On this Sunday of the GASO, teams enter into their last pool play game and get into bracket play. Fatigue and injuries came into play when the fourth and fifth games rolled around which resulted in more competitive games. D1-Houston and Centex Lockdown finished Sunday with the respect from the more known programs as they competed and won some notable games. D1-Houston beat Texas impact 4:13 in double overtime and lost by five to Urban DFW in the night game. Lockdown beat YIIS in bracket play to lead them into the semis on Monday. Here is our recap of Sunday.
Javonne Lowery, 6’4 SG – Basketball University 16: Lowery made a name for himself today. Rebounded and scored at a high level as he led his team in scoring on Sunday and kept Basketball University competitive against YGC36. Lowery made plays when his team needed him to and was locked in on both ends.
Charles Bassey, 6’10 PF – Yes II Success: The “Big Ticket” as they call him, Bassey made some highlight plays and makes the game easy for him. Playing through injury, Bassey still provided a double-double in each game Sunday and had a big presence in the paint.
Kris Dixon, 6’4 SG – Texas Elite Mitch: Dixon was the highlight of the early morning game as he contributed 22 points in Texas Elite’s morning pool play game. He responded with another 20 plus point outing in 
bracket play as his team fell short to making it to the semis. Dixon exploited mismatches and scored inside and out. Another kid that made a name for himself.
Jock Hughes, 6’4 SG – All 4 Sports Dream Team: It seems like we will stay in the theme of 6’4 shooting guards but the basket had to be as wide as the ocean for Hughes as it felt like he couldn’t miss from the perimeter. A player that will see his name in our rankings, Hughes two notable outings on Sunday came against Urban DFW with over 20 points and against 3D-Wolverines, where he scored 30. Able to score off the catch and dribble, Hughes has the knack to know when to take over ball games.
Feron Hunt, 2018 6’7 CF – Urban DFW: Saturday, Hunt didn’t show too much, but on Sunday he played with an attitude and passion that led to him impacting the game in multiple ways. Kept plays alive, made the occasional 
mid-range jumper, defended well, Hunt was a big piece to Urban’s success today.
Ousmane Ndim, 2018 6’10 C – Yes II Success: Ndim, like Hunt, didn’t show much on Saturday but on Sunday, especially against Lone Star Elite, Ndim showed why he is viewed highly by our staff. Blocking shots, running the floor and playing with a nastiness that brings energy to his team. One block Ndim had, hit the backboard so hard, that it shook for a few seconds and that’s what Ndim brings to the table.
Luke Hamilton, 2018 6’6 SF – Lockdown Elite: Hamilton made shots when it mattered for his squad and played tough. Known for his shooting ability, Hamilton also impacted the game on the other end vs Yes II Success, taking charges and being in the right spot. Hamilton play help lead his team to championship Monday
Jayden 
Martinez, 2018 6’7 PF – D1-Houston: Martinez plays bigger than his size and led the under the radar D1-Houston squad to a 2-1 record in their pool with impressive wins vs Lone Star Elite and Texas Impact 4:13. Martinez rebounded, defended and scored on the block as he played to his strengths.
Isaac Likeleke, 2018 6’4 SG – YGC36: Likeleke got to his spots on the court and against HD Toros, had a impressive jam in traffic. Likeleke isn’t the quickest player, but knows how to manuever his way past the defender to get a good look. One of the leaders for the YGC36 squad and played well even through injury.
2020 Players that Impressed
Caleb Lohner, 6’7 SF – Basketball Means More: Lohner showed why he is one of the top players in the 2020 class in the state as he scored at a high level and made smart decisions with the ball. He has the 
athleticism and skill to hold his own at the 17U division.
KJ Pruitt, 6’4 G – Dallas Seawolves: Pruitt has a lot of promise and he showed why he is a top 10 talent in 2020. Handles the speed and physicality that the 17U level brought this weekend and was able to create shots for himself. Pruitt still has a lot to work on, but the potential is there.
Jordan Persad, 5’10 PG – Yes II Success: Persad has help lead the YIIS 16U group to Monday and he has started to come to his own this weekend. Scoring and facilitating, Persad seemed to play calm no matter the situation was for his team which has been key for their success.
Isaiah Stevens, 2019 PG – Triumph: Stevens avg. close to twenty points in the three games he played as he got to where he wanted on the floor. A smart worker that the staff has seen progress since the school season.
