PH North Carolina Top 250 Expo – Team 4 Evaluations
In this article:
With our Top 250 Expo taking place on Sunday, we were able to observe and evaluate a lot of talent we as scouts haven’t seen before. Check out my thoughts on Team 4’s players below. Peyton Rodriguez NC #135 CG…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWith our Top 250 Expo taking place on Sunday, we were able to observe and evaluate a lot of talent we as scouts haven’t seen before. Check out my thoughts on Team 4’s players below.
Rodriguez was a smooth lead guard that impressed me with his composure and outside game for his team yesterday. He never seemed sped up with the ball in his hands as a secondary playmaker/ball handler, making consistent simple reads that added up to a lot of easy baskets. He knocked down open looks from behind the arc, showcasing a consistent, repeatable release from range. He should have a good senior year for the Bearcats.
Highlights
Austin Bailey
Austin Bailey
Bailey was a solid teammate for his group and played a great complementary role for his team. He may not have scored the most or been the most flashy, but I noticed him as unselfish, team-first, and just taking what the defense would give him. He showed some nice touch around the basket, hitting some floaters and runners to get baskets for his team at key moments. He’s a rising sophomore that will hopefully have a breakthrough year.
Frierson wasn’t moving at his athletic best on Sunday, but you could see all the scoring talent he possessed on display even without his normal burst. Hobbled by a leg injury, he still put up double digits with a variety of jumpshots and finishes that flummoxed defenders. He was open and made defenders pay most of the time, but also was able to drive the ball and get to a pull-up or layup with ease. He’s a hard worker and should be headed towards a role with Northside Christian this fall.
Ryker is a really crafty lead guard that is able to both score and create in bunches for his group. One of the best I saw all day out of ball screens, his pace was phenomenal and really pressured defenses to guard up, getting free lanes for either himself or the roll man. He knocked down open shots with ease and played super within himself on that end. Defensively he is still improving, but has enough athleticism to get by as of now. He and Landon Burleyson Landon Burleyson 5’11” | SG The North Carolina Leadership Acadeny | 2025 State NC will form a nice team at NCLA.
Highlights
Malachi Poole
Malachi Poole
Poole is a scrappy, winning player that did a lot of little things for his group to get them playing well on Sunday. What stood out the most was his tenacity on the offensive boards, looking to hunt down loose balls and keep possessions alive. He brought that intensity on the defensive end, constantly staying in front of his guy and not letting him get room to operate. Offensively he played the role of a floor spacer and connector, just doing the simple little things to not mess up his teammates flow.
Julius Garner
Julius Garner
Garner was a physical driver that showed off some good slashing chops for his team. He’s a very skilled ball-handler and has a great first step. He’s also very strong and can finish through contact at the rim. Most effective when he drives right, but he is also capable of scoring from the perimeter. He needs to improve his shooting range and his passing ability, but he has the potential to be a very good player at the next level.
Ferry, along with teammate Grant Clayton Grant Clayton 6’7″ | C AC Reynolds | 2025 State NC , patrolled the interior for Team 4 and provided a physical post presence with some good touch around the rim. He confidently defended the post and really attacked the glass, showcasing some rim protection and overall good defense. He was great out of the dunker spot, with good hands to receive dump off passes and finish at the rim with ease. He should be a candidate to be his team’s leading scorer and player this upcoming winter.
Clayton was hands down my favorite player to coach at the event, not only because of his skill but because of his IQ and willingness to learn. Skill-wise, he’s a smooth forward that can stretch the floor a bit and has a physical, nasty side to him. He knows how to play the game and read the floor from the post or wherever he is at. He is also very coachable, responding to feedback and immediately looking to implement it and improve from game to game. He should continue to garner college attention this season.