Phenom Hoops College Basketball Coverage
NBA Draft 2025: Second Round Thoughts
Although one could argue that the talent level in this draft drops drastically after the first handful of picks, there was still some value in the second round. Obviously, it’s more likely that these guys don’t crack NBA rotations, but some will inevitably work their way into meaningful minutes. This is typically somewhat of a crapshoot, but let’s see some guys who could carve out roles for...
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NBA Draft 2025: Additional First Round Notes
Teams Outsmarting Themselves It’s amazing how a team like Brooklyn entered a draft with five first-round picks, used all of their selections, and somehow walked away without adding any major pieces. They aggressively reached on Demin before drafting Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf. Although he was the fifth guy taken, Wolf might be the most appealing player within that...
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NBA Draft 2025: First Round Reactions (Picks 11-15)
Minimal Excitement to Conclude Lottery Picks Although most of the popular prospects were positioned atop this draft board, there was still real value in the late lottery. Memphis trades up to grab Cedric Coward–one of the fastest risers in this year’s class. His story is fascinating. Going from Willamette to Eastern Washington to Washington State to getting drafted in the lottery is truly...
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NBA Draft 2025: First Round Reactions (Picks 6-10)
Wizards Add Shooting in Johnson, Pelicans Take Fears Entering the second half of the top ten picks, Washington secures one of the draft’s most universally loved players in Johnson. He’s an elite shot-maker whose ability to hit NBA-level jumpers will make him a meaningful contributor for many years to come. There are some justified concerns about his lack of finishing ability around the rim, but...
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NBA Draft 2025: First Round Reactions (Picks 1-5)
Flagg First, Harper Second There were no surprises between Dallas and San Antonio, as the only two “locks” in the draft were taken off the board with the first two selections. Even if we look back in five or ten years and see others surpass Flagg or Harper, these were still the correct choices. The 18-year-old Flagg is coming off one of the most dominant college seasons in history, especially...
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A balance of new names and returning prospects make UNC-Pembroke highly interesting to watch this upcoming season
Never too early to talk about some college basketball, and a program that has earned our attention early here in North Carolina is UNC-Pembroke. Coming off a season in which they finished 25-7 and 18-2 in conference play, the staff will have a strong blend of returning players and new names coming into the program. We dive into what we know about the roster and what fans should be excited about...
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Drake Powell Declares for NBA Draft
Over the recent years, many college players declared for the draft to simply test the waters while maintaining their eligibility. It allows guys to feel out the process and receive feedback on their current draft status. Yesterday, Drake Powell of UNC announced he will be entering the NBA Draft with zero intent of returning to college. What does this mean, both for Powell and the Tar Heels? For...
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Khamani Wertz Hits the Transfer Portal
Given the changes throughout college sports, countless players enter the transfer portal every year. Many leave their current situation to reach new heights or attempt to reestablish themselves at a different level. Among the latest additions to the portal is Khamani Wertz of Belmont-Abbey. Folks will also likely remember him from his days at Carmel Christian, where he played a vital role for a...
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Chase Forte Having a Monster Senior Season for South Dakota
Photo Courtesy of South Dakota Athletics Every player seems to have their own unique path in the journey of basketball. While it might seem cliché, it’s true. We’ve seen players go to the highest levels and transfer down, and guys go to a lower level and eventually transfer up. Talent matters but there’s ultimately no conclusive way to recognize which players actually work hard and/or care about...
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Rebounding Machine: Nick McMullen Playing Key Role for Georgia State
Photo Courtesy of Georgia State Athletics Some players simply find ways to produce in every possible context or setting. These guys can be found at every level of basketball. Whether effortless scorers, physically imposing athletes, or a variety of other archetypes, there are all types of natural producers. Given our viewings in high school, it should’ve been expected that Nick McMullen would...
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Malcolm Wilson Shining as Top Rim-Protector in College Basketball
Courtesy of Queens Athletics If it’s been said once, it’s been said a million times: big men develop slower than others. Many instances exist when a tall kid is simply forced into the sport due to their physical advantages. However, those who love the game and consistently work to improve typically succeed in basketball. The most recent addition to the list of late bloomers who ultimately panned...
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Milligan building a strong, underrated recruiting class with recent commits
Milligan has been in the news as of late, as this is a program that has been working hard on the recruiting trail and has quietly earned a strong and underrated upcoming class coming in. 2025 Ahmari Hicks was the first to announce but as of late, 2025 Jake Benham and 2025 Liviu Anton have both announced their commitments to the program. Hicks and Benham will certainly give this program...
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Kameron Taylor Shining as X-Factor for UNC Asheville
While it’s likely common knowledge amongst those within the grassroots scene, recruiting North Carolina is a polarizing subject for some college programs. Fortunately, the hesitance of others hasn’t deterred Coach Mike Morrell from trusting his eyes and aggressively recruiting the state (both out of high school and the transfer portal). The Bulldogs’ top seven players in minutes all came from...
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Soph. Josh Scovens (Army) continuing to lead his team in a BIG way
Looking back at the classes here in North Carolina, one of the more overlooked prospects from North Carolina just a few years ago was Josh Scovens at Page High School. Phenom Hoops was one of the few who recognized the talent of Scovens and thought that he could be a contributor at the next level. More Than Deserving: 6’6 2022 Josh Scovens Scovens has only proven that and more… The 6’6...
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Jr. LJ Thomas (Austin Peay) making the most of his opportunities at Austin Peay
Sometimes, you just never know when your opportunity will come and go in the world of basketball. A player that Phenom Hoops is certainly aware of and have watched over the years has been the talented guard of LJ Thomas, who committed to NC State a few years back, played in 30 games for the Wolfpack as a freshman and averaged 2.4 points, but then only saw action in 12 games as a sophomore...
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