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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.

A multitude of prospects came down for TCU’s annual Elite Camp. Where there was a solid mix of strong guard & front-court play, the TBB staff got a good evaluation of players this weekend. Here’s our notes.

Front-Line

Top 2022 prospect, Vincent Iwuchukwu has made strides in his offensive game. Showcased nice touch from 10-12 ft out and his added strength was noticeable in gaining & maintaining position on the block. He showcased why he’s at the top in a loaded class. Speaking about number one, Jerrell Colbert, who we have at the top of the 2021 class displayed some versatility in his game. Better fluidity with the handle, can stretch out and hit an open three-ball and used his length to score inside. ’20 Darius Miles was solid on Saturday. His feel for the game has gotten better and his progress from this time a month ago is noticeable as well. Kansas State & DePaul have shown interest.

’21 Shakiru Odunewu will be suiting up for Universal Academy this school year and he’s a load in the paint once he throws his weight around. Odunewu’s size mixed with a solid back to basket game translates.  2022 Emma Zuberu has come a long way. Lean, but has gotten stronger and was all over on the glass on Saturday. A prospect that continues to  develop and show different facets of his game. 2023 Matt Reed held his own against the older guys. Good IQ and has no problem getting physical. Forward Colin Smith was solid, excelled in open court as a finisher and made plays as a weak-side defender.

Backcourt

One of the top prospects out of Oklahoma, Jaxson Robinson packs a smooth looking shooting stroke as his ability to shoot with range mixed with length allows himself to get his shot off vs hard-closeouts. Coppell’s Anthony Black impacted the game on both ends as he makes winning plays. Rebounds well for his position, knock down shots from deep and was in attack mode when operating off the bounce. Speaking of attack mode, ’22 Cason Wallace was a menace for opposing defenses when he got downhill. A power athlete that gets to the rim & finishes through contact. The other 2023 prospect at the camp was Payton Chism. Tough, contains the ability to score the ball and his development at the PG spot will be influential in his recruitment.

Point guard Austin Nunez was steady at TCU. Made sound decisions in pick & roll as he packs a strong scoring punch. One of the top guard prospects in the 2022 class.  Hebron’s senior guard Logan McLaughlin is primed for another strong season. Quick with the basketball, shoots it from deep, Logan is a talented guard that possesses a game that translates.  One of the top guard performers at the camp was ’20 Jaylin Posey. He utilized his length on both ends as he intercepted passing lanes on defense and showed elusiveness as a finisher in traffic.

’21 CJ Noland was impressive as well.  Holds a strong frame & uses it to create space off the bounce. Noland’s ability to hit shots from deep & finish in the paint was exhibited. Other notables were 2021 Jalen Lake (shotmaking-sound, technical defense), ’22 Vito High (Reliable jump-shooting capabilities), ’22 Nazir Brown (Stable playmaker, offense initiator), 2022 Cruz Davis (Smooth shooting touch, promising physical profile), Dallas Hobbs (Scoring punch combined with edgy approach).

Next week

TCU Elite Camp will be loaded again next weekend. Premier 2022 prospects Jordan Walsh, Keyonte George, Trae Clayton, Lee Dort, Arterio Morris & Chris Marshall will be in Fort Worth. in 2021 Class Manny Obaseki, Josh Farmer & Demari Williams & Chuks Isitua are scheduled to come. in 2020 Class, Gerald Doakes, Allen Udamedu will also participate.

Cream Of The Crop packs a plethora of the players that we’re nationally coveted prospects that participated in the camp before spending a day in high school. From Oklahoma’s De’Vion Harmon, Louisville’s Samuell Williamson, Kansas commit Tre White, national 2022 prospect Keyonte George & the list goes on. So who’s next? Heres our super early take below.

RJ Jones, 2023 SG – Braswell HS: Was a pup last yr at the Cream Of The Crop as an 8th grader but now took the lead as one of the top prospects in this year’s edition. Scored off the bounce and has promising positional size.

KJ McDaniels, 2023 Wing – Lake Hamilton (AR): Lefty with smooth shooting stroke. McDaniels has the tools of becoming a prospect a high-end D1 school would covet.

Darkaun King, 2023 PF – FW OD Wyatt: We’ve been keeping tabs on Darkaun for a while now. Versatile skillset, good size & strong bloodlines.

Finley Bizjack, 2023 SG – Byron Nelson: Strong isolation scorer with quick trigger. Finley continues to add to his offensive repertoire.

