Alan Branch

BATTLE OF I- 35 PART 2

SAN ANTONIO JOHNSON VS AUSTIN WESTLAKE RECAP

Playoff time!!! Round 3 is always a very interesting round where you typically get the stronger teams match up in the bracket. In this one I had a chance over the weekend to lay eyes on who most believe are the Region 4-6A favorites to make it to the State tournament; Austin Westlake. Loaded with a solid senior class to include Kansas signee KJ Adams. They were up against a solid SA Johnson group who features a couple of guards who can score so it had the makings of an intriguing matchup with several college prospects on the floor.

Neither team disappointed as KJ Adams (Kansas) and his team came out firing on all cylinders. The Chaps scored it in multiple ways during the 1st qtr. Adams led the way with 10 and point guard Eain Mowat had 8 to include a couple from deep. As a team they were very efficient getting to their spots and knocking down shots. On the opposite side Johnson came out playing strong as well. Dual sport athlete Shane Johnson showcased his ability to score the ball multiple ways. Shane who signed with Sam Houston St for football can really shoot it. As defenders backed off from him from a couple previous drives to the rim, he then hit a bomb from 30ft to keep the game close although Westlake still led by 9 at the end of 1. The 2nd qtr heated up even more but this time it was Johnson who added more spark with ’22 Kendall Dow and ’21 Mitch Iden getting in on the action. Iden’s damage was done defensively and on the glass with a high motor; Dow was strong off the bounce getting to his spots and scoring to go along with before mentioned Shane Johnson who continued to score as well. Iden helped slow Westlake’s Adams some and that allowed SA Johnson to outscore the Chaps by 8 to make it a 2pt game at the half. 

Both teams came out with a solid 3rd qtr; neither wanting to give an inch. Adams was back in attack mode and doing what he typically does affecting the game. Showed a really good feel for getting to his spots off the bounce and hitting mid-range shots over defenders. Johnson’s guards didn’t relax either as both Dow and Shane Johnson kept it close. Dow, doing most of his damage off the dribble making defenders pay.  

For Westlake, Blake Nielsen knocked down a couple of deep balls to help keep things balanced. Westlake is a well coached group and they have guys in Nelson, Mowat and Mankle that will hurt you when left alone as was the case in this one.  Adams (20pts) despite the extra attention made the right plays and got others involved to include’22 Nehikhare Igiehon who was efficient with his minutes. Strong on the glass and finished at the rim through contact. The Jaguars made it tough and even led for a small period but  KJ kept things interesting as he scored it or created opportunities for others to keep Westlake close by showcasing his playmaking  ability with the defense focused on him. Eain Mowat (15pts) was also solid for the Chaps. 

In the 4th with it still tight ’21 Mitch Iden for SA Johnson continued his solid play; this time hitting 2 deep 3’s to tie the game in the last couple minutes. His motor was on display throughout and his ability to make plays on both ends. His play along with Dow and Johnson gave the Jags a shot. That was until Dow (20pts) with Westlake up 1 got injured driving to the basket. As a result he had to sit one play and they missed a shot and Cade Mankle hit a big 3 to put the Chaps up 4. After another missed attempt Johnson 

was forced to foul and Westlake closed the game out at the free throw line.  Austin Westlake 75 SA Johnson 66

AUSTN WESTLAKE’S LATE SURGE STOPS UPSET BID

 AUSTIN WESTLAKE VS SA O CONNOR RECAP

REGION 4-6a Semifinal…Round 4. 2 District champions. A spot in the Region finals on the line always makes it a very tough round where you typically get the stronger teams match up in the bracket. In this one you Region 4-6A favorite Austin Westlake (#5 in the State) coming in off of a tough win Saturday over # 18 SA Johnson. They have a solid senior class with some quality playoff experience under their belt. They have Kansas signee KJ Adams, but there are more solid contributors. They were up against a solid SA O Connor group. They come in ranked (#16in the state) and they also feature a couple of seniors in 6’5 Adam Benhayoune and point guard Isaac Orosco who can both make plays in a variety of ways so it had the makings of a strong matchup with several college prospects on the floor.

In the beginning it was all about Adam Benhayoune. A versatile skill set; kind of a poor man’s Kevin Love who started out on fire connecting on his 1st 3 deep balls of the game. He was on such a roll early on that he had 14 of O Connor’s 18 points. Showing his ability to stretch the floor but also occasionally make plays inside. On the opposite end KJ Adams (Kansas) came out attacking and also hitting a 3 to keep defenders honest. The Chaps kept pounding away and kept it close despite O Connor’s early surge. Benhayoune had 11in the 1st qtr while Adams for Westlake  led the way with 8. 

