Prospect Spotlight: Josh Phillips (2018)
It took Josh Phillips a change of scenery to realize the kind of potential he has as a basketball player.
The bouncy and rangy forward was buried deep on the bench at Newport Harbor high school before he transferred to Edison, just a few miles and within the same league as his old program.
Phillips felt at home the minute he went to his first practice as a Charger and used that freedom to have a breakout junior season.
“The coaches at Edison let me play,” he told Prep Hoops at the Pangos Premier 80 showcase. “They let me play with a little attitude. When I got my time at Edison I started blocking shots and playing with passion.”
Phillips averaged a team-high 4.5 blocks per game, while also leading Edison at rebounds with eight per contest.
Edison high school forward Josh Phillips is looking to develop some wing skills to round out his game.The next step he’s hoping to take is on the offensive side of the ball.
“I definitely want to improve my 15 foot shot and my ball handling so I can be more of a three,” Phillips said. “Hitting the weight room and getting bigger will help me compete on the next level as a three or four.”
The senior-to-be said he has gotten the opportunity to work on the aforementioned offensive traits this spring and summer while playing with Belmont Shore club teams.
“Playing with Belmont Shore has been great,” he said. “I’ve been working mostly on my handles and shot and just getting in the weight room and getting bigger. I’ve been in the gym a lot with coach Lorenzo Davis. He’s been giving me tips on how to improve my game and basketball IQ.”
Phillips is eyeing a Division I basketball scholarship and has received interest from Nevada, UC Santa Barbara, Portland State, Eastern Washington and University of Texas at Arlington.