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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

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

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).”

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 

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 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

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.

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.

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

“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.

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.

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.

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%

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%

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%

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%

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%

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%

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%

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%

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%

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-

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

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-

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.

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)

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.

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.