South Carolina Jr. Phenom Evaluations
Team 1
Coach: Mike Rollins
#1: 4'10 '26 Mario James (Columbia, SC)
Starting things off, we look at the youngest player in attendance at our first South Carolina Jr. Phenom Camp, Mario James. He's a solid player for his age with nice ball-handling and penetration abilities. Though James was younger than everyone else, he showed grit and determination on both sides of the ball throughout the day. Next in his development process is continuing to learn the game and grow through each playing experience, as repetitions will only make him a stronger two-way prospect. Coach Rollins on James: 'Mario is a good young player that will improve with time. He is quick with the ball and knows how to find his shot. He can use improvement with his body language when things don't go well. He was one of the youngest kids at camp and he didn't back down from any challenge.' James has a nice foundation and should build off his solid performance at camp.
#5: 5'6 '23 Xavier Brown (Florence, SC)
Next, we look at a player that made his mark in a wide variety of ways during camp, Xavier Brown. Despite his lack of size, Brown showed the ability to compete and make plays on offense. He shot the ball well from three-point territory, especially off the catch, and displayed quality mechanics on his form. Brown rebounded well for his size and was able to push the break fairly often. Next in his development process is working on his defensive presence, which should certainly be possible, given his lateral quickness and ability to fight through screens. Coach Rollins on Brown: 'Xavier is a good, quick player with a knockdown jumper. He possesses nice mobility and can score well in transition. Xavier will continue to improve with strength, but can already get by opponents when necessary.' Brown showcased an intriguing skillset, highlighted by a strong shooting stroke, but he should be one to watch grow going forward.
#7: 5'2 '24 Nathan Moore (Greenwood, SC)
Moving onto a player that showcased his ability to shoot the ball throughout camp, Nathan Moore. He's able to toggle between playing on and off-ball, given his blend of ball-handling and spot-up shooting. Moore showed a willingness to defend and play hard; he made various hustle plays and scored nicely in transition. He was able to effectively get to his spots on the break and knock down three-pointers at a quality rate. Next in his development process is work on his penetration ability, as it would make him a more complete threat on offense. Coach Rollins on Moore: 'Nathan has a nice looking jumper with a quick release and decent handles. He's fairly quick off the bounce and doesn't miss many open opportunities, especially when spotting-up. Talking on defense and better body language would be the main areas for improvement.' Moore displayed a solid frame and skillset during his time at camp, but he can definitely grow from this strong showing. We will be monitoring his progress over the coming years.
#9:5'2 '24 Thomas Sumpter (Sumter, SC)
Next, we look at a player that made excellent contributions on both sides of the floor and didn't require the basketball to do so, Thomas Sumpter. He's probably better on defense than offense right now, which is somewhat surprising any player in this age group. That being said, Sumpter is still a quality two-way player with the ability to make his presence felt on offense. He does a nice job of attacking the paint and looking to make the correct pass whenever possible. Sumpter was able to create decently well off the dribble and knock down midrange shots at a strong frequency. Next in his development process is learning how to generate consistent offense as an off-ball threat from three-point territory, considering players were already struggling to guard him without a long ball looming. Coach Rollins on Sumpter: 'Thomas plays strong, despite being undersized. He talks on defense and he's a leader on the court and on the bench. This is a very coachable young man that possesses the 'it' factor. He penetrates well and shoots the ball with confidence.' Sumpter was able to make an impression on both ends of the floor during camp, so it'll be interesting to see how he continues to develop going forward.
#20: 5'4 '24 David Wine (Hopkins, SC)
Continuing onto a player that was simply the best true point guard on display, David Wine. He's somewhat small in height, but he's fairly strong and uses his slight frame to his advantage, allowing him to break down defenders with incredible ease. Wine's court sense is absolutely terrific and he looks ready to lead a team today, given his unselfishness and phenomenal ability to create for others. No player saw the floor better or showcased vision as strong as Wine, who simply has an impressive feel and IQ for the game at this age. He entered the paint well and constantly looked for the kick-out from penetration chances. Next in his development process is continuing to grow and add strength, since his overall basketball mentality is already quite lethal. Coach Rollins on Wine: 'David is a true pass-first point guard. He sets his teammates up to score with such ease. He's an extension of the coach on the floor. He's loud on defense and plays hard on every possession. David's IQ is solid and he has a real understanding of the game.' That's pretty high praise for the recipient of our Mr. Playmaker award, but it was certainly justified. Wine left his mark on his camp, so we will be sure to keep a close eye on his progression.
