Why On3 is higher than the industry with 4-star SG Michael Phillips

Michael Phillips has come on the scene in full force. A player who was unknown on the national scene just one year ago, is now among the top 35 players in the country in the 2026 class and steadily rising. In watching how the game of basketball has evolved with spacing and shooting paramount at the highest levels, Phillips is a player whose potential archetype outcomes provide incredible value. With that, here at On3, we are higher than the industry with the 6-foot-7 wing from Cary (NC) GRACE Christian ranking him the No. 33 overall player in the recently updated 2026 On3 150.

On3 leaves nothing to question when we talk about the objective of our rankings. The goal of our rankings is to assess a prospect’s long-term potential, ultimately manifested by the NBA Draft. Our ranking does not assess who had the best high school career or who will be the best college player. This is why we will shoot to end each cycle with 14 five-star prospects following the lead of the NBA Draft Lottery. This can be different from others, but our vision with ratings is draft night.

On3 has Phillips ranked No. 33 in the most recent 2026 On3 150 update. He is unranked currently by 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN. Criteria can be different across the industry when it comes to players and the order in which they are ranked. So let’s break down why On3 is higher on Michael Phillips than the industry.

Phillips is a sniper from deep

In a day and age of basketball where shooting is paramount, Michael Phillips has developed into one of the most lethal long-range shooters in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-7 guard has deep range and a quick and confident release.

What makes his shooting even more lethal is that the defense has to stay connected with him at all times. He is equally adept at letting it fly off movement as he is off the bounce or on catch and shoot situations. The balance is always there and he is able to get his shoulders squared and eyes on the rim from different angles and levels of the court.

He is a good athlete, with excellent length and he is able to get up on the rim in traffic. While he will need to continue developing his handle and self-creation, his ability to pull gravity off the ball and create spacing with his shooting is so valuable with the direction basketball is heading.

Michael Phillips frame continues to grow

At last week’s Nike Elite 100 Camp, Michael Phillips measured 6-foot-6.5 without shoes on. Which, when you add the inch to inch-and-a-half of shoes, puts him around 6-foot-8 when he is on the court. That is unique height for player at his position with his athletic fluidity.

Phillips shooting is his super power, and the type of height and length that he has allows him to get clean looks even when the defense is pressed up on him.What also helps with this is his athletic fluidity. Already tipping the scales around 185 pounds, with a measured 6-foot-8 wing span, Phillips has plenty of room on his frame to continue growing into, which simply elevates his ceiling.

Some of the players you hear being thrown around when people are comparing Phillips are Trey Murphy, Reggie Bullock, and Harrison Barnes. Each player possess an interesting potential archetype outcome for the rising junior.

He is a defensive presence

While the shooting is what draws the attention to Michael Phillips, what keeps you around is his defensive presence. Phillips has excellent timing off the ball. He will spread around numerous weak side or chase down shot blocks. In a recent game during the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA) Live Team Camp, Phillips had four blocked shots at half time and finished the game with six total. Throughout the eight games, two weekends, of the NCISAA Live Team Camp games, Phillips routinely finished with three or more blocks in games.

He can also slide his feet and defend perimeter based players off the ball. He uses his length in the passing lanes, but he has an innate understanding of angles and he plays aggressively on that end of the court. As he continues to get stronger, and add good weight, that will only help to enhance his physical profile.

Projecting Michael Phillips long term

The thing that is most intriguing about Michael Phillips game is the rapid improvement he has made over the last couple of six month increments. Looking directly at Phillips’ player profile, you see an electric shooter with elite positional size. The highest end of this potential archetype outcome plays at the highest levels of basketball.

Given that Phillips just ended his sophomore year of high school, and still has so much room for growth, it is difficult to lay out specific outcomes and comparisons. However, it is easy to watch Phillips play and see how his game could project as he continues to grow.

Phillips growth in finding space has been exponential over the past six or so months. He plays in the half-court with great balance and he moves well off the ball, finding open space while drifting with the ball handler to create open angles. He has a quick release on his jump shot and the load and release point stay consistent. Phillips will need to continue developing his handle and his ability to self-create, but he is comfortable handling the ball in the open floor and has shown the ability to get his team into sets off rebounds and turnovers.

Looking toward the player comps that college coaches are throwing around, players like Reggie Bullock, who is also from the Eastern half of North Carolina and is entering his twelfth season in the NBA, was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school. Now, for Phillips, it is all about continued development.

Already, since the NCISAA Live Team Camp Sessions, Phillips has added offers from the likes of Wake Forest, Georgetown, VCU, and East Carolina. Head coaches from programs like NC State, Wake Forest, Mississippi State, Marquette, and Pittsburgh were routinely courtside for his games. While we are still on the front end of a full on blow up, word of Michael Phillips is starting to make its rounds.