NC TOP 80 EVENT RECAPS
NC Top 80 storylines we’re watching (P.2)
For years Dave Telep ran HIS Carolina Challenge and built it into the premier camp in North Carolina. The camp everyone looked forward to, both players and fans alike. Telep’s camp brought out the best talent, put it under one roof and allowed them to compete in a one-day showcase. Since Telep has moved on, taking on a role with the San Antonio Spurs, the North Carolina Top 80 has picked up the...
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NC Top 80 Storylines we’re watching (P.1)
For years Dave Telep ran HIS Carolina Challenge and built it into the premier camp in North Carolina. The camp everyone looked forward to, both players and fans alike. Telep’s camp brought out the best talent, put it under one roof and allowed them to compete in a one-day showcase. Since Telep has moved on, taking on a role with the San Antonio Spurs, the North Carolina Top 80 has picked up the...
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Possible Breakout Performers at NC Top 80
Every year, the North Carolina Top 80 is an incredible event with such a surplus of talent, which makes it extremely difficult to narrow down the numbers and overall matchups. With the Class of 2019 now getting ready to depart for the college ranks, our main focus will shift towards the current juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. The excitement and anticipation of years Top 80 should fall right...
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Blossoming Power Forward Calls it for Bucknell University
Watching a prospect go from unknown to coveted can be a windy, emotional road, and that’s exactly how Jake van der Heijden describes his experience over the past few years. Over the past year, van der Heijden collected offers from College of Charleston, Columbia, Leigh, Lipscomb, Presbyterian, Western Carolina, and of course, Bucknell. He committed on Sunday to Bucknell and we caught up with the...
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Freddy Johnson Approaches Milestone 1000 Career Wins
Greensboro Day School’s Head Boys Basketball Coach, Freddy Johnson, Approaches Milestone Win #1000 Greensboro, NC — Greensboro Day School’s Boys Basketball Coach, Freddy Johnson, is working towards his 1,000th career win with his next victory. On Tuesday, November 21, the GDS boys’ basketball team defeated Charlotte Latin for Coach Johnson’s 999th career win. With the next victory,...
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Taking the Next Step: Jalen Cone
Taking the Next Step 5’11 ’20 Jalen Cone (Walkertown High School) At Session 2 of the NC Phenom 150 camp, 5’11 ’20 Jalen Cone was once again sensational from all aspects of the game. In three camp games, Cone averaged 25 PPG but did it in a very unselfish fashion. You see, scoring comes easy to the young, talented, athletic and explosiveness point guard. He can score from all three levels. Cone...
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Fayetteville is a Hotbed for Talent Coaches NEED to See
Fayetteville is a Hot Bed for Talent By Jamie Shaw College coaches will fly (or drive) in from around the country and spend their days in certain pockets of North Carolina. Almost everyone goes to Charlotte, many go to Greensboro and some to Raleigh. Daily we, at Phenom Hoops, field phone calls from these coaches who are asking about players they need to see and open gym times of schools in that...
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An Insider’s Take: Jayden Gardner Commits to East Carolina
An Insider’s Take Jayden Gardner Commits to East Carolina By Jamie Shaw Gardner is a monster, he excels at doing the tough guy stuff. Even being shorter than most opponents and a below the rim guy he somehow produces incredible numbers against any and everyone who stands in front of him. When coaches ask about him, my mind goes to one story to best describe Gardner as player. During our North...
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An Insider’s Take: Larry McLeod Commits to Arkansas State
An Insider’s Take Larry McLeod Commits to Arkansas State By Jamie Shaw McLeod is ridiculously explosive. He has been that since he was at Southern Lee, with Team Loaded NC and then on to Bull City Prep. He has always had that game changing type of leaping ability that can flip the momentum of a game on its head. However, during his time at Palm Beach State Junior College, McLeod’s game has...
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An Insider’s Take: Nate Springs Commits to Ohio
An Insider’s Take Nate Springs Commits to Ohio By Jamie Shaw Springs has only been playing basketball for 3 years, and once you let that sink in you begin to see the future is very bright for Springs. Springs has great length and natural athleticism that pops out at you the second he walks into the building. Even still in the infancy of his playing days, Springs has taken leaps and bounds each...
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Isaiah Bigelow Commits to Charlotte
6’6” 2018 Isaiah Bigelow Commits to Charlotte By Rick Lewis We’ve been a fan of 6’5 Isaiah Bigelow of Ben L. Smith for quite some time. We’re talking about a long, lengthy skilled wing guard that can flat “light it up” from deep. And to make matters even better, Bigelow is just starting to scratch the surface on his long range potential. What’s impressive about the highly efficient scoring wing...
