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BATTLE OF I- 35 PART 2

SAN ANTONIO JOHNSON VS AUSTIN WESTLAKE RECAP

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

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

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

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

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

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

AUSTN WESTLAKE’S LATE SURGE STOPS UPSET BID

 AUSTIN WESTLAKE VS SA O CONNOR RECAP

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

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

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

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

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

THE SHOT HEARD DOWN 35

 AUSTIN BOWIE VS SAN ANTONIO CLARK RECAP

Playoff time!!! Round 3 you get to see the best of the best go head to head most of the time. In this case you have 2 solid teams. Coming in with a talented senior class is Austin Bowie. They come in after knocking off district champion Judson in the previous round so they come in confident. They have one of the best shooters in the state in Army signee Coleton Benson to go along with some good size at other positions. They were up against a solid SA Clark group; the district 28 champs.  Clark comes in on a high after beating Hutto Thursday night in a tight game. Clark features guards ’21 Daylon Whitlock and ’22 Jordan Mason and’21  El Emerllahu who can score and make plays so it had the makings of a strong matchup with several college prospects on the floor.

Austin Bowie has a solid backcourt. To go along with the before mentioned Benson is 6’5 LD Butler. Butler was solid throughout in this one making plays, slashing and scoring around the rim. But as mentioned earlier; Benson being one of the state best got off to a hot start. Showing his ability to shoot it from deep on a couple of them. On display was how well he moves without the ball. The 2 combined for 14 of the teams 18 1st qtr points.  

Clark has several players who can score it and one of them is senior El Emerllhau. His versatility with his size and skill set poses a problem for teams to match up. He showed his 3 point range, mid range and ability to put it on the floor some. Also in on the early scoring was wing ‘ 21Will Harris. Harris scored it in multiple ways early moving without it and getting some easy looks at mid range and the hit from 3. At the end of 1 Bowie led by 6.

In the 2nd qtr some solid adjustments were made on both ends defensively to slow down each teams strengths. Bowie countered with some solid minutes by Branden Myart and some strong play inside by Nathan Thompson. Thompson (10pts) had a relatively strong game inside on the glass and rim protecting. Showed soft touch at the elbow as well.

For Clark ’22 Jordan Mason settled in and made some solid plays creating some easy ones for his teammates and also scoring the ball himself. A point guard with good size and handle, put a lot of pressure on defenders. Had a solid game rebounding the ball as well. 

In the 3rd SA Clark came out of the half and turned up their defensive intensity. They also matched Bowie’s size with some of their own. ’22 Jakobi White was a big part of this spark . Good length and bounce to go along with a good motor allowed him and others to make plays leading to a huge momentum shift. The biggest adjustment was ’21 Dalen Whitlock and his defensive assignment on Benson. His length and activity helped disrupt some of what Bowie wanted to do and it helped Clark take the lead. Bowe was held to 7pts in the 3rd. Most of those points came by way of Butler (13pts) for the game. Knifing his way in traffic and also being active with his length helped stop some of the bleeding.

With Clark now leading by 2 going into the 4th and each possession mattered; they put the ball in Mason’s hand and he delivered in a big way. Multiple times he was able to get by defenders and hit mid range pull ups. On the opposite end with all the attention on Benson, Nathan Thompson stepped up and had a few key buckets to help keep it close. But again Mason made a play at the rim. Going back and forth to include several empty possessions by both teams a big bucket by ’21 Will Harris on the baseline put Clark up 2 and then Coleton Benson 12pts) responded with 2 of his own on a layup to tie it.

A couple more bucket exchanges set the stage; with Bowie having the ball they came up empty on a go ahead opportunity and Clark held it for 1 last possession. A timeout was called with 8.9 secs left and Jordan Mason(14pts) got the entry in the back court, dribbled up the right side and went by the initial defender and crossed over to the left elbow and raised up before the defenders could get there an hit the game winner .  SA CLARK 48 AUSTIN BOWIE 46

We’re back with a second edition of Ani’s Anatomy and although I drove over an hour long in traffic, the games were worth the drainage of miles. Let’s examine and dissect. 

Head

Was a 6A doubleheader in Forney High School for the first round of the UIL State Playoffs. The first contest consisted of a highly anticipated matchup between Richardson vs Desoto. Side-note: Although I don’t partake in any Twitter squabbles, I did enjoy looking at the back & forth jawing between the students of both programs and that honestly generated added excitement for me to this game. Any-who, back to the players. Richardson sealed the game at the end as the super sophomores of Cason Wallace & Rylan Griffen put on their capes and made clutch plays down the stretch. 

The second tilt was between Longview and Waco Midway with the Panthers pulling out a 62-54 win vs the Lobos. Big offensive contributions from 2020 duo Anthony Scott and UIW Signee Gods Gift was instrumental in Waco Midway being able to keep marching on. 

Eyes

Definite eye opener for me in regards to senior Tavion Carroll of Desoto. A 4-Man with offensive versatility that displayed a sound inside/out game. Size fused with skill & strong frame makes him a player that holds a translatable skill-set. 

Chest

I don’t know if it’ll be a continuing theme for me to get something off my chest but here goes another one.

2021 Duncan Powell provided a double-double for Desoto. His size, strength, rebounding instincts and capabilities as a stretch guy was showcased but Duncan physically was a man amongst boys and didn’t consistently impose his will in the paint. In stretches he settled for contested jump-shots and albeit knocking down a few, I felt that Duncan should’ve exploited the size mismatch he had all game. One of the top forwards in the ‘21 class, In knowing Duncan, he will be using the lost as fuel for a strong club season.

But getting something off my chest isn’t always me critiquing. Midway’s Caden Powell is intriguing. Having grown what seems like 7 inches in the past year, the staff knows his best basketball is ahead of him. Did he make a huge Impact in this game? No. But he did show some toughness out on the floor and made small instinctual plays that we believe will pop-out once his game grows.

Heart

No denying how much heart ‘20 Anthony Scott possesses. He leaves it all out on the court. Having a sense of urgency to keep the opposing guards in front of him, coming victorious in 50/50 ball scenarios and fearless enough to attack and finish at the rim against big-time length. Let’s not forget, he’s only 5’9. Size isn’t ideal in regards to next-level play but we believe Scott will figure out how to niche a role with his translatable speed, toughness and just his strong intangibles. 

Generally the point totals catch the eyes of the audience but what really impressed me with Cason Wallace was his rebounding. The staff here at TBB loves guards that rebound and Cason fought amongst the trees Desoto possesses and secured a multitude of rebounds. We also saw him numerous times fighting post players for position on the block and forcing them into tough, contested shots and honestly, that shows a lot of heart in my opinion. 

Elbow 

Every time I saw George Mason Signee Malik Henry sky for a rebound, his elbows appear to be above the rim. Henry’s ability to get to the apex of his jump quickly allowed him to secure a plethora amount of rebounds, modify shots around the basket and excel in a clean-up duty role after recovering miss shots and finishing it with dunks. 

