This past weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual George Lynch Invitational at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. The two-day event featured a slew of notable teams and prospects, including top programs on both the men’s and women’s sides. There were countless meaningful takeaways for those who attended, and we will take a closer look at several throughout the week. Right now, we will highlight the incredibly talented ladies’ squad at North Meck…
Anyone who has watched this group should already be well-informed about Lenise Joseph and her dominant presence on the court. She possesses an incredible blend of IQ, skill, and physical tools. Joseph is extremely strong, which allows her to secure deep position in the post and finish through contact around the basket. Although she is very physically overwhelming, she also knows how to outwork others and position herself for success at all times. Joseph displays a smooth midrange jumper with quality vision, useful ball skills, and a general understanding of how to be a leader. She’s vocal enough to demand the ball when necessary, but is an unselfish leader who knows how and when to defer to others. Joseph controls the glass extremely well, anchors the paint as an interior defender, and provides a reliable scoring punch offensively. It’s difficult to say anything other than positives about the productive leadership by example she provides. She holds a variety of offers, but it still feels like Joseph might be underrated amongst college coaches.
This group has several intriguing pieces that set the tone, but Morgan Knox redefines what it means to be a vocal leader and team-oriented player. She truly does not care about her individual numbers, as evidenced by her incredibly selfless approach to the game. Knox provides a smart, loud, aggressive presence on the court. She’s a suffocating defender with the size, strength, and quickness to cause constant problems for opponents. Knox absorbs contact and anticipates extremely well to force turnovers. She rebounds at a high volume for her size/position and knows how to reliably push the break in transition. Knox is a well-rounded offensive player who can attack the basket, finish through contact, and create clean looks for herself and others. Her nonstop motor and rugged mentality allow her to be a difference-maker every time she touches the court.
Although this group has several valuable pieces, it’s difficult to ignore the skilled, scrappy presence that Stephanie Mobley brings to the team. She’s a pesky, high-motor guard who dictates the action, creates for others, and knocks down jumpers at a strong rate. Mobley is another girl who stands out as an incredible teammate and overall x-factor for the Lady Vikings. She’s able to alter her approach as needed, but knows how to produce from either guard spot. In addition to her steady offensive game, Mobley is a tough defender who forces turnovers and makes hustle plays at a quality rate. Her stock should only continue to rise throughout the season.
Those three would be enough to satisfy most high school programs, but Coach Jennifer Baker has way more talent. Girls like Mena Johnson and Crystal Spindle provide excellent size, strength, and interior ability on both ends of the floor. Jayla Wkye is a scrappy guard who plays hard and fills in the gaps. They also have young, enticing pieces like Kaitlyn Trotter and Autumn Lacy who will only continue to emerge for this group.