North Carolina has several players in the 2026 class that are garnering a lot of attention with their play, and this class is shaping up to be a solid one. Some stand out above the rest in terms of development and potential, while others are still waiting to see how they develop. No matter where you fall, this is a very interesting class.
One player who seems to be trending in a good direction is 6'6″ Michael Phillips of Grace Christian in 2026. While we may not have seen him before at Phenom Hoops, Phillips is one of those players we've had some hope for in the past and have seen the potential in his game. Given his stature and potential, it only seemed like a matter of time before it all fell into place.
Article: 6'5 Michael Phillips II, 2026, could be next
This young man has been steadily improving, but when you watch his game you can see he is a promising player with potential. It seemed like it was just a matter of time before his game would come together. As for Phillips' game, his blend of athleticism, 6'6″ frame, impact on both ends of the court, shooting accuracy and again potential makes him a very unique prospect who is shaping up to be a standout talent.
And that was on full display during the NCISAA Live period, when he averaged 22 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks at Grace Christian, including a 33-point game where he made seven 3-pointers.
His game is really starting to pick up and he's really realizing his potential, but the scary thing is I think there's still a lot of untapped potential in his game, but as many people see it, Phillips is on track to be a top 100 prospect in his grade and I can only assume more schools will be involved.
He currently holds offers from Wake Forest University, Virginia Tech, Appalachian State University, Louisiana State University, West Virginia University, High Point University and Mississippi State University.
