At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, hundreds of 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 Jemez Herd of Olympic High School.
We’ve seen Herd throughout his progression, previously stating, “In terms of sheer tools and long-term upside, it’s simply impossible to ignore the appeal surrounding Herd. He’s a fluid, athletic wing/forward with a high motor and excellent physical attributes. Herd forces turnovers, makes an impact in transition, and understands how to effectively fill in the gaps on both ends of the floor.” Our Patrick O’Brien recently spoke about Herd’s development, “That he did, as he improved from his sophomore season in which he averaged 1.5 points to now as a junior, in a short season, posting numbers like 16.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. When you look at how he attacks, Herd uses his size well and loves to slash and attack. Any time he gets a rebound, he can push it up the floor and look to attack to score or set up others. With his long frame, he uses it well inside but also operates well in others. Recruitment hasn’t taken off yet for Herd and it may just take time, as Herd says he is staying humble and just continuing to better himself. With his improvement and what he has shown in a small sample size, the junior prospect could be an intriguing one to watch this summer.”
Now, Herd is playing with Team Push’s group of unsigned seniors. Though he was only able to attend on Sunday, he was a clear difference-maker for this group. Herd’s blend of size, length, and mobility allows him to cause problems for opposing forwards. He’s a nice finisher, rebounder, and defender with a solid motor and the ability to affect the action without requiring a ton of offensive touches. Herd can knock down jumpers at a respectable clip, force turnovers defensively, and make a steady impact in transition. He moves well without the ball and doesn’t look to force the action on either end of the floor. Herd received a ton of attention from college coaches after his showing on Sunday, so expect his stock to continue trending upward amongst various next-level programs.