This past weekend, Phenom Hoop Report hosted their second annual Grassroots Tip-Off Classic. Over 115 teams from across nine different states made their way to four different venues in Greensboro, North Carolina to showcase their talents to a plethora D1, D2, D3 and JUCO coaches. After scouting such a wide variety of talent, we made a list of standouts from both 15U divisions that stood out the most over the course of the weekend.
15U STANDOUTS:
6’5” 8TH Juwan Gary:
MIDDLE SCHOOL– Summit Parkway (Columbia, SC)
AAU PROGRAM– Team United 2019 (Charlotte, NC)
THOUGHTS ON GARY:
Juwan Gary was a player that caught the attention of many scouts and high-major coaches after the stellar performance he put on in this past weekend at the Grassroots TOC. After watching Gary drop a smooth 35 points in Team United 2019’s opening round win against PDS Elite, we immediately knew we had to take a closer look at this young gun. Gary is a versatile guard with an absolute absurd amount of potential. He’s ferociously athletic and possesses a high basketball IQ way beyond any player we have seen at his age level. Gary is smart, explosive, and freakishly talented on both sides of the ball. Offensively, his game was simply unmatched. Possession after possession, Gary used his size and strength to create countless amounts of opportunities for his squad. Whether it was a deep three, or a forceful slam deep in the post, the 6’5” 8TH grader made sure he finished strong. Defensively, Gary always found a way to take control. He played fantastic on-ball defense and forced several turnovers throughout the course of the weekend. Gary attacked the glass strong, fought for loose balls, and showed an incredible amount of hustle. Whenever his team needed a big time play, Gary was there to deliver. As the summer progresses, coaches and scouts really need to keep a close eye on this stud. If Gary can continue to perform this well throughout the course of his high school career, and work on a few additional pieces to his game, we wouldn’t be surprised if this animal developed into one of South Carolina’s most highly recruited players in quite some time.
6’7” 8TH Christian Brown:
MIDDLE SCHOOL– St. Andrews (Columbia, SC)
AAU PROGRAM– Team United 2019 (Charlotte, NC)
THOUGHTS ON BROWN:
When Team United 2019 began making their way into the Northeast Guilford Gymnasium bright and early Saturday morning, Christian Brown immediately caught my eye. Playing up in a division may be a struggle for some, but Brown was a player that thrived against the older competition. After a sensational outing in his squad’s opening round win over PDS Elite, we were anxious to see how Brown’s performance would carry over to the next round. Right from the start, he literally blew us off our feet. The 6’7” dreadlocked rising star put his abnormal bounce and athleticism on full display. Slam after slam, bucket after bucket, QCAA Force 2018 had no answer. Brown did a fascinating job setting the tempo for his squad on the offensive end of the floor. He distributed the ball well, knocked down shots when needed, and fought hart to give himself a slight advantage against the opposing competition. Brown is a fierce competitor. He made it known that he came to Greensboro on a mission. On defense, Brown was an opponent’s nightmare. His long arms and blazing speed allowed him to guard every position on the floor. If he wasn’t in the post battling with bigs, Brown would step out on the wing and lock up guards with ease. He continuously got the job done at all angles. With the spring evaluation period quickly coming to a close, people can expect Brown and Team United 2019 to definitely make some noise on the circuit this summer.
6’1” FR. William Papathanassiou
HIGH SCHOOL– William A. Hough (Cornelius, NC)
AAU PROGRAM– PSB Select- Perkins (Charlotte, NC)
THOUGHTS ON PAPATHANASSIOU:
William Papathanassiou was a player we weren’t exactly familiar with going into the event, but after an impressive tournament run this past weekend, we knew he had to add this guy onto our radar. Papathanassiou’s effort was outstanding. In PBS- Select- Perkins’ opening round win Friday evening against Team Charlotte, the 6’1” frosh was phenomenal. He displayed all the characteristics of a future team leader. He wasn’t a flashy player, and didn’t necessarily have that “wow” factor, but his all-around performance was enough to catch my attention. Despite being somewhat undersized, Papathanassiou made up for it by outworking the competition in every aspect of the game. On offense, my man was a general. He had incredible court vision and always managed to find his open teammates. He rebounded well, made clutch buckets, and added a much-needed spark for his squad. Papathanassiou’s beautiful shot and knowledge of the game made him a fan favorite for sure. His athletic skill set and quick release allowed him to score from any area on the court. His range was limitless. When the clock finally hit zero, Papathanassiou finished with a game-high 21 points and a load of momentum heading into Saturday morning. After a long, hard-fought weekend, Papathanassiou and PSB Select- Perkins ended up finishing in 2nd place in the 15UACC division. Their mental toughness and determination played a very important role in their tournament success. William Papathanassiou is a player with endless possibilities beyond the game of basketball. His defensive game could use a little work, but with a proper mindset and the right dedication, it shouldn’t be an issue. We’re excited to see how Papathanassiou excels throughout the early stages of his high school career. The Hough Huskies are in for a treat. Well done, William.
OTHER NOTABLE 15U STANDOUTS:
Aden Britton– Spectrum Sports Academy (14U)
Brian Mack– Team United 2019
DJ Burns– QCAA Force 2018
Jacob Whitley– Queen City Thunder
Jashaun Williams– Elite Warriors
JC Tharrington– Team United 2019
Joey Baker– Team Felton (14U)
Kevin Nwosu– The District Basketball Club
Marcus Henderson– Team Charlotte
Walter Williams– Elite Warriors