After just concluding my second year in San Diego, California for Phenom camp, my takeaways have been similar both of the years I’ve experienced. For some, it is a hard wake up call to push for a last-chance scholarship. For others, it is a great learning camp where they can showcase their abilities while working hard for 30 hours over 3 days. Whether you fall into those categories or have a unique situation, both the coaches and players leave an impression on each devoted camper.
Recruiting
This camp may not be the hotspot for scouts, however, it is a wonderful learning hub for how to get recruited. Former D1 player and coach Dave Taylor walks you through making your own website and including a few brief snippets that college coaches will actually care about. Alongside Rancho Verde (#15 team in CA) head coach Brandon Baker, Taylor also prepares you to develop in the areas D1 and D2 schools will search for. More on this later.
Taylor also stresses the importance of wiping out all of your social media posts to ensure that no rogue post/tweet plagues your recruitment. Overall integrity is also encouraged to prevent any negative run-ins college coaches may have with your peers.
During the film session, the players congregate into a smaller room and watch basketball games, test their basketball knowledge, and discuss recruitment. Coach Taylor always tells the recollections he had as a D1 coach regarding the lack of basketball knowledge top prospects possess. Taylor reveals that simple questions such as “who won March Madness last year?” trip up top talent. He uses a chunk of his time to ensure that that player is not you.
Life Lessons
Most life lessons learned at Phenom are not blatantly stated and are learned through extreme physical resistance. For example, all campers are constantly running for 10-14 hours a day (unless you skip the optional workouts) which takes an extreme toll on your body and tests your mental toughness. In fact, my sleep was hindered by blistered Achilles, sore quadriceps, and bruised elbows.
Do not let this scare you away from Phenom nor think that it is like a military boot camp. Because that is simply not the case, despite mass physical exertion. Phenom teaches a lot to players seeking scholarships in basketball, but also life. Coach Taylor always does a segment about the Boston Celtics former #2 pick Len Bias. Len Bias was, for those who are unfamiliar, an athletic specimen that could space the floor. Bias was truly a once-in-a-generation talent. After being drafted, Bias decided to celebrate and got peer-pressured into taking a ‘hit’ of cocaine. Len Bias dropped dead immediately. I won’t spoil the entire story and lesson coach Taylor provides, however it is a worth-while google search.
While not a life lesson, developing relationships is a large part of the Phenom experience. My teammates Jelani (@jelani_moh10) and Parker (@parkerall) made the camp much more enjoyable and manageable. Developing relationships, with your teammates especially, will be mutualistic in the long run.
Skill Development
Don’t get it mistaken, Phenom is a great place to gain recognition. However, Phenom’s main goal is to develop camp attendees as players that have a chance to play at a higher level. Camp includes multiple optional drills that should be taken advantage of by campers. These drills teach advanced fundamentals such as defensive strategy and shooting form.
The facility has 7 courts so repetitions are not limited in any sense.
NBA shooting coach and arguably the best shooter in the world Dave Hopla normally makes an appearance to teach campers the correct way to shoot the basketball. Refer to my article on the best way to shoot the basketball if you want to know the correct form and cannot attend Phenom camp for one reason or another.
Also, after being assigned to a team, the coaches implement a few plays to test your ability to quickly pick-up and execute offensive and defensive sets. The coaches do their best to put you in a situation to showcase your best skills.
Ultimately, as much as the camp is about exposure, skill development is the main focus of the coaches.
Games
Right off the bat, be prepared for uneven teams. The coaches only know a select few campers and their distribution of players is mainly determined by position and height.
Despite this, the games are very competitive and substitutions are intermittent so every player has a chance to showcase their skills. Your performance in the game can contribute to your selection for the all-star game that is played on the last day.
The coaches are very development-orientated as well and they will correct the little details you are doing wrong to make you a better player. Also, there are multiple regulations on the game (ex. no zone 1st half or no pressing 2nd half).
Overall Rating
9/10 because of the genuine interest the coaches have in your development as a player.