In the 2nd qtr both Adams and Benhayoune continued to play well but a couple of teammates joined the show. ‘ 21 Cade Mankle caught fire and hit a couple deep ones as Westlake started to get comfortable. Things heated up even more as ’21 pg Isaac Orosco got in on the action showing his ability to create for others, but also knock down shots from several spots. His court awareness and IQ controlled the flow for most of the game. He and Adam teamed up in a lot of 2 man situations and he made the right plays. Both teams tightened up a bit defensively to end the half and O Connor still held a 2pt lead 

Both teams came out with a strong on both ends in the 3rd qtr. But it wasn’t the ones mentioned previously. For Westlake this time it came from Sr pg Eain Mowat. In a roll of setting up others most of the night he saw an opportunity and knocked down a couple of deep 3s himself. For O Connor their punch came from ’23 prospect Jalon Munoz who hit a couple deep ones himself to include getting fouled on one. His 2nd half contributions were huge (12pts) to help O Connor on pace for the upset. 

In the 4th O Connor came out with intentions on delivering the knock out blow. They built a lead as much as 10 with their ability to stretch the D and hit the 3 ball. This time it was ’22 Evan Whaling, He hit consecutive 3’s that had Westlake on the ropes . That’s when Westlake turned up the defensive intensity a bit led by Srs Mowat who had 3 steals during the run and Adams. To start the run ’21 Mankle(15pts) hit a HUGE 3 just in front of Westlake’s bench from about 23-24 ft. This sparked them and Adams got back in attack mode, sensing plays needed to be made with only 4 minutes remaining  and doing what he typically does affecting the game with his ability to get down hill and finish through contact. He was relentless on the glass as well during the critical stretch. He also made good reads finding ’22 Nehikhare Igiehon on a couple of possessions as he showcased his ability to finish inside. Adams (12 in the 4thqtr and 28 pts for the game) took matters into his own hands. Causing or being involved in several turnovers and he got out in transition and finished. Mankle hit yet another to extend their lead and O Connor could not gain any more momentum as Westlake scored 22 in the 4th to overcome their deficit to win.  Austin Westlake 62 SA O Connor 57

Friday’s slate of game consisted of the 4A and 6A State Semifinal Matchups. Thousands of fans from each program traveled to the Alamo Dome in anticipation of witnessing their  team punch a ticket to Saturday’s Title game. Tyrese Maxey placed himself in the record books and now that the table is set for Saturday, texasboysbasketball.com breaks down the games from a action packed Friday.

Dallas Carter vs. Seminole (4A Semi-Finals)

1st Qtr: Sr Dante Stearn Of Dallas Carter collects the first four points of the game as the Cowboys high octane style of play disrupted the Indians rhythm. A combination of inside baskets between Sr. Reese Moore and Soph. Jalen Brattain led the way for Seminole with a combined total of 9 points, 8 rebounds in the first quarter. Carter led 16-15 after one.

2nd Qtr: Seminole tied the ball game 19-19 after Moore made two free throws. The Cowboys full court press took a toll on the Indians as turnovers started occurring before reaching half court. Soph Jalen Williams came off the bench and brought energy for Carter on as he knocked down a momentum stopping three and made life difficult for the opposing guards to initiate their offense. Carter strung together a a 6-0 Run and lead going into halftime 33-25

3rd Qtr: Carter came out hot after a halftime speech from Head Coach Lyndon Love as the Cowboys go on a 12-2 Run in the first minute and a half. Jr Zahad Munford lead the Run with six points and two rebounds. Brattain kept his team within striking distance as he finished with 6 rebounds and 6 points after three to notch a double double. Carter stopped the momentum and increased the lead to as much as 19 points as they head into the 4th quarter up 59-41.

4th Qtr: Sr big man and Texas Longhorn Football Signee Reese Moore threw his big body around on the block. Finished through contact and led a 4th quarter surge for Seminole. Munford and his Dallas Carter group continued to dictate the pace of the game and went on their own 7-0 run to widen the gape The Cowboys shooting at a high clip from behind the arc, receiving strong production from their upper class men and defending with intensity for 32 minutes led to a 80-62 win and ticket to the state title game on Saturday.

