It has started to become tradition for the staff to spend the day after Thanksgiving in Duncanville TX for the Thanksgiving Hoopfest and if Saturday is anything like Friday night, the 9th year of this event will be one to remember. Look at what Harmon told John Calipari about his recruiting process. Hosted by Glenn Smith, this year’s edition of the Hoopfest has provided the audience premier guard and big matchups that allowed the players to compete center court in front of hundreds of fans,multiple scouts and college coaches.
Maxey, Harmon Put on A Show to Remember
The scene was set at Sandra Meadows Arena as 6A State Title contenders Denton Guyer, who possesses one of the best rosters in the Lone Star State battled it out against the high octane squad of South Garland High. Two of the top prospects in 2019 in De’Vion Harmon (Guyer) and Maxey (South Garland) went toe to toe with a 2015 Andrew Jones v De’Aaron Fox feel on the court. The stands were filled, oohs and aahhs after each impressive bucket. Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari came to watch Maxey after Maxey’s midnight madness visit to Lexington. Each prospect put constant pressure on the opposing defenses as Harmon willed his way to the paint and with a full head of steam, there wasn’t much South Garland could do to slow him down. Maxey exhibited great range on his jumper as he knocked down three pointers from 25 ft out, exuding confidence on the floor. Harmon took notice of coach Cal sitting front and center at their game and on two made baskets stared down the Blue Blood coach yelling “Should of Offered Me.” In a up and down battle, Guyer came out victorious as Harmon finished with 37 points for the Wildcats as Maxey finished with 33 points.
Javonte Smart Puts on A Show
2018 LSU commit Javonte Smart was one point shy of tying the scoring record at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest as he accumulated 43 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Smart plays with a mature poise as the double-teams didn’t rattle the high major point guard as he continued to get to his spots on the floor. He shot it well from the perimeter and Javonte percentage from the field eclipsed over the 65% mark on Friday.
Timme & Smith Make Cases for Top PF Supremacy
The premier big man matchup at the Hoopfest was 2019 Drew Timme of JJ Pearce vs 2019 Tyreek Smith of Trinity Christian Cedar Hill. Timme’s skill set was on full display as he notched a near double-double with 23 points 9 rebounds 5 assists and 4 blocks on 8-9 shooting. Smith orchestrated a near double-double performance as well with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.Timme’s squad won the match and Drew won the matchup on this day vs Smith but both staked their claim as the two best power forwards in their class by a good distance.
2020 Duo lead Booker T Washington Over Northwest
Booker T Washington traveled to Texas Friday in sight of a impressive victory vs Justin Northwest and got exactly that. 2020 guards Trey Phipps and Bryce Thompson combined for 57 points (31 for Thompson, 26 for Phipps) as they compiled a hefty 15 three pointers between the two. Booker T Washington’s fast pace offense traveled well, Northwest had trouble finding the shooters in transitions and Thompson and Phipps made them pay. Down by 1 with one 50 seconds left, Thompson hits a step back three and knocked down two free throws at the end to seal the victory. The staff was wondering how the young guards would respond the added pressure Northwest showed in the fourth quarter, and although the Mavericks came back into the game and at one point led by 4, Booker T Washington showed nice bounce back and the tandem attributed to the last 15 points.
The Reliables
When your team needs a stop, a rebound, a bucket or whatever in the process of winning a basketball game, it’s good to have a player that produces just that in the nick of time. 2018 Jordan Keys of Justin Northwest and 2019 Jalen Wilson of Denton Guyer were those guys for their respective squads on Friday.Wilson finished with 20 points to go with 5 rebounds, a block and 2 assists and when South Garland made their runs against Denton Guyer, Wilson seemed to be key in getting a stop, or collecting an offensive rebound for the and 1 opportunity to stretch the lead. Keys finished with 22 points, 6 rebounds 2 assists and 2 blocks on Saturday and was vital in his Mavericks second half surge against Booker T Washington. Keys has been consistently productive for Northwest and will see his name in our updated 2018 list.
Edited by AB