Texas Boys Basketball

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Five Stories on Thursday at The Main Floor

Over 100 college coaches were on hand for the premier of The Main Floor presented by Snoop Johnson Basketball and Stacy Houston.  College coaches packed the bleachers and D1 prospects packed the court as this was the first grassroots event ever in Texas with a regulation shot clock.

Tyrese Maxey Showing 5 Star Status

2019 Tyrese Maxey put up a dynamite performance in RM5’s victory vs Dallas Showtyme with 15 pts in the first half. The South Garland guard scored off the bounce efficiently and his ability to stop on a dime to go with his smooth perimeter stroke was on full display Thursday. Maxey, who is coming off a strong string of performances at Nike Peach Jam, verified his 5 star label to the TBB staff at The Main Floor.

2020 Caleb Lohner receives BYU Offer

Lohner’s scoring ability is apparent when watching him play but the staff likes that he is skilled and plays with a high motor. In a premier night game vs Blue Star Shooters, Lohner led his team in scoring with 16 points and was active on the glass. The 6’6 forward received his first offer from West Coast Conference program BYU last night and the 2020 F has shown the potential all spring of being a HM prospect.

YIIS Follows Adidas Gauntlet Championship With Strong Showing at The Main Floor

The Yes 2 Success squad were clicking on all cylinders on Thursday as the backcourt play of 2018 Chris Mullins and Nigel Hawkins carried the scoring load with 36 pts combined (checkout our one on one with  Nigel Hawkins Here)

2018 rim protector Ousmane Ndim made sure to secure the paint defensively and 2019 Charles Bassey in limited minutes showed his presence on both ends as he was tough on the glass and was finishing through contact.

Darthard showing D1 Translation

2018 Calvashawn Darthard has made the most with his opportunity this grassroots season as the guard for Dallas Showtyme has blended his ability to defend with a better feel as a facilitator and scorer off the dribble. Darthard at the Main Floor on Thursday was his team’s best decision maker with the ball and we didn’t see a drop in his intensity on defense with a bigger offensive load. He is emerging as a Division one prospect to our staff and is seeing a boost in his stock.

Milton, Archie Guide Urban DFW to Victory

The best game so far was the matchup between Nike ProSkills and Urban DFW as the contest went into overtime and was sealed by a game winning freethrow by 2018 Kaden Archie. Archie in the second half did a better job getting to his spots and attacking the gaps in the long zone ProSkills possesses. TBB top 35 2018 prospect Kennedy Milton orchestrated a strong performances as the set-up man from Lincoln High School made quick decisions with the ball in the open court and 20 ft out. When Archie and Milton are playing off each other and clicking, Urban DFW is tough to beat.

Follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana. Be on the lookout for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state. Registration will be up soon!

Nigel Hawkins Talks Recruitment, Strong Play at The Main Floor

The 11:20 am game at Trinity Christian Cedar Hill headlined Adidas Gauntlet Champions Yes 2 Success and one of the top independent programs in Texas,  Dallas Showtyme. The Main Floor is loaded with mid to high major prospects and TBB top 25 2018 prospect Nigel Hawkins was impressive with a 19 pt outing to lead his YIIS group to a 20 pt win. Hawkins talks to the staff about his recruitment and the mindset he came in, for his early morning game.

Hawkins was able to pressure the defense as he continued to look to attack the basket with consistency and make quick decisions when the defense reacted. The staff has been impressed with Hawkins strentgh that mixes with scoring abilities and have seen an increase in his stock this spring.

“The team is playing well and I know I’m at my best when I’m in attack mode. I was was trying to be aggressive early and make the defense step into help side,” Hawkins said. “I was just trying to play hard and make plays and I knew that the rest would play itself out.”

Hawkins offer sheet includes Sam Houston State, SFA, Texas A&M, UT Arlington, Rice, Houston, South Florida, South Alabama & UC Riverside. Playing early is the biggest factor in Hawkins decision this fall as he is looking to be given the opportunity to see the floor early at the next level.

“SFA, Texas A&M, South Florida, Oral Roberts, & Rice have been pursuing me the most so far and I like that they are going to give me the opportunity to play early and to win. Location and playing style won’t impact my decision really.”

“I’m looking to make my decision a couple months before the (high school) season  but want to finish out the summer before I really get into making a decision.”

Follow texasboysbasketball.com for news and updates on the top performers at The Main Floor and follow us on twitter at Texasboysbasketbal & Ani_Umana

 

 

 

Newton, Mukeba Perform Saturday at EPLAY Boys Summer Championship

Pool play finishes and bracket play commences as Saturday at the EPLAY Boys Summer Championship saw exciting performances and close, heated contest in the evening. ProSkills 17U and Los Angeles Rockfish roll through pool and bracket play as a few prospects caught our eye.

Devin Newton Shines in Bracket Play

2018 Devin Newton ran the show for Southwest Elite on Saturday. He took the reigns on offense and became a leader on the floor. Against Urban ASAK, Newton found his teammates when he attacked the paint and continued to put pressure on the defense. The staff will continue to evaluate Devin and see if he can continue to be a floor general.

JB Mukeba Shows his Presence in the Paint

The TBB staff first saw the 2019 forward in May and we were intrigued with his face-up and back to the basket play. On Saturday, Mukeba was a handful inside finishing above the rim and using his quick first step to blow by his defender on his path to the rim. Mukeba is a potential top 40 player in his class and his performances on Saturday boosted his stock.

Top Guard Performers

Jalen Mullens, 2019 PG – The Program Red: Mullens is a scrappy guard that scored off the bounce and defended the full length of the court. Jalen’s ability to get to his spots and compete on the defensive end with intensity kept the young Program team in position to win on Saturday.

Calvin Carpenter, 2019 PG – Louisiana Roundballers: The shifty Carpenter excels in the open court and scored off the dribble consistently against RM5-East. Carpenter’s  swagger and confidence are tools that allow him to score in bunches and effect the game quick.

Isaiah Range, 2019 G – ProSkills: Range knows how to use his body, he is productive when he posts up smaller guards and initiating contact on drives. Range scored in double figures in all his games Saturday and will be needed in ProSkills premier matchup against LA Rockfish on Sunday.

Jamal Shead, 2020 PG – Urban ASAK-Shead: A guard that continues to pique our interest in the 2020 class is Jamal Shead.  The Pfugerville Central guard facilitated and got his teammates involved early but also obtain a bucket when his team needed to stop a run.  Jamal plays with a fearlessness and may have cemented a spot on our top 25 list in the fall..

Chris Austin, 2018 PG – LA Rockfish: Austin plays within his strengths and knows how to get to his spots. He doesn’t get too deep into the teeth of the defense as he showcased a smooth stroke from 12 ft out off the bounce. Austin is a quietly productive player that has been efficient for Rockfish’s backcourt.

Jerrod Fields, 2018 PG – CYM: Fields has a good feel when running the point and has been consistent all weekend. The staff likes what Fields brings to the table as a scorer and facilitator but also communicates on both ends.

Collin Wilkerson, 2019 G/F – Ballers Nation: Wilkerson was one of our potential sleepers in our preview and he has been instrumental in Ballers Nation unblemish record on Saturday. The lefty out of New Summerfield scored in a variety of ways and plays bigger than his 6’4 size.

Forwards & Bigs

Jakevan Leftridge, 2019 CF – ProSkills: The rangy 4/3 man played above the rim and ran the floor well in the open court. Leftridge did a better job finishing through contact and his activity on both ends is something the TBB wants to see from Jakevan on a consistent basis.

Tripp Mays, 2019 PF – BigTyme Sports: The Sunnyvale product played with more aggression than when we evaluated Tripp in January. The 6’7 forward can space the floor with a solid stroke from the perimeter but we were mainly impressed with his ability to alter shots and bang in the paint.

Preston Okerele, 2019 F – BigTyme Sports: Okerele shared the frontcourt with Mays and they fed off each other on Saturday. Preston was scoring inside and out and is starting to turn the corner some but still has some ways to go into reaching his ceiling.

Tyrese Taylor, Urban ASAK Gold: The burly, strong power forward enforced his will in the paint. Taylor showed an improved stroke from 14 ft out and averaged a double-double on Saturday. Taylor really pursues the ball off the glass at both ends of the floor and finished inside at a high clip. A top 40 TBB prospect for 2019, Taylor is a handful when he plays focused.

CJ Weathers, 2018 PF-RM5 East: Weathers had three double figure outings on Saturday. The lefty showcased a smooth stroke from 15 ft and finished more efficient in the paint. This weekend was a good start for Weathers in the live period but the staff needs to see if he can consistently put it together.

 

Notable Performers

Sean Como, 2018 PG – Blade

Osayi Osifo, 2019 PF – Elite Academy

Xavier Elam, 2018 G/F – ProSkills

Hunter Woods, 2018 F – LA Rockfish

William McBride, 2020 SG – Urban ASAK – Snead

Quevian Adger, 2020 F – BMM

Brian Wilson, 2018 PG – Texas Cougars

 

 

Key, Fletcher & Doolittle Discuss Recruiting

 

The TBB staff discovered a few gems at the EPLAY Boys Summer Championship as 2018 Travonte Doolittle (All Arkansas Red), Tynen Fletcher (LA Rockfish) and 2019 Carrius Key (ProSkills) were standouts on Saturday. We went  one on one with these three prospects as we talk about recruiting, offers and deciding factors.

