This weekend, Phenom Hoops will be hosting events in three different locations. Between the Freedom 828 Showcase, Ish Smith Showcase, and Tourney Town Showcase, there’s a ton of quality hoops throughout North Carolina. Now with the season fully underway, folks have a clearer understanding surrounding the “who’s who” in the high school scene. Each event brings its own set of storylines, matchups, and notable prospects on display. Let’s take a closer look at each, moving onto the Phenom 828 Showcase…
Arguably the most intriguing contest on the slate, Gaston Christian is set to face off against Hickory High School. The Eagles have been one of the most impressive stories of the season thus far, beating several noteworthy opponents and absolutely thwarting many others. However, the Tornadoes should be one of their best challengers yet. Hickory maintains a certain level of consistency regardless of team structure or roster composition. This year is no different. They’ve gotten off to a nice early start and will likely face the toughest opponent on their schedule on Saturday.
In looking at the Eagles, it’s no secret that Cam Newman has been the clear focal point of this group. He’s a smart, dynamic floor general who can consistently create for others and fill it up as a scorer from all three levels. Newman is a crafty ball-handler with the quickness, vision, and pace to get legitimately whatever he wants on the offensive end of the floor. Add in his reliable defense and rebounding for his size, and it’s easy to appreciate everything he does. However, guys like Jaishawn Woods and Brayden Milner have been major x-factors all season long. Woods is a heady guard who plays with energy, defends with toughness, and scores the ball at a healthy rate. Milner is a skilled forward with the ability to space the floor or apply pressure as an interior piece. Additionally, Alessandro Luparia, Jeremy Duhon, Kendall Southern, Jordan Makoi, and Kumbai Makoi all play meaningful roles for the Eagles. Luparia provides another shooting and ball-handling presence; Duhon is a capable shooting threat; Southern excels at doing the dirty work; both Jordan and Kumbai provide size, rebounding, and shot-blocking ability.
On the other side, Hickory has a strong core with guys like Jace Blocker, Hayden Hillman, Javian White, and Jordan Powell leading the way. Blocker is a strong interior piece with a burly frame and the ability to physically overwhelm opponents around the basket. He finishes, rebounds, and alters/blocks shots at a quality rate. Hillman is a knockdown shooter with feel, toughness, and a low-maintenance identity. White is a scrappy, heady guard who can dictate the action and score the ball in a variety of ways. He rebounds well and defends with intensity. Rounding out their core, Powell has been a key piece since his freshman season. Now, two years later, and he’s still just as vital to the success of this group. He’s a smart, steady floor general with size, vision, and a calm demeanor at all times. Given the talent on both sides, it’ll be exciting to see how things unfold.