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Future Impact Player: Why 2027’s James Minlend Deserves Attention
With the summer ending and we start looking into the upcoming high school season, Phenom Hoops is also looking at players that college coaches need to take a bit more seriously. And one player that came to mind is 2027 6’6 James Minlend from Concord Academy. Minlend is a classic prospect that you can see has talent for the game, but also a ton of potential still to come. Standing at 6’6 and now...
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Guys Making Big Leaps in 2026 Rankings (Part Three)
6’5 Jim Gatehouse (South Meck) There are so many players who have trended up throughout the recent months, but Gatehouse has arguably generated as much buzz as anyone. He’s long, skilled, and explosive with excellent positional size. Gatehouse is a versatile piece whose size, creation ability, and scoring prowess from all levels make him a matchup problem for opponents. He’s a lethal shooter...
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Guys Making Big Leaps in 2026 Rankings (Part Two)
6’0 Lincoln Raper (Concord Academy) Although he should’ve been higher initially, Raper takes a massive leap forward after simply being one of the best, most consistent floor generals in the state. He controls the action in an extremely poised, intelligent manner with phenomenal balance between scoring and playmaking. Raper breaks down opponents and touches the paint with regularity, where he’s...
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Guys Making Big Leaps in 2026 Rankings (Part One)
6’5 Dacen Petty (Christ School) Given so many talented pieces on the Christ School roster, it can be somewhat easy for folks to overlook Petty. However, his incredibly steady, well-rounded presence makes him an asset on legitimately any team. Petty is a long, fluid athlete who shines as a natural glue-guy on both ends of the floor. He’s a useful, malleable offensive piece with the ability to do...
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Guys Making Big Leaps in 2027 Rankings
6’5 Thomas Vickery (Myers Park) Anyone who has followed Vickery throughout the summer should already know about his burst onto the scene with Upward Stars. Now, he should seamlessly transition into being one of the most productive high school players in North Carolina. Vickery will be the clear focal point for a talented Myers Park team that features several college players. His combination of...
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Who Are the Top Prospects in North Carolina’s Class of 2028?
Rankings are always an interesting discussion point. We know it’s an opinion-based practice heavily predicated on what the viewer values in a player. Some people value a pure scorer more than a true point guard, and assuming the players are of equal level, they could both form legitimate arguments. As we approach the halfway point of the travel ball season, there’s no better time to take a...
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Welcoming to North Carolina: 2026 Lattimore Ford joins Combine Academy
Player: Lattimore FordClass: 2026School: Combine Academy With so many players leaving North Carolina, it is a nice change to welcome new talent to the state. It was recently announced that 20256 Lattimore Ford, who comes from Snowualmie (WA), will be heading to Lincolnton and joining Combine Academy this upcoming season. So, we had to learn a bit more about our newest prospect in the state. Game...
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Southern Durham Secures Notable Transfer in KJ Terry
Last night, unexpected shockwaves were sent through North Carolina public-school basketball as KJ Terry announced his decision to transfer to Southern Durham. Previously at South Granville, he was headed to Crossroads Christian before changing course and joining the Spartans. After finishing as the NCHSAA 3A runner-up last season and graduating Jackson Keith (among other key seniors), the road...
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Is Caldwell Academy Becoming Underrated?
It’s amazing how quickly things change in the high school basketball scene. Player movement is somewhat expected, as it’s more common than ever before, but it now directly correlates with teams capable of contending for state championships. Each year, various teams increase their likelihood to win it all simply by bolstering their roster…this is nothing new. However, it feels like folks are...
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Rookies Who Could Outperform Draft Position (First Round)
#6- Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards) It’s probably a little overzealous to say that a top-six draft pick could outperform his draft position, as they’re already expected to be quite useful. However, Johnson looks like a steal for the Wizards. During two games of summer league, he more than solidified his status as an elite all-around shooting threat, and the numbers back this sentiment. He’ll...
