20+ years of NCAA summer III evaluation period in Las Vegas, Nevada, two things we have always been able to count on is 95-125 degree heat and that the players are always the top attraction. The Cashman Center was in its normal check-in mode with anticipation of one more look over the prospects before the summer season comes to an end. Today we start our series of team recaps in Las Vegas and we will begin with looking at the independent Houston programs.
Sanni Hoops
A recruit that has benefited from a strong summer are 2018 Ajari Sanni as Sanni scored in bunches and got to his spots off the bounce consistently all week. When he is in a groove offensively, Ajari scores in numerous ways. On drives, Sanni found 2018 Riley Abercrombie, who arguably has been the hottest prospect in the last 10 days with 16 offers. The Clear Lake product shoots it off the catch and bounce and followed a stellar play at the second live period week with another convincing performance in Nevada. 2018 Tayvion Johnson had a quietly productive July live period as he plays his role on the Sanni Hoops squad, cleaning up the glass, running the floors and finishing inside.
Houston Hoopstars
2018 Trajan Wesley left the Fab48 with a San Diego offer and the Cy Falls guard became the engine to get the Hoopstars rolling. Wesley set-up his teammates and was a pest the full length of the court defensively. We talk about the ingredients a sub 6′ guard needs to succeed at a high level and Trajan possesses those components. 2018 Efe Odigie may be a under the rim big man, but his size drained his opponents as he threw his body in the paint and kept initiating contact. Odigie averaged a double double in the games the staff watched and coming soon we will catch up with Efe on his recruitment.
All 4 Sports Dream team
SFA commit Jock Hughes showed a skill-set that will translate well in the Southland Conference as he aggressively attacked the guards of Mac Irvin Fire and finished with a real solid performance of with 13 points and a couple boards in traffic. 6’8 Melvin Davis is another prospect that the staff has been keeping up in the past week as the burly lefty center has been receiving low-mid major interest. Davis has a solid feet and touch in the paint and is coming along with his knowledge on how to navigate inside. 2018 sharpshooter Rick Fosnight caught our eye as well with a 14 point performance but it was the 6’6 forward’s quick trigger and knocking shots down off the closeout that intrigued us the most.
Shooting Stars
2018 Kristian Sjolund has taken notice from high major programs as his skill and athleticism can convert to that level. In Nevada, Sjolund shot the ball well from deep and seemed more bouncy than in the past with his finishes inside. He will need to continually get stronger but Kristian helped himself in the last live period week. 2018 CJ Washington stock went the right direction as the strong guard looked to knife through the defense and finished inside through contact. Washington also showed a solid touch in the perimeter and impressed the staff in the two games we viewed.
Rl9
One aspect in Jalen King’s game that we liked was the way he moved without the ball and rebounded. King is still has some work to do but used his athleticism to alter/block shots and crashed the offensive glass. Against the New York Dragons, the staff saw Jalen play with a more sense of urgency. Another big man that played with more urgency is 2018 Jonathan Dorsett – Morris. The 6’8 post for RL9 put his nose in and looked to get physical inside. His skill-set is coming along as well but he is long, runs the floor and grasping the concept that if he just plays hard, he will see the floor.
Houston Superstars
Superstars have a couple of players that piqued the interest from the texasboysbasketball.com staff. Demarcus Morris a long 4/3 man that finished above the rim and showed an improved feel with the ball in his hands on the perimeter. 2018 David Ekezie had a sound performance as well, being able to defend multiple positions and finished inside efficiently in the game we watched. Ekezie showed solid feet, has good hands and is a prospect that could easily creep into the 60’s in our prospect list.
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