Continuing to talk about elbows above the rim, ‘21 Chrisdon Morgan for Desoto utilized his length to snatch rebounds and alter shots. The next 12months will be a big one for Morgan because he still hasn’t put the pieces together yet but slowly, the picture has started to form. I believe he’ll have a Jonathan Sanu’ish type year where his recruitment will heavily pick-up during his senior yr with coaches searching for a bouncy big with plus length. We’ll take a look back at this article in a year and hopefully I look more like a fortune teller than a dummy. 

Hands

Oooooohhhhhweeeee Rylan Griffen had the hot hand in Richardson’s win. The standout guard finished with 29pts and he showcased his ability as a 3-level scorer. Connected on shots from beyond the three point arc, exhibiting a nice mid-range game & finishing in traffic when the lanes were present. Griffen is a no brainer top 5 player in his class and it showed on Monday night. 

Toes

Richardson kept their toes down as they weathered the early storm Desoto casted on them. Earlier we talked about the dynamic duo of Cason Wallace and Rylan Griffen but it was the last two minutes that was the most telling. They went on their own 14-2 run in the last two minutes of the game in which the match was tied 49 all. The old adage goes ‘Big time players make big time plays’ and that’s what those boys did in the crunch time of the playoffs. 

The school season is in its final stages as it’s playoff time in the Lone Star State. In the first ever edition of ‘Ani’s Anatomy’ I hand out my thoughts through a competitive contest between Ischool & Universal Academy in which there was no shortage of recruitable prospects on hand. 

The Head

As UIL playoffs loom and a day where the seniors were honored by their respective home crowds, one of the headlined matchups in the DFW on Tuesday night  featured two of the premier teams in the area. The first go-around needed 6 quarters to peg a winner as Ischool secured a victory. This second tilt required one overtime as Universal Academy held on for a 65-61 win. Assistants from St. John’s & Dallas Baptist we’re in attendance.

Shoulder

A group of players helped shoulder the load for Universal as 2020 Kylil Anderson led the way with 16pts as he attacked in the open court and finished through contact. Junior Will Shepherd tallied 12pts and is a prospect that is showing a game that translates. A player worth tracking from now till summer’s end. 2021 post Shakiru Odenuwu provided 9pts 3blks and was the most impactful post-man tonight. “Shaq” as he’s called by his teammates has improved noticeably. Moving better, getting up and down the floor, utilizing size and generating gravity from the defense with every touch he secured on the block. The depth of big men in the ‘21 class isn’t very strong compared to previous years but a player like Odenuwu with a big frame and can pin his man deep on the block is intriguing. 

For Ischool, Indiana State Signee, Julian Larry shouldered the offensive load especially with 2020 Wing Quevian Adger in foul trouble. Finishing with floaters/runners over the outreach of the opposing big men. Julian‘s definitely has good feel as a passer, seeing the play develop before it develops and finding his teammates in stride. Will be a good piece for Greg Lansing.

Early scoring was provided by senior big man Austin Lewis. A stretch big that showcased touch around the rim and beyond the arc. An available player with legit size and promising skill. Also worth noting was 2020 Jay Wilson. A stocky forward that was mixing it up inside. Jay’s motor and toughness has taken a 180 and its equating to production. 

Chest 

I want to get this off my chest and the first part of the statement is fairly obvious. When it comes to pure talent, just the physical tools their equipped with, seniors JaQuan Scott (Universal Academy) & Quevian Adger (Ischool) can play at a higher-end division one level. 

Albeit Ischool & Universal Academy having only battled it out just four times…. ever, this game already has a rivalry feel to it. Intense crowds, the jawing back and forth amongst the players, the contests going down to the wire to decide a winner, so with that being said, I was looking for both players to impose their will. I left wanting more. 

Spurts was the theme here. As mentioned earlier, Quevian was in foul trouble and ultimately fouled out. First half was forgettable but was instrumental in a 9-0 run to start the 2nd half for the Cougars in which all 9pts were collected by him. A natural scorer from the perimeter that‘s one of the best one on one offense generators in the 2020 class. 

Scott just made plays here and there. Either that was finishing above the rim inside, skyrocketing for a rebound outside of his area, or attacking off the top of the key and producing a clean look. His broad frame combined with his athleticism and touch from 10-15ft out makes Scott a handful to guard inside. 

In hindsight, it’s one game and at this point I could guesstimate that I’ve seen both players perform 100x so Ive seen them at their best and at their worst but with the scholastic season in its “Curtain Call” phase I selfishly did want what could potentially be my last viewing of them to be memorable. 

A name that has seen a turbo charged up-stick in his rankings not only statewide but also nationally has been 2022 Arterio Morris. In-state programs such as Texas Tech, TCU, SMU, SFA & Texas A&M have offered as well as Big12 Powerhouse Kansas & #13 ranked Oregon. We caught up with the premier guard after leading Kimball to Regional Quarterfinal win vs Newman Smith

“I know last year they lost in the third round so I wanted to make sure we advance past this point and go win a state title.”

Arterio got on a roll early, connecting on two triples, unleashing his speed in the open court which either finished with him laying the ball up or finding his teammates in stride. Morris’ positional size, court vision mixed with shifty handle & explosiveness was on display Tuesday night. 

The Kimball guard talks about consuming the role as a leader and how it was something new for him. 

“It wasn’t a role I thought I would be in coming in my first year but I know the guys look at me when we really need to score,” Morris said. “I know they play off my motor so if I’m engaged, the team really gets going, if not, we don’t play as hard.”

As said earlier, Arterio’s recruitment saw a large spike in the past 4 months.

“I kinda was an unknown in my 9th grade year and now as a sophomore a lot of schools have shown interest and offered. I’m happy I’m able to show my game and people have taken notice.”

Morris talks about Memphis, Texas A&M, & Kansas. 

Texas A&M

Texas A&M reached out to my coach before the last game and wanted me to “ball out for the Aggies,” and that was some motivation but I feel like i did just that (Scored 36pts in 2nd Round game).

Kansas

Kansas reaches out to my coach a lot and they are a place I would like to go visit. They are #1 in the country right now and I could see myself playing there.

Memphis

They haven’t offered me yet but they have shown interest for a while. They send my coach pictures of their facility and their program. I want to go visit there and it would be great playing out there. 

Morris received news that he was invited to USA Basketball Mini-Camp this April during Final 4 Weekend and he talks to TBB about his reaction. 

“My mom actually ‘pulled up’ on me and told me. I didn’t think I would get an invite but she came up to me and told me that this is what my hardwork has turned to.”

It’s still too early to tell in regards to recruitment for Arterio. A to-this-day prediction is If Memphis makes a hard push they’ll definitely be near the top. Kansas and also In state programs such as Texas A&M, TCU & Texas Tech we foresee will be right there for Morris also. 

*Live Period news

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There’s no question about the talent ‘21 guard Jalen Lake possesses. Good positional size, length mixed with IQ & fluid perimeter stroke. 

In a premier matchup between two state ranked 6A programs last week, Jalen Lake’s 15pt 4blk performance vs Grand Prairie was beneficial in Waxhachie’s win. 

“My mindset was to come in aggressive and tough out the gate,” Lake said. “It showed on both ends today and we got the win.”