Player Analysis

Jalen Brittain, Soph PF – Seminole: Brittain orchestrated a strong outing for the Indians as he produced a 17 point, 13 rebound double double. Brittain made shots from 12ft out. Looked to grab every missed shot and plays with a good feel for the game. A prospect that will definitely be in our database after his performance.

Jahad Munford, Jr Wing – Dallas Carter: Munford came alive in the second half with 15 points (2 in the 1st) Munford shot 7-9 from the field, was active on the defensive end and become the vocal leader for his group.

Dante Stearns, 2018 Wing – Dallas Carter: Stearns shot 86% percent from the floor (6-7 from the field) and had a solid stat line across the board with 6 rebounds, two assists, blocks and steals.

Silsbee vs Somerset (4A Semi-Final)

1st Qtr: Silsbee took control of the game early with a 15-2 lead over Somerset with 5 min left in the first. Soph Braelon Bush and juniors Devon McCain and Jordyn Adams produced 11 of the firs 15 points. Isaiah Rivera was a bright spot for Somerset. Handling the pressure Silsbee brought and getting to the paint. Silsbee trio of Bush, McCain and Adams has been too much for Somerset as they lead 30-9 after one.

2nd Qtr: Jordyn Adams connects on a three pointer to stretch the lead 35-9. Somerset starting picking through the press and found a rhythm early. Silsbee’s high octane offense and depth continued to impact the game and led by as much as 33 points in the first half. The Tigers led 48-20 after two.

3rd Qtr: The theme stayed the same in the second half. Silsbee came out of the gate finding their way into the paint, Winning the battle on the boards. Sr big man Jacob Harvey Of Somerset Played more aggressive in the paint as he used his length to block shots and finish inside. Despite a 16 point quarter, the Bulldogs were still down 69-39 after three.

4th Qtr: With a commanding lead going into the fourth quarter, Adams, Bush and McCain played two minutes before being subbed out. Rivera for the Bulldogs continued to knife his way to the paint and went on his own 6-0 run in the fourth. Somerset outscored Silsbee 22 -11 in the quarter but the Bulldogs were too much for Somerset and won 80-61 to head to the State Title Game with a matchup against Dallas Carter.

Player Analysis

Jordyn Adams, Jr SG – Silsbee: Adams led the way for Silsbee with a 20 point performance. Adams collected steals, made open jumpers and had an emphatic jam in the first half. A TBB Top 30 prospect and Adams showed why he is today.

Braelon Bush, Soph PG – Silsbee: Bush is known as a scorer but he dictated pace, got his teammates involved and ended up with 14 points shooting 50% from the field. Bush played with a mature poise and when he is playing at a high level, Silsbee is very hard to contain.

Isaiah Rivera, Sr. PG – Somerset: Rivera continued to play hard and was one of the few bright spots on Friday for Somerset. He strung together 19 points but was even more impressive was his eight rebounds from the point guard spot.

Katy Tompkins vs South Garland (6A Semifinal)

1st Qtr: Both squads looked to play up-tempo in the early going. Katy Tompkins won the battle on the boards early and mainly scored in the paint. Jr duo Tyrese Maxey and Chris Harris Jr paced the Colonels with 8 of their 11 points and Sr Jamal Bieniemy recorded 4 blocks in the first quarter as the Falcons lead 12-11 after one.

2nd Qtr: The South Garland Duo recorded the first 11 points for the Colonels as they took a 22-17 lead over Tompkins. Maxey orchestrated a shooting clinic in the second quarter but a combination Kristian Sjolund, Jamal Bieniemy and CJ Washington withstood the run from the Colonels and got the deficit within two points. It’s 27 all going into halftime

3rd Qtr: Tyrese Maxey started the second half where he left off. Adding 5 points in the first minute and a half. The free throw line has been the home for CJ Washington as he has been on the line 10 times. Tompkins strung together a 9-0 run to take a 42-41 lead as Bieniemy produced 8 points in the quarter. All tied up going into the 4th quarter 50-50.

4th Qtr: Tompkins scores the first 7 points in the quarter as the momentum they gathered at the end of the third carried over to the fourth. Tyrese Maxey slowed the Falcons momentum after he executed on three point play. Tompkins had a comfortable 67 to 59 lead with 1:46 seconds left but after a timeout from the Colonels, Maxey and Harris Jr produced a 10-0 run and led 69-67 with 40 seconds left. After a rare occasion we’re Maxey goes empty from the charity strike, Bieniemy dribbles up and knocks down a clutch three pointer to go up 70-69. Maxey knocked down 2 clutch free throws with 3 seconds left as we head to overtime 71-71.