Fletcher

The smooth 2-guard has been a tough matchup all weekend as he continues to find ways to get to his spots on the floor regardless of the type of defender that is guarding him. From pg’s to big men, Fletcher showed good body control and a high IQ that allows him to navigate and attack the openings.

Recruiting

I have offers from Fordham, Northeastern, Boston U, Bucknell and Hawaii but they all have been contacting me about the same,” Fletcher said. “The deciding factor for me is academics and style of play. I like to play up and down, smart, sound basketball and the school that provides that is important to me.”

Fletcher looks to make a decision before 2018 but is looking to have more schools on his radar by the end of the July live period.

“I’m just going to play out the summer and potentially pick up offers from other schools but I want to make my decision by the end of fall.”

Key

2019 guard Carius Key used his wide frame to force his way into the paint and provided a bully-style of play on Saturday.  He finished well with both hands in traffic and played with intensity on both ends that seem to spill over to his teammate’s play as well.

Key’s Recruiting

Key currently has offers from Arkansas Fort Smith and Texas A&M Commerce but Sam Houston State was present to watch his games today.

“I have been hearing from Arkansas Fort Smith and (Texas) A&M Commerce me but Sam Houston State have been on me the most the past month or so,” Keys said. “Right now I have to keep working and grinding and the offers will continue to come but I got to continually improve.

Doolittle

The 2018 guard followed a strong Friday performance with a string of sound, productive games on Saturday. The lefty has been efficient in the open court and playing with length and intensity on the defensive side of the ball. Doolittle has been a key piece to All Arkansas Red playing on Championship Sunday.

Recruiting

Doolittle currently holds no offers but the staff can see that changing if he continues to show that his two-way productivity translates to the D1 level.

“I have been contacted mainly by UALR (Arkansas Little Rock), Missouri State, Lamar and Tennessee Martin,” Doolittle said. “I have no offers but I am confident I will have some because I’m looking to have a big July.”

“I would like to play for a program that plays fast and I feel that I can impact the game in different ways for a college (program).”

 

EPLAY Boys Summer Championship

College Coaches, √. Long check in lines, √. The live period is up and running as the EPLAY Boys Summer Championship rolled out for its inaugural step into grassroots basketball at Duncanville Fieldhouse and Friday evening drew a slew of matchups and players that the TBB staff have been waiting to see.

Jay Wilson Shines at EPLAY

The long, athletic 2020 Jay Wilson showed an improved feel when operating on the perimeter and looked to make an impact right off the tip as he was active on the glass and finished  in traffic. Wilson is a top 15 TBB player for 2020 and has all the tools to becoming a HM player when it is all said and done.

Sterling Hopkins Running the Show

When discussing important features for point guards, how they manage the floor and their team is brought up. On Friday, 2019 Sterling Hopkins continued to play with poise and made smart reads in the open court and the half-court setting. Still parts of his game that need improvement but Hopkins on Friday had his best outing seen from the staff this Spring.

Johns, Poleder Show Potential

2019  Nigel Johns and James Poleder are developing big men that in spurts impacted the game on both sides of the floor. Johns was influential in key defensive stops for BlueStar Shooters in their OT win on Friday and Poleder for Southwest Elite fights on the glass and seems to have his hand on every rebound. These next 9-10 months will be key to their development as both players have the size and frame to make a stamp inside, but still are understanding how to put it all together.

Player Standouts

Noah Wheeless, 2018 G – Southwest Elite: Wheeless was unconscious from three as he knocked down 8 shots from deep. His ability to get his feet set quick and move to the spots to space the floor was key to getting the shots he wanted in transition.

Travonte Doolittle, 2018 G – All Arkansas Red: The lefty out of Earl High School changed speeds very well which allowed him to get to the cup on Friday. He excelled in the open court and got to his spots on the floor off the bounce that freed up his teammates for open looks.

Tynen Fletcher, 2018 SF – LA Rockfish: Rockfish started pool play 1-0 with a win vs YGC36 Black and Fletcher had a all around strong game. Fletcher navigated well inside and finished in traffic. He shoots it off the bounce and defensively played with intensity and length that resulted in turnovers which led to fastbreak opportunities.

Quevian Adger, 2020 F – BMM Black: The young BMM group faced off against a scrappy NJH squad and fell short. Adger showed extended range on his jumper and starting to make quicker reads when operating from the perimeter.

Chris Baguma, 2018 F – CYM: Baguma played with a high motor and recorded a near double-double on Friday. He has a good feel for getting in position on the boards, runs the lanes well and can handle the ball some in the open court. Baguma will have a chance to make a name for himself with solid consistent strong outings like this.

Romel Logan, 2019 F – YGC36 Black: Logan is a prospect that the staff is intrigued with. The 6’7 forward did a solid job finishing in traffic and defensively was active in help side and moved laterally. Logan was a prospect the staff had a chance to see a week ago and we will continue to take a glance at him this weekend.

Jamal Shead, 2020 PG – Urban ASAK: Shead is known to score in bunches but in his first game, we saw the Pflugerville Connally product get his teammates involved early and get to his spots within the flow of the offense. When the TBB 2020 list expands, Shead name maybe seen in the top 25 as he has been catching the staff’s attention since March.

Friday Impact  Performers 

Jared Peele, 2018 PG – NJH

Hunter Woods, 2018 F – Los Angeles Rockfish

Clayton Wilson, 2020 F – I Am I Will 17U

Evan Ghormley, 2018 G – CYM 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 Jaden Jones Could Be Next

Over the years, the Texasboysbasketball.com staff have been able to find the up and coming prospects before they take a step on a high school campus. From Cream of the Crop alums Tyrese Maxey, Samuel Williamson, De’Vion Harmon, Gerald Liddell, Grayson Carter to other top 2019 prospects such as Charles Smith IV and Quinn Slazinski, we have been able to predict, “Who’s next. ”

A player that has shown the ability to be next is 2021 Jaden Jones. The near 6’5 guard displayed his offensive repertoire this past weekend in the 16U division at the Game Time Hoops Showcase playing with Texas Impact 4:13. Jones has a soft perimeter stroke that extends beyond the three point line and plays with a advanced poise for someone his age. He played spot minutes at point and looked to get his teammates involved and displayed a solid feel for managing the floor.

I left Triple A Academy impressed with the young Jaden as I have seen his growth (height and skill wise) in the past nine months but the staff wants to see how he follows up a strong weekend as the live period approaches.

Jones hasn’t arrived nor close to a finish product as things can happen from now to the year 2021 but Jaden has all the tools to become a high major prospect with his length, IQ and ability to score in multiple ways.

When the 2021 TBB top 10 list releases in the fall, it is very possible his name is on there as the top guard in his class and depending how he develops and continues to show high character,  Jones could hold that spot four years from now.

Continue to follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and content and follow us on twitter @texasboysbasketbal and Ani_Umana.

EPLAY Summer Boys Championship Preview

EPLAY Youth is prepared to make a strong opening impression on the first live period weekend as the Texasboysbasketball staff will be front and center for the EPLAY Summer Boys Championship in Duncanville. Teams from five different states will be under one roof as Los Angeles Rockfish, who have been in the grassroots scene for over 25 years will make the three hour flight to Dallas to compete with some of the states top teams. This preview breaks down the top Texas prospects that will perform at the Duncanville Fieldhouse.

CYM

The staff is intrigued about the prospects CYM will have displayed this weekend as there has been a lot of buzz about 2018 F Jal Bijek. Bijek has received an offer from Oklahoma and Texas Tech and this will be our first opportunity to see what the high major prospect brings to the table. 2018 Evan Ghormly and Jerrod Fields are also players that the staff will definitely keep an eye on as well and may crack our TBB top 80 rankings in the Fall.

Elite Academy

The young front court for Elite Academy of 2019 JB Mukeba and Osayi Osifo will play a large role in their success this weekend. Mukeba impressed us in May as he showed the ability to impact the game on both sides of the floor and the high energy Osifo shows on defense makes life difficult for anybody looking to score inside.

RM5-East

Another front court that will be influential for their team’s success is RM5-Easts with 2018 CJ Weathers and Zakari Hart. Weathers is a top 70 TBB prospect and the versatile 4-man will have the opportunity to showcase his all-around game. Hart, standing at 6’9 stretches the floor and has shown flashes of the ability to influence the game in a variety of ways but will need to compile a string of strong outings for his team. Sleeper Deven Pokhrel is a threat from deep and has shown this spring that he can get hot quick.

BMM 15U Black

This young 2020 crew will participate in the 17U division and top 10 player Caleb Lohner will be relied upon to help lead the pack. The forward from Flower Mound is dangerous from the perimeter and has played more physical inside in the past two months. Quevian Adger has shown a better feel when operating from the perimeter and the high motor combo forward is on the verge to seeing his name in our top 15 prospect list. Combo guard Darius Whittington and rising freshman forward Duncan Powell will also play a sizable role for BMM this weekend.

BlueStar Shooters

2020 Jay Wilson has a lofty ceiling and is starting to scratch the surface of seeing it. The question will be how Wilson will play against the speed and physicality the 17U division will bring but the staff feels the Denton-Ryan product will be ready. 2019 big man Nigel Johns interest the staff as we saw flashes in May of the type of player he can become. The EPLAY Summer Boys Championship will provide the platform for Johns to show that the light bulb is turning on.

