*****Today’s Phenom Hoop Report goes local level, with GDS Bengals and Rick Lewis has the inside on the team from out on Lawndale Drive, in Greensboro…..***** Rick knows his stuff and the basketball fans can’t seem to get enough, of what Coach Lewis is bringing in from the courts……
The Phenom Hoop Report
Scouting Report: Monday, December 19th, 2011
Event: Greensboro Day School
Evaluator: Rick Lewis
Twitter: @Coach_Rick57
Phenom Quote of the Day: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
Phenom Hoop Report Philosophy: “Balanced, thorough and detailed evaluations
based upon the 3 P’s philosophy of Performance, Production, and Potential”
In today’s issue, we will take a close look at some of the top players from
Coach Freddy Johnson of Greensboro Day School. Coach Johnson has over 800
career wins and is without question one of the top high school coaches in
the entire country. Coach Johnson has built Greensboro Day School into a
North Carolina private school powerhouse and has done it on fundamentals and
teamwork. His teams play the game the right way and Coach Johnson is a good
a person off the court as he is a coach on the court and the motto “Teamwork
makes the dream work” is appropriate to Coach Freddy Johnson and the
Greensboro Day School Bengals.
Player: 6’7 Christian Hairston
School: Greensboro Day School
City: Greensboro, NC
Class: 2013
Comments: We first watched Hairston at the 2010 NC Phenom 150 camp. In our
2010 October issue, we stated “Hairston is a skilled WF that has good ball
handling skills and the ability to attack and finish around the basket. He
consistently knocked down the midrange jumper. He was super competitive and
was also a tough defender. All his young man needs is game experience since
he has all the physical attributes and basketball skills to become a solid
mid major prospect.” Fast forward to December 19th, 2011 and we have a
player that has a higher ceiling than a mid major prospect. Without
question, he has the most physical attributes of any player on the talented
Greensboro Day team. He is long and athletic and Coach Johnson stated
“Christian Hairston has done a fantastic job of playing multiple positions
this season particularly when he has been running the point.” He is
averaging almost 10 PPG but is shooting 52% from the field and has a 3.6 to
1 assist to turnover ratio. His game somewhat mirrors 2012 Wake Forest
recruit Aaron Roundtree. Hairston has the mobility and overall skill package
to develop into a high major prospect if he continues to improve. As we
stated previously, he has the length and frame along with solid ball
handling and passing skills that makes him a unique player in the 2013
class.
Player: 6’2 Reggie Dillard
School: Greensboro Day School
City: Greensboro, NC
Class: 2013
Comments: Reggie Dillard transferred from Greensboro Dudley and has
reclassified into the 2013 class. Without question, Reggie Dillard is one of
the top defensive players in the state regardless of class. Dillard made a
name for himself two years ago in the state playoffs when he guarded highly
touted JT Terrell of West Charlotte. Coach Johnson stated “Reggie guards the
best offensive player on the opposing team every night. He has excelled as a
defensive stopper and proven that he can guard high flying wings, shooters
and speedy point guards.” He is averaging 8.4 PPG and 7 RPG and is shooting
46% from the 3 point line. He also sports a 3 to 1 assist to turnover ratio.
We have watched Dillard since he was in the seventh grade and he is a high
character young man that has an infectious smile that is contagious. Dillard
is a hardnosed competitor that plays every possession. He is a young man
that will give 100% effort 100% of the time. He is a prospect that schools
in the CAA, A10, and Southern Conference along in the Big South that
definitely should be recruiting.
Player: 6’6 Julian Sampah
School: Greensboro Day School
City: Greensboro, NC
Class: 2012
Comments: Julian Sampah is another alumnus of the North Carolina Phenom 150
Camp and we’ve had several opportunities to watch him in action. In our 2011
October issue of the Phenom Hoop Report, we stated the following about
Sampah: “Julian is along and slender athletic WF that has a great attitude
and work ethic. He is extremely mobile and fluid and does an outstanding job
of running the floor in transition. Julian plays hard on both ends of the
court and is tremendous on the defensive end of the floor. Julian has the
length and athleticism to guard smaller and quicker players, but also has
the ability to battle on the interior with bigger and stronger players. He
is really versatile player that can do a little bit of everything well. He
has a nice midrange game and has good mechanics on his jumper, although he
could have a quicker release. Julian plays with intensity and has a high
motor and this may be his biggest attribute as a player. Without question,
Julian has the blend of skill, fundamentals, and athleticism to be a legit
D1 prospect and schools looking for a hardnosed player should look no
further than the senior WF from Greensboro Day.” Coach Freddy Johnson stated
“Julian has used his length to become a versatile defender. He has proven he
can consistently square up and make the 15 foot jumper.” He is averaging 8
PPG and is shooting a phenomenal 61% from the floor. Simply put, Sampah is a
workhorse and blue collar player that is excellent near and around the
basket. He has extremely “soft hands” and is also a two handed rebounder.
Sampah is another prospect schools in the Big South and Southern Conference
should be recruiting him hard.
Player: 6’6 Quayshad Williams
School: Greensboro Day
City: Greensboro, NC
Class: 2012
Comments: Williams has been saddled with a foot injury for part of the
summer and early fall. While he has to work his way back into shape,
Williams enjoyed a stellar NC Phenom 150 Camp. From our camp review, we
stated “Although he is undersized at the post position, he worked extremely
hard in the paint getting open. Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to
coach Williams 2 years in AAU and know he has potential to be really good.