OT: It was still a back and forth affair but CJ Washington continued his aggressive pursuit to the rim as he scored 4 points in the extra quarter. Maxey executed in another 3 point play as the Colonels took a 74-72 lead. Jamal Bieniemy took his team on his shoulders making key layups down the stretch, knocking down 2 free throws and making it a two possession game and hold on to a 80-76 win in the most entertaining game so far in the Alamo Dome.

Player Analysis

Tyrese Maxey, Jr PG – South Garland: Maxey made history with his 46 point performance as he tied the UIL State Championship Tournament record for most points in a game (Marcus Freidberger, 1947). Maxey made clutch play after clutch play and showed he can wear any hat the Colonels need him to wear.

Jamal Bieniemy, Sr Wing – Katy Tompkins: Speaking Of clutch plays, Bieniemy answered the call when Tompkins needed points. Jamal finished with 25 points, 7 rebounds 4 blocks and the win. Oklahoma Head Coach Lon Kruger picked up a key asset for his Sooner squad.

CJ Washington, Sr PG – Katy Tompkins: Two things generally happened when Washington got to the paint. Either he drew a foul or he made the layup. CJ lived at the free throw line as he was 13-19 from the charity stripe.

Allen vs Austin Westlake (6A Semifinals)

1st Qtr: Allen takes the early 5-3 lead until Jr Big Man Will Baker finishes off a putback to tie it up for the Chaparrals. The duo of Jr Isaiah Stevens and Sr Jaylen Walker produced 11 points to lead the Eagles to a 16-13 game vs Westlake after one.

2nd Qtr: Austin Westlake saw a rise in their offensive production in the second quarter. Future Baylor Bear Matthew Mayer and Texas Longhorn signee Brock Cunningham led the charge for the Chaparrals and trimmed the deficit to one point. Jaylen Walker provided another four points this quarter and led all scorers with 10 going into half. Eagles up 30-28 after two.

3rd Qtr: Will Baker for Westlake started showcasing why he is a high major prospect with 5 straight points and added three rebounds in a two and a half minute span. Allen withstood the Baker run as Isaiah Stevens took the lead and strung four straight points himself. A momentum shifting three pointer by Allen Sr Brenton Mills increases Allen’s lead by 8. A layup by Sr Donovan Parham for the Eagles bumped the lead to 10 points as Allen leads 50-40 going into the 4th.

4th Qtr: Allen Increased the lead by as many as 15 points within the first two minutes of the quarter. A combination of Sr Jaylon Scott and Jerritt Dixon lead the early surge for Allen. For Westlake, Sr Luke Pluymen knocked down two shots and Xavier Signee Keonte Kennedy contributed 12 points as they continued to fight to keep Westlake in the game.

Player Analysis

Isaiah Stevens, Jr PG – Allen: Stevens was the floor general as he dictated pace, continued to be the vocal leader on the floor and scored when the momentum was getting away from his team. He shot a remarkable 71% from the floor as he contributed 12 points.

Jaylen Walker, Sr Forward – Allen: Walker came to play as he provided 14 points and an impressive defensive performance against the D1 talent Westlake possesses.

Will Baker, Jr Center – Austin Westlake: The staff left the game wanting more from Will Baker. He had a early third quarter stretch where he flashed his full repertoire, but didn’t put it all together in longer periods of time. He produced 10 points, 8 rebs and recorded a block as he showed his nice shooting stroke from beyond the arc and fluidity running the floor.

Edited By: AB

It was Primetime Thursday at the Alamo Dome where the matchups were prospect heavy  for texasboysbasketball.com. Port Arthur Memorial made their first trip to the State Semifinals in school history and Midlothian, who is led by TCU signee Kaden Archie also punched their ticket to the state tournament. Justin Northwest had unfinished business due to last year’s semifinal exit but Alamo Heights have their own aspirations of a state championship. The game and prospect analysis tells the story.

Port Arthur vs. Midlothian

1st: 15 to 12 Port Arthur  game statically balanced with exception of one more made three ball. Archie tied the game with a deep 3-ptr at the half way mark of the second quarter.

2nd: The duo of Jamyus Jones from the three point line and Jordan Valsin with paint touches at will while 4-4 from the line. Wesley provides the go ahead 3 pointer to give Port Arthur the 24-21 at the half.

