Phenom MDC: Shoe Circuit Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% THE FIRST PURCHASE FOR ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 Phenom Memorial Day Classic was held this weekend in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and I was in attendance to cover Saturday's slate. It was a stacked field near the Carolina Border and several of the area's national travel teams were in action including teams from Nike EYBL, Adidas 3SSB, and Puma NXT. Check out these six prospects that stood out from these programs:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2448275,"width":"424px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/GObKo6FXsAALoOC.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/GObKo6FXsAALoOC.png?w=857" alt="" class="wp-image-2448275" style="width:424px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2448377,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zyon Ratchford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gaffney","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Carolina Raptors","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66529cd0888be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ratchford had a big game in a big game early this morning in Rock Hill. He has a strong and long body that impacts the game on both ends of the floor. Zyon has a high motor, fighting for loose balls and working hard to control the boards. His offensive game is pretty polished too, stepping outside with a confident jump shot or punishing defenders in the paint. He went for 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in an overtime loss, doing just about everything on the floor for the Raptors to keep them in the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1172573"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2448378,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66529cd088938"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ja'Quell played well for [program_tooltip program_id='2078752' first='Upward' last='Stars 3SSB'] at the Phenom Memorial Day Classic. He is a quick guard who has a good handle and can make plays in a number of ways. Brown played off the ball most possessions, but he still made a positive impact with his limited touches by knocking down catch-and-shoot threes or slashing to the basket. Ja'Quell is also a good defender, using his speed and athleticism to keep his matchup in front and affect shots. Brown put up 11 points and 4 steals in an afternoon win for the Stars. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1986980"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2422596,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66529cd08898a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">RJ had an active game off the bench in a shoe-circuit matchup with [program_tooltip program_id='2220892' first='Team' last='United']. He hauled down 7 boards to go with 4 points and a block, showcasing his work rate on both ends of the floor. His ability to help on the glass was an important attribute for Upward, making both that and his interior scoring much more impressive when you account for the length of United. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2422595,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2953736' first='Thomas' last='Vickery']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Christ School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2078752' first='Upward' last='Stars 3SSB']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66529cd088a07"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vickery is a pure-shooting wing with great positional size and versatility. He provides key spacing on the offensive end with his ability to catch and shoot both open and contested. Thomas also had some nice plays when run off the the three-point line, drawing contact or finding open teammates under the basket. He had one of his better defensive performances today, blocking 2 shots and hauling in 7 rebounds to go with his three made threes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2287864"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2448381,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66529cd088a56"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Charles has the potential to be a special big man at the next level. He has a freak frame at 6'9" with a plus wingspan and terrific mobility. Charles' length affects the game in many different ways including full-court pressure, rim protection, rebounding, and interior finishing. He put up a dominant 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a win over fellow 15U shoe circuit squad Upward Stars SE. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2448382,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Solomon Bratton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Wheeler","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2220892' first='Team' last='United']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66529cd088acf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bratton was also impressive for [program_tooltip program_id='2220892' first='Team' last='United'] on Saturday in Rock Hill. He is a terrific athlete who finishes strongly around or above the rim. His 12 points were topped only by Chienggen Pur, but he matched Charles with 8 rebounds. Solomon is a very versatile defender as well, switching frequently around the perimeter and holding his own against Upward's smaller bigs. Bratton was at his best on the offensive end in transition and had a couple of highlight plays in that department. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->