Phenom's High School Jamboree Session 2
What We're Looking For (Part 8/10)

Hickory Grove Christian Has Become Must Watch

Last season Hickory Grove Christian (Charlotte, NC) finished 12-14, not typically a team that you look at to say, 'they return a lot, watch out'. However, seeing their player development throughout the summer, this team returns a lot and NCISAA 3A should watch out.

This team will be led by 6'5' senior Regin Larson. Larson is coming off a junior season that saw him average 9 points and shoot 40% from beyond the arc. He has great positional size, and really knows how to work off the ball. A college level player, he is one who should become a hot name for the appropriate level schools this season.

However, this team's best two players are a pair of sophomores. The team's leading returning scorer is 6'3' sophomore point guard AJ Smith at 10.2 points per game. He also averaged just over 3 rebounds per game. The lead guard is an aggressive downhill player who plays with a chip on his shoulder. He is a tough, gritty and athletic guard who finds a way to get it done on both ends of the floor. He is ranked among the state's top 10 2021 prospects and will be a heavily recruited point guard in the 2021 class.

On the block Hickory Grove Christian is last year's leading shot blocker. 6'9' sophomore Jacori Owens, a high level rim and paint protecting big man. He has great hands and an understanding on the block. This summer Owens cut his teeth by playing up two ages on the Under Armour Circuit with Team Charlotte. There he averaged 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks per game. Owens, like Smith, is one who will experience major recruitment and is firmly entrenched among the state's Top 10 prospects in his class.

Already, the 6'3' sophomore AJ Smith carries early offers from Charlotte and Hampton and 6'9' sophomore Jacori Owens carries an early Charlotte offer. Obviously, Ron Sanchez immediately identified the local talent and is attempting to put a fence around his city. This may end up being a hard task with these two who should garner high level regional recruitment, if not expanding to the national level.

Not a traditional power, and a program who lots its two leading scorers from last year's team. This program has a lot to look forward to in the future. They will walk onto most floors, during most games, with the two best prospects on the floor. Add in a senior leader who can really shoot it and this team has every single ingredient to make a lot of noise.

Needless to say, mid to high level D1 coaches will want to get in front of this group ASAP

This event IS Open to the Public ' CLICK HERE for the Schedule .. November 3 (Saturday) in Greensboro, NC