Jeff Kirven, 2024 SG – FW Dunbar: Long, active guard that can fill the stat sheet. Secondary ballhandler that has promising playmaking capabilities.

Levi Rutledge, 2023 SF – Cedar Park: Solid IQ & and good size for position at his age. Levi plays within the flow of offense & makes plays utilizing length.

Francis Chukwudebelu, 2025 C – Drive Nation: Big-time size and length. Only a 7th grader, Francis holds strong shot-blocking instincts as he’s furnished with the tools of becoming one of the top players in the country with proper development.

Drew Steffe, 2023 SG – Frisco Memorial: Has a clean shooting stroke but has made strides as a side pick & roll operator. Another prospect with strong basketball bloodlines.

Dean Balo, 2023 PG- JJ Pearce:  Effective with the ball in his hands. Shoots it off the bounce, advances the ball & probes with the ball in his hands.

Liam McNeeley, 2024 Wing – Richardson North: Good positional size packed with an array of skills. Liam was a consistent impact player in the Camp games.

Hilton Harris, 2023 Wing – Cypress Creek: Packs a strong frame and uses overall athleticism to finish around the rim. An open court ball handler that really impressed the staff.

Jackson Ford, 2024 PF – Drive Nation: Hardworking forward that’s a problem on the block. Shown ability to finish with either hand and rebound out of area.

Femi Olanyen, 2023 CG- Allen: Speaking of hard-workers, Femi is a gritty guard that gets to spots. Edgy, equipped with promising positional size & rebounds well for position.

Got A Chance

Tyree Graves, 2023 PG – FW Dunbar

Deontrell Barrett, 2024 PG – Faith Family

Rusten Griffen, 2023 Wing – Richardson

Warren Durham, 2024 PF – Kennemer

Riley Shore, 2023 SF – Homeschool

Thomas Hunt, 2024 -JL Long

Nyout Arop, 2023 CF – Chisolm Trail

Jaylen Benard, 2023 – Summer Creek

We finished up a week in the city of Houston & we take a look back at the top performers from both sessions of the Southwest Exposure Camp (SWEC). Let’s breakdown the stats (Powered by EPLAY Basketball)  from Session I performers. EPLAY also provides an analytical analysis of each prospect at the SWEC. Go to geteplay.com for more information.

Kenneth Lofton, 2020 PF – Port Arthur Memorial: What a session for Kenneth Lofton. He averaged 19pts 7rebs on an impressive 55% shooting and unleashed his full array of skills. 

Sir Isaac Herron, 2021 CF – St Thomas: Sir Issac was making plays on both end. Hit shots from the perimeter on the offensive end and was effective defensively with active hands in help-side. 

Ja’Vier Francis, 2021 PF/C – Westbury Christian:  Ja’Vier Francis length is freakish and he utilized it to make plays on both ends. 11ppg 7rpg 2.33bpg as Ja’Vier’s motor is high & has a nose for the ball. 

Adam Stewart, 2022 C – Waller: Adam development has made strides. He’s moving better, shot is coming along & he has big-time size! He averaged 11ppg 5rpg and altered shots at the rim.  

Jonathan Massie, 2021 SG – Atascocita: 14points 4rebounds & 4assists 2stls a game for Massie. Big-time all-around production. Massie also contributed on the defensive end by causing havoc as an individual defender. 

Journee Phillips, 2020 SG – Wagner: Phillips continued his strong production since the State Final 4 in March. He averaged 17ppg 4rpg & 2stls a game. An attacking guard that excelled getting to the rim & playing gritty defense. Offers from UIW & Colorado Springs  and have received Interest from Northern Colorado, St. Edwards. UMKC & Queens Univ of Charlotte (Where he’ll take an official visit) 

Antwon Norman, 2020 PG – Jack Yates: Norman is a speedy guard that got a lot done on the offensive end. He averaged 17ppg 2rpg as he was a threat in the open court. 

Nick Hale, 2020 PF – ProVision: Hale orchestrated a solid three game outing at Jack Yates HS. 14ppg 4rpg as Hale played with constant energy. 

Mason Jones, 2022 SG: The rising sophomore averaged 13.3ppg and the lean, wiry guard hit shots from deep and scored operating in pick & roll. 

