Jr Phenom camp makes its regional stop in GA

Jr Phenom camp makes its regional stop in GA

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

Powder Springs, GA – The 16th annual Jr Phenom camp has returned.

After a few years on hiatus, the nationally recognized had its regional event at McEachern High School. Some of tomorrow’s rising stars were in attendance looking to earn an invitation to the National camp next summer.

There were a number of players who made certain they were going to be recognized and given an invitation. 

Here are some of the standouts from the weekend.

2029 Cameron Bridge is going to be a coach’s dream. The young fella was exceptional on the hardwood this weekend. He stepped on the floor and made an immediate impact nailing jumpers from anywhere on the floor. There was not a spot or area he could not finish. Bridge is connected with teammates with several timely scores or just kicking the ball out while grabbing rebounds in traffic. As his game grows expect to hear his name in a big way moving forward.

2029 Maeson Owens played like a Ford Bronco off-roading. This space eater caused instant havoc leaning on defenders looking to block his shot. They found it difficult because Owens protected the ball with his body. He had good finishes inside because his hands provided a nice touch. His ability to rebound in traffic despite the extra attention was good to see. This two-sport player refused to give up. His footwork allowed him to move around swiftly and gingerly.

2029 Jaylan Hollman showed he is more than an interior player. The lefty handles business in the paint. There isn’t a shot he is not capable of making in the paint. He is a defender who disrupts things by getting his hand into the passing lane, altering shots, or just blocking anything within arm’s length. Hollman stepped away from the basket and nailed a few jumpers, including some three-pointers. Whenever he was doubled or attacked he found open teammates. He had a quality outing all weekend. 

2030 Caleb Garrett was truly one of the most impressive players at the camp. He did not let his height hold him back from being one of the BIG DAWGS on the floor. His floater was executed with accuracy giving him the ability to score over taller defenders. Garrett’s range was dialed up for long distance hitting several from beyond the traditional high school three-point line. His ball handling was serviceable enough to get him in the lane and defenders off-balanced. He affected the game sometimes without even scoring the ball because he made highly effective plays. The sky’s the limit for this Tennessee native. 

2030 Marcellus Hill is a crafty guard who did not let a slow start keep him from competing. He just plugged along and worked his way through the lane before going deep into his offensive bag. His energy was interjected into defensive stops. 

2030 Maxwell Eastering had the tenaciousness dripping off his brow. This wiry guard refused to be pushed around. He was in the mix of just about every possession when on the floor. His nose for scoring helped him finish through contact, in traffic, and against contested shots. He is a tough-minded defender. Look for his game to continue growing as he matures.

2030 Jordan Minter looked really comfortable handling the ball. He had a little wiggle to separate himself from defenders. His confidence helped him navigate through the defense and to run the offense. Minter played through contact and competed at a high level. The way he plays now puts him ahead for his future development.

2030 TJ Green is a name and a prospect to track when it comes to development. This young man has good size. He rebounds and protects the interior, which most kids his age would not be interested in doing. His desire to do the small things helped his team win big. Green is raw offensively but it is fine. His game will continue to grow as he puts time in the gym because only time will tell how much taller he will get.

2030 Edwin Vazquez is a player every program needs. He is a scrappy defender with a good size to play against a guard or an interior player. His motor was always ramped up and it never let up. All good programs have a get it done player on the roster, Vazquez does everything, and then some on the hardwood.

2030 Zaylon Jenkins played through contact throughout the scrimmages. His nose for the ball was always to find the rebound against whoever was in the area. He played with contagious energy. Jenkins’s jumper looked good on several opportunities. 

2030 Parker Horton is a shifty guard with tremendous confidence. He did not get rattled by any defensive pressure he may have experienced. When he did get loose, the mid-range package was on full display. It helped him score freely and often.  

2031 Shane Gordan was smooth on the open floor. He showed the ability to shoot the mid-range comfortably along with showing off his range. Gordan played with a good pace. His feel for the game is beyond his years at this stage. He does not over-dribble and sees the entire floor. His competitive fire was impressive because he did not shy away from competing regardless of who was defending him. Gordan has watched what it takes to play at the next level. His cousin is former Wheeler, Southern California, and current Utah Jazz Isaiah Collier.