Phenom Hardwood Classic: Top Playmakers

Teal’s combination of strength, vision, and ball control is what gets him on this list. Mel has an extremely physical game and does a great job of absorbing contact on drives and finishes. On Saturday Morning, he showed that he can make any pass necessary including pocket passes and skip passes, and is a great Pick-and-Roll Ball Handler. He also does a great job collapsing the defense by getting paint touches, and once he gets there he has the ability to play off two feet to either score or facilitate.

Stickney, the lead guard for the older Charleston Raptors group, is also a terrific playmaker. At times it feels like Travis has the ball on a string navigating through defenses. He also has extremely good vision and knows exactly how his teammates want to receive the ball. Travis will also make the hustle plays: diving for loose balls, getting tie-ups, and taking charges. In a matchup with Run the Citi on Saturday Morning, Travis finished with 7 Assists and 3 Steals in a close loss.

Martin is another Guard from the Palmetto State that impressed on Saturday at the Phenom Hardwood Classic. DJ, who plays for Upward Stars Upstate 16U, is a left-handed guard that excels driving downhill and putting pressure on opposing defenses. He has a good feel for the game and balances scoring and facilitating very well, which has been on display several times this summer during the High School Period and the AAU Season alike.

At the Phenom Hardwood Classic this week, Quay was running with Upward Stars Carolinas. In a matchup with Team Charlotte on Saturday Afternoon, Watson really started to up his game in the second half. He would finish with 13 Points and 4 Assists in a 60-58 loss. Quay plays the game with great pace and has one of the best step backs in the state that he uses to create space for his jump shots.

Cameron Newman Cameron Newman 5’11” | PG Gaston Christian | 2026 State NC was playing up two age groups this weekend with Team Charlotte , and if you didn’t know his age you wouldn’t be able to tell. He dictates the flow of the game like few others in the gym can, and makes an impact on both ends of the floor. In a matchup with Upward Stars Carolinas on Saturday Afternoon, Newman finished with 14 Points and 6 Assists playing a huge part in Team Charlotte ‘s Second Half Comeback.