North Carolina Jr. Phenom Camp Session Two Evaluations
Team 3
Coach Smith
#11: 5’0 ’23 Kylan Wright (Sumter, SC)
Starting things off, we look at a player that brought an energetic, team-first approach to camp, Kyaln Wright. He’s a point guard prospect that is able to make a pretty nice impact on both ends of the floor, despite his lack of size. Wright can knock down open shots and passes the ball quite well to teammates. Next in his development process is working on the use of his off-hand, as it would allow him to take more chances on offense. Coach Smith on Wright: “Kylan is a great teammate that plays very unselfishly. His positioning on the floor and help-side defense were above average, but he can learn to become a better on-ball defender and take pride in stopping someone off the dribble. Kylan’s shooting mechanics look good. He should look to be more aggressive and draw contact on his dribble-drive.” Wright’s ability to affect both sides of the ball was clear at camp and he should continue working to maximize his abilities as a floor general.
#22:5’5 ’23 Khamani Wertz (Charlotte, NC)
Next, we look at a player that produced nicely while highlighting his terrific long-term potential, Khamani Wertz. He’s a guard prospect that can really set the nets ablaze from beyond the arc, given his deep range and accuracy as a shooter. Wertz displays a quality feel for the game and knows how to operate exceptionally well without the ball in his hands. Next in his development process is working to become a more vocal leader, both on offense and defense. Coach Smith on Wertz: “Khamani has great shot mechanics and is pretty effective off the dribble. He’s a good on-ball defender and showed flashes of athleticism throughout camp. Khamani needs to work on recovering from mistakes quickly and not being afraid to fail while controlling his effort and attitude. He can be more aggressive and take pride in his help-side defense. Khamani is a strong rebounder for his position.” Wertz is just beginning to truly realize how talented he can become, so it’ll be interesting to see how he progresses over the next few years.
#31: 5’6 ’23 Corean Nelson (Sumter, SC)
Moving onto a player that understands how to properly utilize his motor on both ends of the floor, Corean Nelson. He’s a guard prospect with solid ball-handling and scoring skills, allowing him to operate with or without the ball and find success. Nelson gets by opponents pretty well and made multiple nice passes to teammates upon entering the paint. He works hard on defense and exerts a lot of energy on that end of the floor. Next in his development process is working on his ability to shoot off the dribble, as it would make him a more reliable scoring option. Coach Smith on Nelson: “Corean has good handles for his size and has the potential to grow with ball-handling and increased confidence level. He played very hard and was very coachable. If he takes more pride in his defensive presence, he will be a very nice player.” Nelson has a lot of useful skills and could be a prospect worth monitoring over the coming years.
#41:5’7 ’23 Razavier Carter (Danville, VA)
Continuing onto a player that was able to make a nonstop impact on the offensive end of the floor, Razavier Carter. He’s a strong-bodied wing prospect with excellent quickness and the ability to get by most opponents. Carter attacks the rim nicely and finishes well through contact. He’s a reliable ball-handler with great instincts and craftiness when looking to generate offense for himself or others. Carter is a decent defender, but possesses great upside given his athleticism and anticipation skills. Next in his development process is working on his ability to move without the ball, as it would allow him to take advantage of more scoring opportunities. Coach Smith on Carter: “Razavier is a great ball-handler with an outstanding ability to get to the rim. His ability to create his own shot is above average. He should continue to work on his shot mechanics and defensive presence.” Carter is already quite talented and should be a prospect worth tracking throughout his journey.
#43:5’8 ’23 Isaiah Sanders (Lexington, NC)
Next, we look at a player that possesses an intriguing skillset and overall approach to the game, Isaiah Sanders. He’s a long, wiry guard prospect with quickness and the ability to contribute to both sides of the ball. Sanders did a great job of handling the ball and penetrating to the rim, where he showed nice scoring and playmaking tendencies throughout the day. He utilized his length exceptionally well on defense to force turnovers and received numerous votes for the Mr. Defense award at camp. Next in his development process is working on his ability to move and operate without the ball, as he could become a very dynamic off-ball cutter. Coach Smith on Sanders: “Isaiah has great athleticism and possesses an excellent ability to get to the hole. His finishing moves are above average. He can improve his shot mechanics and pride on defense in order to become an even better player.” Sanders played hard and displayed a quality feel for the game during his time at camp, certainly making him a noteworthy prospect going forward.