#28:5'7 '23 Michael Wilson (Indian Trail, SC)
Moving onto a player that did a solid amount of everything while on the court, Michael Wilson. He was probably the top hustle player on this team and was always looking to make the intelligent play, both with and without the ball in his hands. Wilson rarely looked to force the action and showed no problems being unselfish or deferring to open teammates. He was the first man to dive on the floor for any loose ball and showed a real willingness to win every 50-50 ball possible. Offensively, Wilson knocked down shots from all over the floor while consistently making the extra pass. Next in his development process is continuing to add strength and work on his ability to rebound the ball, as it would make him even more problematic for opponents. Coach Rollins on Wilson: 'Michael is an extension of the coach on the floor. He has a sound jump shot and makes the right play when the ball is in his hands. He boxes out well and plays smart/good defense.' Wilson displayed a solid skillset at camp, and we'll be looking for him to build off his nice two-way showing.
#29: 5'7 '23 Timothy McGill (Gaffney, SC)
Next, we look at a player that made a clear impression with his athleticism and two-way presence, Timothy McGill. He's a wing prospect with nice size, which allows him to really bother opponents. Offensively, McGill possesses the ability to break down opponents off the dribble and enter the paint at a high frequency, where he was able to finish most of his opportunities. On the other end, he took legitimate pride in shutting down his assignment, both on and off-ball, and forced numerous turnovers as a result. Next in his development process is continuing to sharpen his fairly well-rounded game, as he should be able to grow into a quality prospect given his current skillset. Coach Rollins on McGill: 'Timothy is a quick, athletic guard that gets up and down the floor quite well. He finishes at the rim with ease and is a true leader on the floor with a positive attitude.' McGill's IQ and overall presence as a teammate was vital to Team 1 and their success throughout the day. Gaffney is known for producing toughness and McGill is no different.
#43: 5'10 '23 Chrisean Oree (Columbia, SC)
Continuing onto a player that received numerous MVP votes and nominations for awards at camp, Chrisean Oree. We saw the guard prospect in July, but he's taken his game to another level in the last month. Offensively, Oree was unstoppable, able to constantly generate open looks for himself and others; he penetrated whenever he desired and shot the ball efficiently from all three levels. On the other end, Oree could be found pestering his assignment and forcing turnovers at a strong rate. Next in his development process is learning how to move without the ball, as it would allow him to set up quicker and make more plays as an off-ball threat. Coach Rollins on Oree: 'Chrisean is an exciting on-ball defender, yet offense also comes so easy for this young man. He attacks the basket at every opportunity he gets. Chrisean is a nice player on both ends of the floor that should continue to improve.' Oree was among the top ten performers in attendance and showcased translatable skills on both sides of the ball.
#44: 5'10 '23 David Tator (Fayetteville, NC)
Moving onto a player that made an extremely lasting impression with his grittiness and determination on defense, David Tator. He possesses a strong frame and understands how to utilize it on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Tator is still somewhat raw, but he displayed the ability to consistently get downhill and to the rim while absorbing an abundance of contact. That being said, he scored most of his points in transition, where most opponents were unable to keep up. Often times, Tator would force the turnover and then lead the break with no hesitation. Next in his development process is working on the consistency as a shooter, since it would make him a more complete offensive threat. Coach Rollins on Tator: 'David is a strong player with a defensive mentatlity. He plays hard on every possession and always moves with purpose. David is an easy kid to coach with all the right listening skills.' There weren't many players as tough as Tator, who fought through injuries and continued to make an impact on the game.
#51: 6'1 '24 Cameron Scott (Lexington, SC)
Finishing up with a player that really dominated the competition, despite being a year younger than most opponents, Cameron Scott. He possesses great length and size with the skillset to match. Scott is quite versatile on both ends of the floor, able to consistently force turnovers on defense and then lead the break himself. There weren't many players that displayed more leadership qualities than Scott, given his overall unselfishness. He scored in a variety of ways and showed promise as a two-way player. Next in his development process is continuing to work on the polish of his three-point shot, as it would make him extremely difficult for opponents to contain on offense. Coach Rollins on Scott: 'Cameron is a long, athletic player that pushes the ball really well on offense and controls the paint on defense. He could work on moving without the ball and crashing the offensive boards. The young man has the upside to become a well-rounded player with continued hard work.' Scott was the winner of our Mr. Defense award, given his relentlessness and clear passion on the defensive end of the floor. He was arguably the best prospect in attendance and will definitely be one to keep an eye on going forward.