He has “soft” hands which is essential for a PF or post player. He is always
moving without the ball and is quite active on the boards. One thing for
sure, Williams doesn’t mind banging on the inside and mixing it up. In
addition, Williams has enjoyed the opportunity to play for Greensboro Day
and one of the best high school coaches in the business with Coach Freddy
Johnson. That alone will tell you he is coachable and knows how to play the
game the right way. Williams looked like he had something to prove and he
looked like the Quayshad of old. I look for big things this coming season
for him. He should be a target for Big South and Southern Conference
Schools”. Coach Johnson stated “Quay has been a dominate inside presence and
proven back to the basket scorer. He has been playing like a pit bull.” He
is averaging 8.6 PPG and 6.7 RPG and is shooting 54 from the field.
Player: 6’4 Reed Lucas
School: Greensboro Day
City: Greensboro Day School
Class: 2013
Comments: Reed Lucas is an alumnus of the NC Phenom 150 Camp and it has been
fun to watch the steady improvement in his game over the past few years.
Lucas has always been a solid fundamentally sound player that can absolutely
“shoot the cover” off the basketball. Coach Freddy Johnson stated “Reed has
always been a sharp shooter, but this season has really excelled and showed
he can play the mid range game against elite competition. He is getting
great lift off the bounce and is able to elevate over defenders to make the
pull up jumper.” He is averaging 10.6 PPG and is the team’s leading scorer.
He is shooting 54% from the field and 46% from the 3 point line. Lucas is a
classic example of a young player that has continued to work on his game and
his athleticism. He is another player that should be heavily recruited by
schools in the Big South and Southern Conference. In addition, if his
improvement over the next year is as significant has this past year; his
offer list will continue to grow.
Player: 6’3 JT Terry
School: Greensboro Day School
City: Greensboro, NC
Class: 2013
Comments: We have always enjoyed the play of Terry over the past 2 years at
GDS and his young man simply understands the game. He is a true competitor
and just goes about his business on the court in a workmanlike fashion.
Coach Johnson stated “JT Terry has consistently made the 3 ball all season
while being a dominate wing rebounder. The 6’3 wing plays like he’s 6’7 as
he continues to rebound over taller and longer players.” He is averaging
10.4 PPG and 7 RPG while shooting an impressive 50% from the 3 point line.
While his offensive numbers are impressive, his defensive understanding is
equally impressive. He may have the best understanding of team defensive
principles of any player on the team. Terry is a can’t miss prospect for
schools in the Big South and Southern Conference.
Player: 5’11 Jalen Ross
School: Greensboro Day School
City: Greensboro, NC
Class: 2012
Comments: The 5th year senior is the “stir that stirred the drink” for the
GDS team. He is the glue guy and his productivity and performance speaks for
itself. He has excellent foot speed and quickness and is tremendous in
transition. He always has his head up surveying the court for his teammates
in the soft spots of the court. Coach Johnson stated, “Jalen has been the
steady hand for the Bengals. He has consistently made his teammates better
in their 4 around 1 offense.” He is averaging 10.4 PPG and is shooting 50%
from the 3 point line while knocking down 86% from the free throw line. He
has an impressive 4 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. Without question, Ross is
the key to a state title run for the Bengals. He is surrounded by talent and
his ability to facilitate will be the most effective weapon against his
opposition. He has already gotten serious attention from schools in the Big
South, Southern Conference and the American East Conference. With the
shortage of quality point guards in the 2012 class, look for his stock to
increase as the year goes on.
Maybe I just don’t get it, but I do not like the re-classification thing!
I don’t like it either. I understand it can be necessary if someone falls behind academically, but I don’t think it helps very much athletically. I am amazed that high school kids agree to go to another year in high school. I couldn’t wait to finish high school and head off to college.
Does it really matter if Reggie Dillard graduates this year or next year? His body is college ready right now. On another note, I think reclassing is basically presenting a fraud. I can go to any DIII school and take the freshman players and make them an all world high school team. (i’m not talking about guys that are already 20 years old.) Personally I couldn’t care less, but call it what it is…….fraud. GDS had done it for years, now more schools joined in.
Tom
I agree. All this reclassing of athletes leads me to believe that folks are looking for some sort of edge that will make them look better than they really are. Get it done in the class that you are in if you truly believe that you are good.
It is nobody’s issue to worry about other than the people that choose to do it. Because you don’t like it, or think it is unfair, doesn’t mean it isn’t beneficial and good for the kids involved. Who is it unfair to? The schools they compete against for titles do the same thing. If the public schools don’t like it, then don’t schedule them or refuse to play them. Problem solved. There are a ton of benefits to reclassing and people are too shallow to only see it as a basketball thing. It isn’t just athletes that reclass believe it or not. If it is the difference in going to school for free and not, and yes for some it is as simple as that, then how on earth is it a bad thing? Being unfair to the public schools is irrelevant. They only compete in games that don’t mean anything.
Fraud….. if your good, stay in your grade and prove it. You can reclass if its for academics, you just cant’ play sports. Now we will see who is doing it for academics.
It doesn’t matter why they do it. It is their life. If they want to o hold themselves back, then so be it. Who cares if someone looks better? College coaches don’t seem to care, and they know when a kid reclasses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va4jTXGZliI
Great game
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va4jTXGZliI