This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled down to Waxhaw, North Carolina, for our second annual Mike Gminski Showcase Presented by Sana Recovery. The three-day event featured 21 total games with a ton of intrigue and excitement from start to finish. It’s common for these post-Christmas tournaments to highlight noteworthy teams and individuals, and this was no different. Among those teams is West Charlotte, a team that has shown its ability to compete with anyone. Let’s take a closer look…
Everyone should already be well-informed of their highly touted sophomore guard duo in Kaharri Coleman and Chacho Womack. We wrote extensively about both players earlier this week, but each guy is still deserving of acknowledgement. Coleman sets the tone with his dynamic athleticism, creation ability, and playmaking instincts. He’s basically unstoppable at getting to the basket and putting pressure on the rim, but also sees the floor extremely well as a passer. Meanwhile, Womack is one of the most electric scorers in the state. He’s already able to effortlessly fill it up in a variety of ways. Womack’s physical growth and continued improvements in all facets of the game make him a real nightmare for opponents. Both guys should warrant national attention.
That being said, AC Pressley is arguably as consistent as anyone on the roster. He provides a steady, malleable, well-rounded presence on both ends of the floor. Pressley offers a healthy blend of defense, playmaking, and scoring from all levels. He typically operates in a low-maintenance role and seizes his opportunities within the flow of the action, but can also expand his production as needed. Pressley mixes it up well as a scorer to hit jumpers, apply pressure in the midrange, and finish around the basket. He’s also a useful rebounder for his size/position. Pressley stands out as an x-factor for this group.
Rounding out the roster, Jkhai Wade, Major Cross, and Sean Johnson all know how to impact the game within their respective roles. Wade is a strong, physical interior piece who does a terrific job of playing bigger than his size on both ends of the floor. He plays really hard to defend, outwork opponents for extra possessions, and make his presence felt as the main rebounder. Cross is a young, pesky, high-motor guard who defends with incredible energy at the point of attack. He suffocates opposing ball-handlers and shows the ability to knock down open jumpers at a quality rate. Johnson is a long, wiry forward who makes hustle plays and fills in the gaps as needed. Given their youth across the board, folks should expect the Lions to continue trending upward over the foreseeable future.