Phenom Hoops was on deck for a terrific event at Cox Mill, as they brought you the Battle at the Mill. It brought several teams from around the area all under one building, giving fans a chance to take a look at the talent throughout the state. We bring you our standouts from Saturday’s games.
2022 Zeke Cannedy (Kings Mountain): Cannedy is one of the clear leaders for this team and he showed that he has the ability to put his team on his back and make plays. Cannedy was relentless on the floor, playing with a non-stop motor, creating for himself well and for others off the dribble, and showing his ability to penetrate a defense and score. Mad e a ton of plays and brings a ton of energy to the court. Finished the game with 29 points.
2022 Ian Clinkscales-King (Enka): The 6’5 center had a strong showing in this game and was consistent with his play. He ran from box to box extremely well, moved well without the ball to create opportunities and openings for his teammates, and was active down in the paint. He finished well for the most part around the basket and always had his hands on the boards. A strong showing from the big man. Had one of his best games, scoring 24 points to help his team.
2023 JJ Moore (Lincoln Charter): Moore came out EXTREMELY hot, knocking down shots from all areas of the floor but was extremely strong from behind the arc. He knocked down five threes early on before cooling off in the second half, but he also showed his speed in getting around defenders and getting to the basket. Finished the game leading the way with 26 points.
2022 Dawson McAlhany (Bishop McGuinness): McAlhany continues to be an under-the-radar type of prospect and even on a slow day, he still finds ways to be effective. The senior prospect can be used in a lot of areas of the floor with his 6’4 frame and has continued to show that he can score in a variety of ways while also being unselfish and playing a complete type game. He is just a well-rounded prospect on the court for his team.
2023 Jakaree Byrams (Forest Hills): Byrams had a strong showing and was the most consistent threat for his team on Saturday. The junior prospect has good size and wingspan, as it allows him to finish well over defenders and get his hands in the passing lane. He covers a lot of space and showed some shiftiness in creating and finishing.
2023 Jayden Harper (AC Reynolds): Reynolds had it clicking in a lot of ways and Harper was the leader of the group, scoring 18 points and just finding ways to get his hands on the ball. He played hard, made plays for himself, was active on both ends, and showed once again that he can be a true scoring threat on the court.
2023 Isaac Holmes (Apex Friendship): Holmes continues to be an intriguing prospect to watch on the court, especially with is size, versatility, and IQ. Holmes continues to show that he can be an effective scorer inside and out, as well as put the ball on the deck to create for himself. But you don’t always see players with his feel and vision in finding his teammates, delivering some pinpoint passes to his teammates for easy buckets.
2022 Evan Smith (Ardrey Kell): Smith continues to be the leader of this team; he is the spoon that stirs the drink. Not only does he run the offense but he is also a gifted scorer with tremendous touch when he penetrates the defense as well as with his pull-up game. Smith plays with a natural feel, never looks rushed, and makes good decisions on the floor, as well as helping in other areas like on the boards.
2023 Chandler Conrad (Cox Mill): Conrad had a nice game overall but he was most effective in showing off his range and knocking down multiple threes. He was able to get to his spots and displayed confidence in his shot-making ability from deep.
2023 Elijah Strong (Myers Park): Strong led the charge for Myers Park, as he used his size to his advantage and showcased some good footwork in the paint. Strong has a unique game with his ability to step out and handle but also has the strong frame to battle down in the paint. He was the biggest player on the court in this matchup and used it to his advantage, showing solid post moves and touch.
2023 Evan Morton (Weddington): Weddington just seems like a well-oiled machine and on Saturday night, it was a balanced attack led by the junior guard Evan Morton. He is a player that goes under the radar at times but has a great feel and brings a nice two-way presence. He is a scrappy defender but also showed his ability to score from the perimeter as well as make plays off the bounce. He led the charge with 17 points and was strong all throughout.