke Watanabe as Southeast Regional Director
Phenom Hoops continues to grow its national presence and strengthen its leadership team, as Sosuke Watanabe has officially been named the Southeast Regional Director for Phenom Hoops. With the platform continuing to expand across multiple regions, the addition of Watanabe represents another important step in Phenom Hoops’ commitment to identifying talent, building relationships, and providing...
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2029 Leila Yandle (Field Force) Shows Confidence and Range
Player: Leila YandleClass: 2029AAU: Field Force The travel ball season kicked off in a big way for Phenom Hoops and Lady Phenom, as teams and players took the court in Rock Hill (SC) to showcase their talent. Our scouts were able to walk away with some new names to start tracking, including 2029 Leila Yandle from Field Force. She ultimately earned MVP honors for her team, helping lead them to a...
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Crowning of Champions: Phenom PG and Prep Nationals
It was an incredible weekend of high-level competition at the Phenom Prep & Post Grad Nationals, as some of the top prep and post-grad programs from across the country battled it out in Rock Hill. Throughout the weekend, teams delivered intense matchups, standout performances, and memorable moments as they worked their way through the bracket. By Sunday, the stage was set for the...
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Summerville Heat Rising to the Challenge this Summer
One of the younger but intriguing teams to keep an eye on this summer will be the Summerville Heat, a group filled with promising prospects in the Class of 2030 who are already beginning to show their potential on the court. With a roster that features a blend of playmakers, scorers, and versatile pieces, this team has the makings of a competitive squad capable of making noise throughout the...
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Media Day Coverage: Fireball Basketball NXT 2027 JG
6’2 | 2027 | Julian Hernandez A knockdown perimeter shooter with deep, unlimited range. Plays with a high level of confidence and is comfortable taking and making shots from anywhere on the floor. Continues to expand his offensive game off the bounce, showing the ability to create and knock down shots both off the catch and off the dribble. Has shown improved pace and control when coming...
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On the Rise: Kam Lucas Highlighting Tons of Appeal
If it’s been said once, it’s been said a million times: timing is everything. This is especially applicable in high school basketball, where players are capable of developing at a gradual pace or transforming overnight. However, each individual has to run their own race. Consider someone like Kam Lucas of KSR Christian Academy, for example. He’s been a talented player with enticing tools for...
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Player Standouts at Phenom Prep/Post Grad Nationals (Part One)
6’9 ’26 Keoni Sacco (Fork Union) Although there are several notable prospects on this roster, the 6-foot-9 big man clearly stands out as a leader and focal point for Fork Union. Sacco is long, athletic, and consistently impacts the game through his nonstop energy. He’s a quality finisher with solid touch around the basket and flashes of floor-spacing ability. Sacco is a terrific rebounder who...
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Bendel’s Best: Phenom Opening
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops kicked off our travel ball season with multiple events: Phenom Opening/Post Grad Nationals and the Beast of the East. Given the amount of talent in the gym, there’s certainly a lot to talk about. Although each of the events featured a variety of notable prospects, we will highlight a handful of my personal favorites from the Opening. Let’s take a closer look… 6’5...
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Sad Sam Pays a Visit to Mooresville
Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the hoop tournament watching Piedmont! The Great One is here to talk about his recent visit to the Mooresville Blue Devils as they prepare for the Ring Round game with Southern Durham. The Sadster spoke with senior team captains, Nolan Ericsson and Christian Wilson, and former West Meck player, fellow senior, Chase McDonald. The Captains were asked about...
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POB’s Standouts on Day 1 of Phenom PG Nationals
2026 6’6 Riak Chol (WS Christian Prep) continues to show why he is an intriguing prospect with his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. At his size, Chol offers versatility, displaying the ability to put the ball on the floor and score off the bounce while also running the floor effectively in transition. He moves well defensively, using his length and mobility to cover ground, and...
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6A NCHSAA State Championship: Strong Second Half earns Northern Guilford a State Title
We continue into the second game of the afternoon, this time as we went into the 6A NCHSAA Division, where Terry Sanford and Northern Guilford met. Two of the top teams in the state looked for a state title on Thursday down in Wednesday, and it was a thrilling matchup. It was a tight battle early on in the first quarter, with Northern Guilford jumping out early, but Terry Sanford being able to...
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2A NCHSAA State Championship: Queen’s Grant Takes Care of Business in Title Game
We headed into Thursday, starting in the 2A Boys Division, where Queen’s Grant and Warren County met for the state title. Queen’s Grant, who came in as the title favorite to start the season, found themselves right where they wanted to be after an impressive overall season and now just being one game away from a championship. But Warren County was hoping to make a lot of noise with a win, as...
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Overlooked College-Level Guys in North Carolina’s Class of 2026 (Part Two)
6’0 Kingston Henry (Harding) Given the massive load he carried this season, it feels like Henry should have more attention from college coaches. He’s a crafty, polished guard with a strong body and the ability to fill it up as an offensive focal point. Henry displays nice creation ability, both for himself and others, but understands how to apply pressure as an off-ball threat. He can heat up...
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Overlooked College-Level Guys in North Carolina’s Class of 2026
5’10 Jordan Walton (Mooresville) Similar to the entry above, it’s perplexing why more coaches aren’t in heavy pursuit of a true point guard like Walton. He’s very smart, tough, and able to consistently generate offense for himself and others. Walton displays a tight handle with the quickness, pace, and change of direction to reliably get where he wants off the bounce. He looks to make the right...