3rd: The second half resumed where the first half started as each bucket was hard earned. Sr. Caleb Jordan and Evan Marshall  for Midlothian produced 9 points in the third quarter as Archie was in pursuit to find his way to the paint which resulted in something positive for his team. Sr. Thailan Wesley answered to Midlothian’s early run with 7 points in the last 4 minutes of the third quarter. Memorial up 37-33 after three

4th: The contest got chippy as the intensity of this bout saw an increase in intensity.  A rare double foul was issued as the players started jawing back and forth at each other in the beginning of the last period. No point was scored in the fourth quarter until the 6 minute mark as Wesley nailed a contested three pointer to make it 40-33 for the Titans. Midlothian scored it’s first point in the fourth with 3:33 left but Memorial steadily increased their lead and got up by as much as 16 points until the Panthers first bucket. Memorial withstood Midlothian’s late surge and won 61-49 to advance to the title game.

Player Analysis

Kaden Archie, Sr. Wing- Midlothian: didn’t have a efficient scoring outing (4-13 from the field) and forced the issue at times (7 turnovers), Kaden continued to apply pressure to the Titans defense and got to the line 12 times. Along with 18 points, Archie secured 7 rebounds and blocked 5 shots.

Evan Marshall, Sr. PF – Midlothian: The Air Force signee came out of the gate with an aggressive approach as he played the role as the rim protector on defense. Evan has shown progressive strides throughout the regular season and this semifinal game showed the steady growth in his game. Marshall stat line was 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Thailan Wesley, Sr. SG – Port Arthur Memorial: for Memorial added 24 points as he went 4-8 from three. Wesley grabbed 7 rebounds as the Sr. sharpshooter showcased his quick trigger and went on a 10-0 scoring by himself in the second half.

Nathan Clover, Soph C – Port Arthur Memorial: Clover was very solid in the Titans outing vs Midlothian. He made life difficult for opposing guards to get a clean look in the paint (3 Blocks) and although shots in the paint didn’t go in as much  as he would of liked, Clover showed comfort operating on the block and generating his own look.

1st: Jr. Avery Anderson of Justin Northwest began the second  tilt on Thursday night with a pull up jumper for the first points of the game. Sr. Brandon Johnson scored 8 of the first ten points for Alamo Heights as he displayed his smooth shooting stroke from beyond the arc. The Texans utilized their size advantage as UTA signee Mason Hix, Oklahoma Football signee Darrell Simpson and 2019 big man Sam Freeman combined for 7 points and 10 rebounds in the first quarter. Northwest up 15-12 after one.

2nd: The Mules obtained their first lead in this contest as they put together a quick 5-0 run in the first minute of the second quarter to go up 17-15. Soph. Charlie Dewitt knocked down a corner three and brought a great dose of energy for Alamo Heights. Jr. Sam Freeman gathered 7 rebounds in the second quarter as he secured 13 boards after two periods and Soph Julien Smith strung together a strong quarter with 5 points and 2 assists in a three minutes time frame.

3rd: Sr. Evan Carcanagues for Alamo Heights contributed the first points in the third quarter as he finished through contact on a layup for the and one opportunity. Northwest applied pressure on the defensive side of the ball as Sam Freeman was the anchor on that side of the floor for the Texans. Alamo City came alive in the third quarter with a 6-2 run but the major rebounding differential in Northwest’s favor allowed them to maintain a double digit lead after 3. 49-36 Northwest

4th: Northwest expanded the lead to 17 points as Julien Smith and Avery Anderson orchestrated the first 6 points for the Texans. Brandon Johnson and The Mules continued to fight to stay in the game as they shrunk the lead within 7 points until Avery Anderson answered with the execution of an and one layup and a block on a jumper in the next sequence. Northwest winning the rebounding battle(37-26) and four players in double figures compensated to the shooting woes the Texans faced early which allowed them to hold on and beat Alamo Heights 65-54.

Coaches Corner

Head Coach for The Texans Mike Hatch talked to TBB about the finale against Port Arthur on Saturday.

“Our players were anxious today but I’m confident on Saturday we will play calmer and closer to our  normal nature of play. The atmosphere and the first game here since last year brought a lot of nerves but we will be better on Saturday.”

Player Analysis

Avery Anderson, Jr. PG – Justin Northwest: Anderson produced 16 points and added 3 assists  and steals in the process. Anderson shot a very solid 47% from the field and his impact on both ends of the floor was critical in the Texan’s win on Thursday.

