EVENT NEWS
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Bendel’s Best: Phenom Summer Showcase
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the Rise Indoor Facility in Advance, North Carolina for another exciting two-day stretch of basketball. There were over one hundred teams on display, including a few high school groups preparing for the upcoming LIVE periods, which ultimately led to quality competition. We saw various new faces, but also got updated viewings of countless prospects....
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Player Standouts at Day Two of Phenom Summer Showcase
6’2 ’23 Grady Whitt (Go Hard) Few teams in attendance can match the balanced approach of Go Hard, and Whitt is a massive part of their overall game. The lefty is skilled and fairly crafty, able to consistently create for himself and other off the bounce. Whitt shoots the ball at an efficient rate from midrange and beyond the arc, and finishes with finesse around the basket. He’s a quality passer...
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Player Standouts at Phenom Summer Showcase
6’3 ’24 Austin Swartz (CB Hoops) Although CB Hoops is fairly balanced as a group, Swartz was arguably their most reliable performer throughout their first contest of the day. Between his IQ, size, and well-rounded skillset, he understands how to consistently affect all facets of the game. Swartz displays a pretty advanced feel for his current age, and should only continue to get better with...
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Does Team CP3 Have the Top Backcourt Trio in America'
Given the way basketball has trended over the last decade, it’s no secret that guard play now largely dictates on-court success at most levels. Whether it be a traditional “point guard” or more of a modernized floor general, the ball-handler position has more power and responsibility than ever before. The ideology of stockpiling size is important, especially for younger age groups, but it’s not...
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Mokan Elite’s Frontcourt Trio Worthy of Headlines
It basically goes without saying, but the EYBL prides itself on being a competitive travel ball circuit for elite-level players and programs. When generating a list of the top teams over the last decade, one would have to include the likes of Boo Williams, Team Takeover, and Mokan Elite among various others. Although some folks might not fully appreciate their status, Mokan has been home to...
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Bendel’s Best: CP3 Memorial Day Classic
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the CP3 Memorial Day Classic. The event was loaded with some of the most notable shoe-circuit programs throughout the country, including teams like Boo Williams, Team Takeover, Team Melo, Team CP3, and MoKan Elite among various others. Additionally, less nationally recognized squads, like Team Marsh, Sheed Wallace...
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Player Standouts at Day Two of Phenom Memorial Day Classic
5’11 ’22 Jordan Marsh (PSB Larkin) There’s an abundance of talent within the PSB Larkin squad, and Marsh is as valuable as anyone. At this point, he’s probably underrated within the bigger scheme of things. Marsh is a sharp ball-handler and playmaker with an excellent penetration sense. He’s smart, athletic, and displays nice balance as a two-way floor general. Marsh is a quality defender and...
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Player Standouts at Phenom Memorial Day Classic
6’6 ’22 Jeremy Dixon (Team Eat) Team Eat offered a pretty balanced attack as a team, but Dixon continually found ways to set the tone and stand out as a two-way leader for this group. He’s a long, skilled, athletic wing prospect with an excellent transition presence and the ability to score the ball from all levels. Dixon makes a consistent impact on the glass, defensively, and in transition,...
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The Journey from Serbia to America: 6’7 2023 Sergej Cvetkovic
Often times, the Americanized approach to scouting and evaluating talent is completely focused on immediate gratification. Player X is better than Player Y right now, therefore Player X is clearly the better option…right' Not necessarily, especially when comparing international prospects to those who have spent the entirety of their lives in America. It seems that folks neglect to realize...
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Raising Young Men Hitting Their Stride
Throughout the grassroots basketball scene, most teams typically form due to some combination of talent level and relative location. Interestingly enough, Coach Michael Taylor decided to put together his team of young, up-and-coming prospects and named his squad “Raising Young Men.” It’s certainly an uncommon name, but one that embodies the journey and maturation process of these prospects...
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Bendel’s Best: Unsigned Seniors from Phenom G3 Showcase
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops returned back to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina for another exciting grassroots event. The combination of atmosphere and overall talent led to a ton of standouts, competitive battles, and general buzz for the upcoming summer season. With so many college coaches still inquiring about unsigned seniors, we figured it would be...
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Bendel’s Best: G3 Showcase
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops returned back to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina for another exciting grassroots event. Given the sheer amount of talent, there were quality teams across all divisions and age groups—which ultimately resulted in rugged competition from start to finish. Things are getting steadily more intense and meaningful for these players, as...
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Player Standouts at Day Three of Phenom G3 Showcase
6’2 ’21 Travon Jones (Mint Hill Lakers) Although guys like Joel Baucom and Glenn Bynum have been the main offensive weapons for this Mint Hill Lakers group, Jones made a very strong impact on that end of the floor. He provided his usual amount of hustle, toughness, and ability to fill in the gaps, but also attacked the basket and hit numerous jumpers along the perimeter. As an unsigned senior,...
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Player Standouts at Day Two of Phenom G3 Showcase
6’1 ’23 Derek Bradley (PSB Bethel) Although there were various standouts for PSB Bethel, Bradley was easily among their most consistent and reliable performers. He’s a smart, strong, sturdy guard prospect with the ability to make an impact with or without the ball in his hands. Bradley’s perimeter shooting and three-level scoring allow him to pose a quality off-ball threat, but he also shows...
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Player Standouts at Phenom G3 Showcase
6’5 ’22 Chase Lowe (CC Elite) It would be extremely difficult for anyone who watched this contest to say anything other than positives in regards to Lowe. His leadership is evident through his seemingly nonstop all-around production. Lowe runs a team exceptionally well, and utilizes his playmaking and size advantage to cause a ton of matchup problems for opponents. He displays great defensive...
