SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Adidas Gauntlet Finale kicked off Wednesday evening as the first of three July evaluation periods opened. A number of college coaches were spotted as they are getting their first chance to see some of their top prospects since the last live period on April 28. While there were only three games on the docket, there were a few observations worth noting.

Ranked as the 104th best prospect in the class of 2018, Kaden Archie came out to prove some people wrong Wednesday, myself included, thanks to his heroics down the stretch of his team's thrilling win. A 6-foot-6 scoring wing that is best known for his motor and toughness, Archie brings a take-no-prisoners type of mentality onto the floor each time out. While he does need to become a better shooter, Archie has improved as a playmaker and finisher amidst traffic. Best of all, like he showed on Wednesday night, he is not afraid of the big moment.

Down by two with less than eight seconds remaining, Archie drove the length of the floor and finished a righty, scooping lay-in to send the game into overtime. A bevy of programs including, LSU, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas, Virginia and Virginia Tech were all on hand for day one's top performer.

Thanks to a string of commitments and his rapid rate of progression, Jerome Hunter sits as one of the top-five Midwest prospects still available in the 2018 class. On Wednesday evening, he began his final month of travel basketball with the Oho Nova unit as his five finalists, Ohio State, Indiana, Pitt, Xavier and Michigan, were each in attendance. Archie Miller was the lone head coach watching the top-50 small forward, though the four others are expected in on Thursday and Friday.

While those five each feel that they are in a good spot, it was interesting seeing North Carolina in attendance. Hunter is the type of wing-forward that has come to excel in recent years in Chapel Hill and could become the replacement for incoming Pitt grad-transfer Cameron Johnson.

The son of former NBA guard Eddie House, Jaelen House might not boast the same strong and thick physique that his father did during his own playing days. However, that doesn't mean that the top-100 guard cannot play. Opening the night with the Las Vegas Knicks 17-under unit, House showed great pace and a feel for the game that cannot be taught. Known primarily for his scoring abilities, it was House's ability to make the proper play off of the high ball screen but also come up with a handful of deflections that displayed just how valuable of a prospect that he really is. House finished with 14 points in his team's win.

Speaking of which, Arizona State, the alma mater of his father, should be perceived as an early favorite, though House remains open to all. After his outing, House spoke highly on interest from GCU, Ohio State, USC, Southern Utah, Long Beach State, Colorado, Gonzaga and Stanford. Expect for his recruitment to soar this month.

Running alongside Archie with the Urban DFW 17-under squad is Feron Hunt, one of the more intriguing prospects that you're going to come across. A 6-foot-7 rising senior that can play either forward position depending upon the lineup on the floor, Hunt is a mixture of athlete and high-motor guy to go along with an evolving skillset that could make him a breakout prospect this month.

Entering his senior year at DeSoto High School (Texas), Hunt holds offers from Western Kentucky, Houston, Wichita State and Tulsa. While those are each impressive offers, don't be surprised to see his name talked about much more in the coming weeks due to the upside, athleticism and versatility that he presents.

There were only three sessions of games on tap on Wednesday and with some of the better events being held within a three-hour drive, the majority of head coaches were elsewhere. While Miller and Leonard Hamilton were the only high-major head coaches we saw on Wednesday, they should be joined by some of their top coaching peers in the days ahead. Five-star prospects Zion Williamson, Armando Bacot, RJ Hampton, Romeo Langford, Reggie Perry and Quentin Grimes are all due to suit up beginning Thursday morning at the Upward Stars Center as each should bring in throngs of coaches and fans.