North Carolina's 2018 Class On Display At PHCC
by Spencer Pulliam, Future150 (6:01 PM CT, Thu February 27, 2014)

Winston-Salem, NC (Future150) -- The Gateway Fitness Center has become a popular venue in grassroots basketball during the last several years and again provided a stage for the Carolinas newest event.

This past weekend the inaugural Phenom Hoop Cities Classic played host to a youth field intended to showcase the best young talent from the Carolinas and surrounding areas.

JrFuture150.com focused our attention on the current eighth grade group, identifying many prospects sure to have an immediate impact on high school basketball in North Carolina during the coming seasons.

Here's a sample of what the event had to offer!

Joey Baker, 2018 F, Team United: Baker is a hybrid forward that ultimately may end up on the wing. He's a fluid athlete, and at the Phenom Hoop Cities Classic, he displayed a smooth jump shot. He's most dangerous as a pick-and-pop player, but ran the floor, and showed potential in transition. He'll need to show improvement and confidence with his handle and be more assertive on the glass, but the young eighth grader made an excellent first impression.

Jomaru Brown, 2018 2G, Team United: Brown is a talented scoring guard, with an excellent first step, and emerging explosiveness around the rim. He's becoming more confident with his stroke from deep, but adding a middle game, and consistency off the bounce will be important moving forward. Though wired to score, Brown can handle the ball under pressure, and typically makes good decisions in halfcourt and in transition.

Jaren Ellerbe, 2018 G/F, Garner Road: Ellerbe had a do-it-all type of weekend for his squad at the Phenom Hoop Cities Classic. He's a wiry wing-type that can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, but also has excellent touch and craftiness, which allows him to convert difficult shots in the lane. The Class of 2018 swingman made an impact as a defender and rebounder and also show flashes in transition. He's an intriguing blend of player and prospect and should be monitored closely for further development.

K.J. Henry, 2018 PF, Team United: Henry is a bruising forward that embraces physicality on the court. He pursues rebounds, is an active defender in the lane, and has the athleticism and strength necessary to challenge opponents at the rim. At the Phenom Hoop Cities Classic, he showed flashes of an attacking high post game, but did the majority of his damage on the low block. He'll need to continue expanding his game outward but the eighth grader is a dominant presence in the Class of 2018 at this time

Arshon King, 2018 F, Team Felton: King is a physically advanced forward that showed a nice combination of athleticism and skill at the Phenom Hoop Cities Classic. His best performances came in bracket play, helping lead his Team Felton club to a runner-up finish. He is excellent going to the rim and showed some touch off the bounce with his middle game. King's size may ultimately dictate his level of recruitment but he should be an impactful player on the high school scene almost immediately.

Qon Murphy, 2018 G/F, Team United: Murphy is tracking as one of the better Class of 2018 prospects in the Carolinas. He's shown touch shooting the ball from all areas of the court and is playing with a much better energy level of late. He is confident with the ball in his hands and is a scoring threat on all three levels. He'll still need to make his presence felt more on the boards and as a defender, but overall, his performance at the Phenom Hoop Cities Classic was one of the better showings of the weekend.

Zack Newkirk, 2018 G, Garner Road: The sibling of current Pittsburgh freshman Josh, the younger Newkirk brother has the tools to be an excellent player in his own right. On a squad with multiple backcourt prospects, his time with the ball in his hands was limited at the Phenom Hoop Cities Classic, but he found a way to make plays throughout the weekend without forcing the action. Size and athleticism are in his favor right now and he excels at getting to the rim in halfcourt and in transition. He was among the event's leading scorers and should be monitored for progress as a facilitator moving forward. The bottom line is he's one of the better guard prospects from the Class of 2018 in North Carolina.

Jeremy Robinson, 2018 WF, Garner Road: Robinson's older brother recently emerged as a Division I recruit in the latter half of his high school career, but the younger Robinson will see action on the recruiting front much sooner. The owner of a strong frame, he powered his way to the rim, and found ways to have an impact without the ball in his hands during the Phenom Hoop Cities Classic. He'll need to show improvement with his handle and jumper, but the intangibles are there, and Robinson knows how to play. Remember this name among North Carolina's 2018 group

Ryan Tankelewicz, 2018 G/F, Garner Road: The name 'Tankelewicz' has become well-known in the high school and collegiate basketball communities within the Carolinas in recent years. One of six sibling hoopers, Ryan Tankelewicz made an impression as scorer extraordinaire at the Phenom Hoop Cities Classic. He surprises defenders with his athleticism and showed both toughness and craftiness as a finisher in the lane. He's accurate from deep but his game will reach a new level as he improves his ability to separate and create off the bounce.

Marcus Watson, 2018 G/F, Team Felton: There is a lot to like about Watson's game and frame. He's wiry, athletic, and showed the ability to shoot the ball from deep at the Phenom Hoop Cities Classic. He'll need to tighten his handle to be more efficient in tight spaces, but he can put it on the deck, and already finishes at the rim. Watson has all the tools but consistency and energy level must improve. When engaged, he looked as talented as anyone on the floor at this particular event.