Jalen embraced the moment and constructed one of the most efficient and translatable games we’ve seen him orchestrate this season. Smoothness on his shot while showing versatility and a sense of urgency to make the right play was on display. 

Recruitment 

Lake offer sheet consists of UT Arlington, Troy, Buffalo & Oral Roberts. Belmont, Northwestern & Texas A&M have shown interests.

“Troy has been pursuing me pretty hard. They like my ability to shoot and they think I’m tough enough to play for them,” Lake said. “I plan on taking an official visit their after the season.”

“UTA also likes my ability to really shoot and think I’ve made strides in my ability to score off the bounce.”

The next 4-5 months will be very telling for Jalen as a consistent string of big-time performances could make Lake a priority for Power 5 Coaches. 

“I have to show more toughness and the ability to rebound. It’s big for me to make shots but also show other aspects in my game like my passing and ability to score off the dribble.” 

Waxhachie could make a big playoff push although the road to San Antonio contains a path of formidable foes on the way. We will keep track of Jalen’s performances along the way as he could hold a national label by summer’s end. 

I had a chance to catch up with ‘22 Austin Nunez at SA Cornerstone. Austin is an explosive guard who has been putting it all together lately.

Has the ability to put pressure on the defense off the dribble as well as knock down shots with his quick release and deep range. He is also coming into his own as a complete guard making good reads in multiple situations and getting others involved.

Austin talked about the daily workouts he and his team would have to do. “I have to make 300-400 shots daily from multiple spots so it’s really helped with my consistency. I have to focus more when I’m here, can’t take plays off, Coach Casey holds me accountable and makes me focus on details, I can’t take days off either.”

 We also had a chance to visit about the upcoming Spring and Summer grassroots season and what he is looking forward to the most.“

 “Getting back to work with my friends and teammates from other schools and also the travel. I look forward to traveling and playing against all of the good teams and players we see on the Under Armour Circuit.”

Austin’s recent play and potential has him on multiple Div 1 recruiting boards. He holds offers from multiple schools Texas, Texas A&M, Georgetown, Baylor, Memphis, Texas, LSU, TCU, UTSA, Wake Forest. Host of others who have serious interest.”

I had a chance to stop by and visit with ‘20 Jordan Wood about his season at SA Cornerstone Christian. Jordan is a 6’8 knock down shooter who has blossomed into a solid all around player.

He says his improved play is a result of the daily grind and practices he and his teammates would go through.

“Playing against and working with the high level caliber players on our team and on our schedule have helped me a lot. It has helped understand how to play faster and also the physicality it takes to play at a high level.”

Jordan created a lot of buzz for himself playing well in several events in Las Vegas and in the DC area. College Coaches have taken notice of his versatility of being able to play off the dribble with his size as well as knock down shots and rebound. As a result he has received some interest from some Pac 12 and Conf USA schools along with a host of others. He has been offered recently by Howard Univ, American and Tulsa.  He is set to visit Tulsa late February.

I’ve seen a spike in Colin Smith’s production & efficiency since the start of the new year as his sophomore campaign concluded with being instrumental in St. Marks capturing an SPC State Title. Smith has been playing at his own pace, knocking down shots from deep and showing defensive versatility. One of the top players in his class, Colin updates TBB on his recruitment.

Smith holds offers from Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, UCLA, Georgetown, Texas A&M, SMU, Stanford while as Purdue, Michigan & Florida State have sniffed around.

Smith has been on visits to Baylor and Oklahoma State but recently took visits to Stanford & Michigan.

“Stanford’s campus is beautiful. The coaching staff was great and I got to watch them come from behind and beat Oregon. Atmosphere was great and I can definitely get a quality education there.”

“Michigan had a couple players come for an official so I didn’t get to spend much time with the staff. The players seem to love playing for Juwan Howard and they are fun to watch.”

“I had a great time at Oklahoma State. I have a strong relationship with Mike Boynton and (Assistant Coach) Cannen Cunningham. Down to earth staff and it’s a real cool environment.”

“Baylor was fun. They are playing great right now and the best team in the country right now. They get the most out of their players.”
Kansas HC Bill Self came to a workout at St. Marks over a month ago.

“Coach Self was impressed when he saw me. Liked my IQ, athleticism and my ability to shoot. Great having a guy like him come to your gym.”

St. Marks’ academic standards are high and it’s very demanding academic institution. We asked Smith about how much academics will play a role in his decision.

“Obviously I want to go somewhere where the degree holds a lot of value but I don’t have to go to a high academic school either. St. Marks will prepare me to go anywhere in the country so it’s all a matter if it’s the right fit for me to play in.”

As mentioned earlier, Colin’s sophomore school season has come to a close and Smith has high expectations for the spring/summer period.

“I didn’t feel that I got to show all parts of my game last summer. I believe I’m one of the top players in the country and if I do my part it will be shown. I can score off the dribble, pass and make plays on both ends.”

It’s still too early to tell in regards where Colin will end up but we believe Stanford will be in the mix (Sidenote: Colin’s sister Leilah is a 2020 Stanford volleyball signee). Michigan, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Purdue (In which he’ll take a visit to Lafayette, IN in the next month or two) & Florida State, who has been in heavy pursuit as of late. A prospect with prototypical basketball frame and vertical athleticism, if Smith consistently brings it all together in the Spring, he will see an upward’s motion on his stock.

High flyer, explosive, dynamic. All descriptions of ‘21 Manny Obasekii’s game. A strong spring/summer followed by consistent production in the school season are reasons Obaseki is a National name. We caught up with Manny after Allen’s Win vs Prosper in which he had a 12pt 4th quarter to seal the win. 

“We were down in the first half and I wanted to take over in the 2nd (half) but at the same time let the game come to me,” Obaseki Said. “The defense was spread out so it allowed me to attack and make plays.”

In regards to his recruitment, two schools have been making a heavy push for Obaseki’s services and that’s Texas A&M & Oklahoma. 

The guard from Allen took an official visit to Norman and talks about his experience. 

“The visit was beautiful. The people there are very sweet and very genuine. They showed a lot of love on my visit and the coaching staff have told me over and over that i can come in and fill in the scoring role that will be missing when I graduate. The players are really cool and funny and I enjoyed hanging with them and hooped some with them as well. I loved it.”

OU currently has a DFW based point guard in De’Vion Harmon who’s starting for the Sooners and averaging 7.6ppg 2asts & 1.2 stls as a freshman. Manny talks about watching Harmon growing up and having the ball in his hands at Oklahoma. 

“You know it’s crazy because I used to watch him growing up in person, on Ballislife, Overtime and just seeing his name on social media. Now I’m in the situation where I can do the same things and potentially better. He’s doing good at Oklahoma and he gets to make plays and I feel that plays a role in me liking OU.” 

“Texas A&M have been very truthful with me I feel like. They emphasize love, work & trust… trust in one another and competing for same team goal,” Obaseki Said. “I’ve built a great relationship with the staff and they believe my skillset and my work ethic can take me to the next level.” 

Obaseki talks about having the mentality to play for a Head Coach like Buzz Williams. 