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Carson Crew Ready to Turn Heads
As the high school season rapidly approaches, there’s no better time to start taking a closer look at programs throughout the state. Given the restructuring of the public-school classifications, things will look quite different for the first time in a while. The NCHSAA has expanded from four classifications to eight, subsequently doubling the number of champions and contenders across the board....
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Expected Breakout Seasons for 2028 Prospects
6’6 Mekhi Allen (Queens Grant) Despite already being widely regarded as a top prospect in North Carolina’s Class of 2028 (and rightfully so), it feels like Allen is poised to take the next step in his progression. The 6-foot-6 wing is coming off an impressive travel ball season where he found a lot of success playing up an age group for 4:44 Athletics. Allen was already a double-digit scorer as...
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Trio of Underrated Pieces Worthy of Offers
6’8 ’27 Dylan Twitty (Christ School) After announcing his decision to transfer to Christ School and reclassify, one would’ve thought Twitty’s recruitment would’ve already taken a major leap. Regardless, he’ll be a key piece for arguably the top program in North Carolina. Twitty is an elite rebounder whose physicality, nonstop motor, and nose for the ball make him a clear asset. He excels at...
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Next Wave of Talent in South Carolina: Class of 2028
2028 6’5 Antoine Caughman Jr. (Keenan) Caughman is a highly intriguing young prospect who already shows the tools to have his name near the top of the list in his class. With his size, college-ready frame, and overall impact, he immediately stands out on the court. At his position, he carries a strong physical presence but pairs it with an impressive feel for the game. Offensively, he proves to...
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Is Hunter Gerould the X-Factor for Carmel Christian?
Now that we’ve finally reached the conclusion of travel ball and are starting to look forward to the high school season, there are numerous subplots and storylines worthy of attention. Among these topics is how Carmel Christian has a completely new look after several notable additions and departures. Folks should remember the incredible success guys like Kam Taylor, Bryce Slay, and various...
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Don’t Forget About Karon Watlington
Now that we’ve finally reached the conclusion of travel ball and are starting to look forward to the high school season, there are numerous subplots and storylines worthy of attention. Among these topics is how The Burlington School retooled its roster in such an efficient manner. We’ve already had multiple opportunities to see the new-look group, and they definitely impressed. Guys like Charles...
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Fully Reloaded: Forsyth Country Day Ready to Contend
The summer season of high school basketball has widely turned into the free agency period for many programs throughout North Carolina. These transfers are often due to a variety of legitimate reasons, like reclassifying or coaching changes, and they inevitably alter the landscape as a direct result. Consider Forsyth Country Day as an example. They already had a foundation of five key returning...
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Don’t Sleep on Them: 2027 Virginia Prospects Primed for More Attention
Virginia has long established itself as one of the premier recruiting hotbeds for college programs, consistently producing prospects who make an impact at the next level. The tradition of high-level talent remains alive and well in the Class of 2027, where the depth of skill, size, and athleticism across the state is already turning heads. While plenty of names have already gained early...
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Eyes on NC’s Class of 2028: Tjay Brunson Emerging as a Prospect to Really Watch
Player: Tjay BrunsonClass: 2028Height: 6’5High School: Cleveland Each and every year, Phenom Hoops has a chance to learn several new names throughout the summer that we will closely be watching down the road. Rewinding the tape from the summer, a player that Phenom Hoops highlighted early on was 2028 6’5 Tjay Brunson, as he was able to flourish with 1of1 Elite. Brunson had a strong freshman...
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Is Cody Peck Poised to Take the Next Step?
Every high school basketball player is on their own respective journey. Each year, we see various expected and unexpected prospects burst onto the scene. Some candidates are more obvious than others, but there’s no surefire indicator or attribute that guarantees success. However, considering the value of processing, rim-protection, three-point shooting, switchable defensive ability, and unique...
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Jayon Connor Starts Next Chapter at Forsyth Country Day
Anyone within grassroots basketball knows how much recruiting has changed over the last five or so years. Between the portal, additional years, and the involvement of money (NIL), high school prospects are becoming far less desirable. There’s no time for colleges to “waste” developing kids when they can acquire a plug-and-play piece elsewhere. In turn, this new approach has swayed many high...
