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Guys Making Big Leaps in 2027 Rankings (Part Two)
6’5 Dylan Bradley (Providence Day) Given some roster turnover at Providence Day, there should be ample opportunity for Bradley to showcase his abilities. He’s a big, strong guard with a sturdy frame and nice scoring polish. Bradley is able to consistently get downhill and finish, but is more than capable of filling it up from the perimeter. His shooting mechanics are somewhat unorthodox, yet...
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Trending Upward: Cresset Christian Ready to Turn Heads
Opportunity is undeniably important. Each year, we see various coaches and players take a leap of faith, embrace a new situation, and parlay it into success. While glory is far from guaranteed, those who put in the work and correctly approach the process tend to yield positive results. As the high school season nears closer, we will be taking a closer look at some up-and-coming programs...
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First of Many: 2028 Prospect Carter Smith Picks Up Syracuse Offer
Player: Carter SmithClass: 2028Height: 6’4School: Penn Charter Taking a look and learning more about players in the Class of 2028, we now check in and learn more about a rising guard up north in 2028 6’4 Carter Smith. Playing at Penn Charter, Smith recently made some waves with an impressive first offer from Syracuse. A bouncy prospect with a lot of promise, Smith had a strong overall...
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Familiar Faces Making Visits Over the Weekend: Latest Recruiting News
The recruiting trail continues to heat up, and this past weekend brought plenty of excitement with new offers, key visits, and emerging storylines that will shape the months ahead. From prospects picking up early high-major attention to others making impressions on campuses across the country, the buzz around the gym was undeniable. As programs look to lock in their future stars, several players...
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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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VCU lands big-time talent in 2026 6’9 Collin Ross
It was a good Labor Day weekend for VCU, as the Rams learned that they had landed a rising premier talent in 2026 6’9 Collin Ross from Spire Academy. Ross took an official visit this past weekend to VCU, and it must have done the trick, as he announced his commitment on Monday afternoon. Ross has been a player on the rise, garnering praise from many outlets for his ability to be a strong...
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Albany Snags a Steal in 2026 G Tyler Jones
Each and every time Phenom Hoops gets to report or see a commitment from a player we have seen over the years, it is always a fantastic day. It is great to see players achieve their goal to play at the next level and it is such a great accomplishment for that player. Here is the latest commitment. Player: Tyler JonesClass: 2026Committed to: Albany What Has Been Said by Phenom Hoops: “Jones...
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Big Night for North Carolina Basketball with Bill Belichick’s UNC Debut
All eyes will be on North Carolina come Monday night, as the football team kicks off the season in what could be one of the biggest storylines of college football. Bill Belichick, possibly the greatest coach ever, will be making his debut for the Tar Heels on Monday night in Chapel Hill, and national eyes from around the world will be watching. However, though it is a big night for the program...
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UNC-Asheville continues to roll with commitment from 2026 Logan Johnson
Each and every time Phenom Hoops gets to report or see a commitment from a player we have seen over the years, it is always a fantastic day. It is great to see players achieve their goal to play at the next level and it is such a great accomplishment for that player. Here is the latest commitment. Player: Logan JohnsonClass: 2026Committed to: UNC-Asheville What Has Been Said by Phenom...
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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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2028 6’6 DJ Okoth Talks Recent Offer from Tennessee, Recruitment Early On
Player: DJ OkothClass: 2028Height: 6’6School: Barlett Starting to look more into the Class of 2028 around the nation, we recently were able to catch up with a premier prospect in the country in 2028 6’6 DJ Okoth from Barlett High School. Certainly a prospect that has been catching the eyes of many early on, Okoth recently added another big offer to his strong list already from Tennessee, giving...
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Rising Seniors to Watch: Impressive Senior Campaigns Ahead (Part 4)
As the 2025–26 season approaches, several rising seniors are set to elevate their games and put themselves firmly on the radar of college coaches. These prospects bring skill, toughness, and the intangibles that translate well to the next level. Yohance Connor – Combine Academy Connor is an electrifying prospect whose ability to impact the game from all levels makes him a constant threat. He...
