WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. --  We tipped off our season coverage at the Phenom Hoops National Showcase and came away with a good bit of knowledge. No one stepped their game up more than Mississippi State commit Eli Wright. John Fulkerson revealed his immediate production levels at Tennessee next college season and the amount of young, promising talent coming out of North Carolina impressed the most.

 ELI WRIGHT MAKES A STATEMENT

Going up against the mighty Oak Hill squad on Saturday evening, a group that boasts several high-major recruits at every spot on the floor, Eli Wright didn’t care who you put him up against.

The Mississippi State commit was sensational in guiding his squad to the upset victory and did whatever it took to secure the win. Playing out his final year of play at 22 FT Academy in South Carolina, the lefty has really developed a consistent perimeter jumper where every shot that he attempts looks like it is going in. By adding some muscle mass, the future Bulldog takes the bump appropriately on the attack to the basket but can also put his distributor hat on and created for others on the drive and kick-out pass.

Whenever it all came together, Wright was sensational in both of his outings. He doesn’t mind stepping up his game when it matters the most and plays with some toughness that exudes over onto the rest of his team.

The class headed to Starkville is a top-five group but it might become even more respected whenever people get a better evaluation of Wright. The two outings that he put together these past few days in Carolina were McDonald’s All-American worthy and Wright is someone that will leave a major mark in opposing units scouting reports going up against the SEC bunch immediately next season.

JOHN FULKERSON TAKES FLIGHT

In walks John Fulkerson (pictured above) with a chip on his shoulder the size of the Appalachian Mountains. The 6-foot-7 forward has a motor that never turns off and it allows for the future Tennessee Volunteer to produce in any given affair.

The lefty will have to put on some muscle mass in the coming years in order to finish better amidst contact and handle physicality within the SEC appropriately, but because of the senior’s toughness, Fulkerson doesn’t back down from anyone on the hardwood and is able to fill up the stat sheet because of it.

In two games this past weekend, Fulkerson may just have been the most entertaining ballplayer because of the way he exchanged ends, blocked shots in and out of his area, led the break, and skied for massive dunks in traffic.

He is deceptively skilled where he can create for himself off of the face-up from the high-post area but can also pass it himself on kick-outs off the hard slice to the basket. By implementing a sturdier right hand, the SEC recruit should see his numbers skyrocket yet regardless, Fulkerson is an immediate energy-giver in Knoxville and someone that will become a fan favorite for Vols fans right out of the games.

YOUNG ONES GET THEIR RUN IN

Talent has never been much of an issue for the state of North Carolina and it sure won’t be much of an issue these next few years. While guys like Harry Giles, Bam Adebayo, John Fulkerson, and Grant Williams call the state home, the underclassmen look promising as ever. We saw Rechon Black, Wendell Moore, and Marcus Watson last weekend, but these past few days further highlighted the giant upsides out of Coby White, Nate Hinton, Will Dillard, and John Newman III.

White came into the event as one of the more unheralded recruits setting foot onto the Forsyth Country Day floor but he walked away having impressed many.  The 6-foot-3 Whitfield guard can score the ball off the quick pull-up out to 22-feet and has some toughness to him in finishing at the basket. Cal State Fullerton and High Point have offered already but the sophomore should see his stock soar with types of outings like the one he had on Saturday.

Nate Hinton suited up twice and both times he produced on the stat sheet. The 6-foot-4 guard has put on some muscle mass in the past few months and uses it well near the basket and in fighting for the 50-50 ball. The Northside Christian sophomore’s jumper has followed a similar upward trajectory as he displays picture perfect form on his well-elevated jumper, something that bodes well for his chances to be a high-level recruit one day soon.

Will Dillard is a smooth lefty guard with a very well-developed body. The lefty has vastly improved his mid-range jumper and was capable of hitting on a few Saturday evening from off the bounce. What stands out most about the 6-foot-2 guard is in his passing skills. The well-aware sophomore whips the ball all over the place and throw in his defensive techniques and what you have is a two-way producer in the backcourt.

Joining Dillard at Greensboro Day is John Newman III, another southpaw with a high-level passing acumen to him. The lefty has also developed his jumper some and his defensive techniques, length, and size allow for the intriguing wing to defend the 1-3 out top. He still is far off from being a complete prospect but his ceiling is a bit more higher compared to others, allowing for a giant range of college interest and a recruitment within the 2018 class.