Youth Movement

<p>Prep Hoops wraps up its coverage from the Phenom Challenge with this article right here. The future looks bright in the Hoop State with young talent. Lets take a look at some players that stood out in performance last weekend. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/F33B0FEB-A141-48C8-9F61-765A50902165.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1031085" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/F33B0FEB-A141-48C8-9F61-765A50902165-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1029969" first="Eli" last="Ellis"] (2025) - Moravian Prep - TLBA  (pictured on front - playing up a few age groups) </strong></p> <p>Ellis is something else at his young age already. Ellis will play several games on a average with different age groups. I have probably seen him play it least 10 times this summer on different teams throughout the past few months. Ellis is very crafty with the ball and can surely knockdown shots out on the perimeter. Ellis played many minutes this season for his father Jeremy Ellis on the Moravian Prep HS and Postgrad teams. Ellis generally plays with Big Shots Elite NC.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/8A494B5A-A1DF-41A3-8A96-CE854F487E5E.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1031089" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/8A494B5A-A1DF-41A3-8A96-CE854F487E5E-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1031081" first="Ashton" last="King"] (2025) - Winston-Salem Christian - Rising Stars </strong></p> <p>King will be attending Winston-Salem Christian this coming fall and playing with the local team according to Coach Antonio Lowe. King is physically gifted already for a young age. King was able to bully defenders to the cup today with his play. King scored most of his points on takes to the basket. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1030026" first="Jaylen" last="Cross"] (2024) - Northwest Guilford HS (Greensboro) - TLBA</strong> </p> <p>Cross is a slasher to the basket and does most of his damage at the rim. Cross is extremely efficient on the floor with his shot taking and ability to score in transition. Cross has a really nice touch from the foul line on his shot. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/E5CE13B1-34D7-44D6-AAA2-4A458C454E49.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1031086" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/E5CE13B1-34D7-44D6-AAA2-4A458C454E49-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1030027" first="Alex" last="Olander"] (2024) - Ravenscroft HS - TLBA</strong></p> <p>Olander 6'3 does all of his work from inside the paint. Olander finishes very well with both hands and exceptionally well with his left hand despite being right handed. Olander can play out in the high post and actually made some crisp passes to teammates. Olander really likes to go to work in the paint and gets a lot of put-backs. Ellis, Cross and Olander all play with Big Shots Elite NC on the Big Shots Circuit. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/05197937-86AA-4FB9-A03D-5D734E2AF298.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1031084" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/05197937-86AA-4FB9-A03D-5D734E2AF298-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1030010" first="Austin" last="Swartz"] (2024) - Sun Valley M.S. (Indian Trail) - Charlotte Supreme</strong></p> <p>Swartz was lights out in his performance today. Swartz can really knockdown shots from behind the 3 point line at a high rate. Swartz has a quick shot release and was always in shot position to take it. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/8D74FCE6-4273-41B9-8BC9-439A6F1539DE.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1031087" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/8D74FCE6-4273-41B9-8BC9-439A6F1539DE-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1029968" first="Amare" last="Bethel"] (2024) - Northwood Temple (Fayetteville) - TLBA </strong></p> <p>Bethel can really score the ball at all 3 levels on the floor. Bethel finished at the rim very nicely using his left-hand. Bethel connected on some 3 balls and showed good explosion going to the basket in the open court. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/A6072541-69A0-4F67-BB2E-AAE6567F7642.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1031093" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/A6072541-69A0-4F67-BB2E-AAE6567F7642-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1031096" first="Delani" last="Hammonds"] (2024) - Ardrey Kell HS - [program_tooltip program_id='2078545' first='Team' last='Synergy'] 2023 </strong></p> <p>Hammonds plays up a age group for his father Edward Hammonds on this [program_tooltip program_id='2078545' first='Team' last='Synergy'] 2023 team. Hammonds a pesky point guard is quite shifty with the ball in his hands. Hammonds really likes to push the tempo up the floor. Hammonds isn't afraid to dive on the floor for a loose ball or take a charge. </p>