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Big Weekend for Miami with Big-Time Prospects Coming into Town
Although the football season is about to begin, it appears that Miami will also have a big weekend in basketball, as two of the top prospects in the country are set to visit the Canes. 2026 Dylan Mingo and 2026 Deron Rippey Jr., two Top 10 prospects in the country, have announced that they will be on campus this weekend, getting a chance to check out the new staff down there. This is a...
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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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2028 6’8 Khalil Luster Garnering Attention Early On; Earns First Offer
Player: Khalil LusterClass: 2028Height: 6’8School: Red Bay HS It is funny how things work these days… just over a week ago, Phenom Hoops introduced and talked about a rising big man down in Alabama in 2028 6’8 Khalil Luster, who had a HUGE freshman season at Red Bay HS. It didn’t take long, as a week later, he earned his first D1 offer from Alabama A&M. Last week, we had this to say about...
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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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2028 Trey Edwards adds new offer; talks strong relationships with schools and new interests
Player: Trey EdwardsClass: 2028Height: 6’5School: Melissa Back in 2024, Phenom Hoops introduced to everyone a rising star in the state of Texas in 2028 Trey Edwards, as he has been proving to be one of the premier prospects in the region. Edwards is a prospect that would describe his game as “a combo guard who can play the point or play shooting guard.” Schools have been coming hard...
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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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POB’s Thoughts: 2026 Cole Cloer sets visits; game breakdown and thoughts on future
Player: Cole CloerClass: 2026Height: 6’7School: IMG Academy One of the top prospects in the country continues to make waves in the recruiting world, adding to new schedule visits in the coming months. 2026 6’7 Cole Cloer, one of the top prospects in the country, announced more upcoming visits that now include UConn and Arkansas. Check out more of his visits scheduled, along with game breakdown...
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Drake earns commitment from speedy PG LJ Rush
Every time Phenom Hoops gets to report or see a commitment from a player we have seen over the years, it is always a fantastic day. It is great to see players achieve their goal to play at the next level and it is such a great accomplishment for that player. Here is the latest commitment. Player: LJ RushClass: 2025Committed to: Drake Phenom 1-on-1: Phenom: What made Drake the place for you in...
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They Stand High On My List: 2027 Thomas Vickery Talks New Tennessee Offer
Player: Thomas VickeryClass: 2027Height: 6’5School: Myers Park A player that has seen his stock take off over the last year, 2027 6’5 Thomas Vickery from Myers Park continues to trend in the right direction. Vickery has been making a name for himself with his size, athleticism, and skill set, as programs from all levels have been heading his way. He recently played on the Phenom...
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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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Could Duke’s Title Hopes Be in the Hands of Two Players?
College Basketball will be here before you know it, so we are looking at different topics around the country to talk about and when diving into the roster for Duke, there is plenty of talent to go around as they have a chance to compete for a national championship. However, when you fully dive into this roster, could those title hopes be strung to the play of two key players? We dive in a bit....
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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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Smooth Operator: 2027 Omari Chaudhry Making His Mark
At the Seros Invitational, several new faces took the court and impressed our scouts throughout the event. One player that grabbed my attention was 2027 6’3 Omari Chaudhry for 4:44. At the event, he was incredibly consistent, efficient, and productive throughout, leading his team in several ways, as we had this to say: “2027 Omari Chaudhry (4:44) has really impressed me today with his play....
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Tracking the Future: College-Worthy Players in the Class of 2026 (Part 2)
The Class of 2026 continues to showcase a deep pool of talent, and several players have already proven themselves as college-worthy prospects. These are athletes who consistently impact winning, bring translatable skills, and display the intangibles that coaches value at the next level. From their production on the floor to their work ethic and competitive drive, these players embody what...
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