#45: 5’8 ’23 Xavier King (Roaring River, NC)
Moving onto a player that possesses a nice crossroads between productivity and long-term potential, Xavier King. He’s a strong-bodied forward prospect that does an excellent job of rebounding the ball and making his presence constantly felt on the glass. King positions himself extremely well on both ends of the floor and utilizes his body nicely to clear out space. He knocked down open midrange looks and finished some second-chance opportunities around the basket. Next in his development process is working to establish a go-to scoring avenue, in order to make him a more reliable offensive option. Coach Smith on King: “Xavier made a strong impression today with his size and presence on the interior. His defense was solid, but he can take more pride in his intensity on that end of the floor. Xavier rebounds well but can continue to work on playing with a consistent motor.” King enjoyed a pretty solid showing at camp and should be able to continue developing his two-way skillset.
#48:5’10 ’23 Darius Caldwell (Browns Summit, NC)
Continuing onto a player that was able to really excel and make an impact without the ball in his hands, Darius Caldwell. He’s an athletic forward prospect with nice length and a pretty unique all-around skillset. Offensively, Caldwell is an effective catch-and-shoot option that knows how to properly move and relocate without the ball while applying pressure as a cutter. He fights hard on defense and proved to be a plus-level rebounder throughout the day. Next in his development process is working on his ability to handle the ball, as it would make him a much more dynamic offensive player. Coach Smith on Caldwell: “Darius is a great rebounder and good shooter from beyond the perimeter. He can improve on defending the ball and in transition, but has a lot of useful tools to become a great player.” Caldwell is still just beginning to harness his capabilities as a player and will be a fun prospect to watch grow.
#55:5’11 ’23 Troy Scarborough (High Point, NC)
Next, we look at a high-upside player that already knows how to contribute to both sides of the ball, Troy Scarborough. He’s a long, wiry, athletic forward prospect that can truly overwhelm opponents on both ends of the floor. Scarborough is pretty versatile for his size and showed the ability to knock down perimeter shots on offense. He attacked the rim pretty well, but will need to continue adding strength before he’s able to consistently finish inside the paint. Scarborough is quite intelligent on defense and utilizes his length nicely to force turnovers and alter shots. Next in his development process is working to add strength, as it’ll help his finishing, rebounding, and ability to operate out of the post. Coach Smith on Scarborough: “Troy is a great athlete and quality defender. His shooting mechanics are solid and he’s capable of knocking down shots. He should take more pride in his help-side and transition defense. Troy’s ball-handling and penetration abilities can improve.” The potential is clear with Scarborough, so it’ll be exciting to watch him progress over the next few years.
#61:6’2 ’23 Bryce Cash (Charlotte, NC)
Finishing up, we look at a player that probably possessed more natural gifts and long-term upside than any prospect in the building, Bryce Cash. He’s a big, strong forward prospect with the ability to dominate both sides of the ball. Cash is extremely mobile and athletic for his size, allowing him to get downhill and attack any opponent in his path. He finishes virtually everything inside the paint and can rebound three or four misses on a single possession at this level. Cash was likely also the most versatile defender in attendance, given his ability to guard opposing ball-handlers or protect the rim. Once he plays with a consistent motor, no one will be able to stop him. Next in his development process is working on the consistency of his three-point shot, as an improved stroke from distance would make him truly unstoppable. Coach Smith on Cash: “Bryce is a great finisher around the basket and excels in transition offense. He can become a better of-ball defender and overall rebounder for his size and athleticism. His ceiling is high and he should to develop his outside game to give him the full package. Bryce’s ability to score comes easy.” Cash received votes for numerous awards, but ultimately took home the Mr. Station trophy. He’s definitely a prospect worth keeping tabs on for the future.