Sleeper Impact Players

Jakevan Leftridge, F 2019 – ProSkills 16U

Noah Wheeless, G 2018- Southwest Elite

Tivon Berry, G 2019 – The Program Red

Romel Logan, F 2019 – YGC36 Black

Trip Mays, F 2019 – BigTyme Sports

Jamal Shead, G 2020 – Urban ASAK 15U

Tyrese Taylor, PF 2019 – Urban ASAK Gold

Keller Casey, PF 2018- Blade Elite

Collin Wilkerson, G/F 2019 – Ballers Nation

 

 

 

 

The Main Floor 2018 Prospect Preview

When going through the calendar to mark good evaluation opportunities,” The Main Floor” was on the top of the staff’s list as over 40 percent of the TBB top 25 prospects in 2018 and 2019 will be competing under one roof. 3X 4A State Champion Coach Snoop Johnson and long time grassroots evaluator Stacey Houston will provide primetime contests that grassroots basketball fans in Texas have been demanding to have for months.  We will preview the top prospects in each class that will perform center stage at Cedar Hill High School.

#2 Gerald Liddell  (RM5) & #6 Jordan Phillips  (Dallas Showtyme)
The 4pm matchup on Thursday headlines two of the top wings in the state of Texas with Gerald Liddell of RM5 and Jordan Phillips with Dallas Showtyme. Liddell is smooth, super talented player that the staff is very high on but want to see him play with that extra gear consistently. Phillips has the makeup to be successful in the high major level but has had a up and down spring. He will have the opportunity to prove that he doesn’t just look the part but he plays it as well.
#4 Jaedon LeDee  (TX Pro) & #9 Grayson Carter (Showtyme)
This year has been good for Grayson as he is reminding scouts why he was highly touted his freshman year. When healthy, Carter has shown his full offensive repetoir, scoring in a variety ways on the floor. LeDee, who had a solid performance in the NBPA Top 100 Camp in June is no slouch as the number four player in our class will look to orchestrate a good performance with his versatile style of play and strong face-up game.  This is the top Power Forward matchup in the event.
Other Top TBB 25 2018 Prospects at The Main Floor
#5 – Kaden Archie  (Urban DFW): Archie is the hottest prospect in Texas right now and although he is the top player in Dallas, Archie has slowly creeped himself in the conversation as the top player in the state.
#8 – Ousmane Ndim  (YIIS): When Ndim is on the floor, shots in the paint aren’t easy to come by as he looks to swat anything coming into his area. We love the energy and toughness Ousmane brings to his team and will be a key piece for his team in their matchup against RM5.
#13 – Kendrick Davis (TX Pro): The TCU commit will be relied upon to manage the floor for Texas Pro but Davis has a knack of knowing when to takeover games. An under the radar matchup is when his Texas Pro squad face Texas Impact as Davis lines up against top 40 prospect Xavier Bryant.
#14- Jahmar Young (Urban DFW): The MVP of the Dallas Showtyme Classic, staff wants to see how Young performs against the length of the ProSkills big men of Frank Aguannane, Connor Vanover and Drew Timme. Young has seen a large rise in his stock the past month and looks to continue to show why he is a top 15 player in the state.
#15-Keonte Kennedy (RM5): The Sniper from Westlake can light it up from deep and can see a rise in his rankings soon. Defenses have to be careful because Kennedy is capable of scoring in bunches quick.
#19-Reggie Chaney (RM5): Chaney has attributed solid numbers in the EYBL for RM5 as they will be competing in the Peach Jam. The tough 6’7 forward from Findlay Prep gives his team a strong inside presence on the offensive end and that will be needed on the 20th against the Twin Towers for Yes II Success.
#25-Zac Watson  (YGC36): The athletic Watson is similar to Chaney as both forwards play bigger than their listed height. The Thursday duel against the long front line of Dallas Mustangs will be a good matchup for the Frisco Liberty forward but the staff thinks Watson will up be up for the challenge.

King Arthur Classic Recap College Coaches Report

Feron Hunt, 6'8 2018 F - Urban DFW: Hunt seems to start coming along as he played with high energy in bracket play. Finished around the rim and handled the ball in the open court. Scored off the bounce and made a couple open shots from the perimeter. Late on help-side but moved decent laterally. ... Read more

Dallas Showtyme Classic Friday Notables

A parking spot was a struggle as the Dallas Showtyme Classic was spilling over at the Duncanville Fieldhouse on Friday. Several players on the TBB top 75 for the 2018 and 2019 class were scheduled to face off,  as Erven Big E Davis and Dallas Showtyme gave the fans and sports writers the matchups wanted.

Braden Bell, 2018 F, Urban DFW: Bell made the defense pay on switches and scored inside and out. A swiss army knife describes Bell’s play as he displayed versatility and contributed in a variety of ways for Urban DFW on both ends

Kaden Archie, 2018 SG, Urban DFW: Archie’s strength and constant pursuit to get to the basket was too much for Texas BluePrint as he scored in bunches inside and got to his spots off the bounce. Archie also did a good job  communicating on defense and taking away the strengths from the opposing guards on the perimeter.

Lamar Everd, 2018 G, Dallas Mustangs: Everd’s high level ability to change direction and speed allowed him to get where he wants to go on the court. He has a nice touch from 15 ft out off the bounce and defensively played with length. Number 59 on the TBB player rankings, Everd may see a rise in his number soon.

Samuel Williamson, 2019 SG, Texas Impact 4:13: Williamson had one of the top performances at the 2-guard spot on Friday as he found his teammates on the drive and transition, scored off the dribble and defended with intensity. The long guard from Rockwall recently received an off from Rutgers and is starting to get the attention of power five schools.

Marcus Hill, 2018 G, Texas Impact 4:13: I lost count on How many threes Marcus Hill made after five and the box score shows Hill made eight trey balls in a 31 point outing. The staff likes that Hill has a short memory and can miss several shots in a row and show confidence on taking the next s. On Friday, the basket looked as wide as the ocean for Hill and it didn’t matter if there was a hand in his face as the ball went through the net.

Carson Hughes, 2018 SG , 3-D Empire: The marksman from Keller High School showed his smooth perimeter stroke but also displayed toughness as he battled in the paint for rebounds and blocked a few shots inside. He is a handful chasing him around from off ball-screens as Hughes does a good job getting his feet set early off the run.

Mason Hix, 2018 F, 3-D Empire: It was an up and down night for Hix, but he stayed in tune and made plays late in the game to keep his team close. Although his shot was off, Hix looked to get a rhythm by getting into the paint and finishing through contact.

Uniike Washington, 2018 PG, DME Elite: A solid setup man with a good feel and ability to get to his spots within the offense. Washington’s play doesn’t stand out to the average eye but his poise at the point was key to DME’s success on Friday and has been this spring.

Grayson Early, 2018 SG, Texas BluePrint: It’s been over a month since we seen the sniper from Jefferson and he looks to have added muscle to his frame. Early, who recently took an unnofficial at Lamar finished in traffic multiple times on Friday. Like Hix, his shot wasn’t falling like it normally does, but Early found ways to make a impact on the offenssive end by generating second and third chance opportunities and attacking the interior.

 

Jackson, Townsend Shine on Friday at the Dallas Showtyme Classic

Ervin “Big E” Davis is no stranger to the grassroots scene as his startup manning the sidelines came from coaching stints with Dallas Hoops and Slamm Jamma before creating the Dallas Showtyme in 2005. The Gorrillas, going into their 12th year has sent 8-10 athletes per year to the next level and names such as Cameron McGee (Lamar), Josh Nzeakor (Lamar), Javon Levi (UT Rio Grand Valley),  and  Jalen Jones (Texas A&M, NBA) have dawned the red, yellow and black uniforms

The Dallas Showtyme Classic is entering it’s 9th year of existence but this is the fifth year going for the texasboysbasketball staff to cover it and  Friday produced a heavy slate of games as 2018 Jacob Jackson orchestrated masterful work in transition and TBB top 40 guard Jase Townsend once again shot the lights out in the gym.

Fast break with Jacob Jackson

In the open court, Jackson displayed athleticism and quickness that he blends with aggression, toughness,  and instincts. Jackson committed himself to finding his way inside and in full pursuit to the basket, there wasn’t anybody stopping him from getting where he wanted.

“Coach (Alrick Washington) wanted us to attack early and get high percentage shots and that was what I wanted to do to make the defense scramble.”

DME Elite picked up a overtime win vs 3-D Empire and Jackson showcase a solid feel defensively off the ball. He played physical, deny defense on TBB top 60 players 2018 Mason Hix and Carson Hughes to get them out of their comfort zone.

“Hix and Carson are really good players and when I was matched up with either of them I wanted to disrupt what they do by being physical,” Jackson said. “They still got their shots off but I wanted to slow them down as much as possible.”

Recruiting Update

“I have been slept on for a long time.”

Jackson has just one offer on the table from Texas State but the Euless Trinity guard took a unofficial to Sam Houston State recently and also received interest from North Texas and UT Arlington. July is a opportunity to wake up college coaches and show he has the skillset that will translate to the low-mid major level.

Triple Townsend

Jase Townsend went 5-9 from three in Dallas Mustang’s win vs Texas Impact 4:13 as he tallied 25 points and came out the gate aggressive with the ball going 7-9 from the free throw line. Townsend continues to show the ability to score from 17 ft out off the bounce and has the skill and instincts that will allow him to perform at the next level.

“Coming in the game I knew I had to be aggressive and get my team involved early on,” Townsend said. “We won that game because we continued to fight and never gave up on both ends.”
Recruiting Update
Jase has taken two unofficials so far at UT Arlington and Sam Houston State. The guard from Skyline High School intends to visit Stephen F. Austin, Denver and the other schools that have offered him once August rolls around.
“I have offers from University Northern Colorado, Central Michigan, University of New Orleans, Lil Rock Arkansas, UTA and all of the schools that have been recruiting me have been coming at me hard and calling me every night,” Townsend said. “I plan on making my decision early winter.”