“I know you have to be tough minded to play for Coach Buzz (Williams) but I definitely can and one thing I loved when talking to Coach was that he genuinely cares not just what goes on the court but off it for me and my maturation. He preaches love, work and trust like I said before and I think A&M is a place I would definitely thrive in.”

Manny plans on taking an official visit to Texas A&M in the upcoming months but also has been hearing some from Texas Tech, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, TCU and Oklahoma State was in attendance at his game vs Prosper. He’s also recently received interest from Oregon, Ohio State, Depaul & UCLA. A decision potentially can come in the summer but realistically will arrive in the fall. We believe Texas A&M & Oklahoma are ahead of the pack at this stage but stay tune for news and notes on Texasboysbasketball.com

The Cream of The Crop has been a notable, annual event that We at Texas Grassroots Basketball have held for 6 years. 2020 marks the first year of the Southwest Edition in Kyle, TX as some of the top young players from the CenTex area manned the courts on Saturday.

Andre Starks, 2025 PG – Steele & Doble:  Andre had a solid day. Showed ability to score off the bounce. Showed ability to get by defenders and unleashing athleticism in space.

Cristin Good, 2025 PG – San Marcos: Savvy guard showed he could score it some. Good feel, creates space for himself with steady handle.

Jamie Vinson, 2024 Forward – St. Gabriel: Long arms, shoots it’s really smooth with a good clean release and rotation.

Cameron Walker, 2024 Forward – Bernal MS: Big Fella has a strong skill set to go along with his size . Moves well up and down the floor. Has good strong hands and overall just a solid all-around basketball player.

Kingston Fleming, 2025 PG – Luna Brennan: Kid can really play. Scored it all levels. Sees the floor well and makes good reads. HIGH IQ. Tons of play making ability along with getting others involved. Competed on deee defensive end as well. Got deflections and won 50/50 balls.

Ed Onwe, 2025 Wing: Huge Upside!! The lefty was efficient all day. Scored it multiple ways. Showed ability to put it on the floor and create for himself and others. Was solid on the Defensive end and rebounding as well.

Robert Conrad, 2025 PG – Cedar Creek: Real heady player who is crafty with the ball and attacked defenders frequently. Scored the ball from multiple levels.

Jaylen Brazzle, 2024 PG – Cele: Quick guard who shot pretty good at times during live action. Quick feet, solid defender.

Cam Cowgill, 2025 PG – Brennan: Solid, heady Player with a strong IQ and feel for the game. Sees the floor and makes good reads. Strong in ball screen situations. Good clean stroke.

Daniel Soukup, 2025 PG – Danville: Lefty who’s shifty and can create for himself and others. Shot it ok in a couple stretches. Good defender with quick feet and hands.

Karlon Hargrove, 2024 PG – Steele: Young man was on a mission.  Looked solid in drills and it transferred over into live action. Scored in bunches in a variety of ways. Quick off the bounce, got to his spots with relative ease.

Trent Medearis, 2024 PG – Hays: Really quick / fast guard. Can be tough on defenders in transition with his explosiveness. Finished around the rim and hit mid range shots.

Daryl Banks, 2025 Wing – Johnson HS: Nice size combo guard who scored it multiple ways. Looked good early on in drills and in games off the dribble.

Ora Williams, 2024 Forward: Big fella with extremely soft hands who finished well around the rim. Rebounded the ball strong as well. Played with a lot of confidence and was extremely vocal on defense.

Elijah Favela, 2025 Guard -Judson A School:  Scorer!!!! Had a solid day showing off his skill set. Was efficient from the perimeter. Scored it multiple ways during game action and showed ability to play through contact as well.

Roman Flores, 2024 PG -Jefferson MS:  High motor kid had a pretty good day overall.Scored it several ways. Was very aggressive on both ends trying to make things happen.

Hayes Pounds, 2024 PG – Penforth: Smart Heady player who can shoot it pretty good. Shot the ball well in drill action and knocked down several during live action.

Drew Basher, 2024 PG – Danforth: Had a pretty good day overall. Very aggressive and competitive. Won his share of 50/50 balls. Knocked down shots during live and drill action.

That’s right! another trip down I45 for me as I went to Jerabeck Athletic Center for the Christmas Crossover which is presented by RCS Sports, OTR Report & DFWHoops. Friday not only allowed us to see a good slate of games but also a strong look at a solid amount of TBB prospects. I analyzed four performances from the first day so let’s dive in and take a look. 

JaQuan Scott, 2020 PF – Universal Academy:

Stat-line: 20pts 15rebs 2blks on 64% shooting.

One of the top available prospects in the Lone Star State, JaQuan Scott orchestrated one of the best performances on Friday. He was aggressive on the offensive glass, rebounding through contact and finishing. When Scott is unleashing this combination of athleticism, motor & toughness inside, he shows he’s a no-brainer higher-end player. 

Recruitment: New Mexico State & St. Johns are ones almost actively recruiting JaQuan. Texas A&M have inquired.

Ja’Vier Francis, 2021 PF/C – Westbury Christian:

Stat-line: 21pts 19rebs 7blks on 81% shooting.

Whopping box-score stats by Francis as he was a terror on both ends. 7 blocks is a very impressive look but he made the opposition think twice of shooting it inside. His freakish length combined with big-time timing & quick bounce allowed him to consistently effect outcome of shots at the rim. Albeit possessing an improved offensive game, there still ways to go for Francis as an offensive player but what he does best right now translates. 

Recruitment: offers from TSU & SFA. Oral Roberts, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Houston & several others have shown interest. Recruitment will pick up heavily in next 4-6months

LJ Cryer, 2020 PG – Morton Ranch:

Stat-line: 32pts On 48% shooting.

Cryer utilized his quickness to get to spots on the floor and generate an clean look for himself. The turnover numbers weren’t ideal (4) but you can live with it as he provided a high-power scoring punch for the Mavs. The Baylor Bears received one of the upper echelon scoring guards in the country and we believe he has a chance to really thrive in Scott Drew’s System. 

Marcus Williams, 2020 2/1 CG – Dickinson:

Stat-line: 40pts 10rebs 6asts 3blks on 58% shooting.

Big-time performance for the Norther Colorado Signee. Knocking down contested shots off the bounce, unleashed his fluid athleticism in open court and was in pursuit of a rebound. Another item to note is his ability to get to the foul-line (7 for 10 from charity stripe) as Marcus embraces contact on drives and knew how to draw a foul. Williams has all the talent and potential to be 4-year contributor for the Bears. 

Our Central Texas Beat Writer Tim Littlefield gives college coaches a look at the available prospects in the 2020 class from the CenTex area. A slew of prospects with a translatable skillset are broken down. Take a look a read below.

Greg Brown, Wing – Vandergrift: ELITE ATHLETE. VERY EXPLOSIVE Finisher in transition. Runs the floor well, finishes well above the rim. Has expanded his game quite a bit. Has had some monster outings against some quality teams and some highlight reels to go along with it. Special player! Recently visited, Texas, Auburn and host of others.

