WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The high school season officially started this weekend and we started the our coverage by checking out some of the nation's most recognizable high school teams. While we were impressed with the likes of Oak Hill Academy and Huntington Prep, it was the play of a couple of players that earned their complimentary coverage that was the talk of the Phenom Showcase.

OAK HILL, HUNTINGTON PREP SHINE

It shouldn't come as a big surprise that Oak Hill Academy, the nation's No. 2 program overall, and Huntington Prep, the country's No. 6 overall program, won on Friday night.

To the surprise of no one, both teams chalked up a victory. For Oak Hill, it was the same as it always is - a big performance from a wow player (Dwayne Bacon), key production from a quality top 150 ranked guy (Josh Reaves) and constant ball pressure from a point guard (Terrance Phillips). Oak Hill beat Victory Christian of North Carolina 76-57.

Huntington Prep, however, had to scratch, claw and work for a 67-60 win over a very good Providence Day (NC) team.

With less than a minute to play and the game going back and forth, the massive 1-2 punch of Thomas Bryant and Levi Cook, both 6-foot-10 post players went to work. The duo worked well on a pick and roll that led to a huge Bryant bucket.

A Curtis Jones steal and score put Huntington Prep's lead to three at 63-60. A possession later, the big man duo connected again with a tough interior pass that led to another score for Bryant right at the rim. It was an impressive back-to-back sequence that ultimately led to the victory.

"I have total trust in Levi. He's such a great player," Bryant said. "I love playing with him. He just plays so hard. He always knows how to make a play. He'll do this or do that. Levi is the total team player."

HI, MY NAME IS...

With all of the fanfare that Oak Hill and Huntington Prep bring to an event, it was the play of two guys that most of media row didn't know much about that had the gym buzzing - Providence Day's Grant Williams (pictured above) and Dontae Caldwell of Bull City Prep.

Williams was the catalyst in Providence Day's back-and-forth battle with Huntington Prep. The 6-foot-6 do-everything junior scored from all spots on the floor, battled with the huge Huntington frontline, led vocally and with play and racked up positive plays. You could make an argument that Williams was the top overall performer on opening night of this loaded event. It was an impressive game in a losing effort for the high academic junior.

Caldwell was downright impressive for Bull City Prep in a loss to New Hope Christian to open the event. The long 6-foot-4 guard from Long Beach, California pulled up from deep and buried four three-pointers. He played with energy on every possession.

During a Bull City timeout, you could hear the coaches offer up this piece of coaching gold "He's the man right now. Let him be the man. Do not limit this man from being the man."

Caldwell was the man, indeed. It was an impressive showing. He'll be an interesting name to watch as we move into the second season of recruiting. Caldwell made quite the impression.

NEWS FROM THE NOTEPAD

Food for thought: It wouldn't be crazy to think about Oak Hill wing Dwayne Bacon as a top 10 guy overall in the class of 2015 nationally.

Oak Hill Academy wing Josh Reaves signed with Penn State on Wednesday and fans of the Big Ten school were pretty excited about it. Rightfully so. The top 150 consensus prospect is a very solid player and someone that should help the Nittany Lions. Reaves was hot for Oak Hill against Victory Christian, scoring 13 points and hit a couple of threes.

Rodney Miller may not have registered big numbers for Oak Hill but the near 7-foot junior from New York will be a popular guy to watch develop over the next 12 to 18 months.

Huntington Prep wing Ron Shabazz signed with Appalachian State this week and the Raleigh native could end up being quite a score for the Mountaineers. HP was struggling in the first half with a well-coached Providence Day team but Shabazz found ways to make plays that allowed his team to not get lost in game. He kept the runs to a minimum, pumping in 13 points and grabbed five rebounds. His impact was certainly felt.

Getting lost in the shuffle of a busy day of action was the play of junior Josh Howard of Providence Day. The 6-foot-5 junior was terrific for his team, playing bigger than his size, making shots from all three levels and defending much bigger players. Terrific showing from Juwan Howard's son.

The Word of God trio of Jaylen Fornes, Jalen Harris and Demetrius Troy is one of the best guard groups here at the Phenom Showcase. Fornes, a 6-foot-2 producing guard, is one of our favorite guys in the Carolinas's 2016 class. Harris, also a junior, is bouncy and fearless. He rose up for a dunk, was undercut and landed square on his face from seven feet in the air. It was a nasty spill but Harris popped right up and continued to produce. Troy, a 2015 signee for UNC Greensboro, pumped in 20 points in the win over FCDS.

Quality Education Academy junior Marsellis Purvis pumped in 18 points and collected 12 rebounds in his team's win over Genesis Academy. It wasn't a pretty game by any stretch of the imagination but that fit Purvis's game well. The 6-foot-6, big-shouldered post player stepped in and made his presence felt as an inside-out threat.

For a half, future Rice forward Josh Hall was one of the most impressive players at the event. The class of 2016 prospect was a major match-up problem. He projects to not only be a steal for the Owls but he could be an all-league level player in college.

Interesting note that may only interest me: Teams shot 161 of 268 from the foul line over the course of five games that had official box scores. That's just 60 percent as a collective whole.

RECRUITING NUGGETS

Oak Hill point guard Terrence Phillips will be an attractive prospect into the late signing period for the class of 2015. Loyola Marymount and Missouri are the most active in his recruitment, he said. While neither have offered, he's certainly listening.

"If LMU offers, then there's a strong chance I go back West," Phillips, who lived in Compton as a youngster, said. "I'm not going to say I'm in a rush but if something happens, then something happens."

After playing the opening game of the event, Bull City Prep big man Isaiah Maurice left to take a visit to North Carolina A&T.

We raved about Charlotte's addition of Ebuka Izundu on National Signing Day when he picked the 49ers over a host of high-major schools. Paired against a huge Oak Hill frontline, the 6-foot-9 big man stepped into the ring and traded wows with the linkes of Daniel Giddens and Rodney Miller.

So why Charlotte? Izundu said: "I just felt the most comfortable with them. My relationship with the coaches was it."

Be sure to favorite this link. The HoopSeen :30 is the place for quick-hitting and easy to consume recruiting nuggets from our staff. We will fill this space all week long after the Phenom Showcase.