Phenom Hoops had the weekend off as far as events but that doesn’t mean we weren’t out in the gym, looking at the premier talent around the country. We headed out to Rock Hill once again for a fantastic and loaded event presented by On The Radar. Mr. Williams did a tremendous job with the event and our own, Patrick O’Brien, was on deck Friday night to watch the action. Here are some of his thoughts and takeaways from the night.
2021 Jabari Smith proved to be one of the top prospects in the country
This was our first chance, in person, to watch 2021 Jabari Smith who is a 6’10 forward and is ranked as one of the top players in the country for his class. He certainly showed why. Immediately, you could see the skillset this big man has on the court. His ability to square up, knock down shots from the perimeter, run the floor, rebound, block shots, and his footwork on both sides of the floor… it was all there. He plays with such confidence and with his size and versatility on the court, there aren’t many that are going to stop or even slow him down on the court.
Reform Sports Training Elite was a fun program to watch on the court
Reform Sports Training Elite started off my afternoon on Friday, getting in on the action against Team Hickory. This program was off and running, as they have a lot of length on the court and really excel getting out in transition, showcasing their athleticism. 2021 Bryce McGowens was the first to pop off with such an incredible blend of skill, length, and ability to impact the court. When McGowens is locked in on defense, he can really create havoc with his ability to use his length against opponents and guard multiple positions. Offensively, he scored all over the court, whether it is pushing and finishing in transition or playing off the ball and spotting up. Then you also can look at two 6’8 long and mobile forwards in 2021 Ubong Etim and 2022 Malik Dia, both of which using their long arms to be disruptive in the post on defense. Also liked 2021 Madison Peaster, a prospect that really played at a great pace and created off the dribble well.
First chance of viewing Carolina Riptide 2022
The Carolina Riptide program has been a program at several Phenom Hoops events but they recently announced they were having a 2022 program, bringing in some very good talent to watch in the state of North Carolina. Coach Hodges has this team looking good and they were fun to watch, as they really got after it on both ends and looked to push the tempo. They certainly wanted to get out and run, and that they did. Time and time again, they were able to allow their defense to quickly turn into offense, pushing the tempo every chance they could. 2023 Cole Callaway led the way with 23 points in the win but players like Jackson Hawkins, Trey Ramsey, Beckham Tharpe, and others all had bright moments as well. It was a fun group to watch for the first time and will certainly be one to watch more down the road.