2021’s Making a Mark at The GASO
Manny Obaseki, 6’2 SG – Basketball Means More: Manny’s play could see himself in the 2021 player rankings in the upcoming fall. An athletic player that held his own at the guard spot against stronger players. Excited to see how Obaseki develops through the years.
Samuel Onwu, 6’9 C – Yes II Success: The staff have kept our eye on Onwu and he continues to show that what he does best can be effective in the 17U level and that is rebound and block shots. He hasn’t tapped into his potential yet and in spurts, he shows what presence he can be in the future. Definitely a player to watch
Duncan Powell, 6’6 PF – Basketball Means More: Powell was a main contributor to his team staying competitive against tough competition as he did a good job finishing around the rim. He brought a lot of energy and played aggressive from the beginning to the end of games.
Joseph Van Zandt, 6’2 Wing – D1-Ambassadors – West Texas: Van Zandt isn’t known in the 2021 class but he stepped onto the scene this weekend and on Sunday he showed his upside. A long athletic wing that defends and makes plays even when the play isn’t designed for him. Not physically strong yet, but plays tougher than he looks and caught our eye this Sunday.
Big Man Battles
David Nzekwesi vs JB Mukeba
Triumph and Texas BlueChips SWE went at on court three and 2018 David Nzekwesi, who has the edge on the 2019 JB Mukeba on girth and strength, while Mukeba had the advantage with speed. Mukeba made plays facing up Nzekwesi and taking him out to the perimeter while Nzekwesi got in good position on the block. Neither backed down from each other and the aggressive play was good to see. Mukeba ended up with a double-double to go with his 15 points while Nzekwesi finished with 20 and the win.
Sam Freeman vs Vincent Lee
The bracket play game between 3D-Wolverines and Lone Star elite had some chippiness, as both teams played very physical. This was a good chance to see 2019 big man Sam Freeman against stronger post such as 2018 Vincent Lee. The physicality in the first 8 minutes seemed to be too much for Freeman, but when he got comfortable, he was rebounding on both ends, blocking/altering shots and his most notable block was a dunk attempt by Lee. As both of them were going for a rebound, they were called for a double foul and Lee was hit with a tech and that seemed to turn the game around, as Lee played with a higher level of intensity and had a dominate 6 minute spurt in the second half before fouling out, but the lead was too much for 3D-Wolverines to overcome.
The Heroics of Mason Hix
2018 Mason Hix for 3D Empire had 10 points combined in the last two minutes of regulation, and both overtimes and went coast to coast with four seconds left to make the game winning layup against Triumph Gold. Hix found himself in the right spots and when a play was drawn for him, he executed.
Texas Impact 4:13 Backcourt
2018 Xavier Bryant and Marcus Hill gel very well when on the court together. Bryant seems to know where Hill is in transition and when he drives and Hill does a good job getting to the open spot on the floor. Hill made clutch plays on Sunday and Bryant controls the tempo and makes the right play. Interested to see how this duo plays on Monday.
Houston Superstars Look to Make a Splash
Houston Superstars, who have had several heralded Texas players such as TJ Ford, Jimmy Butler and Daniel Ewing had a few pieces that caught the staff’s eye today. 2019 Ronald Harleston is an athletic guard/forward that looked to finish above the rim. Harleston plays with a lot of energy and made plays on both ends of the ball. 2018 Demarcus Morris, who we saw during the school season playing the post, was playing the forward position for his Superstars 6’7 forward had an impressive stat line in his early afternoon pool game with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 stls and 4 blocks. Morris, like Harleston plays with a lot of energy and seemed to be in the right spot to make a play.
Sunday Stock Boosters
CJ Weathers, 2018 6’7 CF – RM5-East
Ike Egwu, 2018 6’7 PF – Dallas Seawolves
Marcus Stephens, 2019 6’6 CF – Basketball University 16U
Marvens Petion 2019 6’6 SF – YGC36
Ray Pugh, 2018 6’1 PG – Triumph Gold
Kevin McCullar 2019 6’5 G – Yes II Success
Luke Cox, 2018 6’2 SG – ProSkills Black
Michael Bradley, 2018 6′ PG – SABO Gold
Simeon Soname, 2018 6’6 PF – D1-Houston