What a great day of basketball for Day 1 of Phenom’s Stay Positive, the AAU season is officially here. Hundreds of people showed out to watch the talent, and the talent did not disappoint. The names we already knew did their thing and there were some new names who stepped up and started their stories.
Here are the storylines from Day 1.
Unsigned Seniors
This is the time of year that Colleges are looking to fill out their rosters and the players are looking to figure out what they are doing next. This event was no different, numerous unsigned seniors showed out. Let’s take a look…
6’5” Corey Rutherford of High Point Havoc
Rutherford was the team’s leading scorer and he was able to produce in every way possible. He rebounded and pushed the break, he shot the ball from range and he attacked downhill from the wing. He is long and a good athlete. A D1 level player.
6’6” Khyrie Thompson of High Point Havoc
Thompson had the dubious honor of backing up Jaylen Hoard and Aaron Wiggins this season at Wesleyan Christian. Well now in the spotlight for the High Point Havoc, Thompson is showcasing a very intriguing skill set. The lengthy wing showed a smooth looking jump shot and the ability to score the ball going toward the rim. Very intriguing player, and one that D1 schools should be looking closely at.
6’1” Tai Giger of Carolina Raptors
Giger was scorching hot throughout the day. He scored the ball at every level and he did it with confidence and he did it with touch. Giger plays with a great pace and he handles the ball well. He is absolutely a college level prospect and one that coaches need to familiarize themselves with immediately.
New Names Show Out
This is the perfect place, to start your story. In enough to build some steam behind your personal brand heading into the live period. After all, the live period is when the college coaches sit around and watch you play. Playing in events that have incredible exposure, writers who talk regularly about you and NCAA compliant scouts who talk about you, those are requisites your pre-Live period events should have. Here are some names college coaches need to put on their lists.
6’5” 2020 Reggie Raynor of Team ENC
Raynor has developed a great deal over the past year. Standing a lengthy and explosive 6’5” Raynor displayed a complete scoring arsenal on the day. He shot the ball well, with deep range and touch. He also attacked the rim off the bounce and really got out in transition. A D1 prospect, coaches should start getting eyes on him in April.
6’8” 2020 Omarion Jay of Team Loaded NC
Jay is a true low post guy with a modern day twist to his game. He has girth and explosion on the block. He has great hands and good feet around the rim. Jay is also able to face up and take his man off the bounce. There is some Caleb Swanigan like stuff to his game. A high level guy, Power 6 schools should go ahead and put eyes on.
6’9” 2020 Josiah Shackelford of Carolina Wolves (NC)
Shackelford checks all of the natural boxes…length, athleticism and timing. He stands 6’9”, he has a 40” vertical and he has a wing span around 7’2”. Shackelford has a great motor and seemingly blocked everything in his path today. So excited to watch him continue to grow as a player as he has all the tools to excel. Shackelford is a certain D1 guy, and offers should start coming in April.
Team CP3 Reigns
Year after year it remains certain that Team CP3 will have one of the best travel teams in the state of North Carolina. Not only North Carolina, but with players like Harry Giles, Alterique Gilbert, Wendell Carter and others coming through, they have one of the top programs in the country. Well, they looked to be clicking on all cylinders today.
Today, the story starts and ends with 6’2” shooting guard Tristan Maxwell. In the teams second game, Maxwell went on a 20 out of 22 point streak. It was unreal and had the entire crowd buzzing. 6’8” Cam Stitt has an incredible skill set, one that needs to be monitored closely as he continues to develop. 6’2” Cameron Hayes should be considered among the nation’s Top 100 prospects. 6’6” Josh Rubio is a monster on the block. They press and run the entire game. They have length and athleticism.