2017 Darius McNeil Talks Commitment to Cal Berkley

There is a misconception in grassroots basketball that the chance to get the most exposure and be seen by college coaches is to play in a major shoe circuit. While the Nike EYBL, Adidas Gauntlet and UA Circuit can open doors for athletes; if the player can play and has character, he will be found. 2017 Darius McNeil “trusted the process” and felt that his grassroots program, TX Boys Athletic Club allow him to fulfill his dreams of playing D1 basketball, and he will have that chance at the University of Cal-Berkley.

Darius, who originally was an Iowa State commit, was recently granted a release from his scholarship agreement and soon after his phone was ringing with interested schools.

“UofH (University of Houston), Baylor, VCU, Georgia Tech, LSU and other schools contacted me but ultimately I felt Cal seemed like the best fit for me.”

McNeil talks about the deciding factors in taking his talents to the Bay Area.

“Coach Jones (Head Coach Wyking Jones) made me feel that this is the right spot for me to excel,” McNeil said. ” I understand the people out there (at Cal) and what the coaches asked for me on the court.”

Playing style and playing time was also factored in for McNeil in committing to Cal.

“They play up and down and fast which is the type of style that I flourish in. Also I know right away I have the chance to play and make a impact on the court my freshman year.”

The guard out of Westfield High School is ranked #9 in our state rankings in 2017 and the texasboysbasketball.com staff believes that what McNeil brings to the table as far as size, speed and athleticism will translate in the PAC 12. We will go as far as to say in two to three years we will be seeing McNeil’s name in the draft boards and you read it here first!

Continue follow us at texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal and @Ani_umana for recruiting updates.

 

 

 

 

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Charles Bassey (The What If)

Let’s roll the calendar back to 2015 in Lewisville, Tx for the Pangos Fr/Soph Camp and my first live look at  2019 Charles Bassey. He was playing on court three in The MAC Facility and within two minutes of the game, he catches the ball on the block, takes a dribble towards the middle of the paint and dunks the ball ferociously with two hands as if he had a issue with the rim. That moment forward, Bassey has been on the texasboysbasketball.com radar and sits atop of our 2019 state rankings. The question the staff has is what if Charles Bassey, one of the top rising juniors in the country didn’t get injured in Virginia.  The explosive power forward that resides in San Antonio had sustained a leg injury in his first game on Wednesday and although he tried to play on it in the evening, he could only play 8 minutes. Bassey early on was showing why he is number one in Texas as he finished above the rim in traffic, scored on the block and looked to swat any shot coming from the paint.

We will see plenty of the highly touted Bassey in July so check texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and recruiting news.

 

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Antoine Davis

A team with the star power like Javonte Smart, Nassir Little, Ashton Hagans and Nazeron Reid will get most of the attention from the defense but there was this skinny 6’1 guard that was continually left open and made defenders pay. “Silent Assasin” describes 2018 sharpshooter Antoine Davis’s performance at the NBPA top 100 Camp as you wouldn’t believe his point total until you checked the box score. The sharpshooting marksman with a great perimeter stroke led his team in total points (86) and points per game (10.8). He played within his strengths, got to his spots, scored off the closeout and showed range from beyond the three point line. What Davis showed didn’t come to a surprise to texasboysbasketball.com staff and as July looms, Davis looks prime for the live period.

Camp Grade: B

Camp Stats

10.8 ppg

1 rpg

1 apg

43 fg%

34 3p%

83.3 ft%

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Miller Kopp

Manning the sidelines for Team Rockets in Virginia was Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo as he led his team to  an 8-0 record and a championship to go with it. Everyone played their part for the group’s success and what 2018 Miller Kopp did is make open jumpers, rebounded and showed improvement as a scorer off the dribble. Kopp showed limitation when it comes to playing against high level athleticism and speed but the player that can shoot it will always have value in basketball. Miller’s play didn’t stand out to the staff but it was solid nonetheless as he played within his strengths. The forward from Houston, Tx has been one of the highest stock risers in the state and we will continue to evaluate Kopp as the live period approaches.

Camp Grade: C+

Camp Stats

8 ppg

2 rpg

46 fg%

41 3p%

88 ft%

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Grant Sherfield

The first game on Wednesday afternoon for 2019 Grant Sherfield didn’t go the way he envisioned it as he went 0-2 from the field, 1 rebound 3 assist to go with 1 turnover in 22 min. Sherfield struggled to get to his spots and find openings but one thing I know about Grant is his ability to recover from a bad performance. “Bounce Back” is what I describe Grant’s performance at the NBPA Top 100 Camp as he followed bad games with strong performances. Sherfield was looking to get his teammates involved as he finished 3rd on his team in assists and averaged 8 ppg. the 6’1 point guard out of North Crowley had a solid performance last week and the staff wants to see going forward how Sherfield performs against high level length and athleticism.

Camp Grade: C+

Camp Stats

8 ppg

2.4 apg

2 rpg

39 FG%

33 3p%

67 ft%

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Kendric Davis

When your on the down side of 6′ in basketball, you have to have a mixture of toughness, grit and nastyness in your game to excel and that  concoction is in 2018 point guard Kendrick Davis. The first two days in Virginia, Davis made high level plays from 17 ft out, defended full-court and finished when he got into the paint among-st the trees. The next two days however, Davis’s energy and production took a dip and if he continued to perform like he did the first two days, he would of seen a A on his camp report card. regardless, the TCU commit showed a skill-set that will translate to the next level.

Camp Grade: B-

Camp Stats

9 ppg

2 rpg

3 apg

39 fg%

28 3p%

90 ft%

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Jaedon LeDee

Sitting at number four in our 2018 state rankings is the forward from Kinkaid High School, Jaedon LeDee and there were games that LeDee made scoring look so easy. Showcasing his smooth face-up game from 15 ft out, finishing through traffic, scoring in transition,  LeDee’s performance in Virginia was like a almost painted picture as it looked good but it wasn’t finished. He couldn’t put two straight strong performances together and that was what the texasboysbasketball.com staff was waiting to see from him. LeDee still showed a lot of toughness playing through a aggravated foot injury and when LeDee was locked in, he gave us validation why he is  a top five player in Texas.

Camp Grade: C+

Camp Stats

8.6 ppg

5.4 rpg

61 fg%

44 ft%

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Matthew Mayer

If I had to give a description for 2018 forward Matthew Mayer at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, that word is, “flashes.” The Baylor Bear commit showed in flashes why he was once considered a top 5 player in Texas by our staff, but we left Virginia wanting to see more from him. The forward from Westlake, Tx showed versatility on offense with his ability to handle the ball in the open court,  shoot the ball off the catch and bounce and had a impressive one handed putback dunk in traffic. Mayer shot 54% from the field and 42% from three but had trouble putting it all together on a consistent basis.

Camp Grade: C

Camp Stats

5 ppg

3 rpg

1 apg

54 fg%

42 3p%

67 ft%

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Jahmar Young

Watching a kid play for periods of time, there’s this feeling of joy, relief, happiness when you start to see that they are improving and on the right track to become the best version of themselves as a player.  The bigger the player, the longer the development takes and this past week at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, 6’9 2018 power forward Jahmar Young showed that he is on that right track to being the player the staff envisions he will become. Young played with energy and finished above the rim on put backs and cuts to the basket. He looked comfortable shooting it from 12 ft out and was rebounding in traffic. The forward out of Desoto, Tx was one of the nine players to record a double-double at the camp this week.. There is still a lot of work to be done for Young, but this was good to see him consistently provide strong performances.

Camp Grade: B+

Camp Stats

6 PPG

5.4 RPG

1 BPG

43 FG%

70 FT%

 

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Will Baker

The first day at the John Paul Jones arena, the long, lanky 6’10 big man out of Westlake, TX was on an adventure into finding himself and his role on his team. However, as the days went on, Baker looked comfortable and the embracement from his teammates resulted in strong play that allowed him to make a impact on both sides of the ball. Battling and finishing in the paint, shooting it from 15 ft out, handling the ball some from the high post, Baker from day 2 through day 4 showcased the other parts of his game against high level competition that the staff hasn’t seen from him. Baker shot over 50% from the field and on Saturday had his highest daily scoring average with 11 ppg to go with 4 rebounds in two games. Baker has just barely scratched the surface to his potential and will see his name rise in our rankings.

Camp Grade: B

Camp Stats

7.8 ppg

3.9 rpg

52 FG%

43 3P%

79 FT%

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Kaden Archie

One concept that can be hard to grasp for players, is to play within their strengths and play a role for the overall team success. That isn’t a concept Archie has a hard time grasping and If I had to make an award for best defensive Texas player at the camp, Mr. Archie would take that award but Kaden didn’t just show that he was a lockdown defender, he also played an important role for his team on offense. Hitting open jumpers,  getting to the teeth of the defense on drives, getting to the spot to make a play, Archie scored inside and out and took the initiative to guard the opposing team’s best player.

