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Why Alex Pissis Should Be a Priority for Division I Coaches
There are so many attributes that define a basketball player. Whether size, shooting, defense, rebounding, or various other traits, there are several things coaches desire and choose to pursue. However, a player’s mentality is arguably as significant as anything. Certain players are simply wired different, and that can usually be seen on the court. Take Alex Pissis, for example. He’s a new name...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 14
Team 14 Coach: Dre Simmons #4: 5’0 ’30 Lawrence Rouse (Hickory Ridge) Starting off, we look at a player who consistently made the most of his opportunities on the court, Lawrence Rouse. He’s a young, scrappy guard who plays with a high motor and operates within the flow of the action. Rouse defended with energy, pursued loose balls, and knocked down open jumpers. Next in his development process...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 13
Team 13 Coach: Ethan Reece #3: 4’11 ’30 Liam Primus (Franklin Academy) Starting off, we look at a player who made a quality impact despite being one of the smallest campers on display, Liam Primus. He’s a skilled, unselfish guard prospect with quickness and smooth perimeter shooting ability. Primus was able to attack off the dribble and finish around the basket, but was arguably at his best in...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 12
Team 12 Coach: Kelvin Mills #2: 4’6 ’31 Landon Norman (Elkin) Starting off, we look at a player who found ways to make an impact despite being the smallest camper in attendance, Landon Norman. He’s a young, scrappy guard prospect with a high IQ and unselfish approach to the game. Norman hit shots, battled defensively, and attacked closeouts as needed. Next in his development process is working...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 11
Team 11 Coach: Tyler Lewis #10: 5’4 ’29 Logan Warren (Meadowlark) Starting off, we look at a player who consistently stood out through his all-around abilities, Logan Warren. He’s a smart, tough, well-rounded guard prospect with a high motor and unselfish approach. Warren scored with efficiency from all levels, created for others at a strong rate, and overwhelmed opponents defensively. He also...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 10
Team 10 Coach: Jared Grady #37: 6’1 ’27 Cayden Simmons (Reagan) Starting off, we look at a player who showcased an impactful identity on both ends of the floor, Cayden Simmons. He’s a smart, polished, well-rounded guard prospect who can dictate the action on offense while setting the tone defensively. Simmons scores from all levels, sets up others, and makes hustle plays at a quality rate. He...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 9
Team 9 Coach: Michael Wilson #23: 5’7 ’27 Gabriel McLeod (Hoke County) Starting off, we look at a player who showcased nice balance when dictating the action, Gabriel McLeod. He’s a scrappy, unselfish point guard prospect with a high motor and strong feel for the game. McLeod handles the ball well and understands how to create for himself and others. He’s a reliable penetrator and midrange...
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Cooper’s Notes: HoopState Fall League East Week 3
6’5” 2025 Christian Ananaba (Team Raleigh) Ananaba has been on a steady development track over the past few years and has earned an offer from Johnson C. Smith and a bevy of interest from scholarship programs. His athleticism, toughness, and ability to impact seemingly every possession is impossible not to notice. He made winning play after winning play while averaging 22 points per game on...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 8
Team 8 Coach: Austin Collins #22: 5’7 ’27 David Hicks (South Granville) Starting off, we look at a player who stood out through his defense and playmaking sense, David Hicks. He’s a smart, unselfish guard prospect with reliable creation skills and a high motor. Hicks is a capable scorer from all levels, but is clearly at his best when getting downhill and attacking the basket. He looks to make...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 7
Team 7 Coach: Chris Ewell #6: 5’2 ’28 Jeremiah Purdie (Knightdale) Starting off, we look at a player who showcased the makings of a quality young floor general, Jeremiah Purdie. He’s a small, unselfish point guard prospect with quickness, vision, and a quality handle. Purdie is a solid scorer from all levels but understands how to pick his spots while creating for others. He plays with solid...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 6
