PhenomOpening: Standout Performers (Part One)

The travel ball season had a soft opening this past weekend in Rock Hill at the Phenom Opening with a lot of quality independent teams showing out and trying to get their seasons started off on the right foot. There is so much talented scattered around this beautiful state and it's always great to see some guys from small towns come in and shine or kids on the verge of breaking out that we didn't see up close in the high school season. Without further delay, let's take a look at our first batch of standouts!    Stokes is a guy that I've been aware of around the Raleigh area and after a really quality season at Knightdale on JV, he's coming in ready to be a real factor on the 15u scene here in North Carolina. Stokes plays the game with great flow, a ton of confidence, and an array of ways to score the basketball for his team. Stokes is capable of playing either spot in the backcourt with his ability to make plays off the bounce for himself + others along with being a really high quality shooter off the catch. Stokes blend of flare and poise make him someone that is a joy to watch, he'll be a consistent bucket getter in the Raleigh area throughout his high school career and has all of the makings of a next level prospect. As Stokes gets more reps at the PG spot and continues to develop in his skillset and physically, I fully expect to be hearing a lot more from this kid this summer and beyond. He should line up to be a varsity contributor at Knightdale next season.     Torrence pulled up to Rock Hill with his Warriors Elite 16u team and really brought a ton to the table with what he did this weekend. Torrence has a very versatile inside/out game and really understands the kind of mismatch he can be on the floor. Too big for guards, too skilled and savvy for bigs, Torrence finds a way to get to the line with a lot consistency and provides an incredible safety valve for this offense if they ever sputter on a possession. Torrence averaged an impressive 18.5 Points, 4.0 Rebounds, and 2.0 Assists on the weekend for his team. Torrence has a great blend of body control, outside touch, and feel for the game. It will be interesting to see the development road he ends up going down, a lot of that will depend on how much more he grows. Regardless of that, this kid is a bonafide next level player that brings undeniable production every single time we see him. Expect a big summer from Torrence and don't be surprised to see him rise through the rankings over the next few years.     Reynolds showed me a lot in my first viewing of him with his new group, Team Slay UA Rise 16u. His blend of scoring and playmaking while staying within himself is very valued and showed a lot after his high school season where he was uber productive in an incredibly high usage role. Reynolds is a straight line driver where his a confident finisher with either hand with the ability to make outside shots as well. He also provided a ton of positive impact on the defensive end of the floor as well, he guarded the point of attack with purpose, didn't gamble but was still aggressive when guarding. As this team continues through the spring/summer I fully expect Reynolds to solidify himself as one of this team's best guards and really establish himself as a bonafide next level prospect. His simple but effective two way game will bode well when coaches start watching and his team's games have heightened stakes.     Grear is a remarkably consistent and gifted guard with positional size to go with his feel for the game. Grear is a big PG that plays the game with a very cerebral approach. Regardless of the pace of the game, Grear will find a way to be impactful. His ability to make plays for others is always going to be his calling card but his bag of tricks as a self creator continues to evolve. He does a great job using his strength to create space on the inside when guarded by smaller guards. He's also comfortable operating in multiple areas of the floor as the focal point of the offense. This KOC 2028 group was one of NC's top independent groups last season and looks to be that way again. Grear is a guy that will only gain value as I see his production translating to the older age groups/higher levels of competition. He might not be the most explosive or flashy guy but his game is legit, his production is undeniable, and he checks so many boxes coaches are looking for in next level players.     In my first viewing of [player_tooltip player_id='3563910' first='Ricky' last='Pride'] he showed me a ton of promise as he's a young athletic big with a motor that never stops running. His ability to both protect the rim and switch out onto perimeter players is really really impressive at this age/size. Pride has good hands around the rim and finishes above the rim with consistency when given the chance. He runs the floor with great purpose and makes sure to capitalize when his teammates reward him for it. Pride played a limited role at Wakefield this past season but looks ready for a jump in that department next season as he possesses the kind of skillset that is difficult to leave off the floor. Coaches love a low maintenance big with consistent effort and production, that is exactly what [player_tooltip player_id='3563910' first='Ricky' last='Pride'] provides for whatever team he is playing for. There's definitely room to expand his game and he showed solid touch from the line during my viewing, showing that he could become a threat from the perimeter down the line. Pride is a name to know in NC's 2028 class.

The travel ball season had a soft opening this past weekend in Rock Hill at the Phenom Opening with a lot of quality independent teams showing out and trying to get their seasons started off on the right foot. There is so much talented scattered around this beautiful state and it's always great to see some guys from small towns come in and shine or kids on the verge of breaking out that we didn't see up close in the high school season. Without further delay, let's take a look at our first batch of standouts!