This past weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual Stay Positive Showcase in Kernersville, North Carolina. Although we only had games on Friday and Saturday, there was still an abundance of overall talent in the gym. We caught all the action on Friday, including a closer look at SW15H Elite—a squad that truly has the pieces to be among the best teams on the UA Rise circuit. Coach Cooper Hart’s has maintained the majority of his core while adding multiple key pieces. Let’s dive deeper…
It’s been evident for several years that 6’7 Julian Tweedy has the tools to be a special player. He continues to tap into his upside and make steady strides in his progression as a long, fluid athlete with a versatile identity on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he’s able to create matchup problems with his combination of size, ball skills, and creation ability off the dribble. Tweedy is able to post up smaller players, get downhill with ease, and make quality decisions with the ball in his hands. He sees the floor well as a passer, especially for his size. Tweedy finishes effectively around the basket and can knock down jumpers at a respectable rate. In addition to being a malleable offensive piece, he’s able to secure rebounds and wreak havoc with his switchable defensive presence. Tweedy’s terrific length, athleticism, and instincts allow him to toggle across multiple positions (both up and down a lineup) and block shots or force turnovers at a strong frequency. Already a notable talent, he still has a ton of potential remaining.
While his teammate above is arguably the most significant returner, the newly acquired 6’7 Thomas Bowes already stands out as a focal point. In a similar vein to Tweedy, his versatility is what makes him a real problem for all types of opponents. Bowes is a smooth all-around player with an impressive combination of IQ, skill, and athleticism. He can legitimately do everything on the court. Bowes knocked down jumpers at a strong percentage while routinely showing the ability to apply pressure off the bounce and set up others or finish at the rim. He processes very well to read the floor quickly and make correct decisions with the ball in his hands. Bowes has an array of appealing physical tools and no real weaknesses within his skillset. He’s very active on the glass and is very comfortable pushing the break in transition. Add in his ability to guard multiple positions defensively and anticipation to force turnovers, and it’s easy to see everything he brings to this group. Expect Bowes to become a priority for Division I coaches over the coming months, as it feels like he’s ready to take the next step as an overall player.
It feels like not enough people appreciate everything 6’5 DJ Howze brings to a team. He’s a smart, physical glue-guy who does a healthy amount of everything while being adaptable to various different roles on the court. Howze can expand his production as needed, but often finds plenty of opportunities by simply filling in the gaps. He can create for himself and others, mix it up as a scorer from all levels, and defend multiple positions with ease. However, no one places greater emphasis on doing the little things. Howze always boxes out, does the dirty work, and positions himself to impact the game on both ends of the floor. His level of unselfish, team-oriented approach may not meet the naked eye, but it’s undeniably valuable to this group. Expect him to continue trending upward.
Although it’s pretty clear that the trio above largely set the tone for this group, there’s so much to like about 5’10 Austin Youngs as a floor general. He visibly operates as a coach on the floor, showing an understanding of how to reliably orchestrate an offense, make precise passes, and put others in scoring positions. Youngs is a reliable perimeter shooter who knows how to move without the ball and relocate for open jumpers. He touches the paint, forces the defense to collapse, and makes the right read with incredible consistency. Despite his unassuming nature, he’s a true gamer who plays hard and positions himself well to contain opposing guards at the point of attack. He also rebounds well for his size/position. Youngs is a major x-factor for this team and will eventually be a valuable point guard at the college level.
It’s easy to see that this group has a lot of size across the board, and that’s before even mentioning guys like 6’7 Harrison Seale & 6’6 Ian Hazard. Seale continues to steadily progress as a forward with nice touch, mobility, and an active motor. He finds ways to involve himself in the action without needing a ton of touches. Seale displayed the ability to finish, rebound, alter shots, and score in transition. Meanwhile, Hazard is an intriguing new addition to this group. He’s a long, athletic forward whose physicality and nonstop motor already make him an asset on both ends of the floor. Hazard is a capable finisher with great activity on the glass and the ability to block shots or force turnovers at a nice rate. Both guys will be vital to the success of this group.
Rounding out this group, 5’11 Tanner Long, 6’2 JP Portland, 6’5 Rem Frasher, and 6’2 Deuce Geer each bring something different to the table. Long is a scrappy complementary guard who plays hard, knocks down jumpers, and makes hustle plays. He operates very well within his role on both ends of the floor. Portland does a solid job of doing the dirty work and filling in the gaps as needed. Frasher and Geer did not play, but it’s obvious that both guys will only increase the ceiling of this team.