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Is 2028 Aaron Parker Jr. trending towards the top of his class in North Carolina?
Player: Aaron Parker Jr.Class: 2028Height: 6’7School: Southeast Raleigh HS The Seros Invitational was a great way to end the travel ball season, as some big-time talent hit the courts and ended the season in a big way. A player that had the attention of our scouts was 2028 6’7 Aaron Parker Jr., a rising prospect that could be making a big jump. Parker has a ton of intrigue with his overall feel...
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Player Standouts at Phenom Seros Invitational (Part Four)
7’0 ’27 Kevin Curtis (Atlanta Xpress) Given his sheer size, length, and mobility, it would be impossible to ignore the obvious appeal of Curtis. He’s a fluid, wiry big man with legit size and a steady interior presence on both ends of the floor. Curtis is a capable finisher who knows how fill the lane, lurk for lobs, and position himself for easy drop-off opportunities. However, most of his...
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Player Standouts at Phenom Seros Invitational (Part Three)
6’6 ’28 David Askew (Team Takedown) Given his status as the youngest player on the roster, it was easy to be intrigued by the flashes Askew highlighted on both ends of the floor. He’s a long, fluid big man with a solid motor and the ability to make his presence felt without needing a ton of touches. Askew plays hard to fight for rebounds, alter shots defensively, and run the floor in transition....
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Player Standouts at Phenom Seros Invitational (Part Two)
6’8 ’26 Alan Shi (Drifty Elite) The Drifty Elite roster certainly generated a lot of buzz, and Shi was as productive as anyone on the team. He’s an athletic, high-motor post player with great size, strength, and versatility on both ends of the floor. Shi rebounds the ball really well and can push the break himself or fill the lane in transition. He finishes above the rim with regularity, but can...
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Player Standouts at Phenom Seros Invitational
6’10 ’27 Lincoln Cosby (444 Athletics) It doesn’t take long to see why Cosby is such a highly regarded prospect. At 6-foot-10, he’s a walking mismatch. Cosby is an incredibly fluid athlete with an impressive skillset for his size/position. He handles the ball, creates well for himself and others off the bounce, and mixes it up as a scorer from all levels. Cosby is clearly at his best when...
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Bendel’s Best: Seros Invitational
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops concluded the travel ball season by combining the Seros Invitational with our Summer Finale. The event was absolutely loaded with talent, featuring an all-star lineup of names and teams across all age groups. Kids were in awe of the several popular social media figures in the building, but there was also plenty of quality basketball on display. Although it was a...
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Updated Team List for Seros Invitational and Summer Finale (17U-14U)
17U 434 Supreme AVL Hustle Carolina Rockets Drifty Elite DWOK Elite DWWD East Elite Harrisburg Hornets MAADWEST Elite No Hype SB Allstars Team Charlotte Team Crews Team Global Select Warriors Elite 16U 444 Athletics PRO16 Atlanta Xpress UAA CC Elite Cooz Elite PRO16 Dedicated to Excellence JahWorkouts Corbin JahWorkouts Coverdale MAADWEST Elite NC Rise Smith No Hype Rockets Elite Salem Shooters...
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The Five Worst Contracts in the NBA
Considering August is one of the only periods of the year when basketball isn’t being played, there’s no better time to look at a different collection of topics…like NBA contracts. The salary cap is one of the biggest separators between collegiate and professional basketball, but it’s unclear if the general masses truly comprehend contract value. People see Karl-Anthony Towns making $53 million...
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The Five Best Contracts in the NBA
Considering August is one of the only periods of the year when basketball isn’t being played, there’s no better time to look at a different collection of topics…like NBA contracts. The salary cap is one of the biggest separators between collegiate and professional basketball, but it’s unclear if the general masses truly comprehend contract value. People see Karl-Anthony Towns making 53 million...
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