This upcoming weekend, Phenom Hoops will travel out to Ambassador Christian for our second annual Ambassador Classic. The one-day event features six games with a ton of intriguing matchups and individual prospects throughout the field. As we enter the next stretch of the high school season with conference play, each win and loss holds much more weight. These games will ultimately have playoff implications for the public and private school programs. Outside of the JV game, the showcase will highlight teams like Lab U, Phoenix Montessori, Cannon, Northwest Guilford, Mooresville, Ballantyne Ridge, Gaston Day, West Charlotte, East Meck, and the hosting Ambassador Christian. Let’s take a closer look at the matchup between East Meck and Ambassador Christian…
After seeing East Meck several times over the last few weeks, it’s clear that the Eagles are beginning to hit their stride. Jordan Buzzard’s return obviously elevates their ceiling, as his combination of size, athleticism, and defensive ability allows him to dominate a game as a low-maintenance leader. Nixon Wright has easily been one of the most consistent players on this roster, providing a long, explosive two-way identity with the ability to put constant pressure on the rim. Braylen Caldwell shines as a glue-guy who alters his approach based on team needs. Zavion Funderburk is a knockdown shooter with deep range, a quick release, and the ability to move without the ball. Ian Ramirez Toro brings a tough, scrappy, high-motor presence to the team.
On the other side, Ambassador Christian’s record is probably somewhat deceiving, as they’ve played a ridiculously difficult schedule this season. However, that should only make them more prepared for the upcoming stretch of opponents. RJ Moore continues to shine as the all-around leader with his incredible blend of size, scoring, and athleticism. He puts constant pressure on defenses with his ability to create and fill it up from all levels. Jeremiah Jones is strong, physical, and knows how to impact the game in a variety of different ways. Tyler Brown anchors the interior as a long, wiry, athletic big man. Judah King is a very steady, unselfish, team-oriented guard who defends, sets up others, and scores as needed. Nick Haney provides this team with another reliable guard who can score or initiate the offense. Given the amount of talent on both sides, this should be an exciting contest.