Jordan Wood, 3/4 -Cornerstone: Currently has offers from Air Force, Navy, Army, Howard University amongst others. Can score it at all levels. Has been steady throughout the year so far. Garnering a lot of attention from several schools as the see his skill level and strength improving.

Journee Phillips, Wing- Wagner: 4 yr Starter, 18-19’ All State kid. High energy wing who excels in transition. Finishes at the rim strong; steadily improving perimeter game; Lock down defender. Has had some strong performances. Several Double Doubles under his belt; currently averaging 17ppg and8.2 rpg while being tasked to shut down opponents top players.

Will Carsten, Forward – Reagan: Averaging a double double. 18.7 ppg and 12 rpg. Continues to be one of the areas surprises. Has a college ready body and good hands; can score it inside with soft touch but can also play on the perimeter; Good athleticism has him in place to be a problem for oppositions all year.

Max Smith, Guard -Austin Anderson: Arguably the best shooter in the Region if not the state. Deep Range. Quick, clean release. Averaging 25ppg and 5 assist. Crafty with the ball to keep defenders honest. Had some huge games do far. Had 17 in the 4th and Hit game winner to open up District play a few nights ago.

Jalen Mangum, Guard – Harlan: Solid guard having a string senior campaign thus far. Avg 20 plus ppg to include a stretch of a couple 30 plus point performances and a 43pt game in the NEISD tournament .Can get to his spots; plays through contact; also can hit the 3. Also a good on ball defender.

Gabe Rayer, 3 / 4 -Vandergrift: Has posted several double doubles this year to form a solid duo with Brown. He is a Good size player gives his team options to score inside and out. Can shoot the ball from 3, also shows good athleticism to finish in and around the rim.

Braelon Seals, SG – Wagner: Come back to Wagner after a year away and brings some offense punch. Improved game the bounce, getting to his spots and can shoot it from deep. Currently at 36 % from 3. Overall averaging 15ppg, 4 assist and 4 rebs a game.

Kino Rodriguez Thompson, Guard – Warren: Has been solid for his group so fat this year. Avg 14.8, 5rebs 3 assist. Has shown ability to beat guys off the dribble and get to the lane pretty consistently.

Breion Powell, Wing – Pflugerville Connally: Has been real solid so far this year. Avg 25 shooting. 51% from the field to include 44% from 3. He is a player who can score in multiple ways. Does most of his heavy lifting off the bounce , but can shoot it obviously from 3. Good athlete.

Nick Vann, Guard – Warren: Has been pretty good so fa this year, hitting timely shots and making plays. He is shooting 38%from 3pt range . -Heady guard , shifty .Consistent making reads to find open teammates or knocking down shots.

Elijah Conley, Wing- Taft: Really long kid. Shown ability to stretch the D with the ball. Can get to the rim and finish. Long arms blocks and alters shots.

Elijah Lomas, Wing – Harlan: High motor, blue collar wing scores it in multiple ways. Can beat you off the dribble, but can shoot it as well.

DeAuntre Davis, 4/5- Chilton: Good size player who has upside. Has been doing well . A strong presence inside with good footwork, can score it inside. Plays through contact. Has ability to face up and hit the mid-range. Good athlete who rebounds it. Had a stretch of games where he avg almost 23 points and 12 rebs.

Kyonte Holden, PG – Judson: Has been good for the Rockets all year. Solid pg. Good ball handler, High IQ, makes the right reads, leads his group along with improved shot making ability. Currently averaging 15.9ppg and shooting 32% from 3. Good defender.

Ambrose Johnson, Wing- Judson: Has really played well as of late. Averaging 14.3ppg. Knocks down shots from multiple spots on the floor. Has had games where he has hit multiple 3s.

Tanner Brown, Guard – Brandeis: High IQ savvy guard makes winning plays, competes hard on both ends and will knock down shots. Had a game of hitting 5 3s in a row. Shooting a solid 54% from the field; 45% from 3. 15.5ppg overall.

Rory Munro, Wing – Westlake: Crafty scorer. Can put it on the floor and get in traffic and finish or knock down open looks. Good size and length allows him to get to his spots and get shots off.

Kyle Schaefer, Wing – Brandeis: Can really shoot the ball with range. Strong build allows him to play through some contact and get good looks. Avg 16.4 a game and 42% from 3. Having a solid year for the Broncos.

Jacob Hester, Guard -Cedar Park: Currently averaging 14ppg . Hester is solid guard who had a strong spring and summer and has carried over into the regular season so far. He is tasked to do a lot for his teams success. Kid can really shoot it. Can come off screens, spot up or is crafty enough to get his own. Solid IQ.

Avery Euguster, Guard – St. Mary’s Hall: Has been on a roll. Had huge back to back tournaments at the South San and the SAISD Tournament against some top competition. Avery is making a ton of plays and filling up the stat sheet along the way. He is currently averaging 22.5ppg, 8.8 rpg 3.2 assist and 2.3 steals.

Ethan Walker, Wing – Austin Bowie: Solid shooter does a good job putting pressure on defense by spreading them out. Good clean release and shoots it for a good percentage. Size allows him to shoot over closing defenders.

Kyle Castille, Wing- Brennan: Is averaging 15 ppg and 7rebs. He is being asked to fill several roles for the Bears, but the Swiss Army knife is up to it.

Blake Spiller, Wing- Anderson: Good Shooter and a good athlete. Moves well with and without the ball. Scores it multiple ways, helps form a solid backcourt.

Carson Perkins, PG- Liberty Hill: Four year Starter. Solid guard who makes plays. Smart, shifty with the ball, knocks down open shots, finds open teammates. Competes hard.

Truett Hentzelman, Wing – Clark: Hentzleman has been solid throughout the year so for Clark. Going into district play he is averaging 14.5pts and 4.1 rpp. He has shown the ability to score in a variety of ways.

Romaelius Moore, Wing- Taft: Moore has been consistent for Taft this year and is a key reason for them having a winning record so far. His avg11pt, 5reb, 33% 3pt fg leads the team.

Ay’ Keen Richardson, Wing- Manor: Richardson has been steady. Averaging 10pts and 7 rebs on a talented Manor group. He has shown the ability to hit the 3 with good range and get to his spots off the dribble.

Spent some time last weekend at Houston Christian for the Stars & Stripes Showcase which was ran by Teddy Wheeler. Good competition, a solid amount of D1 talent and a couple names that we were able to add in our database. 

-Generally tougher for players to get up & be ready for morning battles but 2021 Tyler Pinder was laser focused tallying 45pts in RLTC’s win vs JL Academy from Australia

–Pinder scored primarily off the bounce, showcasing promising live-dribble game. 

-St. Thomas Episcopal took a commanding lead in the second half and defeated St. Andrews. STE was paced by the three headed guard monster of ‘21 JaKobe Flores (19pts), ‘20 Melvin Holloway (16pts) & Tyler Thomas (14pts). The trip made a combined 6 triples and knifed their way to the paint. 

-Was impressed by ‘21 Zion Granville of FB Christian. Lanky lefty forward with a quick first step. Definitely a collegiate prospect but needs to continue to polish skillset. 

