Phenom Carolina Showcase: Saturday Afternoon Top Performers

It was a great weekend of basketball at the Phenom Carolina Showcase in Bermuda Run, North Carolina at the Rise Indoor Sports complex. There were a bevy of independent and sneaker teams on display as we enter the peak of the spring travel ball season with the live period less than a month away. Without further delay, let's take a look at some of the top performers!    Phillips put on a scoring display down the stretch of Top Shot Raleigh's gave vs [program_tooltip program_id='2078471' first='Carolina' last='Riptide'] and ended up closing the deal for his team. His ability to create his own offense is obvious upon viewing. Phillips possesses a tight handle, a great understanding of whatever matchup is in front of him and how to exploit that. Phillips has great footwork, allowing him to gain separation off the bounce for his jump shot. Phillips also has the ability to make plays for his teammates in both transition and the half court on the offensive end. Phillips guards the point of attack with purpose and should really benefit from the experience he's gaining this summer as he gears up for a big junior year at Cary Academy.     Woods has grown to 6'3" and really become a consistently productive guard with the ability to score in a multitude of ways. Woods had a really strong weekend with Mid-State Magic and found a way to give [program_tooltip program_id='2375668' first='SW15H' last='Elite'] UA Rise everything they could handle before falling just short in OT. Woods possesses the ability to really heat up from the outside off the catch. He often grabs rebounds and pushes in transition, making plays for himself or his teammates with consistency. Woods is starting to really develop physically and his skillset continues to elevate with that. He should be due for a bump in the rankings the next time we update and is looking to help this Mid-State Magic group on their trek to become one of North Carolina's top independent teams.     McLamb is a real name to know in NC's 2029 class and enjoyed a really solid weekend with [program_tooltip program_id='2375668' first='SW15H' last='Elite'] UAA. In our Saturday P.M. viewing, McLamb's ability to make shots from the outside was on full display and also showed that he can be a secondary playmaker at times. McLamb has great size for a shooter at this stage in his career, his form is pure, release is quick, and the range is deep. McLamb also really competes on the glass and defensively, he should continue to get better with more high level experience in that department. As McLamb continues to physically develop and add layers to his game, he could emerge as a premier shooter in North Carolina's 2029 class and as one of the top shooters in the UAA 15u division this spring/summer.     This [program_tooltip program_id='2226228' first='Team' last='CP3'] 16u group is really really stacked and [player_tooltip player_id='2194641' first='Mekhi' last='Allen'] finds a way to fit in with the talent around him while standing out in his own way. Allen is coming off of a NCHSAA 2A State Championship this past season with Queens Grant and has used that momentum to propel him into this travel ball season. On Saturday, Allen was a lethal shooter off the catch with his pure release, showcasing his off ball movement and consistency from beyond the arc. Like I said with this team being so stacked, it makes Allen's job simple which is perfect for his game to translate to EYBL play. Allen continues to cement his status as a premier prospect in North Carolina and will start to garner national attention sooner rather than later.     Flowers is such a versatile front-court piece with his game on display for [program_tooltip program_id='2078471' first='Carolina' last='Riptide'] 16u this past weekend. Flowers ability to use his size and strength to impose his will on opponents is only part of what makes him such an intriguing prospect. Flowers possesses the ability to operate in multiple areas on the floor with his touch, vision, and feel for the game. He also does an incredible job making multiple efforts defensively and on the glass as he's a real pain to deal with in the offensive rebounding department. As he continues to refine his game, add depth to his low post game, and extend his touch to beyond the three point line with more consistency, Flowers should establish himself as one of the top mismatch forwards in NC's 2028 class.     Collini had a great weekend with [program_tooltip program_id='2674382' first='Save' last='Sports Elite'] 17u as his confidence appears to be very high after a strong high school season at Jordan HS. Collini has a great blend of outside touch and positional size with a growing ability to create his own shot off the bounce with 1-3 dribbles. Collini has really good footwork and great anticipation of the offensive end for how a defender will be closing out on him as he's established himself as a premier shooter in NC's 2027 class. He's grown to about 6'6" and that has allowed him to shoot over even more defenders than prior while also giving him more to work with defensively if he has to guard front-court players. Collini's skillset will assuredly capture the attention of college coaches this spring/summer. A confident wing shot maker with positional size, Collini will be a riser in North Carolina's 2027 class.     Motta will emerge as a premier guard in North Carolina's stacked 2028 class with [program_tooltip program_id='2234929' first='1' last='of 1 Elite'] Pro16 16u this summer as he is a poised and savvy PG with size and a truly well rounded game. Motta understands how to control a game with his pace and genuinely embraces his work on the defensive end of the floor. He's one of the most well rounded PG's in the 2028 class with his blend of size, skill, feel, and genuine toughness. He dealt with an ankle sprain, missed a handful of possessions, jogged it off and jumped right back in where he resumed total control of the action. He's the kind of kid you just trust running your team and should help guide this talented group to their fair share of big wins this spring/summer.

It was a great weekend of basketball at the Phenom Carolina Showcase in Bermuda Run, North Carolina at the Rise Indoor Sports complex. There were a bevy of independent and sneaker teams on display as we enter the peak of the spring travel ball season with the live period less than a month away. Without further delay, let's take a look at some of the top performers!