Damon Nicholas, 2021 SG – Duncanville: Damon concluded the summer with a strong finish at the SWEC. He strung together 20ppg & 5rpg. Receiving interest from La Tech, UTSA, Oral Roberts & Eastern Illinois. 

Notables

Justin Collins, 2021 CG – Atascosita: Has promising positional size and length. Utilize length to finish vs traffic.

Leslie Newsome, 2022: Speedy, gritty guard that held his own vs older guards. Continues to impress.

Jalen Mangum, 2020 PG – Sunnybrook: Coming along as a point guard. Scored well in half-court set.

Shawn Jones, 2022 Wing – Shadow Creek:Top 25 2022 prospect that showed overall offensive package.

A lot of work was done in our four days in Georgia at the Under Armour Finals & Rise Championships. College coaches were of a plenty, high level players were of a plenty and Texas teams represented well. In this segment, we look at the players that not only rose their stock in the eyes of college coaches but also of the eyes of the TBB staff.  

Kamryn Waites, 2021 C – Mudiay Elite: Been a few years since we’ve seen Kamryn Waites move this well. He’s still massive now, and running into him is comparable to running through a brick wall, but he’s trimmed down and that has resulted in strong play all week. Waites showcased advanced level post moves & touch around the rim, was active on the glass and his commitment to getting his body right is all good ears. Higher-end division 1 coaches have taken notice as well. 

DA Houston, 2020 PG – Cooz Elite: DA’s defense gets mentioned a sizable amount but for good reason. One of it not the top individual defender in his class, Houston not only showcased his defensive prowess but also the ability to make shots and decisions with the ball in his hands. Cooz made it to the UA Rise Title Game and Albert coming short, DA went to work this week. We Imagine more offers will rack-up this week for him.

BJ Francis, 2020 PG – Dallas Showtyme: BJ was off to a slow start on Thursday but he started figuring out what was going to make him an effective player in Atlanta. Connected on mid-range jumpers, floaters and found openman on kick-outs. Was influential in Big E’s final four run at UA Rise. 

Anthony Scott, 2020 PG – Texas Hardwork:  The ultra scrappy Anthony Scott played well in Atlanta. On the small side stature wise but exuded toughness, the ability to get where he wants with the ball & he hit open shots. The TBB office has been receiving phone calls about Anthony.

Ramon Walker, 2021 Wing – Texas Hardwork: Texas Hardwork 16U is in the final four and Ramon Walker played a big part in that. Ramon recently received a Texas State offer and division one coaches have been very intrigued by the guard out of Shadow Creek. Walker attacked closeouts effectively, showed nice touch from the perimeter and defended with energy. 

Quevian Adger, 2020 SF – BMM: Arkansas offered Adger and Quevian on the court was scoring it from several spots. Could see an uptick in recruiting due to high scoring outings. 

Nate Clover, 2020 C/PF – Houston Defenders: Big Nate! Clover’s recruitment was fairly silent throughout the spring/summer but several solid showings has helped his stock. Southern offered him this week as Detroit & North Texas are now recruiting him.

A few days have passed since the completion of the UAA & UA Rise Circuit but the work isn’t over yet especially for the Club Coaches. Their phones have been ringing by the minute but we got a chance to talk to the Texas based programs on who has been calling about their players. 

UAA Texas Recruitment Update

A few days have passed since the completion of the UAA & UA Rise Circuit but the work isn’t over yet especially for the Club Coaches. Their phones have been ringing by the minute but we got a chance to talk to the Texas based programs on who has been calling about their players. 

Texas Impact 4:13

Cameron Kahn & Micaiah Abii were solid producers for Texas Impact. Both have received an offer from Dallas Baptist. Cal-State Bakersfield, UMASS-Lowell and more have inquired about Micaiah. 

Lipscomb has shown interest in 2021 guard Zuric Phelps, Santa Clara & Cal-State Fullerton have reached out to Zuric’s backcourt mate in ‘21 Imo Essien.

Dallas Showtyme

 Dallas Showtyme made it to the Final 4 of the UA Rise. Erven “Big E” David holds a multitude of recruitable prospects. 

Middle Tennessee State, UNT & Seton Hall  have been heavily pursuing 2020 Donte Houston. All three schools have offered the talented forward out of Garland. Received offer from New Nexico on Tuesday.

Dayday Hall imposed his will from the jump, Presbyterian College, Marimack & Kennesaw State have reached out to Hall. 

Texas State have shown heavy Interest. 

