At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned prospects in the senior class. Last season, over one hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III, or NAIA levels (with several others exploring the JUCO path). That number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we try to highlight guys who are under-recruited by college coaches or overlooked by the masses. This edition will feature Devin Sims of NC GBB.
We’ve seen Sims throughout his high school journey, recently stating, “He’s a strong, tough, physically overwhelming wing prospect with great size and a terrific nose for the ball. Sims is a powerful finisher who plays through contact, moves without the ball, and lurks extremely well for lobs and putbacks. He can also attack the basket as needed, where he’s able to score or pass to an open teammate. Sims is a quality rebounder, especially for his size/position, and defends bigger opponents very well inside the paint. Next in his development process is working to become a more reliable perimeter shooter, as it would cause a lot of problems for opponents. Coach Smith on Sims: “Devin is a quick wing with a strong frame and gifted jumping ability. He thrives in transition, where he’s able to play above the rim and showcase his open-floor athleticism.” Sims did a lot of things well during his time at camp and should be an x-factor going forward.”
It probably goes without saying at this point, but Sims is an athletic freak. He’s incredibly strong, explosive, and able to apply seemingly nonstop pressure at the rim. Sims thrives in the open floor, especially with a head of steam going towards the basket, but can also simply “out-athletic” the majority of opponents. He’s a threat to finish everything he attempts, including lobs, putbacks, and increasingly difficult finishes through contact. Sims is a quality rebounder whose first, second, and third jump allow him to outwork opponents. He has the tools to be a useful defender and physically overwhelm his assignment on that end of the floor. It’s rare for a player’s explosiveness to be such a game-changing quality, but that sentiment certainly applies for Sims. He should appeal to several programs at the next level.