At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over fifty players from South 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 Kaleb Mack of Mauldin High School.
The South Carolina basketball landscape is certainly unusual, given the limited amount of avenues for players to explore. Mack is a great example of this notion, considering how much buzz was surrounding his name at Legacy Early College. This isn’t negative on Mauldin, but rather simply a fact that schools like Dorman, Legacy, and Gray Collegiate are favorites for college coaches to recruit—and it’s evident in the results. That being said, transferring schools hasn’t changed the fact that Mack is a scholarship-worthy prospect and someone that could legitimately contribute to Division I or Division II programs. He’s long, smart, athletic, and displays a pretty efficient scoring arsenal from all areas on the floor. Mack gets downhill very well and can finish through contact or set up others with effectiveness. He’s a terrific rebounder and defender for his position, able to consistently force turnovers and push transition play.
We were able to see Mack multiple times during his tenure at Legacy Early College, where we stated: “The point guard is probably one of the most intriguing prospects on this Legacy Early College squad, given his ability to run a team and disrupt opponents with his athleticism. Mack is a poised ball-handler and unselfish offensive player, typically preferring to set the table for others instead of forcing the action. He displays a nice feel for the game and plays with a fundamentally-sound approach on both sides of the ball. Mack’s recruitment should be interesting, as he could contribute for a variety of Division I programs.”
At Mauldin, Mack was a focal point for a team that went 23-5 and made a quality run in the state playoffs. He posted nightly averages of 10.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4 APG, and 1.9 SPG while shooting 52% from the floor. At this point, there should be no confusion about Mack’s abilities going forward, as he is going to succeed at the next level. Although he holds a Nicholls State offer, expect a ton of schools to start laying groundwork with Mack over these next few months.