This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled to the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina for our annual Phenom Challenge. The venue holds a lot of history and countless fond memories, and that only continued during this most recent two-day stretch. There was an impressive mix of notable teams and individuals on display, including Upward Stars 2029 and everything they showcased while playing up an age group. It’s no secret that this program consistently attracts the top players in South Carolina, and this squad is no different. Let’s take a closer look at some of their pieces…
So much of this team’s success is predicated on Babar Johnson and his general production. He consistently stands out as a leader through his involvement, mentality, and ability to elevate in big moments. Johnson is a tough, rugged wing with an all-around skillset and an understanding of how to dominate opponents on both ends of the floor. He’s comfortable operating with the ball in his hands, creating for himself and others, and mixing it up as a scorer from all levels. At 6-foot-5 with strength, toughness, and athleticism, he naturally creates matchup problems for opponents. Johnson is too skilled for bigger opponents to defend and too physically overwhelming to be contained by smaller opponents. Add in his terrific rebounding prowess and versatile defensive presence, and it’s fair to say that Johnson has the makings of a noteworthy prospect.
It’s difficult to overstate the advantages that Job Gresham is able to create with his excellent size and floor-spacing ability. He’s a very skilled forward who knows how to reliably hit jumpers while rebounding, defending with energy, and attacking closeouts as needed. Gresham is a willing passer who sees the floor well and makes smart decisions with the ball, particularly for his size. His low-maintenance game allows him to make a constant impact without necessarily needing touches, but each converted jumper makes him that much more dangerous to the opposition. Gresham understands this and uses his gravity to his advantage along the perimeter. He has deep range and the ability to heat up in a hurry. Already an extremely useful piece, Gresham has the tools to continue trending upward.
Dictating the action from the point guard position, Kellen Leverett makes a lasting impression with his incredibly steady, balanced, reliable game. He runs the team with IQ, poise, and unselfishness, but is comfortable operating with or without the ball in his hands. Leverett has a tight handle and nice vision, which allows him to consistently break down opponents, attack off the bounce, and make plays for himself and others. He scores the ball at a consistent rate from all levels and is comfortable in spot-up situations when needed. Leverett rebounds his position well and defends the point of attack with energy and toughness. His game isn’t flashy, but it’s certainly effective. Should he continue on his current trajectory, Leverett will definitely be a name to know.
Rounding out this group, Kam Rice is a highly intriguing prospect with the potential to be an exceptional talent. He already checks a ton of boxes with his blend of skill and physical tools, but is truly just beginning to harness his long-term abilities. Rice showed the ability to score from all levels, create for himself and others, and consistently make plays within the flow of the action. He possesses a very appealing frame with great size, long arms, and terrific fluidity. Rice displays a quality feel for the game, both with and without the ball, and is already capable of operating in various roles. He’s a solid defender and willing rebounder who isn’t afraid to mix it up inside the paint. Rice has so much intrigue as a long-term prospect.