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6’9″ 2018 Jaylen Gainey Commits to Brown
6’9″ 2018 Jaylan Gainey Commits to Brown By Rick Lewis Back in 2016, we wrote, “Jaylan Gainey is a Diamond in the Rough.” Just think, in 2015, Gainey was a young 6’5 freshman weighing 135 pounds. He is young for his age and has only been playing organized basketball since the eight grade. Now, he is 6’9 and sports an enormous 7’2 wingspan, but more importantly carries an even more...
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An Insider’s Take: Manny Bates Commits to NC State
An Insider’s Take Manny Bates Commits to NC State By Jamie Shaw 6’10” 2018 Post – Ranked #7 in NCs 2018 Class Make no mistakes about it, Manny Bates is one of the premier shot blocker/rebounders in the country. That statement goes toward the impressive upside of Bates, seeing he is only 17 years old and been playing basketball for only a couple of years. The upward trajectory of Bates has...
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An Insider’s Take: Adrian Delph Commits to Appalachian State
An Insider’s Take Adrian Delph Commits to Appalachian State By Jamie Shaw 6’3” 2018 SG – Adrian Delph came out of no where last season and really took off this summer. Last year at Kings Mountain High School, his first season at the school, Delph filled up the stat sheets averaged 20 points (50% field goals), 7.7 boards and 5.3 assists per game. He is a tough player who provides defensive...
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An Insider’s Take: Elijah McCadden Commits to Georgia Southern
An Insider’s Take Elijah McCadden Commits to Georgia Southern By Jamie Shaw 6’6” 2018 Guard – Ranked #17 in NCs 2018 Class McCadden is good, we know this. However, I think what gets lost is how good McCadden really is. He first walked through our doors as a freshman, playing in the prestigious North Carolina Top 80. That event is invite-only and brings together the best players in the...
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An Insider’s Take: Jaylen Alston Commits to Gardner Webb
An Insider’s Look Jaylen Alston Commits to Gardner Webb By Jamie Shaw 6’3” 2018 Wing – Ranked #27 in North Carolina’s 2018 Class (CLICK HERE TO See NCs Entire 2018 Rankings) It has been a big year for Alston. First off he led his Eastern Guilford High School Team to the North Carolina 3A State Championship Game. Alston averaged 21.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per...
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6’7” 2019 Imajae Dodd – The Production Speaks Volumes
6’7” 2019 Imajae Dodd – The Production Speaks Volumes Greene Central (NC) By Jamie Shaw Finishing 26-2 and making it to the NCHSAA 2A Eastern State Finals, Greene Central experienced their best season in school’s history last season. This was in no small part to then 6’7” sophomore Imajae Dodd, who led the way with a double-double. It was quite an accomplishment to break out from under the...
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6’2” 2018 Malik Johnson – Now is the Time, the Blow Up is Coming
6’2” 2018 Malik Johnson – Now is the Time, the Blow Up is Coming Terry Sanford (NC) By Jamie Shaw By all accounts, Malik Johnson is a natural born winner. As a freshman, sophomore he played in two NCHSAA 3A state championships (winning one) and now as a senior he will be the starting point guard for Terry Sanford, vying for a third trip to the state championship game. He has an innate...
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6’2” 2018 Malik Johnson – Now is the Time, the Blow Up is Coming
6’2” 2018 Malik Johnson – Now is the Time, the Blow Up is Coming Terry Sanford (NC) By Jamie Shaw By all accounts, Malik Johnson is a natural born winner. As a freshman, sophomore he played in two NCHSAA 3A state championships (winning one) and now as a senior he will be the starting point guard for Terry Sanford, vying for a third trip to the state championship game. He has an innate...
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6’6 2018 Jaylen Sims – Positional Versatility
6’6” 2018 Jaylen Sims – Positional Versatility United Faith Christian By Jamie Shaw Jaylen Sims does a little bit of everything on the floor, and it is easy to see why he has picked up 20 offers since April. He is the consummate team mate, easy to thrive in all sorts of situations, depending on matchups. Sims has an athletic body with a lengthy 6’10” wing span which enables him to defend...
