At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over one hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today’s edition will highlight TJ East of T. Wingate Andrews and Greensboro Warriors.
There’s a lot to be said for players who take the less-traveled path of resisting the urge to transfer and sticking things out at their original school, which has been the case with East. Instead of opting to find greener pastures, East continually worked to get better and learned how to be an effective leader for an above average squad. He did a strong amount of everything on the floor, leading the way in scoring, creating for others, consistently showing a willingness to defend and rebound. On most nights, all eyes from the opposition rested on East. He’s a heady defender with IQ, quickness, and great positioning, which allows him to force turnovers at a pretty frequent rate. His ability to consistently generate winning results without lacking motivation or showing signs of selfishness should have college coaches very interested.
We’ve seen East in every possible setting, including one of our most recent North Carolina Phenom 150 camps, where we stated: “Continuing onto a player that really stood out with his physicality and aggressive two-way approach, Terrence East. He’s a long, wiry guard prospect with a tight handle and sharp penetrating sense. East is a nice slasher with the ability to get downhill and attack the basket quite regularly, but can also knock down open jumpers on occasion. He’s a reliable defender with quick hands, which allows him to force on-ball turnovers and push transition play at a useful rate. Next in his development process is working on the use of his off-hand, as it would make him a more complete offensive player. Coach Washington on East: “Terrence played very well for me today. I loved his effort and intensity on both sides of the ball. He is long and plays active all over the court. He was a joy to coach. I would like see him improve his ball-handling.” East worked extremely hard throughout camp and could be poised for a productive upcoming season, especially if he continues to work.”
Though Andrews has seen quality success, they are far from a hotbed when it comes to recruiting and getting coaches in the building. That being said, the journey hasn’t deterred East from continuously working to get better and showcasing his results on the court. He has the tools to carve out an effective role at the next level and could genuinely help a variety of different programs.