Team 6 Coach: Glenn Bynum #41: 5’10 ’26 Tyler Hines (Hoke County) Starting off, we look at a player who showcased a strong understanding of how to run a team, Tyler Hines. He’s a smart, unselfish point guard prospect with a high motor and well-rounded skillset. Hines possesses a quality handle and quick first step, which allows him to touch the paint and finish or set up others regularly. Hines...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 5
Team 5 Coach: Sakellie Daniels #30: 5’9 ’26 Jayen Reeves (Palisades) Starting off, we look at a player who consistently stood out through his motor and unselfish approach to the game, Jayen Reeves. He’s a smart, quick guard prospect who can initiate the offense or apply pressure as an off-ball threat. Reeves is a reliable shooting threat from midrange and beyond the arc—especially in spot-up...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 4
Team 4 Coach: Brian Allen #29: 5’9 ’25 Calvin Dennis (South Garner) Starting off, we look at a player who made a strong impact despite being the smallest camper on this team, Calvin Dennis. He’s a fast, scrappy lead guard prospect with solid feel and a fairly well-rounded skillset. Dennis utilizes his quick first step to regularly touch the paint and make plays. He displayed the ability to knock...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 3
Team 3 Coach: Greg Harmon #26: 5’8 ’25 Chandler Kennedy (Carmel Christian) Starting off, we look at a player who stands out through his pesky, high-motor approach to the game, Chandler Kennedy. He’s a tough, scrappy lead guard prospect with the ability to set the tone on both ends of the floor. Kennedy possesses a quick first step, which allows him to break down defenders, touch the paint at a...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 2
Team 2 Coach: Gerroid Doughty #21: 5’7 ’26 Branden Warren (Reagan) Starting off, we look at a player who consistently set the tone despite being among the smallest campers in attendance, Branden Warren. He’s a tough, heady guard with a high IQ and nonstop motor. Though somewhat undersized, Warren’s energy, quickness, and physicality allow him to shine as an absolute pest defensively. He...
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Phenom Exposure Camp Evaluations: Team 1
Team 1 Coach: Colby Lewis #14: 5’5 2026 Luke Russo (First Flight) Starting with a player who stood out for his motor, attitude, and willingness to be coached, Luke Russo. He’s a small, scrappy guard who provides consistent effort on both ends of the floor. Russo looked to seize scoring chances whenever possible, but understands how and when to defer to his teammates. He battles defensively,...
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Phenom Open Gym: Greensboro Day (Part 2)
Last Wednesday, Phenom Hoops made it out to Greensboro to watch the Bengals of GDS have Open Gym. They’re two years removed from their last state championship and are coming off a season where they went 24-13 and made an appearance in the NCISAA 3A Quarterfinals. They come into this season with arguably the deepest rotation in the state, thus requiring this article to be split into two parts....
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Award Winners at Phenom Exposure Camp- Middle School
Co-MVP: 5’9 ’29 Jalen Webb (Cedar Creek) Arguably the most talented middle-school prospect on display, Jalen Webb has all the tools to be a fantastic player. He’s visibly improved his all-around game and now appears capable of dominating as a focal point. Webb scores with relative ease from all levels and touches the paint seemingly whenever he wants. He can blossom into a great defender and...
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Award Winners at Phenom Exposure Camp- Underclassmen
MVP: 6’5 ’28 Brayden Ragland (Northside) There was very little debate regarding who earned the MVP award, as Brayden Ragland was excellent from start to finish. Although he’s just a freshman, he displayed the ability to impact the game in several ways. Ragland utilized his strong frame and high motor to consistently set the tone as a rebounder and interior defender. He moves well for his size...
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Phenom Open Gym: Greensboro Day (Part 1)
Last Wednesday, Phenom Hoops made it out to Greensboro to watch the Bengals of GDS have Open Gym. They’re two years removed from their last state championship and are coming off a season where they went 24-13 and made an appearance in the NCISAA 3A Quarterfinals. They come into this season with arguably the deepest rotation in the state, thus requiring this article to be split into two parts....