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6’5″ 2018 Trey Wertz — Finishing On The Highest Note
6’5” 2018 Trey Wertz Providence Day (NC) By Jamie Shaw Wertz has attended Phenom Hoops’ events for years. Year after year, he has continued his upward climb getting better and better. This has prompted National Analyst Rick Lewis to use the old statement, “it’s not where you start, but where you finish”. Heading into his senior year at Providence Day School, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wertz’...
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Carter Whitt – Playing Chess While Everyone Else is Playing Checkers
Carter Whitt – Player Chess While Everyone Else is Playing Checkers By Jamie Shaw It was two years ago, the first time Carter Whitt stepped foot in a Phenom Hoops Camp. As most people know, since 2004 Phenom Hoops has been the go to camp for exposure, throughout this region. These players have gone on to the NBA, McDonald’s All American Games, College All Americans and everything in...
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Phenom Hoops Alums Play Great in Orlando Summer League
Phenom Hoops in Summer League Orlando Summer League Participating Teams Order of Finish Dallas Mavericks Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Thunder Charlotte Hornets Orlando Magic New York Knicks Miami Heat Phenom Hoop Alums Miami Heat 6’10” Edrice Adebayo (High Point Christian / Kentucky) Game 1: 33 mins – 14 points (6-14 FG / 0-0 3P / 2-3 FT) 10 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3...
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Three NC Phenom Alum Named to USA Men’s basketball U16 Team
Three NC Phenom Alum Named to USA Men’s basketball U16 Team The pinnacle of an athlete’s career, the highest level of achievement, is when you put on your nation’s colors and are afforded the opportunity to represent your country in international play. National championships, state championships, All-American status, they are all incredible accomplishments (and not to be taken lightly) however,...
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David Rose Memorial Day Classic Preview — 6’7″ 2018 Jayden Gardner of Team Loaded NC
This year, Jayden Gardner was awarded NC Basketball Coaches Association All-State 1st Team, Cap-8 Player of the Year, he has over 15 Division 1 basketball offers and he averaged 23 points, 14.8 boards and shot 64% from the field. By all accounts, every possible measurable, Jayden Gardner is a stud hooper. So why is he still falling under the radar' Gardner is a 2-time alum of the prestigious...
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David Rose Memorial Day Classic Preview — 5’11” 2018 Jalen Johnson (Durham Hurricanes)
David Rose Memorial Day Classic Previews 5’11” 2018 Jalen Johnson Durham Hurricanes – Murphy By Jamie Shaw It became quite clear in April that Jalen Johnson was a point guard that college coaches needed to watch immediately. He always had the skill set and toughness, but his confidence had just taken a step to a different, more elevated, level. Johnson is a point guard in every sense of...
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David Rose Memorial Day Classic Preview — 6’5″ 2019 Jace McKenney (Carolina Wolves NC 16s)
David Rose Memorial Day Classic Previews 6’5” 2019 Jace McKenney Carolina Wolves NC 2019 By Jamie Shaw The second the ball is tipped you notice 6’5” sophomore Jace McKenney. His strength and explosion are immediately apparent as he plays a very loud and very powerful game. McKenny, blessed with long arms and an explosive vertical leap plays in non-stop attack mode and above the rim both...
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April’s Regional Blow Ups
We at Phenom Hoops are fortunate the go to scouting eyes in possibly the most fertile ground of talent in the country. NCAA Research came out with a study that showed North Carolina is the #2 and Virginia is the #5 state in the United States with the “Percentage of HS Boys Basketball Players Recruited by a Division 1 School”. In fact 4 of the top 5 states in the study were all on the Eastern...
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David Rose Memorial Day Classic Preview — 6’1″ 2021 Carter Whitt (Team Loaded NC 15)
David Rose Memorial Day Classic Player Previews By Jamie Shaw 6’1” 2021 Carter Whitt of Team Loaded NC 15s It doesn’t take much court time until you notice that Carter Whitt is something special. The way he leads his team, navigates traffic, plays with poise beyond his years, there is something special about the young man and he shows it in every setting against all age groups he plays against....
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David Rose Memorial Day Classic Preview — 5 We’re Looking Forward to Seeing (Part 2)
David Rose Memorial Day Classic Session 1 – May 27 Session 2 – May 28 By Jamie Shaw Who We Are Looking Forward to Seeing (Part 2) 6’ 2018 Chris Barnette NC Runnin’ Rebels Barnette is the consummate point guard, the guy who never turns the ball over, team mates love playing with and shoots over 50% from beyond the arc. He has a great handle and pace on the ball and knows just...
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