Camp Grade: B

Camp Stats

7.4 PPG

1.3 RPG

1 APG

59 FG%

50 3P%

83 FT%

NBPA Top 100 Camp Profile: Tyrese Maxey

This week in Virginia saw 2019 Tyrese Maxey’s trajectory go one direction and that is up. Just looking at his stats only tell half the story as Maxey got his points in a variety of ways and his feel, finishing abilities and ability to shoot it with contest off the dribble or catch impressed the staff. His overall grit and toughness that Maxey plays with was displayed Saturday. When his team was down big in the quarterfinals, Maxey took matters into his own hands and had 6 & 8 point scoring spurts in a effort to get his team back in the game. Although his team lost, Maxey finished with 30 points and shot 66% from the floor. That 30 point performance was the highest scoring output at the camp and Maxey finished fourth in scoring ppg average overall. Maxey, the top guard in the state for 2019 proved that at the camp and Maxey is proving he more than just the top guard in Texas..

Camp Grade: A-

Camp Stats

13.9 PPG

2.9 RPG

1.4 APG

45 FG%

33 3P%

80 FT%

NBPA Top 100 Camp Day 3 Recap

 

Consistent play is what the staff was looking for from the Texas players at the NBPA Top 100 Camp. We will take a look at all 10 players from the state that played on Friday.

Starting to Click

2018 Jahmar Young has been one of the most consistent players from the state of Texas in this camp. Scoring off athleticism and hustle plays, Young has also been shooting it from 12 ft out. The work in the gym prior to the camp has shown.

“I like the competition that’s here. I knew coming in that I wasn’t going to be the only one with my height and size (at the camp so I knew in my mind I need to bring something new to the table,” Young said.  “So before I came in,  I put up 700 shots every morning for two weeks before camp and now I’m here and it shows I can knocked down shots anywhere.”

Young is one of six players in the entire camp that recorded a double-double in a game so far this week as he joins 2018 David McCormack, Simi Shittu, Naz Reid, Darius Bazley and 2019 Armondo Bacot and he even played a third game as one team was short-handed and needed a big. Young still is developing but as the camp winds down and we get into July, the staff wants to see how Jahmar’s play goes from here and if he can follow up with more consistent performances in the future.

Friday Grade: B+

Player Notables

Antoine Davis, 2018 PG: Davis had the highest ppg average of all the Texas players on Friday, averaging 14 and shooting slightly under 50% from the field. Davis continues to get to the open spots, shoot it off the catch and made plays in transition. He has had a quietly productive week at the NBPA Top 100 Camp.

Friday Grade: B+

Miller Kopp, 2018 SF: Kopp avg. 13 points, three rebounds and had the second best shooting percentage out of the Texas players on Friday,  shooting 63 percent.He was hitting open jumpers and running to his spots in transition and Miller took more of an initiative to get to the basket, especially in the open court which resulted in going 4-5 on free throws in his first game.

Friday Grade: B

Kaden Archie, 2018 SG: Along with Young, Archie has been consistent this week as well. He averaged 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists  and showcased his versatility on offense. He competes, and in the evening game,  stepped up to guard 2018 Louis King full court, and although King ended up with 21 pts that game, Archie made him work for those points.

Friday Grade: B

Jaedon LeDee, 2018 F: LeDee shot 64% percent from the field and there seems to be a theme of strong second games from him as he had 15 points 7 rebounds in his team’s evening win. LeDee scored from 15 ft out and finished in traffic but the staff is looking for two strong games in a row from him.

Friday Grade: B-

Will Baker, 2019 C: Baker stats today aren’t eye popping (3 pts, 7 rebs) but he continued to be effective on the court. The biggest difference with Baker from the first day, is how comfortable he plays on the court which has allowed him to show his offensive repertoire.

Friday Grade: B-

Tyrese Maxey, 2019 G: Maxey had an ok performance on Friday as he averaged 7 points and two rebounds. He didn’t shoot it well but he still got to his spots and took shots that were going in Thursday, but just weren’t going in on Friday. We will see how he follows up on Saturday.

Friday Grade: C+

Matthew Mayer, 2018 SF: Friday was the best day for Matthew Mayer as shot 60% from the field and he played with more energy on both ends. There was five minutes in his first game where Matthew showcase the ability to rebound on both ends, shoot it off the catch and score off the dribble.

Friday Grade: C+

Grant Sherfield, 2019 PG: Sherfield’s strong first game followed after having a solid outing on Thursday. He had 10 points to go with 3 assists. He continues to work on getting his teammates involved and getting his shots within the flow of the offense. He struggled in his second game as he went 1-4 and couldn’t get in much of a rhythm.

Friday Grade: C+

Kendric Davis, 2018 PG: Davis also didn’t have a good shooting day as he averaged 5 points, 3 rebounds and two assists on 30%. Davis didn’t play with the energy he played with yesterday but even though his shot was off he facilitated and contributed in other ways on both ends.

Friday Grade: C-

 

 

 

NBPA Top 100 Camp Day 2 Recap

The second day is in the books as we at texasboysbasketball.com arrived at the John Paul Jones arena in Charlottesville, Virginia to evaluate the Texas players at the NBPA Top 100 Camp. Players that impressed Wednesday took their game to another level and a couple of players stepped up their game. showed improvement as well.

Maxey, Davis Form Monster Backcourt

It was hard to find any fault in 2018 Kendric Davis and 2019 Tyrese Maxey play today. When they shared the court, the tempo of the game increases and points came in abundance. Both played off each other and found each other for open looks in transition and the halfcourt as they looked to have been playing with each other for years. Davis plays with a toughness and grit on both ends and makes smart decisions from 15 ft out and Maxey scores in a variety of ways and made plays in tight spaces. Thursday Backcourt Grade: A-

Kaden Archie, 2018 SG: Archie continued to impress the staff as he showcased his two-way style of play and put himself in position to make a play. Archie’s stats won’t wow you at 6 ppg but his ability to make the smart basketball play, guard the best perimeter player and hit the open jumper has been influential to his team’s success.Thursday Grade: B

Quentin Grimes, 2018 G: We thought jet lag could effect Grimes play today as he was coming back from Italy, but he came out of the gate aggressive and was becoming a leader for his team. He showed 30% in his second game but he got good looks and was getting his teammates involved. Grimes in his second game had 9 points and 3 reb.Thursday Grade: B

Will Baker, 2019 C: Although he didn’t make our day 1 report, Baker had a solid showing and followed with another solid showing today. Baker averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds on Thursday and showed range from the three point line and also some grit to his game as well. We haven’t seen the best of Will Baker and in two years, we will be excited to see what he becomes.Thursday Grade: B-

Jahmar Young, 2018 PF: Young continued to play with a lot of energy and effort but he also is starting to play smarter. He saw himself at the foul line, as he shot 7 free throws in the second game and Young continues to come along and showing why we have him as a top 15 player in the state. Thursday Grade: B-

Grant Sherfield, 2019 PG: Sherfield struggled offensively on the first day but played with more aggression and was taking matters into his own hands. He rebounded well and he was getting into his spots. The first game on Thursday he didn’t shoot it well but although his shot was off, he made the defense react, then found the open man. Grant averaged 9 points 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Thursday Grade: B-

Miller Kopp, 2018 SG/SF: Kopp also struggled on Wednesday as the open shots weren’t going in but the second day, those shots that rimmed out, went in. Kopp can shoot it and that is known and he did a good job getting to the open spots while trying to space the floor for his team.Thursday Grade: C

Jaedon LeDee, 2018 F: LeDee couldn’t get in much of a rhythm in his first game on Thursday but made more plays in his second game as LeDee showcased his versatile style of play and had 14 points and 7 reb. On the day, LeDee averaged 8pts and 5 rebs a game and it seems that LeDee is starting to settle in and the staff expects a big day on Friday. Thursday Grade: C

Antoine Davis, 2018 PG: In Davis’s first four games, he has shown what he is known for and that is shoot the ball. Davis made the defense pay when he was left wide open and gained trust from his teammates as he started receiving and making shots when he had space. Davis didn’t do anything to hurt or boost his stock but has confirm the type of player he is. Davis in the first two days has averaged 9 ppg and has shot a solid 42% from three. Thursday Grade: C

NBPA Top 100 Camp Day 1 Recap

Since 2009  NBPA Top 100 Camp has evolved into a annual pilgrimage to evaluate Texas players in a national environment.   The Harrison twins and Emmanuel Mudiay were just three of the 14 McDonalds All Americans between 2012 and 2014 with another 12-15 players that went on to play in Power Nine conferences that were NBPA campers.  Current projected  lottery pick Jarrett Allen hosted his coming out party on the campus of University of Virginia at John Paul arena these are some notable alumni from Texas that played in the camp.  The 14 invited with 13 committing brings to mind the 2013 camp when Texas first went into double digit numbers of campers. This looks like it will be a good run for the Texas kids. Day one always catches a few talented guys looking and just not quite ready to jump in but I always like when a few go right to work.

TOP TEXAS DAY PERFORMERS 

Tyrese Maxey, 2019 PG:  Maxey looked to be at the head of the Texas class on day one.  I was impressed with Maxey’s willingness  to take matters into his own hands.  There were 2-3 situations where his ability to attack defensive boards created high energy primary breaks. He was able  demonstrated his high IQ and a productive experience for his team in these situations. During the time Tyrese was off the ball of the two headed monster that the Heat (camp team) had with Maxey and Kendrick Davis, Tyrese created off the bounce from open 3’s, midrange pull-ups and at the rim in traffic.

Day one grade: A-

Kaden Archie, 2018 SG: Kaden was Mr. Balance, he played both ends where he contributed at every measurable and intangible manor available to his tool box. We will be looking to see him knock down a open look here and there as the week progresses.  When all things are tallied Kaden is all about winning.