‘20 Kameron Pruitt recently received an offer from Army, have been receiving interest from DII Schools. 

BJ Francis & Julien Smith shot it well from the perimeter in Atlanta. Been getting heavy interest from Division II Schools. 

BMM

Arkansas has extended an offer from 2020 Quevian Adger. May take a visit in the next 30-60 days. 

Cooz Elite

Cooz! PJ Couisinard’s Program were two points away from a UA Rise Championship. Players made the most out of the July viewing period. 

2020 DA Houston has seen his recruitment heavily pick up. Western Kentucky, HBU, Lafayette, Presbyterian College, Seattle, & College Of Charleston are showing interest. Lafayette, College of Charleston & Presbyterian may offer in near future. 

For ‘20 Rubin Jones, Illinois State, Lafayette (Heavy Interest) New Mexico, UTEP (Offered), Colorado, Indiana St, Illinois St, New Mexico, Oral Roberts, UNT (Offered) and more have called. 

DA Western Kentucky, HBU, Lafayette (heavy), Presbyterian (Heavy), Seattle, College Of Charleston

Corpus Christi, UTSA, Southern have reached out about 2020 Forward Nate Lacewell according to his club coach.

Out of Mississippi, Iman Washington, who had a coming out party of sorts has been hearing Indiana State & College of Charleston. Bouncy forward with high motor and intriguing skillset. 

College Of Charleston and several D2’s have inquired about  2020 big man DJ Nussbaum.

Mudiay Elite

Manny Obaseki was on a tear in Atlanta. Showcase the ability to score on 3 levels, showcase explosive leaping abilities and made a strong case as the top prospect in his class in the Lonestar State. 

Texas A&M & Texas recently have offered. Texas A&M have also inquired about big man 2021 Kamryn Waites. Waites was one of our stock boosters from this past week. 

Rising sophomore TJ Caldwell recently received an offer from Oklahoma State. Lean, athletic guard with high upside.

Cal Berkeley & Maryland have Called 2021 Jaden Jones.

Zawwkir Sawyer received his first D1 offer from Louisiana Monroe,. ULM have been heavily pursuing him.

Sam Houston State have reached out to Darius Miles. Big man with size that has gained interest from schools from the Midwest also. 

Texas Hardwork

A strong finish for Texas Hardwork on the 16 & 17U level. The 17’s made the final round of 16 at the UAA Association and the 16’s reached the Final 4.  

‘21 Joseph Venzant helped himself during the Live period. Florida Atlantic, Sam Houston & Belmont are on him. Holds offer from Tulsa

Head Coach Terry Porter of Portland have have shown interest in 2021 sharpshooter  Coleton Benson.  Liberty has shown interest as well. 

A Sam Houston State offer could to be in the near future for 2021 Wing Ramon Walker

Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew came to two games in Atlanta. University of Texas & UTSA were present at all games of Texas Hardwork. 

Houston Defenders 

A very solid showing for The Houston Defenders at UAA. We’re in several tough battles and made it to the final 16. 

Eddie Lampkin did what he does best & that’s punish opposing frontline men in the paint. Seton Hall & Georgia Tech have offered. 

As noted in our previous article, ‘20 Nathan Clover received an offer from Southern as Detroit has been heavily pursuing him as of late. Possibly offer in near future according to source. Oral Roberts has offered “Big Nate” on Tuesday.

Justin Hill has made progress in terms of playing the point guard position. Making quicker reads in pick & roll. UNO have inquired. 

Memorial Day Weekend generally is one of the busiest weekends for the TBB staff and this year is no exception. Session III of the Nike EYBL commenced on Friday evening and we witnessed 2020 JaKobe Coles of the Texas Titans produced a high-level output. The skilled forward out of Denton breaks down his game and his recruitment to Texasboysbasketball.com.

“I’ve been able to show I can play defense, shoot it from outside, bring it up after a rebound and pass,” Coles said.  “I feel like I can guard from the 3-5 and hold my own. That’s an underrated part of my game I feel.”

JaKobe strung together 18pts 6rebs in the Titans’ win vs New York Renaissance and is currently producing 14 points, 7 rebounds in the EYBL.

Recruitment

Texas A&M

“I talk to (Assistant Coach) Lyle Wolfe & (Head) Coach Buzz Williams. They recruited me at Virginia Tech and have stayed in contact with me when they moved to A&M. They’ve come to the school (Denton Guyer) and Coach Williams feels like I fit his system real well because I have a high IQ and know how to play.”