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Award Winners at Phenom Exposure Camp (High School)
MVP: 6’8 ’26 Justin Johannes (Porter Ridge) Despite being relatively unknown (due to prior injuries), it didn’t take long for Justin Johannes to make a lasting impression as one of the top performers from camp. He’s long, fluid, and showcased an impactful identity on both ends of the floor. Johannes ran the floor effectively in transition and routinely played above the rim on drop-off...
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Most Dominant WNBA Season Ever' A’ja Wilson Secures Unanimous MVP and DPOY
The 2024 WNBA season will go down in history as a transcendent time year for women’s basketball. Statistically, the viewership skyrocketed across all levels. Whether the collegiate game, professional ranks, or international play, more people watched the sport than ever before. While much of this directly correlates with the rookie phenoms, the excitement certainly ranges beyond Angel Reese and...
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Key Pieces to Emerge for Chambers This Season
Last weekend, we had the opportunity to watch Chambers at our Hoopstate Fall League at Cox Mill High School. It didn’t take more than a second to recognize Tarris Bouie and Markus Kerr are the clear focal points of this group. Both guys are nationally ranked and approach the game as highly touted players should—leaving no doubts about their assertiveness or leadership. However, losing Maurio...
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Cooper’s Notes: HoopState Fall League East Week 1
6’6” 2025 Brady Barnes (Fayettenam Soldiers) Barnes stood out thanks to his low-maintenance approach and well-rounded skill set. He rebounded the ball effectively, hit open jumpers, and finished through contact. His high motor made him standout amongst others at his position. It’s easy to envision him playing multiple positions at the next level, especially on the offensive end. His ability to...
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Productive 2026 Showings at Fall League
6’4 ’26 Kaleel Benjamin (Sun Valley) Despite some struggles as a group, Kaleel Benjamin highlighted some enticing flashes throughout the weekend. He continues to improve as a long, athletic wing/forward with a useful skillset and array of physical tools. Benjamin finished around the basket, attacked off the bounce, and hit jumpers at a solid rate. He’s capable of securing rebounds and defending...
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Expected Breakout Season: Parker Watkins and Travien Williams
Over the years, coaching public school basketball has become an increasingly difficult task. Given the lack of funding, resources, and general restrictions on sport-focused transfers, it’s certainly become an uphill battle for many. We see more kids transfer away from public schools now than ever before. Conversely, there are still plenty of players who go against the grain, stay put, and reap...
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Ready to Go and Shine: 2025 6’10 Gevonte Ware
Player: Gevonte WareClass: 2025Height: 6’10School: 1of1 Academy The North Carolina Class of 2025 rankings were released by Phenom Hoops, and there were plenty of names to be found at the top that college programs have been recruiting hard. We are eager to see them in action as well, with the Hoop State Fall League allowing us to check out several players in action early on. One big man that...
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Phenom Open Gym: Green Level
On Tuesday afternoon, Phenom Hoops stopped by Green Level High School in Cary to check out the reigning SWAC champion Gators. Along with their SWAC regular season championship, they’re coming off a 29-2 record (the best in school history) and a run to the fourth round of the playoffs. They return three starters and their top two scorers. 6’9” 2025 Isaac Ericksen (Illinois State) Ericksen,...
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Phenom Open Gym: Wakefield
On Wednesday afternoon, Phenom Hoops stopped by Wakefield High School in Raleigh to check out this year’s Wolverine squad. They’re coming off of a 22-7 season in which they advanced to the second round of the playoffs, they graduated eight seniors. 6’3” 2025 Dylan Goodknecht Goodknecht is coming off a highly productive summer with WCBA and is the Wolverines’ returning leader in scoring and...
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Phenom Open Gym: Heritage
On Tuesday afternoon, Phenom Hoops started our open gym tour with a stop in Wake Forest for a look at the Heritage Huskies. They’re coming off of coach Gibson Pyper’s first year at the helm, in which he improved the Huskies’ win total from four to 14. 6’2” 2025 Jon Mwanda Mwanda will have a breakout year this winter after having a quietly productive summer with All Carolina. He’s always...
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