Day one grade: B- 

Kendrick Davis, 2018 PG: Kendrick Davis was flat out Nasty/Mr. Gritty. Kendrick found his way into the paint on a regular and very seldom did he come up empty.  The TCU commit turned paint touches into FT’s, Mid range pull-ups, and open teammates for clean looks. Kendrick was really good! Day one grade: B+

Jahmar Young, 2018 PF:  Jahmar  made the Urban Nation (Urban DFW Elite) and Jazzy Hartwell proud on day one.  The long slender late bloomer’s motor was in high gear which allowed him to find his way in the rim on multiple transition plays.  He continues to compete and be productive even though he is usually gives up 20-30 lbs to his opponent. Jahmar is off to a good start in finding his way around the preverbal corner.  Day one grade: B-

 

 

 

 

 

King Arthur Classic Bracket Play Recap

The 9th annual King Arthur Classic was held in Duncanville Fieldhouse this past weekend as the staff at texasboysbasketball.com got to evaluate off of good matchups and saw a few new prospects that caught our eye.

Urban DFW and Texas Elite-Herb saw each other in the Sunday evening championship game as both teams had to win three games straight to reach the finals. It was a two-three possession game for the majority of the time but strong offensive performance from co-tourney MVP 2018 RJ Mason (23 points) and control of the glass for Urban DFW allowed them to pull-ahead later in the second half for a 21 point win. For Texas Elite-Herb, the other co-mvp, 2018 Andrew Clapton played with energy and made plays on both ends and contributed 16 points.

Player Notables

Feron Hunt, 2018 F – Urban DFW: Hunt seems to start coming along as he played with high energy in bracket play and showcase his ability to impact games in different ways. He averaged a near double-double on Sunday but his stats didn’t tell the story of his impact.

Kaden Archie, 2018 SG – Urban DFW: Archie continues to show what he does best. He scored in a variety of ways and did a solid job facilitating the ball. The number 5 player in our 2018 rankings, Archie was influential to his team’s success.

Isaiah Lewis, 2019 SF – Urban DFW (16U): Lewis played with an aggression that the staff would like to see more of from Lewis. Lewis took the leadership role on offense as he made plays when his team needed to score. This was a good weekend for Lewis as he continues to get back to speed since recovering from an injury.

Angel Dibwa, 2019 C – Urban DFW (16U): Dibwa has been coming along as a basketball player since the staff saw him in March. Defensively, guards think twice when putting up a shot inside as he is looking to block shots that come from anywhere in the paint. A run and jump big mainly right now that has been coming along in the post.

Tamir Bynum, 2018 PG – Texas Elite-Herb: The UTSA commit showed he can score…… and do that in bunches. Bynum filled the point sheet with a few 20 plus point outings and also locked in on defense when his team needed a stop.

Kalvin Ezekwe, 2018 PG – Texas Elite Herb: A quick guard that is part of the three headed monster the backcourt of Texas Elite had. Standing 5’7, but don’t let his size fool you as he plays bigger than his stature.

Robert Brown, 2018 PF-Dallas Showtyme: Active on the glass is the four words that describe Browns play. Although Showtyme saw a earlier exit than expected, Brown was strong on the boards and made a high percentage on inside shots.

Jordan Phillips, 2018 SF – Dallas Showtyme: Phillips displayed his athleticism and strength to get where he wanted. Phillips shot was off but Phillips took the initiative and was looking to be aggressive going into the paint and looking to make a play when his team was down.

Clay Baldwin, 2020 SG – I Am I Will: Baldwin plays with a nastiness that was big for his team’s success. Baldwin shot the ball better from the perimeter and saw him guard multiple positions. Baldwin is the type of player that you love playing with but hate playing against.

Quevian Adger, 2020 F – Basketball Means More: Adger displayed versatility on both ends and put up a near double-double in the first half. Adger when the ball is tipped plays hard and with energy. A 2020 forward that is making a name for a top 15 spot in the 2020 rankings.

 

The Final 12: Harmon & Hampton make the U16 USA National Team

32, 24, 16, 12. Since October 2016, players accepted invites and arrived at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado for the chance to make the 2017 U16 National Team. Starting at 32 players that were eligible infor the team n October, to 24 in March and 16 to the final 12 in June.

From Bradley Beal, Aaron Gordon to Houston native Jarred Vanderbilt, two players from the state of Texas joined this company and made the team of 12 to play in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship.

2019 De’Vion Harmon and 2020 RJ Hampton talked to texasboysbasketball.com on their experience and reactions to making the final cut.

“When I heard my name called, I was at a lost for words. I was speechless. So much excitement built up inside of me, and after about 5 minutes… I just had to let it all out,” Harmon said.

“Making the final cut was a dream come true. When I found out I just thanked God and called my mom!” Hampton said.

The last time the staff saw both players on the same court was on Dec. 3 when Harmon’s Denton Guyer’s squad defeated Little Elm with Hampton in a shootout where both player accumulated over 25 points. Both players credit their skill set and mentality on excelling in Colorado.

“Everyone there is elite but I do think my skill set made me stand out. My mentality is always to compete no matter what happens, just compete on offense and defense,” Hampton said. “My mentality has been to do all the little things, and really just compete at a very high level and I’m glad I got to show that,” Harmon said.

We may not have the chance to see the matchup again during the school year as Hampton will be attending Montverde Academy in Florida next school season.

“The school has such a tradition that I can’t wait to get to school and get in their system. They have great players and a great coach. I want to get better everyday!”

So whats next? The FIBA Americas will be held in Argentina from June 14-18 as Hampton and Harmon plan to come back with a gold medal.

“What’s next for De’Vion Harmon… For my guys and I to go down to Argentina and be ready to win the gold medal,” Harmon said. Then when I get back home to Texas, going to take a few days to rest my body and see my people I haven’t seen in a few weeks.”

“Well the next step is USA basketball. I am so honored and blessed to make the team. I want a gold medal.,” Hampton said. I’m also looking forward  to Adidas nations and the next live periods. I’m just gonna continue to get better and stay in the gym and the recruiting will take care itself. I’m just going to be a sophomore and I still got some time to go but I just need to stay hungry and don’t ever get satisfied.”

Jersey Facts

De’Vion Harmon will wear #6 which was worn by:

Deandre Jordan (2016)

Derrick Rose (2014, 2010)

Lebron James(2012, 2008, 2006)

Bill Russell (1956)

 

RJ Hampton will wear #8 which has been worn by:

Harrison Barnes (2016)

Deron Williams (2012)

Carmelo Anthony (2004)

Scottie Pippen (1992)

Recruiting Q&A with Marvens Petion

We at texasboysbasketball.com got the chance to talk to 2019 forward Marvens Petion. Petion has impressed the staff over the past five months as we are seeing him scratch the surface of his potential.
AU: What motivates you?
MP: I was born and raised in Haiti and I just want to make it and help my mom.”

AU: What parts of your game has seen improvement?

MP: My jumper has improved and my overall perimeter game has gotten better. I still need to work on it but I feel that I have gotten better.

AU: What offer/ interest do you have?
MP: I know Tulsa, Mississippi, Wichita State and LA Tech has been interested
AU: What part of your mental game has seen improvement?
MP: Keeping focus after missing a shot  and having a short term memory. I need to be able to forget about the miss and keep my confidence fine.”
AU: What do you want to prove by then this summer?
MP: I wanna prove to everyone who’s doubted on me that I am a better teammates who’s always gonna tell you to keep shooting after you missed 15 shots and I wanna prove to everyone my game is on a new level right now.
New level is what Petion can prove as the July live period is a little over a month away. The 16th ranked player in our 2019 class is still an under the radar player in the 2019 class that we will continue to keep track as his recruitment heats up in the upcoming months.

Memorial Day (GASO Day 3)

The finish line was in sight for teams that made it to Monday’s play as the Semi’s and championship games went on at the Advantage Sports Complex for the GASO. The two main NBA Division Championship winners were Centex Lockdown as they defeated Lone Star Elite and Texas Impact 4:13 who beat Urban DFW.

Centex Lockdown vs Lone Star Elite

Lockdown got on a early run and secured a 5-8 point lead for most of the game until the middle of the second half, where they broke away with the game.  2018 Luke Hamilton continued to be a threat from the perimeter as he had 17 points  and overall averaged 20 points on Monday.  2017 PF Dayante McClellan played strong inside and added 18 points in the championship game with a double double avg of 16 points, 11 rebounds on for the day. Lone Star Elite kept battling and made runs during the game that looked like they would take control, but ran out of gas in the second half and got out played. 2018 Addison Wallace  had a solid performance with 12 points as he displayed the ability to finish in traffic and 2018 point guard LaQuan Butler got in double figures as well as he was aggressively looking to attack the zone.

Texas Impact 4:13 vs Urban DFW

This game had much anticipation, but got out of hand early as Texas Impact defeated Urban DFW 77 to 45. 2018 Xavier Bryant, stepped up in his matchup against 2018 Kennedy Milton and was able to get where he wanted on the floor and on defense, disrupted what Urban’s guards wanted to do. 2018  Jaylen Walker made a living on put backs from back-side rebounds as he had his strongest performance this weekend with 17 points to go with double digit rebounds. 2018 Kaden Archie contributed 15 points and although forced shots inside, got inside and had scoring spurts. 2018 forward Braden Bell produced 10 points, and Bell gave steady contributions all weekend for Urban on both ends of the floor.

Player Notables

Kevin McCullar, 2019 SG – YIIS: McCullar was the leading scorer for YIIS with 10 points in the semifinal game against Centex Lockdown as his aggressive play created opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Samuel Williamson, 2019 SG – Texas Impact 4:13: Williamson offensive production was very solid as he averaged 15 points on Monday. He scored in a variety of ways and competed on defense when matched up with Kaden Archie.

