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, starting with the Tourney Town Showcase…
Although considerable attention will be focused on the nightcap, TW Andrews versus Western Guilford is easily one of the top matchups in the event. The TW Andrews program has basically transformed since hiring Irv Turner as head coach. They’ve improved in each year under his leadership, and that trend looks likely to continue this season. On the other side, Western Guilford is coming off its first winning season in over a decade.
The Red Raiders of TW Andrews are still an extremely young group. They only have two seniors and two juniors on the roster, yet continue to visibly trend upward as a collective. Jaelin Smith is arguably their main leader as a shot-maker with size, ball skills, and quality instincts. He regularly operates as the primary creator and overall source of offense, but is comfortable in several roles. Smith is a great rebounder and switchable defender. Young guys like Greg Zigbuo and Bryson Faulk-Warner already stand out through their respective production. That being said, this squad is quite deep with capable contributors. The likes of Malik Troutman, Jadiah Outing, Tyler Bell, and Zion Johnson will each play critical roles.
For the Hornets, Seth Harris shines as the clear, undisputed focal point. He’s a long, fluid athlete with a well-rounded skillset and the ability to produce in various roles. Harris bears a heavy scoring load for this group. He creates his own shot, sets up others, and mixes it up well as a scorer from all levels. Harris finishes well at the rim and knocks down jumpers at a quality percentage from beyond the arc. In addition to Harris, guys like Javier Hernandez, Elijah Riddick, Tim Harrington, and Jayce Williams should be meaningful pieces for the Hornets.