On Friday, Phenom Hoops traveled to Southwest Guilford High School to see the Cowboys host the Golden Eagles of Ben L. Smith High School. This was their second meeting of the season and Southwest had something to prove, as they narrowly outlasted Smith earlier this month. However, home-court advantage is a real thing with the Cowboys, as they typically have one of the better atmospheres in Greensboro.
This game started in a hurry as Southwest quickly established the lead and refused to let up. However, Smith is a team that never quits and that was quite evident in their relentlessness throughout this contest. They played as a unit, but still found the most success when playing through Silas Mason on the offensive end. Both teams were at their best when pushing the pace and getting out in transition, but that tends to play right into the Cowboys game plan. It was quite close through three quarters, but Southwest's ability to consistently get stops and force turnovers in the half-court simply becomes overwhelming for the opposition. They would claim a 79-61 victory over the Golden Eagles.
Southwest:
6'0 '19 Kobe Langley
Normally, Kobe is more of the scorer between this duo, but he showcased the ability to do literally everything last night. He was an absolute pest on defense (per usual) and seemed to influence every possession when he was on the floor. Kobe managed the game exceptionally well and looked to create for others whenever possible. It's difficult to imagine this team facing a more well-equipped backcourt than the Langleys. Final stats: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and 4 blocks.
6'0 '19 Keyshaun Langley
Meanwhile, Keyshaun was a more impactful scorer during this contest and applied constant three-level pressure from start to finish. Like his brother, Keyshaun set the tone on defense and pushed transition play at every possible opportunity. He continues to display an extremely well-rounded skillset and overwhelms the opposing lead guard effortlessly on both ends of the floor. Final stats: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.
6'5 '19 Jay'den Turner
There's so much to like with this Southwest squad, which definitely includes Turner, considering he's been terrific all year long for this group. His length and aggression are both massive assets on defense, as it allows him to cause havoc from the point of attack, even though he's capable of containing three or four positions effectively at this level. Turner continued to score the ball efficiently and earned an offer from Mount Olive after the game. Final stats: 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block.
Smith:
6'7 '20 Silas Mason
The forward prospect was argaubly the most appealing long-term recruit for either team, given his size, powerful athleticism, and blossoming offensive skillset. Mason knocked down multiple jumpers in this contest, but still showed his natural ability to get inside and attack the basket whenever he desired. His ability to handle and pass the ball continues to look better by the day, as he actively looks to set up his teammates. Mason is a quality leader that is willing and ready to fight on every possession in order to provide his team with an edge. Final stats: 21 points and 4 rebounds.
5'10 '20 Khalid Hines
The point guard prospect is among the scrappiest floor generals in Guilford County and he was able to make a pretty solid impact against Southwest. Hines is extremely quick'especially with the ball in his hands'and does an excellent job of getting downhill and making reads within the arc. He was their most reliable backcourt presence throughout this contest. Final stats: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals.
6'8 '20 Nic McMullen
When these teams first faced off, no one was able to stop McMullen and it allowed for a pretty intense battle. In this showing, he still worked well inside and rebounded the ball at a strong frequency, but had some minor struggles at the line. He plays with a strong motor and absolutely refuses to back down from any type of opponent. Final stats: 13 points and 6 rebounds.