Player: Hendrix Loughridge
Class: 2026
Height: 6’10
AAU: PSB Tampa
School: The Rock National
Highlighting another player that caught the attention of many scouts from Phenom Hoops was 2026 6’10 Hendrix Loughridge out of Florida. Recently coming to North Carolina at the Summer Havoc, the big man certainly had the attention of many, and college coaches sat baseline throughout. There was a lot of intrigue with is mobility, feel, size, and impact on both sides of the ball, as well as future development. Our very own, Jeff Bendel, had this to say about him:
“It’s always exciting to watch new, appealing prospects, and Hendrix Loughridge certainly did not disappoint. Given the fact that big men are always at a premium, he entered the event with a lot of buzz surrounding his name. At 6-foot-10, he’s a long, fluid athlete who reliably impacts the game on both ends of the floor. Loughridge displays solid timing and understanding of how to alter/block shots as a defensive anchor around the basket. He displays nice feel when defending screen actions and is quick enough to recover after hedging. Offensively, Loughridge is capable of finishing around the basket, spacing the floor, or operating out of the two-man game. He competes well for rebounds and doesn’t shy away from physical play around the basket. Loughridge displays great mobility for his size and runs the floor well in transition. Although the appeal should be obvious, it’s easy to see his potential as a long-term prospect.”
We caught up with the hidden talent down in Florida, as he has had a strong overall summer, earned his first two Division 1 offers, including one from Mercer after the Summer Havoc, and discusses more of the latest around his game.
Phenom: How have you developed and grown this summer?
Loughridge: My development has taken huge leaps over this past fall/summer thanks to my coaches at The Rock as well as at PSB. My biggest goals going into the live periods were to show coaches that I can run the floor, play with a high motor, and be physical on both sides of the ball.
Phenom: What are your thoughts on the Mercer offer?
Loughridge: Getting the offer from Mercer has been another huge jump in my motivation to continue to grow and prove my potential as well as being a major factor for more and more coaches to reach out and put faith in me.
Phenom: What has Air Force been communicating and building with you?
Loughridge: Air Force was the first D1 school to see my upside, and I think that the way my relationship has grown with them is a standard on how I view the rest of the schools I talk to. I’ve been so blessed to be able to meet the whole staff there, and I think that the confidence in my game that I have now is from them and their feedback.
Phenom: What other schools have been showing strong interest?
Loughridge: In all, I’m talking to around 25 D1 programs, but I have a list of my top schools I talk to most regularly, and I feel as ifthey will fit me best. That number is still growing, and every week it seems I reevaluate my options and talk to my coaches about what they see in each individual school. A few schools showing very strong interest are Valparaiso, Stetson, UT Chattanooga, Lipscomb, Citadel, Northeastern, as well as several more.
Phenom: How would you best describe your game?
Loughridge: In terms of players, my two role models would be Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid. I like to be able to play as a big man but still have the flexibility to play as a forward/wing.
Phenom: Do you have any upcoming visits with schools?
Loughridge: I’m talking about visits with several of my top schools, but I don’t have anything scheduled for sure yet. In the next few weeks, I’ll have more things solidified and start getting things set.