It had been almost three year’s since Phenom Hoops held a Phenom 150 camp in the state of Virginia, so it was only right to head back up especially after the talent we saw in 2016. Sitting on the baselines at U-Turn Sportsplex in Richmond, Virginia, we were able to get a glimpse of a few names that will be names you hear called at the next level.
One of the earliest impressive performances that we saw from the event was from 2022 6’5 Justin Taylor. The gifted sophomore certainly showed what he was all about at the event, as he was fundamentally sound, an excellent athlete, and played with such an incredible feel/smoothness to his game.
At times it looked effortless, as he used his length to get to the rim and finish, but also showcase his fantastic pull-up jumper.
“Obviously, I can shoot it very well as most people know but I don’t consider myself just a shooter at all,” he told Phenom Hoop Report. “I think I’ve gained the ability to use my shot as a threat to score on all three levels; like using my pull-up or getting to the rim and using my strength and athleticism to finish. I also like creating off of ball screens, whether it’s getting my own shot or finding the open man. Lastly, I feel like if I do end up getting a small guard on me, I feel like I can go to the mid-post and use my fade away to get a shot.”
Taylor sums it up perfectly on how he would describe his game but he continues to work on his athleticism and lateral quickness to become more effective on the defensive end, as well as finishing through contact.
One thing is for sure, he proved that he is a for sure Division I player.
Recruitment starting early for Taylor:
It is still so early for Taylor and his recruitment but he already holds offers from Old Dominion, James Madison, and Liberty.
He has yet to visit those schools that have offered but has been able to develop a solid relationship with all three of them so far.
“I’ve talked to basically all the coaches at Liberty,” he said. “From Old Dominion, I’ve mainly talked to Coach Stith and from James Madison, I’ve talked to Coach Taylor and Coach Vick.”
He has visited Maryland though already and he is taking a visit to George Mason soon as well. Outside of those, he has received interest from Virginia Tech, Virginia, Memphis, Cincinnati, and Richmond as well.
What was said about Taylor at Virginia Phenom 150:
“The super sophomore just keeps looking stronger and more athletic each new time I see him. Taylor made shots from deep range early on but looked even better getting into the lane for finishes. His improved strength helps him bully opponents now and a 6’5” height advantage also allows him to spot mismatches going up against other guards. The fact that he’s attempting to dunk on more opponents now appears as a scary sight. Most opposing guards will likely end up fouling due to a struggle in attempting to neutralize Taylor physically. He’s skilled, confident, and natural talent.” – Keion Robinson
“Taylor came in as a must-see prospect and he showed why early and often. Playing with great energy, terrific hands, and with craft, he scored in an array of ways with fantastic pace and smoothness. Whether it was scoring with a smooth pull-up jumper or getting downhill to the rim, he was a non-stop scoring machine.” – Patrick O’Brien