This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled up to the iconic Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton, Virginia, for our annual Virginia Tip Off. The event featured a lot of new, intriguing talent from the DMV area and Virginia as a whole. However, we’ve seen the Norfolk Titans for three consecutive years now, and they’ve clearly got something special brewing. After yet another dominant showing at a Phenom Hoops event, winning every contest by at least 30 points and steamrolling their way to another championship, it’s only fitting to take a closer look at their group of young pieces…
Although each of their seven guys is capable of contributing, the trio of Noah Harris, Josiah Hymons, and King James really stood out as the main leaders. Harris is steadily hitting checkpoints in his development, highlighting steady, meaningful growth upon each new viewing. The lefty guard continues to grow, both in stature and overall skillset, but still maintains his terrific three-point shooting. Harris displayed positive growth as a primary creator and playmaker for others. He’s able to initiate the offense, find opportunities from all levels, and effectively operate as a spot-up threat. Harris possesses smooth shooting mechanics and is capable of heating up in a hurry from distance. He will definitely be a prospect to monitor as he continues to get more assertive on both ends of the floor.
Meanwhile, Hymons was easily one of the most productive players in attendance—regardless of age group. This is somewhat unsurprising to see, as his older brother was a notable player who graduated last year. That being said, the younger Hymons is already much different from his brother. He’s a strong, skilled, high-motor piece who excels at anchoring the paint on both ends of the floor. Hymons is more than capable of attacking from the wing or operating in the midrange area, but often found the most success by cutting, posting up, crashing the offensive glass, and simply positioning himself to make plays around the basket. He’s a smart, willing passer who sees the floor well for his size/position. Hymons finishes with touch and plays well through contact. His energy and instincts allow him to be a disruptive defender, both against smaller and bigger types of opponents. It’ll be interesting to see how his game develops over the foreseeable future, as Hymons clearly has the tools to be an impactful piece.
Rounding out this group, James really stood out as the glue-guy and player who filled in the gaps for this team. He showed the ability to do a little bit of everything: handling the ball, dictating the offense, applying scoring pressure, rebounding his position, and making plays defensively. James expanded his production as needed, but always found ways to step up in big moments and deliver. His blend of IQ, size, skill, and two-way energy make him an asset with any collection of teammates. Expect his all-around game to continue blossoming over the next few years.