Phenom Challenge: Upward Stars SE + Upward Stars Gold

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 Phenom Challenge took place at the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Prep Hoops SC was in attendance for Day One, evaluating some of the best the state has to offer. Also in the gym on Saturday were Adidas's [program_tooltip program_id='2078752' first='Upward' last='Stars 3SSB'] and [program_tooltip program_id='2830096' first='Upward' last='Stars Gold']. I checked in with two of the three SE teams and Stars Gold while I was there, but they went a combined 12-1 this weekend. Check out some of the biggest standouts below:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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_player":["1990406"],"_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":2849427,"_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-680ecb50184fa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">First up on the list is [player_tooltip player_id='1990406' first='Dacen' last='Petty']. He plays for [program_tooltip program_id='2078752' first='Upward' last='Stars 3SSB'] 17U and attends Christ School in North Carolina. Petty has a knack for making things happen on both ends of the floor. He showed just that in Upward's win over Elite 1, putting up 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists. He was particularly efficient in the second half, limiting turnovers and knocking down shots from the perimeter. Dacen's playmaking is something that should intrigue College Coaches because most of his assists were as a secondary playmaker on the wing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1692243"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-680ecb5018560"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the showcase pieces for College Coaches in the Southeast this summer is [player_tooltip player_id='1692243' first='Korie' last='Corbett']. He was able to use his body to work inside and out in a 13-point scoring outing. Korie is a difficult matchup for opponents at this level because he can beat bigger players off the dribble or use his strength to back down smaller players. He is also creative around the basket with spin moves and euro-steps. On the defensive end, Corbett has strong, active hands that allow him to force turnovers and get out in transition, where he is a handful. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1486211"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-680ecb50185b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1486211' first='Josh' last='Leonard'] is another name who will draw a crowd when the live periods begin. Leonard plays up on 3SSB's Upward Stars SE 17U and is one of the top 2027s in the country. Despite his age, Josh is both physically and athletically dominant against most competition. He has also continued to show positive progression with his three-point shooting as he was 3-3 from behind the arc in the game I watched. Josh also made great reads when driving and was a handful in transition. He tallied 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1737994"],"_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":2849428,"_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-680ecb501860c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Playing at the Upward Star Center, Jaden wasn't too far from home. The Dorman Cavalier had a nice showing in a comfortable Game Two win for Upward Stars SE 2027. Johnson had success scoring the ball throughout the game and at all three levels. Jaden is a tough finisher at the rim, has a terrific mid-range game, and is comfortable shooting off the dribble or spotting up from deep range. He also got frequent penetration into the paint, where he kept defenders off balance with the thought of him scoring or dumping off to his bigs. Jaden had 11 points and 4 assists in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2450993"],"_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":2849429,"_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-680ecb5018667"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The upward trajectory of [player_tooltip player_id='2450993' first='Aaden' last='Bruton-Smith'] over the last 6 months has been special, and based on his performances in Spartanburg, it is not done yet. Aaden has developed into a can't-leave shooter and had two threes in the game, but he also showcased a tight handle on Saturday. One of his two threes was a nice pull-up after a hesitation move, and it later opened up space for him to drive the ball. Bruton-Smith also had a few nice moves to get past defenders in transition, where the open court allowed him to see his options better. He went for 8 points and 2 blocks in the win over ACE SD.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1972148"],"_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":2849430,"_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-680ecb50186c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Switching over to Stars Gold, Bell was one of the overall most impressive prospects at the Phenom Challenge. I checked in with Justus and Company in Game Two, but in Game One Bell put up 14 points, including a game-winning tip-in against a fellow shoe-circuit opponent. He followed that up with a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double. Bell is a true all-around Wing and displayed positional size and athleticism through rim protection (4 blocks), activity in passing lanes (2 steals), strong rebounding, an ability to run the floor, and a comfort from behind the arc in a stellar showing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2447621"],"_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":2849432,"_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-680ecb501871c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rounding off my standouts from Upward Stars SE and [program_tooltip program_id='2830096' first='Upward' last='Stars Gold'] this weekend is [player_tooltip player_id='2447621' first='Jayden' last='Crews']. Jayden was a weapon off the bench for his team on Saturday, adding 14 points in the win over Next Level. He scored from all three levels on the floor, but he was especially effective from behind the arc and at the rim. Jayden's positional size combined with his mobility allows him to get by defenders or shoot over them. Along with the scoring, he provided great energy by crashing the glass, having active hands, and getting on the floor for loose balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->