Last weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual Memorial Day Classic in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The event featured a variety of intriguing individuals and teams across all age groups (including an abundance of noteworthy talent in the girls’ division). There were plenty of standouts across the board. Among those teams was Stars Gold—one of the top programs in South Carolina. Let’s take a closer look at a few of their pieces…
It’s common knowledge, but so much of a team’s success is predicated on quality guard play. Although this group has a variety of useful backcourt pieces, guys like Johnston Abrams and Jayden Crews consistently found ways to stand out. Abrams is a smart, heady floor general who consistently touches the paint and makes plays with the ball in his hands. He finishes well for his size and can knock down perimeter jumpers, but is arguably at his best when looking to create for others. Abrams displays great pace, vision, and a tight handle. He patiently sets the offense and picks his spots as a scorer. He’s also a reliable defender at the point of attack. Meanwhile, Crews offers a terrific change of pace. He’s a long, wiry guard who can dictate the action or find success without the ball. At 6-foot-2, Crews offers great balance between scoring and playmaking. He breaks down defenders to get downhill, where he’s able to finish, pull up, or kick out to open teammates. Crews is a polished scorer from all levels and is capable of taking what the defense gives him. He utilizes his length and anticipation well to force turnovers defensively. Both should be viewed as targets for college coaches.
Anchoring the paint, William Robinson has pretty obvious appeal as a next-level piece. He’s built like an absolute tank with the length, motor, and mobility to cause consistent problems for opponents. Robinson is a capable finisher around the basket but truly doesn’t need to score in order to make an impact. He’s an imposing athlete with a strong rebounding sense and quality nose for the ball. Robinson naturally overwhelms opponents with his toughness and physicality on both ends of the floor. He positions himself well to block or alter shots defensively. Although he’s quite impactful, it’s easy to see him continuing to trend upward over the next calendar year.
Rounding out this grouping, Justus Bell stands out as a leader through his consistent production and versatile, well-rounded identity. He’s always been a multi-positional piece who can do a variety of different things on the court, but it’s easy to see the strides he’s made over the recent months. Bell highlighted an all-around game with the ability to create, score from all levels, defend multiple positions, and rebound at a respectable rate. He’s long, fluid, and comfortable operating from several different positions. Bell’s blend of size, skill, and athleticism cause matchup problems for various types of opponents. Expect each of these guys to be priorities for college coaches going forward.