Jason Bush, 2018 CF – ProSkills Black: Bush played bigger than his 6’5 size in the paint and played tough inside against Texas Impact. He kept the play alive, scored inside and out which resulted in a near double-double

Nigel Jons, 2019 C – YGC36: It’s good to see when a big man has a game where it seems that he is starting to get it and that is the case for Nigel Jons performance against Lone Star Elite. His activity inside on both ends was a big boost for his YGC36 team although they fell short in overtime by two points.

Grant Sherfield, 2019 PG – YGC36: Sherfield continue to show his ability to score from the perimeter and seeing that he was fighting through some nagging pains, Sherfield still made big plays down the stretch and got his teammates involved in the offense.

Vincent Lee, 2018 PF – Lone Star Elite: Lee scored well on the block and was respected with double teams when he had the ball in the post. Against YGC36 he contributed 14 points in the win and was active on the glass.

Carson Hughes, 2018 SG – 3D Empire: Hughes was coming off screens and knocking down threes. He had 20 points against Urban DFW in the semifinals and gave headaches to whoever was guarding him as they had to chase him and go through several off-ball screens ran for Hughes.

Darrius Whittington, 2020 PG – Basketball Means More: Whittington is a player that our staff has been on for a year and his performance against Dallas Razorbacks was impressive as he defended and was efficient on offense. Whittington had five assists and got in positions to make a play.

Ronald Harelston, 2019 G – Houston Superstars: Got another chance to see Hareslton play and he has a chance to be really good once he fine tunes his game. An athletic guard that rebounded and played with intensity. Harelston will be a player we at Texasboysbasketball.com will continue to look at.

 

 

Memorial Day (GASO Day 2)

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

 

 

Recruiting Q&A with 2018 JyDonn Griffith

Texas Boys Basketball got the chance to talk to 2018 (Lewisville HS) big man JyDonn Griffith as he talks about the recruiting process and the schools that are on him.

AU: What offers and interest do you have?

JG: I have an offer from Old Dominion and interest from La Tech, Texas Rio, and New Hampshire but the school that has shown the most interest in me is Old Dominion as they have been in contact with me everyday.

AU: How much do you hear from the other schools?

JG: I hear from La Tech, Texas Rio Grande and New Hampshire about three times a week.

AU: When do you plan on making your decision?

JG: I definitely want to make my decision before AAU season starts next spring

AU: How is your experience with the recruiting process?

JG: The recruiting process has boosted my confidence and will to get better. Seeing schools have interest in me makes me want to go harder and attract the attention of more schools.

AU: What part of your mental game do you believe has seen improvement?

JG: The part of my mental game that has improved is never to give up no matter what the situation is.

AU: What do you want to prove by the end of the summer?

JG: By the end of the summer I want to prove that I can play high level college basketball and be successful in it.

Griffith has been steady developing and is a top 40 player in our 2018 state rankings and we will continue to track Griffith’s recruitment. Check texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @TXboysbasketball and @ani_umana

 

Tyreek Smith Talks Early Offers, Summer Goals

Walking into Triple A Academy’s gym for Hoop DFW’s Esssential Camp, the first thing I see is this player rising above the rim for a dunk after securing a rebound. There I first saw 2019 Tyreek Smith and throughout that weekend, he showed what type of player he had the ability to if or when he put it all together.

Progress is Smith’s daily focus, as he wants to improve each day to reach his goal.
“I wake up everyday and work towards getting better than the day before so that I can put myself in position to provide a better life for my Mother and younger sister!” Smith said. “If I do my part, God will make a way for that.”

“My mentality is also totally different from a year ago. Now it’s simply give it my all and play with high energy every second that I am on the floor. I use to hit mental walls when I first started playing, but I’ve overcome that and able to digest more about the game even when I’m fatigued.”

Smith has shown improvement as a scorer on the perimeter and is able to stretch the floor on the offensive end. He credits his coach and mentor Hellion “Boog” Knight for his development.

What also has grown is Smith’s offer list as he gets used to the recruiting process this year.

“Currently, I have offers from TCU, Texas A&M, University of Louisiana at Lafayette,and SMU. As of right now it’s still pretty much a even level playing field as far as who’s been on me the most.”

“The recruiting process is new to me. I can’t lie, it’s exciting as well knowing there are people who think that much of me to offer to pay for my college education. I just have to keep working.”

Smith’s focus is to win and be known as a winner. Playing for Houston Hoops 17U team in the EYBL, Smith’s makeup and skill-set as has the staff intrigued on what he can be in the future.

“By the end of summer I want to prove that I am a winner! I play to win! I want everyone to respect me and my game as a player who leaves it all on the floor every game and just simply to maximize getting better everyday!”

 

Stock Riser: Kaden Archie talks Recruitment, Recent Play

It seems that every class has a late bloomer that makes a big rise in his junior or senior year and for the 2018 class in Texas, Kaden Archie is that player.

TBB got the chance to talk to the 2018 guard who has received offers in the past two weeks from Texas Tech, Texas, SMU, LSU, Oklahoma State and more.

“They all have been on me pretty hard all trying to sell their program to me so hopefully I can set a couple of unofficials and go deeper and depth,” Archie said ” There all just coming in at once and it’s overwhelming but exciting and I’m grateful and blessed this is what I always wanted but now I’m just taking my time and evaluating all the schools.”

On the growth of his stock, Archie mentions hard work and working with a purpose as the key to his improvement.

“Hard work there’s really no secret to it for my improvement. just being hungry and doing every drill with a purpose,” Archie said. “I’ve improved my handle and jump shot as those were definitely the part of my game I put the most emphasis on and it’s starting to show  that I’ve been working on it.”

On what motivates Archie

“The people who doubted me some people didn’t think I can compete on a high level consistently and some people just looked past me.”

Archie will see a rise in our rankings as he is showing parts of his game that we see will translate to the next level. We will have updates on Archie’s recruitment so check texasboysbasketball.com on news and notes.

By: Ani Umana

GASO April 28-30 Recap

The second weekend of the live period has just finished up and this weekend we were in Duncanville for the Great American Shootout. What players followed up a strong performance from the last live period weekend? What players showed us something new to their game? Who helped their stock from this weekend? Below is our top players from the GASO.

Robert Brown, 2018 PF – All 4 Sports Dream Team: Brown avg. a close double-double in the games we saw. Played with a high motor and competed on both ends.  It was good to see him back in TX.

Jock Hughes, 2018 G -All 4 Spors Dream Team: Hughes fills the stat sheet and in his game against F.I.R.M, he had a all-around strong performance in the scoring, rebounding and assist category. His all-around game stood out.

Xavier Bryant, 2018 PG – Texas Impact 4:13: Bryant’s play was impressive as a floor general as he consistently made the right plays on the court. He had a strong showing last weekend and continued his grand play at the GASO especially in his game against 3D Empire.

Samuell Williamson, 2019 SG – Texas Impact 4:13: Williamson is showing to be one of the top guards in his class in Texas. Offensively he was efficient and creating good shots for himself and is a key factor for Texas Impacts success.

DJ Thorpe, 2019 PF – TJ Ford: Thorpe impacts the game inside on both ends and in his team’s night game, he posted 22 points to go with 14 rebounds. Thorpe helped himself this weekend with his play.

Uche Dibiamaka, 2018 G – Stackz Elite: Uche is a physical guard that attacks the lane and finishes inside with contact. Dibiamaka showed his skill set last weekend at the Lonestar Invitational and at the GASO he continued his strong play.

Garret Wilson, 2019 G – TJ Ford: Wilson gets hot quick on offense. Against RM5 East in the semis on Sunday, Wilson had spurt of 10 straight games in the comeback win. Overall, Wilson played well on both ends and was key to leading his team to the championship game this weekend.

Grayson Carter, 2018 PF – Dallas Showtyme: Carter looked sluggish in spurts but overall, looking at his play the last two weekends, Carter had very solid outings. He made some key shots from the perimeter on Saturday and showcase his inside and outside offensive game.

Jordan Phillips, 2018 SF – Dallas Showtyme: Phillips in his game against Texas Impact showed his presence on the offensive end especially in the first half as he attacked the basket and his jumper was on. Phillips showed to be a willing passer and got his teammates involved but he still looks have a lot more in his tank if or when consistency shows up.

Grayson Early, 2018 SG – Blueprint: Early was shooting the ball well and he put up solid numbers each game offensively and defensively he did a solid job moving laterally. Early stock has seen a steady rise in the past few months.

Efe Odigie, 2018 PF – Houston Hoopstars: Odigie is a handful inside and scored inside efficiently all weekend and he takes what the defense gives him on the block. Odigie’s consistent play was good to see.

CJ Weathers, 2018 F – RM5 East: Weathers was a player last weekend that struggled to get a flow on the offensive end last weekend at the LoneStar Invitational but this weekend it seemed like it all came together as he scored at 50% from the field and showcased versatility on both ends. His play against Houston Topguns and TJ Ford caught my eye.

Ajare Sanni, 2018 G – Sanni Hoops: Sanni scores and scores in bunches. Led his team to a championship this weekend with 31 points against TJ Ford Austin and Sanni showcased his high level scoring ability this weekend.

Kristian Sjolund, 2018 F – Shooting Stars Red: Sjolund shot the ball well from the perimeter. Sjolund on Saturday compiled two strong games and against Sanni Hoops put up a double-double.