TCU

“They’ve been on me since like my freshman year. (Head) Coach Jamie Dixon offered me a scholarship while on my unofficial visit and he really likes my game. Now Assistant Coach Tony Benford has been the one recruiting me. He lives like 20 minutes from my school so he’s been able to come down and see me. I have been building a good relationship with him.”

Colorado

“I went on an unofficial this past fall. Really nice campus, like the coaching staff. They have nice facilities and a strong fanbase. The altitude can be a struggle at times but that’s a given when you’re over there so it’s not a big deal. They have been developing NBA players in the past 5years so they have the staff to help make players be the best they can be.”

Notre Dame

“(Assistant) Coach (Ryan) Humphries was the one that recruited me first and Head Coach Mike Brey came and saw me play. Coach Humphries came down to the school and offered me and I was talking to Coach Brey last week. They are excited for me to come on campus and take a visit.”

Butler

“The Assistant Coach Omar (Lowery) has been talking to me since last year. (Head) Coach (Lavall) Jordan has also been on me hard. They are excited for me to come on a visit in the summer and I’m excited as well.”

Tidbits

JaKobe, as mentioned earlier has taken an unofficial visit to TCU & Colorado. He plans on taking an unofficial at Butler, Notre Dame & Texas A&M in the summer. Coles will take his time when it comes to a commitment. No timetable has been set but don’t be surprised if Coles decides to wait in the spring to make his pledge.

JaKobe has really come to his own. He possesses a nice inside/out game as he utilizes his frame to generate space and score. JaKobe has been an integral part of the Titans engine.

It’s June and this is the time of year that TBB starts putting a focus on the rising freshman class. Here at the Advantage Sports Complex in Carrolton, I got to see several 2023 players with a promising future so let’s resume on the first 2023 edition of the Freshman Report.  Ty Cox Continues to Impress.  The Universal Academy guard holds promising size, athleticism and ball skills that’ll give him an smooth transition to varsity ball. Don’t get me wrong, he will struggle but he holds a game that will make him an impact player. Cox is in contention for top player in his class.

Darkaun King Showcased All Around Game. ‘Feel’ an attribute that really stands out to the staff when we watch Darkaun play. In spots to make plays, rim runs and seals in transition to get a shot inside and passes well out of double-teams. King can shoot, dribble, pass as the future OD Wyatt Forward will be a player we continue to look at.

Aric Demings, Jaden Cofer & Ja’Kobe Walter  Produced At The Guard Spot well.Urban DFW’s Aric Demings thrived in the open court as his effort on defense glass allows him to initiate the transition break which subsequently makes the defense to scramble back. Speaking of thriving in transition, Jaden Cofer got downhill and made proper reads while putting pressure on the defense. Cofer is athletic, plays hard and made plays on both ends. Was our first time getting to evaluate future McKinney Lion Ja’Kobe Walter and his size mixed with strong ball-skills and in-between game allowed him to get to spots and execute. Strung together a few big-time performances.

Notables: RJ Jones, 2023 SG – Drive Nation: Reliable shooter from deep and vertically showcased ability to finish above the rim. Cream of The Crop Alum that is progressing nicely. Drealyn Mosley, 2023 PF/SF- Drive Nation: Drealyn was effective as a finisher in the open court. He’s mobile, has solid ball-skills as he was hunting for offensive rebounds. Ronald Holland, 2023 PF/SF – Drive Nation: A double-double threat. Ronald is effective as a slasher and someone that cleans up on the glass. Played with big-time effort. Isaiah Manning, 2023 PF – Crab5: Isaiah takes pride in challenging shots around the rim and collected over 5blks in the game we watched. He runs the floors hard, plays with edge and impacts the game defensively. Richard Lemboye, 2023 PF – YGC36: All over on the glass, Richard is a long, active forward that has a nose for the ball.

2024 Standouts

Deontrell Barrett, 2024 PG – ProSkills: Advanced skillset for a player in his class. Deontrell is a lefty guard that more than held his own playing up. 

One of the top frontline prospects in the state, 21′ Daimion Collins continues to perform to his talent level each time the staff has seen him. The kid out of Atlanta, Texas, a small town which holds over 5000 people,  has drawn the attention of high-end division one coaches to the city to come watch him play. Few of our viewers may remember was someone we wrote about on TBB close to a year ago at the Dallas Showtyme Classic.

