Program Profile: Phenom University 16U
It has been evident so far this spring that Phenom’s 16U team has the pieces to construct a national reputation similar to that of Phenom’s 17U roster. And it’s likely that Tyrese Hunter will lead that charge. The Racine St.…
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Continue ReadingIt has been evident so far this spring that Phenom’s 16U team has the pieces to construct a national reputation similar to that of Phenom’s 17U roster. And it’s likely that Tyrese Hunter will lead that charge.
The Racine St. Catherines guard is ranked highest on the roster, and his stock is only going to rise after this spring. Hunter is an all-around scorer, and through his development as a sophomore, he’s had scoring outbursts in different fashions. During his season with Racine, Hunter had four games with over three makes from three. That said, the bulk of that season he relied on quick maneuvers when driving to the hoop and crafty finishes. This spring, Phenom’s success has had his fingerprints all over it, as he is the chief shot taker for a star-studded roster.
But he’s hardly it for them, just as Jalen Johnson is hardly the only guy for Phenom’s 17U team.
Kobe Johnson, the brother of Jalen, has blossomed into a desired recruit in his own right, rounding out a high-major backcourt with Hunter. At Nicolet, Kobe took a major step from year one — where he was lucky to nab garbage minutes — to year two and a fix at point guard. Despite sharing the pill with his brother and Jamari Sibley, he managed to excel scoring the ball. Kobe averaged 10.3 points per game while scoring over 15 points six times. Nicolet’s weapons on offense freed up plenty of room for him to have a breakout season.
One of those weapons was James Graham, a versatile scoring center who has become a physical presence in the paint. Graham was an efficient offensive asset for Nicolet, too, as he could score easily with opponents’ eyes locked on their other stars.
The mid-spring edition of Jakobe Thompson was the biggest game-changer for Phenom. He added to what has become one of the top 16U backcourts in the Midwest, as he averaged 20 points per game for Racine Case during the school season. Ezra Stargell has also been a key matchup for them, as the 5-foot-7 guard can easily rattle off 20 points (shown by his four 20-point games at Indian Trail in just his sophomore season).
Mark Wade and Jeremiah Dotson, the guard-forward duo from Brown Deer, have also added depth in their skill sets. Wade averaged 2.2 threes per game in his sophomore season and has translated that into Phenom’s offense. Dotson grabbed 5.2 boards per game along with a strong shot-blocking presence at Brown Deer, as he’s become a much-needed defensive stalwart on the grassroots scene.
Drew Biber, Nolan Reider, and Gavin McGath all stand over 6-foot-5 and have added some serious height in Phenom’s frontcourt.
The future has even more to offer up, as Patrick Baldwin Jr., Foster Wonders, and Ben Nau will join this roster after playing up with the 17U team this season.