-Junior Owen Larocca showcased his flamethrower of a jumpshot. Connected on six trey balls and showcased versatility as a shooter.

-For St. Thomas, albeit ‘23 Jake Pike’s box score stats not popping out, he showed some promise as a stretch 4-man with good IQ. We will continue to take a look at him going forward. 

-It was a dog-fight in the Universal Academy v Concordia Lutheran matchup. UA erased a 15pt deficit and captured the win. 

-‘21 RJ Keene was lights out from three. Showing extended range on his jumper with combination of size & quick trigger. Holds UIW & SFA offer. Hearing from Belmont, Princeton, Baylor, UNT, Roy, Lafayette, UTSA, RICE & Texas A&M, Santa Clara, BYU, Purdue, Illinois. 

-‘22 Adam Stewart showed some fight in the paint. Once he got the memo of the aggression of the game, he started rebounding, altering shots around the rim & finishing through contact. Utah State, BYU, UofH, Baylor, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Utah have reached out.

-For Universal, Freshman Ty Cox has to be in the conversation with best player in his class. He made shots from deep, competes on defensive end and is a solid decision maker. Cox has more than held his own vs a bevy of higher end opponents on the varsity level and currently averaging 17ppg for The Eagles.

-Seniors JaQuan Scott & Misiel Teklai also were influential in UA’s run. Scott started stringing points from 12ft in & Teklai connected from jumpers from deep. 

-Another dog-fightish contest was between Bishop Lynch & Houston Christian. Houston Christian secured the victory with the help of ‘21 Noah Kon (attack-dog mentality, getting to cup, defensive impact), ‘21 Kobe Haynes (playmaking & shot creation) & ‘20 Austin Smith (Good rebounding instincts, X-Factor). 

-For Bishop Lynch, ‘21 Imo Essien arguably had the one of the best performances on Saturday. Consistently able to hit open shots, broke down defender off the bounce and able to finish vs length. Imo has put his name in the conversation as best point guard in 2021. 

-Can’t take away what William & Mary Signee Jake Milkereit provides for Bishop Lynch. Shot the ball from deep and was the secondary ballhandler for the Friars. Jake has had a strong scholastic season thus far. 

-Cornerstone Christian ran away in their tilt vs Woodlands Christian.

-‘21 Christian Green has been coming to his own. Playing with motor, hunting for rebounds and being effective as a slasher. 

-‘22 Austin Nunez was very solid from the field. Hit a couple of triples, showcased athleticism in open court & craftiness as a finisher. 

-Sophomore Tre White struggled scoring with efficiency but he showed bounce back and finished the second half strong. 

-Junior Jerrell Colbert imposed his will as a rim protector. 11 blocks to go with double digit rebounds. 

-For the Woodlands, Senior Bakari Lastrap stood-out. Scored off the dribble, sees the floor, and holds a promising shooting stroke. 

-Austin Benigni is quick off the bounce. Showed ability to get the rim and provided consistent offense. 

-Westbury Christian defeated Crosby in the finale of Stars & Stripes. 

-‘21 Ja’Vier Francis showcased why he’s a high-end Division one prospect. Accomplished a triple double with a whopping 14blks. Receiving many calls on Francis. 

-Junior Chris Felix was steady as well. Showed solid intermediate game, plays defense with length. 

-2022 Sean Elkinton for Crosby had a strong night with a 16pt 11reb double double. High motor, embraces contact. Showed some inside/out ability. 

-Soph. PJ Haggarty was solid. Definitely can provide a scoring punch but couldn’t find a consistent rhythm. Still one of the most electric guards in 2022 class. 

Tim Littlefield provides us with a snippet of the top prospects in the Austin area

‘21 KJ Adams 6’7 PF – Westlake- Well Built!!! Can hurt you off the dribble attacking the rim. Strong body ,plays through contact and finishes well in traffic. Puts a lot of pressure on defense because he is a willing passer to open teammates. Improving mid-range game keeps the defense honest. Strong rebounder and finisher.

‘22 LaDarius King ‘22 – St Stephens – Savvy, quick guard who is solid with the ball. Solid in screen roll situations, makes good reads. Good quick release off the dribble or spotting up from 3.

‘21 Colton Benson 6’1 Guard Austin Bowie- SNIPER!!! Real quick clean release. Deep Range. Can get to his spots with good footwork and handle. Moves well without the ball as well. Has good feel and IQ for the game.

‘22 LD Butler, Guard – Austin Bowie – Good athlete who is quick off the dribble. At this best getting to his spots hitting mid- range or getting to the rim.

‘21 Noah Robledo, Wing – Leander- Really Long athlete- Excels in the open floor. Has ability to stretch the defense shooting the 3 , but can beat you off the dribble and get to the rim. Plays solid on interior with good footwork in post up situations as well. Good rebounder.

‘22 Chris Loofe, Forward – LeAnder – Intriguing. Long. Moves well in post. Shows good footwork and some ability to score it some inside.

‘21 Eain Mowat, PG- Westlake- Smart- High IQ guard who knocks down shots. Good with the ball, makes good reads, sees the floor and shoots it for a good percentage.

Tim Littlefield provides us with a snippet of the top prospects in the Austin area

Greg Brown, Wing – Vandergrift – ELITE ATHLETE.  VERY EXPLOSIVE Finisher in transition. Runs the floor well, finishes well above the rim. Expanding his game, can hurt you off the dribble and shooting it from 3. Solid defender and rebounder. Will contest and block shots with his length. Special player! 

Jamal Shead 6’1 PG – Manor – Do it all guard, Fills the stat sheet!!!  has elite court vision, Sees the floor and finds open guys or open attacks gaps with strong body and finishes in traffic. Does a good job playing through contact. Scores it at all levels; Solid mid -range game to compliment his quick 1st step. Puts pressure on offensive players with quick feet and hands. Strong rebounder from guard spot as well. 

Jordan Teal, CG – LBJ – Playmaker!!! Can beat you in a variety ways. Gets to the basket, scores it in traffic, finds open guys and knocks down open looks. Strong off the dribble. Tenacious defender!! Deceiving long arms gets a lot of deflections, quick feet to stay in front. Solid all-around player 

Kevin Jamison, C – St Stephen – Long wiry player who will alter or block a lot of shots on the interior. Improving post play makes him a threat on both ends.  

Max Smith, Guard – Anderson – Arguably the best shooter in the Region if not the state. Deep Range !!! Quick, clean release.  

Blake Spiller, SG  – Anderson – Good Shooter and a good athlete. Moves well with and without the ball. Scores it multiple ways, helps form a solid backcourt 

Carson Perkins, PG- Liberty Hill-four year Starter. Solid guard who makes plays. Smart , shifty with the ball, knocks down open shots, finds open teammates. Competes hard.  

DeAuntre Davis,  4/5- Chilton – Good size player who has upside. Good footwork, can score it inside. Plays through contact. Has ability to face up and hit the mid-range. Good athlete who rebounds it. 

Rory Munro, Wing – Westlake- Crafty scorer. Can put it on the floor and get in traffic and finish or knock down open looks. Good size and length allows him to get to his spots and get shots off. 

