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 Malachi McCutcheon of Corvian Community.
We’ve watched McCutcheon blossom over the recent years, previously stating, “There’s so much about McCutcheon to appreciate. He’s a very skilled, versatile player who can reliably handle the ball, create off the bounce, and score in various ways. McCutcheon applies consistent pressure as a penetrator and scores the ball well from all levels, but also shines as a playmaker—especially for his size. He displays great unselfishness and passing instincts. McCutcheon does a healthy amount of everything on offense while standing out through his active rebounding presence and ability to guard multiple positions defensively. He should be an obvious target for college coaches.” Later followed by Patrick O’Brien stating, “The 6’5 senior prospect has been a key piece for his team all season long, showing his ability to be a strong scoring presence, bring a lot of versatility, and be a tough matchup for any opponent on the floor. McCutcheon brings a lot of value to Corvian Community with his ability to impact the game in so many ways; doing an excellent job in being a scoring option off the dribble and getting downhill, rebounding well and pushing in transition, stepping out at times from the perimeter, and also finishing at the rim. Again though, his versatility overall in being able to play and defend multiple positions for this team makes him so valuable on the court. At the Carmel MLK, he thrived in so many areas on the court to help carry his team to a strong victory and then backed that up once again at The Well Invitational.”
Between his IQ, size, and versatility, McCutcheon is a walking mismatch. He possesses a well-rounded skillset and the necessary adaptability to produce in various different roles. For Corvian, McCutcheon regularly dictates the offensive action as a primary creator. He handles the ball with poise and does an incredible job of generating scoring opportunities for himself and others. McCutcheon looks to get downhill, apply pressure at the rim, and finish or set up others, but can also knock down shots along the perimeter. He displays a great change of pace and makes consistently intelligent decisions with the ball in his hands. On the other end, McCutcheon can also comfortably defend multiple positions, secure rebounds, and push the break in transition. Whether in travel ball or the high school season (appearing in consecutive state titles), he’s a winning player who should appeal to various college programs.