Glue Guys That Will Shine Bright This Spring/Summer

North Carolina is blessed to have quite a bit of talent but that often leads to guys who aren't known as massive scorers getting overlooked. Every good team has guys willing to sacrifice the shiny role in order to do the dirty work and be ready to step up whenever they're needed. This state is lucky to have a bevy of guys across classes that really get it for lack of a better term and we'll highlight some of those guys here today.    Thomas will be playing with TLBA 17u UAA this spring/summer and it should be a seamless fit as the system and a lot of the surrounding parts being the same. Thomas brings a unique skillset as he has a truly rugged approach to the game and plays with an element of physicality you just don't see too often. Thomas is also a really high level passer for a front-court player while doing a great job expanding his range as a jump shooter this year at Moravian Prep. Thomas does a really great job rebounding off both backboards while possessing the level of skill necessary to push the break when the opportunity presents itself. The size, edge, and skill that Allen possesses make him capable of playing a variety of roles as he continues to mold himself into the best player he can be.     Hilldale will be playing on the [program_tooltip program_id='2078500' first='Garner' last='Road'] 17u 3SSB team this spring/summer and he should provide this roster with another versatile asset that they can use in a variety of ways. Hilldale is a skilled front-court player with the ability to score it from all over the floor and operates with great situational feel allowing him to make plays for others when needed. Hilldale's calling card is his outside shooting, at his size he can shoot over defenders closing out, he shot 43% from beyond the arc as a junior this season at Trinity of Raleigh and provided his team with a necessary presence on the glass. Hilldale will be playing alongside a lot of talent including #1 2027 in NC [player_tooltip player_id='2292410' first='Jordan' last='Page'] so he'll likely play a complimentary role in a lot of ways but he has a real chance to shine in this group and show what he can do in a similar type role he'll likely play at the next level. He will swing games for this team on multiple occasions and really elevate his stock as a prospect in the process.     Howze is a very intriguing prospect that is very capable of producing at a high level on this [program_tooltip program_id='2375668' first='SW15H' last='Elite'] 16u group that has a lot of talent on it. At Southwest Guilford this year he averaged 18.5 Points, 5.6 Rebounds, 3.4 Assists, 3.0 Steals, and 0.6 Blocks on 49/35/71 shooting splits. Now, those aren't glue guy numbers and putting him in that box is frankly unfair to him but with that said, Howze has all of the willingness to do whatever it takes on that given night and possesses a glue guy mentality with a ton of talent to go with it. Howze possesses a next level frame that he's still growing into in terms of strength but it allows him to guard multiple positions on the floor and operate in different areas offensively. Howze brings a great blend of production, potential, and two way versatility to the table. If he can provide a real positive impact on both ends of the floor this spring/summer, I fully expect his stock to rise.     Mercer is a really quality piece that can play multiple positions on the floor as he'll be running with [program_tooltip program_id='2078516' first='No' last='Guts No Glory'] UA Rise 17u this spring/summer. Mercer has great physical traits for a wing guard and is a true two way player. Mercer does a great job playing within himself and adjusting to whatever role is necessary to get the job done on that given night. He's got a smoothness to his game that really can't be taught, it feels innate in who he is. He's capable of providing positive contributions on the glass where he's going to have a physical advantage in most matchups. UA Rise is a perfect circuit for Mercer to showcase his skillset surrounded by other talented players. He's a no brainer next level guy and should start to garner more recruiting attention of various levels if he can be a producer and winner like he's been in his career thus far.     Juergens is playing with Boo Williams EYBL 16u this spring/summer and will provide a lot of those same positive traits at Greensboro Day. Juergens ability to make catch and shoot threes along with his size and fluidity on the wing make him a prospect that will surely track more and more attention as coaches see him perform. He played a key role at Greensboro Day who finished ranked in multiple national polls at seasons end as they secured yet another NCISAA State Championship. With the perimeter skillset Juergens provides along with his size and ability to compete on the interior, he'll be able to fit in multiple spots in different lineups that this Boo Williams team puts out there. He doesn't need a high volume of shots to produce but is also capable of leading the charge for stretches to help swing games with his shot making and versatility. He started to get some recruiting traction this season and I fully expect that trajectory to continue through the spring and summer if he can continue to maintain/elevate with his new team on the EYBL.

North Carolina is blessed to have quite a bit of talent but that often leads to guys who aren't known as massive scorers getting overlooked. Every good team has guys willing to sacrifice the shiny role in order to do the dirty work and be ready to step up whenever they're needed. This state is lucky to have a bevy of guys across classes that really get it for lack of a better term and we'll highlight some of those guys here today.