Mr. Tim Littlefield delivers Part III of his San Antonio report, this time with 2022&2023 class.

Tre White, Wing – Cornerstone – WOW!! Very explosive guard, Good size, can hurt you by scoring at all levels. Elite ability to get to his spots off the bounce. Committed to Kansas.

Vince Iwuchukwu, C/PF – Cole – Really coming on strong; Athletic, Long,
Good footwork, ability to score inside and out. Finishes at the rim High motor, rebounds and blocks a lot of shots. 

Austin Nunez, PG – Cornerstone – Ultra quick guard with a quick release. Shoots it clean from 3. Ability to play on and off the ball makes him a constant threat. Can beat you in a variety of ways. Can create for himself and others.

Xavier Martinez, PG – Churchill – Savvy guard who gets to his spots, can score or it or deliver it. High IQ.

Kendall Dow, PG – Johnson – Can score it at all levels. Smooth stroke, also sees the floor and makes the right reads. Puts a lot of pressure on defenders.

Richard Torres, Wing – Southside – Good size wing continues to improve. Has ability to score at all levels. 

William Nathaniel, Wing – East Central – Intriguing prospect. Wing who scores it at all levels. Very efficient with touches. 

Kevin Garcia, SF – Laredo Martin – Puts pressure on the defense with his size and ability to score inside and also step out from 3.      

Trey Blackmore, CG – Cole – Good size Combo guard who has the ability to score it. Good size allows him to get shot off in traffic. Sees the floor, has a good feel.

Xavier Kirk, Guard – Warren –  Glue guy who is improving. Strong, athletic, can score it. Real good defender who will give opponents problems.

Caleb Gaston, Wing – Cornerstone – Long wing who can shoot it. Lefty has a clean stroke, improved strength, becoming a good rebounder.

Chris Villareal, PG – McCollum – Quick savvy guard. Very competitive. Will take big shots; floor general.

Seth McCarty, SF – NB Canyon – Improved post play, foot work and rebounding. Will finish in traffic.

Aaron San Miguel, Guard – Jefferson – Long guard who can score it. Will be depended on for teams success.

Jordan Mason, PG – Clark – PG who has the ability to get to his spots and score or find open guys. Solid IQ.

Annaris Brandon, CG – Judson – Athletic wing who can score it at all levels. High motor, good defender 

Mason Wallace, Wing – Judson – Solid wing player who fills up the stat sheet.    

CLASS OF 2023

Kendrick DeLuna, C/PF – Cornerstone – Very intriguing big kid who can move around and give defenders problems with skill set. Can score it multiple ways. Really long

Santiago Ochoa, SG – Antonian – Solid IQ, Savvy guard who makes the right reads and puts pressure on defenders multiple ways. Good body, can score it. 

Matthew Soto, PG – Somerset – Plays the game with a lot of poise, Good IQ, Can really shoot it. Good court vision, gets to his spots.

Malik Pressley, Wing – San Marcos – Intriguing long wing will play a big factor for his team. Can score it at multiple levels. 

Kaden Gumbs, PG –  San Marcos – Quick guard who excels in the open floor. Can hit the mid range as well as 3. Good athlete, good defender.

Jaylen Gardner, PG – Cornerstone Regional – Deceptively long arms, get his hands on a lot of balls. Good athlete who can finish in traffic. Real good in transition.

Johnathan Vega, PG – San Marcos – Good athlete who plays with a high motor, lock down defender ability. Can score it as well.

Jalen Crocker, Forward – Warren – Intriguing Big kid will be one to watch . Lefty is strong in the lane, will finish in traffic and rebound as well. 

RJ Marquez, PG – Pleasanton – High IQ guard who makes plays. Sees the floor, will take and make big shots. 

Dakari Hodge, SG – Boerne Champion – Good athlete who excels in transition. Finishes at the rim.

Robert Jackson, Wing – Brackenridge – Long wing who can score it some. Can put it on the floor and create for himself.

Excited to have Tim Littlefield on staff covering Central Texas for Texasboysbasketball.com. With many years of experience in the basketball industry, Littlefield will be able to provide in-depth coverage for the prospects in that region. Starting in San Antonio, Tim delivers a  4-part preview of the top & available players in Alamo City. 

Standouts

Zeryk Oneyma, PF – John Jay – The Areas most improved player. Has offers from UTEP, Navy and several others. High Ceiling. Can get it done on both ends. Long , athletic, runs the floor, can score inside and out. 

Logan Bracamonte, Wing – Randolph – The UIW Commit has really improved. Has ability to get to the rim and finish, but his art is his shooting from deep!!!!

Isaiah Kennedy, PG – SA Wagner –  Holds an offer from Hampton Univ. Strong guard who has improved shooting. Good defender, good in transition as well.

Jordan Wood, PF – Cornerstone – Currently has offers from Air Force, Navy, Army amongst others. Can score it at all levels. Has a chance to be a good one.

Journee Phillips, Wing – SA Wagner – 4 yr Starter, 18-19’ All State kid. High energy wing who excels in transition. Finishes at the rim strong; steadily improving perimeter game; Lock down defender.

Norman Beckford, CF – Brennan – The very athletic St Mary’s Commit has shown some playmaking ability. Slashing to the rim to finish, but will find others. High motor is on display defensively and rebounding. 

Jaeden Moore, SF – Brennan –  Committed to St. Mary’s. Has improved as an all around player. Can spot up and shoot it from mid range and deep, but also will get to the rim. Becoming a good defender.

Notables 

These are players that we could place their name in our TBB Top 150 with big-time seasons.

Nick Vann, PG – Warren Cerebral – Guard can hurt you in a lot of ways. Consistent making reads to find open teammates or knocking down shots. Had a strong spring/ summer campaign.

Kino Rodriguez Thompson, Guard – Warren – Part of one of the areas best backcourts. Will fill up the stat sheet. Strong guard who gets to his spots; finishes in traffic, makes good reads, good defender.

Braelon Seals, SG – Wagner – Comes back to Wagner after a year away and brings some offense punch. Improving off the bounce and can shoot it from deep. 

Will Carsten, PF – Reagan – One of the areas surprises. Has a college ready body and good hands; can score it inside with soft touch but can also play on the perimeter; Improved athleticism has him primed for a good year.

Jalen Mangum, PG – Harlan – Solid guard coming off a strong spring and summer. Can get to his spots; plays through contact; also can hit the 3. Good defender.

Elijah Conley, PF – Harlan – Really long kid. Shown ability to stretch the D with the ball. Can get to the rim and finish. Long arms blocks and alters shots.

Elijah Lomas, SG Harlan – High motor, blue collar wing scores it in multiple ways. Can beat you off the dribble, but can shoot it as well.

Jackson Byas, SF – Steele – Coming into his own. Strong body helps him finish in traffic and rebound well; also shoots it good from 3. 

Kyle Castille Wing- Brennan – Swiss Army Knife. Athletic, active wing who makes plays all over the floor. Improved perimeter game and IQ. Can guard multiple positions. Will be key for the Bears.

Garrett Prince PF/C – MAC – Improved post player. Strong on the inside. Can also hit mid range shots. Good rebounder.