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8A NCHSAA State Championship: Mallard Creek comes up big in Overtime to secure State Title
It was the last game of the night on Wednesday, and it was another thrilling game, as Mallard Creek and Hoggard battled it out on the court. A highly intense game throughout, these teams competed throughout the game. Mallard Creek was able to grab the narrow lead after the first quarter, but Hoggard took back the lead in the second quarter. Mallard Creek answered right back and was able to take...
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1A NCHSAA State Championship: Wilson Prep Captures Title over Robbinsville
We continue on Day 1 for the NCHSAA State Championship Games, with Wilson Prep and Robbinsville matching to take home the 1A State Title. Both teams looked to come out strong and make the first statement, but these teams were quite balanced throughout much of the first half. The game was tied at 12 after the first quarter, and Wilson Prep was able to hold the narrow edge going into halftime,...
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1A NCHSAA State Championship: Vance Charter’s strong third quarter propels to a State Title
The NCHSAA State Championship games got underway, as Vance Charter took on Thomas Jefferson down in Winston-Salem for the 1A State Title. It was a strong game early on, with both teams trading baskets early on and getting their legs underneath them. Gary Wilkins was a force early on to help them gain early momentum in the first half. Thomas Jefferson, though, stayed within striking distance...
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All-District Teams: Who Was Snubbed?
Each year, the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (NCBCA) comes together to form the All-District Teams for the twelve designated districts in North Carolina. Before going any further, it’s implied and understood that this practice is a thankless, imperfect process with no definitively correct answer. However, any list of awards or rankings is subject to scrutiny. It doesn’t...
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Who Will Emerge? Kinston Versus Walkertown
After an exciting week of NCHSAA semifinal games, we have reached the final stop: state championships. All the time, effort, and competition since November have ultimately led to this one game. While there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the realignment of classifications, each of these teams has fought against worthy opponents to reach this stage. Despite restructuring, there is still...
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Sad Sam’s Regional Finals Recap and Ring Round Picks
Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the warm and springy Piedmont! The Sadster is here to recap the Regional Finals and give out his picks for who will get sized for rings and who will dream of next year. The upset trend continued as we saw back-to-back title holder North Meck fall to former Viking and Mooresville Head Coach Armard Moore and his Blue Devils in the 7A West...
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Can Warren County Shock Queens Grant?
After an exciting week of NCHSAA semifinal games, we have reached the final stop: state championships. All the time, effort, and competition since November have ultimately led to this one game. While there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the realignment of classifications, each of these teams has fought against worthy opponents to reach this stage. Despite restructuring, there is still...
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Reoccurring Adversaries: Can Salisbury End Reidsville’s Historic Run?
After an exciting week of NCHSAA semifinal games, we have reached the final stop: state championships. All the time, effort, and competition since November have ultimately led to this one game. While there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the realignment of classifications, each of these teams has fought against worthy opponents to reach this stage. Despite restructuring, there is still...
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The Top Seed and The Underdog: Northern Nash Meets Kings Mountain
After an exciting week of NCHSAA semifinal games, we have reached the final stop: state championships. All the time, effort, and competition since November have ultimately led to this one game. While there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the realignment of classifications, each of these teams has fought against worthy opponents to reach this stage. Despite restructuring, there is still...
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Transfer Portal Highlight: 6’6 Ryan Blount
Player: Ryan BlountClass: SophomoreHeight: 6’6Program: Tampa Stats: 21ppg, 41% from 3, 7.3rpg, and 3.1 apg Talking about another player that should be highly-coveted by D1 programs, 6’6 Ryan Blount announced he has entered the transfer portal, and he should be a hot name for many. Blount was one that Phenom Hoops RAVED about years ago, saying college coaches should be all over this young man....
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2026 NCHSAA State Championship Basketball Games: Top Players to Watch (Part 4)
2026 Nolan Ericson / 2026 Taurean McKinnon (Mooresville) What a ride it has been for Mooresville so far, and I’m looking at two key seniors in this game to step up one more time and lead their team. This is a very balanced attack overall with plenty of weapons, but also a team that plays with a “team” mentality; very unselfish. But Ericson and McKinnon have been a force this season, with Ericson...
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Phenom Hoops Expands to Florida in 2027
Phenom Hoops continues to grow its national presence, and the next stop on the platform’s expansion is the Sunshine State. Beginning in 2027, Phenom Hoops will officially be heading to Florida, bringing its nationally recognized events, media coverage, and exposure opportunities to one of the most talent-rich basketball regions in the country. For years, Phenom Hoops has established itself as...
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Sad Sam’s Weekly Furious 5 for Week Ending 3/7
Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the March Madness, awaiting Piedmont! The Great One is here to give out his latest Furious 5 rankings. States are headed to the finals and, as usual, the F5 title is coming down to the last weekend as well. Last week’s regional action saw the last two years’ Furious 5 champion bite the dust at the hands of this year’s top-ranked squad. ...
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Contrasting Styles: Huss and Fike Prepare for Battle
After an exciting week of NCHSAA semifinal games, we have reached the final stop: state championships. All the time, effort, and competition since November have ultimately led to this one game. While there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the realignment of classifications, each of these teams has fought against worthy opponents to reach this stage. Despite restructuring, there is still...
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Entering a New Era: Mooresville Meets Southern Durham
After an exciting week of NCHSAA semifinal games, we have reached the final stop: state championships. All the time, effort, and competition since November have ultimately led to this one game. While there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the realignment of classifications, each of these teams has fought against worthy opponents to reach this stage. Despite restructuring, there is still...
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