Sam Freeman, Jr. C – Justin Northwest: Freeman was a monster in the interior on Thursday night as he compiled a double double with 13 pts, 17 rebounds and multiple blocks. Freeman scored on the block, cleaned up on the glass and when he is playing with this energy, it is hard to bet against Northwest on Saturday.

Brandon Johnson, Sr. SG – Alamo Heights: Johnson shot 50% from the field on his way to a 20 point game. Brandon shot 5-8 from beyond the arc and was the leader in the fourth quarter surge for The Mules. Johnson refused to let the game get out of hand as he hit must needed jumpers to keep his team alive.

Edited By: AB

The Cowtown Tip-Off Classic has arrived to find there place on the calendar of top 10 high school basketball events in Texas. If a fan, college coach or media/scouting service was looking for prospects, North Crowley was the place to be. Let’s also look at the face that this event was the first time the shot clock was implemented at a UIL game (prospects vs the masses). Is it right or wrong for TX is the question.

Friday night was opening night/short night for the Cowtown Tip-Off Classic but the stage and performance was up to par with 2019 Drew Timme a 6’9″ power forward that ranks top 5 at TBB in the state.  Drew opened up for a star studded Saturday on Friday by turning in the top performance of the weekend 37pts/21rbs/8ast.  I knew it would be hard to top this but he is one top 10 prospects in Texas regardless of class. Timme showed the most valued attribute in 21st century basketball “versatility” that maintains through his activity, IQ and mindset. There is not a more recruitable prospect in Texas regardless of class.  There are Power 5 conferences full of programs that would take Timme and continues to show why.

Rockwall HS 2019 Samuel Williamson 6’7″ SG was in the other gym (Crowley HS) where we were informed by (Texas Impact Staff) that he delivered a 24pt/14rb/4ast performance.  Sam is a top 10 player with multiple power 5 conference offers.  He reportedly showed his usual balanced high IQ game. Sam’s willingness to rebound has obviously improved which potentially develops him into an impact guy.

The Elephant in the gym was the 30 second shot clock.  There were many debates amongst credible and un-credible individuals leading up to Friday’s Cowtown Tip-Off.  The one fact that came out of this trial/experiment was that it is a doable piece and the game could be better for it.  There were three shot clock violations and four operator mistakes (watching the game and not restarting the clock on the change of possession)  in the ten games I watched at North Crowley high school. The two major arguments can it be staff and does hurt the less talented teams. I (Alan Branch) knows that it presents a additional learning curve for college freshmen.

Traylyn Spencer leads the way both on and off the court.

Traylyn a 6’7″ SF/PF at O. D. Wyatt H.S. past, present and future says he is leading. We at Texasboysbasketball.com are taking a look at why and where Spencer goes from here and how he got to this point. The 2018 signee has worked his way through the classroom, three grassroot seasons and is beginning his third season on varsity.  Spencer has sealed his verbal commitment to University of Arkansas at Little Rock as UALR is a competitive member of the NCAA division one Sun Belt League where the league RPI was in the top twelve of the (34) division one leagues in the country.  ULAR is a huge opportunity for Spencer and from time to time, stable D1 programs have the opportunity to bring in a prospect with this kind of upside and potential on and off the court.

Traylyn has the responsibility to lead as shown here with his four younger siblings.  Being a senior, a three year varsity starter, holding a 950 verbal/math SAT score with 3.0 gpa  and now the first D1 signee for fourth year head coach Demarqus James who is in his first high school job, Traylyn epitomizes the words first, pioneer, and leader as he has demonstrated with his body of work that he is up to the task.

Basketball is huge vehicle for Spencer but he loves the game as he expresses on dead balls with his contagious smile.  The 6’7″ versatile forward said,”On defense I am most comfortable from the basket to 15 ft out with opportunities to rebound and block/contest shots/steal the ball. Then I love when it is time to run to the other end with more opportunities.”

Spencer is active 4/3 forward with good length who has proven he can and does affect the game in a positive way on both ends. The Sun Belt league allows the appropriate level for Spencer to develop and potentially shine at the national D1 level.  There is a huge opportunity for Spencer, in my (Alan Branch) opinion we will get a good look this 2017-18 season where pre-season top 15 O. D. Wyatt will be in pursuit to a deep playoff run.

For recruiting news and updates Texasboysbasketball.com is where you can find it!  Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & @ani_umana.

Texasboysbasketball.com evaluates the prospects in each event the staff covers with in-depth scouting reports. College coaches, subscribe to the site to receive reports as we assess hundreds of prospects from the state of Texas.