Jamal Gaines, 2018 PF – 3D Empire: Gaines extended his range from three and shot the ball from the perimeter at a high percentage. Gaines motor on both weekends was great to see and in Duncanville he continued to showcased his versatility.

KJ Pruitt, 2020 G – Seawolves: Pruitt did a good job holding his own playing in the 17U division. The lefty has good size and was aggressive attacking the basket. His Friday night game and Saturday morning games, Pruitt was impactful  in the Seawolves wins.

Samuel Onwu, 2021 C – Yes II Success: Onwu controlled the paint defensively in YIIS three wins this weekend. Onwu is a big with a high motor and protects the paint well. For an 8th grader, Onwu made an impact in the NBA Division of the GASO.

 

(College coach report/evaluations 

By: A. Umana

Edited: AB

Family Motivation: The David Nzekwesi Story

I got the chance to talk to 2018 David Nzekwesi and the forward from Netherlands has seen his offer sheet rise with Lamar, Abilene Christian, New Hampshire, Oral Roberts, Rice and Air Force in a span of ten days.

Nzekwesi talks about what motivates him and the key component to his continued developments.

“I believe that God is a major part of my development because without him nothing is possible.  I just want to thank my coaches and family supporting me through this process because it really isn’t easy moving continents money wise,” Nzekwesi said. ” I’m just so thankful that my mom is keeping me right and always happy and positive and she is what drives me because I don’t want her to come out of pocket for college.”

His impressive play at Byron Nelson this year caught a couple of coaches eye especially after posting an 20 point, 20 rebound game against Richardson, where he got four offers within 24 hours afterwards which included North Texas, UT-Arlington, Stephen F. Austin and Texas State.

Nzekwesi goal is to not be a under the radar player in his class, but to be in the top of his class this time next year.

“I want to be considered a top 10 player in my class in Texas and I know I have the ability to show that, Nzekwesi said. “I don’t like doing anything if I’m not first or considered one of the best so I continue to work hard to show my worth.”

Nzekwesi plays for Triumph in the Adidas Silver division and we will continue to follow Nzekwesi’s recruiting and his breakdown of his top schools in the upcoming months. Follow us on Twitter @Txboysbasketball and @ani_umana for news and updates and check texasboysbasketball.com for content!

By: Ani Umana

Edited By: AB

Adidas Uprising Recap

Parking was limited, fans, players and college coaches a plenty on each court as the Adidas Uprising began its first stop in Dallas. The live period in grassroots basketball allows players to make a name for themselves and gain a offer. Here are our top Texas players from the first stop of the Adidas Gauntlet.

Jae Ledee, 2018 F, Texas Pro: LeDee had 15 points in his team’s win vs D1 Minnesota and avg 14 pts, 7 rebs in four games. He showcased his offensive versatility and was physical inside.

Kendric Davis, 2018 PG, Texas Pro: Davis ran the point well this weekend for Texas Pro. Quick with the ball and scores when needed.

Kaden Archie, 2018 SG, Urban DFW: Archie wanted to make a statement this weekend and he did just that. Averaged 17 pts, 4 rebs and 2 assists a game. Not just offensively but defensively he played very well.

Kennedy Milton, 2018 PG, Urban DFW: Milton, scoring wise couldn’t seem to get a consistent flow going, but he impacted the game in other ways such as on defense and setting up his teammates for open shots.

Charles Bassey, 2019 PFYIIS: Bassey was very influential in Yes to Success 4-0 record in Dallas. His presence inside on both ends make him tough to contain and he showed why he is the top of his class. Against 22 Vision, he had 23 points on 90% shooting.

Ousmane Ndim, 2019 C-YIIS: Ndim growth as a player is showing. Having solid outings in each game he played and his shotblocking abilities altered shots.

Samuel Chaput, 2018 PG-YIIS: Chaput shot the ball at a high percentage this weekend at 68%. Chaput is a 2018 guard to know.

Grant Sherfield, 2019 PGYGC36: Sherfield avg 22 points this weekend and every matchup, Sherfield seemed to step up when they needed him too.

Jalen Wilson, 2019 G-YGC36: Wilson played with a high intensity and offensively he scored inside and out. Wilson against New World had 18 points & 4 rebounds in the win.

Brock Cunningham, 2018 F-Urban ASAK: Cunningham showcased why he is recognized as one of the top forwards and players in general in his class. In the four games, he averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds. His shot was on and off but Cunningham got good looks and plays with a high IQ.

Darius McBride, 2019 SG-Urban ASAK: McBride played multiple positions on offense and defense and contributed. Solid athlete that can fill the stat sheet.

Greg Brown, 2020 F-Basketball University: Brown held his own as a freshman playing in the 17U as he averaged a double-double this weekend. Brown has a chance to be a special player.

Quentin Grimes, 2018 G-Basketball University: Grimes offensive game wasn’t as efficient as normal but still effected the game in other ways. In his second game, Grimes shot was on and had over 20 points in win vs Ohio Basketball Club.

Complete 94′ Sunday Top Players and Notes

 

At the Complete 94′ hosted by Hardwork, Saturday showed our staff that there is a lot of talent in the San Antonio/Austin area. On Sunday, the play from the underclassmen caught our eye. Here are our top performers from Sunday and some notes from the weekend overall.

Anderson Kopp, 2019 SG-Houston Defenders:  Kopp shot the ball well from deep. He made four threes in his first game on Sunday and Kopp intensity on both ends of the floor is influential to his team’s success.

Cameron Cohn, 2019 G-Houston Defenders: Cohn showcased what he does best and that is knock down perimeter jumpers. Cohn was efficient in his games today and He showed why he is one of the top guards in his class in Houston.

Kalib Boone, 2019 F-Oklahoma PWP: Boone plays with a lot of energy and we like that. His presence in he paint on both ends was critical for PWP’s success on Sunday.

Jahmius Ramsey, 2019 G- Hardwork: Ramsey had strong performances on Saturday and that continued on Sunday. A player that is primed for a big live period showing and one of the top guards in Dallas for 2019.

Jalen Jackson, 2019 PG-Hardwork: Jackson did a good job managing the floor. Avg at least five assists in the games we watched him play and Jackson continues to be effective on both ends.

Hayden Hefner, 2020 SG-Houston Defenders: Hefner had a seven point stretch where he showcased his overall game with a dunk on a drive to the baseline, a layup and a three pointer. Against BMM, he had 14 points.

Quevian Adger, 2020 F-BMM: Adger against the Houston Defenders made big plays in the second half and overtime. He was in attack mode on offense and was able to get to the rim. Adger finished the game with 18 points, with 12 coming in after the first half.

Caleb Lohner, 2020 F-BMM: Lohner again impresses. His versatility on offense allows BMM to go mix and match on lineups. Lohner’s play this weekend opened some eyes.

Bryce Thompson, 2020 G- Oklahoma PWP: Thompson makes another appearance on our recap and in his first game he scored 32 points in his team’s close win. Thompson got hot in spurts and had stretches where it looked like he couldn’t miss.

 

Miller Kopp Continues to Shine for Houston Defenders

Kopp had quality performances in his games on Sunday and is looking to make a climb in our rankings. He scored well and showed toughness on the boards. Kopp’s stock can see a rise this spring/summer.

Inside Presence for Yes II Success

The front-court of 2018 James Jean-Marie, 2019 Charles Bassey & Ousmane Ndim make life tough for players to score in the paint and allows YIIS to get more points in the paint. Jean-Marie plays with a lot of energy and is versatile on both ends. Ndim is becoming a viable option on the block and protects the paint well and Bassey has the ability to dominate games especially when he is locked in and aggressive with the ball.

Oklahoma PWP Backcourt Impresses

2018 Keyshawn Embery & Trey’Von Hopkins form a potent backcourt for PWP as Embery showed the ability to score in bunches and Hopkins showcased his athleticism and shot making abilities. When both of them are clicking and on the same page, that’s when PWP is at its best. Embery and Hopkins are at the top of their class in Oklahoma.

 

RCS Spring Ice Breaker College Coaches’ Report

RJ Hampton, 2020 PG - Texas BU Nation: Hampton scored in bunches but took plays off on defense. Didn't move well laterally and didn't rotate well on defense. Hampton showcased high level scoring ability and a good feel for the game wasn't engaged on defense. Souleymane Doumbia, 2018 C - Basketball University: Doumbia activity on the glass ... Read more

Paris JC College Coaches’ Report

Abrian Edwards, SO 6'5 Wing: Decent athlete that attacks with both hands but prefers to go left. Solid driver with body that competes. Strong rebounder at his position. Mid Reggie Tharp, FR 5'10 PG: 1/2 guard that Attacked and finished at the basket with his left hand. Has a solid stroke from the perimeter but ... Read more

Kilgore College Coaches’ Report

Chad Bowie, FR 6'3 PG:Questionable decision maker in traffic. Made plays in open court. Started to show aggression on defense. LM+ Pernell Apgei, SO 6'7 PF: Forward that does a good job running the floors in transition. Hedges well on screen and able to switch from time to time. Samory Gueye, FR 6'9 F: Gueye ... Read more

TJC College Coaches’ Report

Eden Ewing, SO 6'8 PF: a long explosive skilled forward that gets off the floor quick and uses length to impact game on both sides. HM- Tiandre  Jackson, FR 6'4 G: High Explosive guard that rebounds well for position. Solid finisher inside. Mid minus - Mid +. Trent Sandifer, FR 6'7 Wing: Forward with decent ... Read more