This past weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual March Showcase at Rise Indoor Sports in Bermuda Run, North Carolina. Although we’re still in the early stages of the travel ball season, there were still several noteworthy takeaways from the event. Teams like NLPB, Carolina Bulldogs, and Team FLY were among the several standout groups on display. The NLPB squad has an intriguing mix of unsigned seniors, juniors, and sophomores, and should have the attention of college coaches throughout the summer months. Though we’ve seen flashes of Donyeh Baird over the last twelve months, it appears that he’s getting back to a clean bill of health while reestablishing his dynamic identity on the court.
Due to multiple unforeseen injuries, Baird hasn’t been afforded the same development path as his peers. However, there should be a lot of optimism about his current trajectory. Last weekend, Baird showcased scoring polish and playmaking instincts as a primary creator. He’s athletic enough to consistently break down his man off the bounce, touch the paint, and finish or locate open teammates. Baird knocked down jumpers from midrange and beyond the arc, both off the catch and bounce. He’s a quality threat in transition with or without the ball. Baird defends with great energy and knows how to overwhelm opposing ball-handlers with his physicality and general activity. He rebounds well for his size/position and displays nice pace when attacking.
Going forward, Baird will definitely be a prospect for onlookers and college coaches to monitor closely. He has all the tools to be a matchup problem from the lead guard position. Baird is an unselfish teammate and leader by example who will do whatever necessary for the betterment of the team. Expect his stock to continually rise over these next few months.