At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over a 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 under-recruited, and today’s edition will highlight Addison Archer of Chase High School.
We’ve seen Archer since he surfaced as a noteworthy middle-school prospect, previously stating, “Similar to the name above, Archer should already be widely known throughout the state of North Carolina—especially given his notable status as a high-flying middle school prospect. Fast-forward three years later, and he still possesses a lot of the attributes that brought so much appeal. Archer is still long, bouncy, and makes his presence consistently felt within the paint on both ends of the floor. He’s athletic enough to apply constant pressure as a finisher above the rim and accumulate blocks as the primary defensive anchor. Archer runs the floor well in transition, poses a threat for lobs, and rebounds nicely on both ends.” This was later followed by our Patrick O’Brien saying, “When watching his game in the last few weeks, one can see that he has continued to add pieces to his game more but also still bringing that versatility, that athleticism, and his size to the table. Archer had always been an interesting prospect, especially with his high-flying ability on both sides, finishing at the rim or blocking shots all over the court. But Archer has continued to put together pieces of his game, showing his feel down low in the paint and being able to finish over or around defenders, along with his impact in transition. Furthermore, it seems that he has continued to progress with his outside shooting, as he has displayed tremendous confidence from behind the arc, knocking down threes with consistency.”
Given all the flashes Archer has showcased over the years, it’s easy to get excited about his general upside—especially as his body adds strength at the next level. He’s a long, bouncy, explosive forward/post prospect who has made consistent strides as an offensive player throughout the course of his high school career. Previously somewhat bound to the paint, Archer has become a quality shooter and respectable creator off the bounce. Although he’s expanded his identity, he’s still able to impose his will around the basket. When Archer is flying around and playing with intensity, he’s extremely difficult for opponents to handle on both ends of the floor. He’s an effective rebounder and shot-blocker with fluidity and great timing. This season, Archer is posting gaudy averages of 22.0 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.1 SPG, and 3.6 BPG with 53/42/65 shooting splits. There is certainly a place for him at the next level, so it’ll be exciting to see where he ultimately decides to further his playing career.