Rashod Odomes, Guard – Roosevelt – Multi sport athlete makes plays. Uses athelticism and strong build to create problems for defenders.

DaQwon Kindred, Wing – Roosevelt – Long athletic wing had a solid spring and summer. Can score it in a variety of ways. 

Tanner Brown, Guard- Brandeis – High IQ savvy guard makes winning plays, competes hard on both ends and will knock down shots.

Kyle Schaefer, SG – Brandeis – Can really shoot the ball with range. Strong build allows him to play through some contact and get good looks.

Charlie DeWitt, Guard – Alamo Heights – Had a strong spring and summer season. Can score in bunches in a variety of ways. Will be key to his teams success. Holds and offer from UT Dallas.

Max Terry, PG – St Mary’s Hall –  Solid guard who can shoot it . Had some big games during the spring and summer.

Stephen Quintero, PG – Southside – Can really shoot it. Has some big games under his belt. Over 1000 pt scorer in his career.

Quincy Shepard, PG – Steele – Solid guard who is improving all around , has ability to knock down the 3 or get to his spots in mid range. Solid defender.

Jordyn Arnette, PG – Cole – Big guard; Strong build allows him to finish in traffic. Shoots it for a good percentage. Solid defender and rebounder from wing position.

Michael Chandler, PG – Judson – Coming off and strong spring and summer. Has really good court vision. Strong body fights through traffic and makes tough shots. 

Kyonte Holden, PG – Judson – Pure PG. solid ball handler, High IQ, makes the right reads, leads his group along with improved shot making ability. Good defender.

Ambrose Johnson, PG – Judson – Starting to come into his own. Knocks down shots from multiple spots on the floor also finishes in transition . Will be key to his teams success.

Johnathan Ochoa, Wing – East Central – Can score it in a variety of ways; works well around the rim, hits the mid range.

Parker Delay, Wing – Boerne Champion – Long wing who can really shoot the ball from all areas of the floor.

Isaiah Halliburton, PG – Feast – Quick guard who has a good feel for the game. Can shoot it from 3, but has a mid range game. Good defender. Good IQ.

Austin Kenwisher, PG – Smithson Valley – Coming into his own. Shoots it with good range and consistency. 

Isaiah Valdez, CF – Southwest Legacy – Blue Collar player who can score inside and also hit mid range shots. Good rebounder.

Avery Euguster, Guard – St Marys Hall – Good athlete; good in the open floor; will attack the rim . Has some ability to Score it from mid range and 3.

Ben Auguster, SG – St Marys Hall – Good in the open floor and around the rim. 

Tvonsi Hubbard, Wing – East Central – Athletic wing who can score it in a variety of ways. Will be counted on heavily to help his team.

Robert Gill, PG – Holmes – Crafty guard who can get to his spots and set up teammates or himself . Can score it from 3 or mid range.

Arthur Cellstin, PF – Judson – Had a strong fall as he runs the floor well, finishes around the rim. Also rebounds the ball and will contest shots.

Truett Heintzelman, Guard – Clark – Will be looked at to lead the Cougars. 3 yr starter. Can shoot it from all over the floor. Good IQ.

Silas Livingston 5’9 – Cole – Solid  pg who has a good feel of the game. Quick off the dribble getting to his spots . Sees the floor, will knock down shots. Pesky Defender

Vincent Mann 6’3- Roosevelt – Really good athlete with a good body, very bouncy. Can get to his spots off the dribble and spot up from 3. Good addition for the Riders

Mason Pulliam, Guard – New Braunfels – Good size guard who will score in a variety of ways.

Mr. Tim Littlefield delivers Part II of his San Antonio report, this time with 2021 class. 

Jerrell Colbert, C/PF – Cornerstone – SPECIAL!! Really Long, athletic player who can hurt you in a variety of ways. Covers a lot of ground on both ends. Strong Summer lead to looks on USA Basketball Circuit.

JaSean Jackson, CG – Wagner – Showing strong signs as a lead guard. Can knock down the 3 and improving mid range game off the bounce. 

Christian Green, CF – Cornerstone – Intriguing prospect. High motor, makes winning plays on both ends, handles the ball well for his size.

Gavino Ramos, CG – Antonian – Winner! Makes winning plays on both ends. Smart, crafty with the ball to get to his spots and scores it or finds open guys.

Brian Armstrong, CG – Antonian – Athletic combo guard can score it in multiple ways at all levels. Strong body to fight through traffic. Good defender.

Notables

Xavier Martinez 6’0 – Churchill –  Savvy guard who gets to his spots, can score or it or deliver it. High IQ.

Jackson Reid, Wing – New Braunfels – solid wing who can score. Can put it on the floor or spot up from deep. Coming off a strong spring and summer. Good size guard rebounds the ball from the wing as well.

Julian Sanchez, PG – Central Catholic – Crafty with the ball, creates space, Shoots it well from 3 and mid range.

Christian Caldwell, Wing – Central Catholic – Athletic wing type can score. Shoots it from multiple spots.

Jordan Barjas, Wing – McCollum – Pretty good athlete. The wing is coming into his own. Can score it inside and out. 

Matt Monger, Wing – Kerrville Tivy – Solid IQ Wing who can score it multiple ways. 

Al Emerallhu, SF – Clark – Hard worker on the interior strong body. Finishes in traffic.

Isaiah Washington, PG – Cornerstone Regional – Guard who can really shoot it from all over the floor. 

Gavin Walker, PG – St. Mary’s Hall – Cerebral player who is improving getting to his spots. Strong off the dribble.

Kaijon Thornton, CG – Wagner – High energy wing excels in open floor transition. Gets his hands on a ton of balls creating problems for offensive players. 

Hunter Darling, Wing – Boerne Champion – solid wing who can score it at all levels.

Adam Benhayoune, CF – O Connor – Strong hands, strong rebounder. Passes the ball well . Solid IQ. Can face up and knock down open shots.

Stacey Adams, Wing – Cornerstone Regional – Wing type player who excels in the open floor. Can hit the 3; mid range . 

Josh Alcocer, PF/C – O Connor –  Had a solid fall season. Shows good hands and footwork to be a force inside.

Tysen Rogers, Wing – Marshall – Athletic wing type who gets to the rim and will finish.

Joseph Taylor, PG – Johnson – Solid guard who has the ability to score in a variety of ways.

Paul Wood, PG – NB Canyon – Quick guard who excels getting by defenders. Good defender.

Calvin Nance, PG – Brackenridge – Explosive guard who can beat you off the dribble. Will be key for his teams success.

Gavin Gibson, Wing – Brandeis – Improving combo guard who has long arms. Ability to get to the rim or hit open shots.

Stephen Mahler, Wing – John Jay – Long wing with a good stroke from deep. Ability to get to the rim as well.

Jalyleen Streeter, CG – Harlan – Combo guard steadily improving . Can score it from 3 or mid range.

Will Harris, Wing – Clark – Skilled wing who can shoot it and is coming into his own. 

Caleb McCracken, C – Harlan – Very intriguing. Improving daily. Big Body moves around well. Can be a load inside.