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Furthering the Family Name: Drew Hollifield
Although somewhat rare, there is a long-standing history of athletes who share bloodlines. Whether father-son (Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.), sibling-sibling (Venus and Serena Williams/Seth and Steph Curry), or something slightly more distant like cousin-cousin (Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady), there’s definitely something interesting about this natural occurrence. Take Lavar Ball for...
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Making Noise Across State Lines: B.Maze Elite BJ
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops held our annual Stay Positive Classic in the Rise Indoor Facility in Advance, North Carolina. There was a ton of buzz surrounding the event, as excitement swirled for spectators and college coaches alike. While many of the top performing teams and players were expected, B.Maze Elite BJ surprised plenty of folks with their tough, competitive makeup throughout the...
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More Than Deserving: 6’6 2022 Josh Scovens
Each year, the high school basketball scene doubles as somewhat of a revolving door for incoming and outgoing prospects. Whether staying put, transferring to other programs, or advancing their game to the collegiate level, the overall movement within the landscape actively allows for guys to maximize changes by establishing themselves in an entirely different light. That being said, Josh Scovens...
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Team Rogue: Disciplined, Skilled, and Unselfish
Although the grassroots landscape feels substantially different than in years past, programs have still found ways to adapt and prepare for the upcoming LIVE periods. The popularity of North Carolina-based teams is widely known and acknowledged throughout the region. Fortunately, our events allow us to see new faces and get updated viewings for prospects outside of the Carolinas. Take Team Rogue...
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Bendel’s Best: Unsigned Seniors from Phenom Stay Positive Classic
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops returned to the travel ball scene with another exciting grassroots event. We were stationed at the new Rise Indoor Facility in Advance, North Carolina, which already seems more than likely to become a major basketball hub over the foreseeable future. The combination of atmosphere and overall talent led to a ton of standouts, competitive battles, and general buzz...
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The Returning Core of Garner Road 2023
Each year, many players filter in and out of travel ball programs on a pretty regular basis. It’s widely become the new norm to see key pieces depart from their respective teams for the next best situation. However, Garner Road has always taken pride on being a program with the ability to keep most of their main pieces. While there will always be exceptions to the rule, the core within their...
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Bendel’s Best: Stay Positive Classic
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops returned to North Carolina for our first debut at the newly built Rise Indoor Facility in Advance for our Stay Positive Classic. In lieu of everything opening back up, that area is going to see a massive increase in basketball traffic heading into the upcoming LIVE periods. There was an abundance of talented teams and individuals on display between the two-day...
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Player Standouts at Day Two of Phenom Stay Positive
6’5 ’24 Paul McNeil (Garner Road) There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding McNeil over the last calendar year, and rightfully so, as he has the chance to be a special prospect. He’s extremely advanced for his age, both physically and in terms of skill, and already understands how to overwhelm opponents on both ends of the floor. McNeil possesses phenomenal length and fluidity, which allows him to...
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Player Standouts at Phenom Stay Positive
6’5 ’23 Trey Barbee (Strong Center) Despite Strong Center’s extremely balanced two-way approach, Barbee consistently found ways to emerge as a leader for this group. He possesses nice size and displays a fairly versatile offensive game with the ability to make plays with or without the ball in his hands. Barbee applies constant pressure in the midrange, but also attacks the basket and positions...
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Special K’s Standouts: Denver Nuggets Shootout
I took a little road trip this weekend to check out some talent in good old Denver, NC at the Denver Nuggets Shootout. This tournament, put on by Chip Ashley, was full of local AAU teams that came out and really competed. Here are the players that stood out:
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Special K’s Standouts: Summer Kick-Off Open Run
The Summer Kick-Off was an invite-only all-girls open run hosted by 2Smooth Hoops & Graphics started by the rising young coaching star, Ayshia Scott. She is very well connected with some of the top high school and collegiate talent in the Pee Dee and surrounding areas. The open run featured some of the top collegiate and high school talent in the Pee Dee Area! The open run was well put...
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NC Spartans’ Unsigned Senior Trio Turning Heads
Given the context of everything happening with recruiting and college athletics as a whole over the last year, the travel ball scene is littered with as many unsigned seniors as ever. More kids are competing for less opportunities than ever before. It’s an absolute bloodbath for everyone involved, as fairness has largely been thrown out the window. The additional year of eligibility awarded to...
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The Independent Route: A Charlotte Hoyas Story
Though intangible, chemistry is often times the major separator between “good” teams and “great” ones. Chemistry outperforms talent on a regular basis. However, the Charlotte Hoyas are an example of what happens when talent combines with chemistry. Their on-court success over the last year has led to the Hoyas being one of the premier independent travel ball programs across North Carolina....
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Bradin Minton: A True Point Guard
Dating back nearly four years, Bradin Minton surfaced at our Jr. Tennessee Phenom 150 Camp as a young, somewhat unassuming middle school prospect. While the lefty showed natural instincts and an enticing foundation, few people could’ve expected him to turn into such an electric setup artist and overall floor general. Minton impressed at the Teammate Nationals last summer, but has gotten even...
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Bendel’s Best: Phenom Challenge
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina for our final event in the month of April. There was expected to be a ton of excitement with an abundance of teams and a variety noteworthy prospects on display. While numerous players were worthy of recognition, this article will take a closer look at some personal favorites from...
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