Circa June 2018

A Promising Prospect Out Of Atlanta, TX

Entering the game for the Dallas Mustangs 17U is this lanky prospect that sports these goggles equivalent to what Horace Grant use to wear. We could tell he was probably younger and in the limited minutes he received, his presence was felt. 2021 Daimion Collins flew up and down the court, cleaned up one shot with a put-back dunk, blocked multiple shots including a dunk attempt at the end of the game. Collins is raw, but the energy he plays with and the physical tools he possesses definitely caught our eye and we will definitely keep looking at the talented, young prospect going forward as he has a chance of becoming one of the top prospects in his class.

Anywho, Collins, who runs with Team Griffin’s 16U speaks to the staff about his performance in Atlanta in the first Nike EYBL Session and his recruitment.

“I averaged about 6pts 9rebs & about 7-8 blks a game. I was trying to be active by running the floors, blocking shots and rebounding,” Collins said. “I need to get stronger with the ball though.”

Although the blocks per game stat are eye-popping to say-the-least, it doesn’t come to much surprise on this site as we’ve seen Daimion swat shots around the rim and even on jumpers due to his freakish length.

Collins holds offers from SFA, SMU, Tulsa, OU, Oklahoma State & just recently Texas. Holds interest from Houston, Purdue, Georgia Tech, Baylor, Florida State, La. Tech, Texas A&M & TCU.

Daimion’s Talk

SFA

I went on a visit and got to watch a home game. SFA has come to the school as well. It was the Head Coach (Kyle) Keller and I really like how they run their program. Coach Keller is a cool guy and we were just trying to get to know each other.

Houston

They haven’t offered yet but I like Houston. I enjoyed my visit there when I got to watch them play Cincinnati. (Head) Coach (Kelvin) Sampson is a good guy and their staff is great too. I like the pace they play, the academics & how hard they play. Coach Sampson pushes his players to be their best.

Oklahoma State

(Assistant) Coach (Scott) Sutton came to the school and that’s when they offered. They like to see me play and thought I played well in the EYBL. We just got to know each other and it was a good conversation with them.

Oklahoma

(Head) Coach (Lon) Kruger & (Assistant) Coach (Chris) Crutchfield came to the school and offered me also. We got to know each other, they are down-to-earth guys and they would like for me to come on a visit.

Tidbits

Collins expressed that he’s continuing to build a relationship with the staffs at Tulsa, SMU & Texas. He talked to Assistant Coach Kwanza Johnson at Tulsa, Associate HC K.T. Turner at SMU & Assistant Coach Jai Lucas at Texas.

He told the TBB staff that he would like to visit Baylor, Oklahoma, OSU, Oregon State at some point but also noted that he would like to visit all the schools that have offered or showed heavy interest.

Daimion talks about factors in his recruitment.

“I would like to go somewhere that fits me. Academically & sports wise. A coach that’s tough and going to want to get the best out of me. Location isn’t a huge factor but I probably won’t go somewhere completely out of the way either.”

Closing

A big-time athlete with great length, Collins understands feel for the game has seen a jump and he’s been able to utilize his physical profile to impact the game on both ends. We will keep tabs with Daimion as we’ve been for the past year so stay tuned at Texasboysbasketball.com with recruiting news from the Lonestar State.

Under Armour made it to D-Town for their second session of the UA Rise. Day one brought out numerous TBB prospects in one roof so we are going to go through my timeline from Friday Night

6:00pm

Big-time Performances ft Cade Hornecker, Finley Bizjack.

Fought through a lot of Dallas Traffic to catch the 6pm games but well worth it as I got another look at 22’ big man Cade Hornecker of the Lonestar Mustangs. Cade is big, holds length and his combination of mobility, feel & touch around the rim was on full display. Accumulated a double-double in his team’s convincing victory.

Bizjack hasn’t started high school yet but playing against high school boys is a norm. Finley was a key cog in Texas Hardwork’s close victory vs Oklahoma PWP. Yes, he holds the moniker as a knock down shooter but Bizjack knows how to get his shot off vs length around the rim. One of the most consistent performers in his class.

7:10pm

“Throw It Inside” Ft. Texas Impact 4:13

Texas Impact made it known early where most of their points were going to come and that was in the paint. 20’ Cameron Kahn was physical inside, tracking offensive rebounds and finishing through contact. Kahn has a nose for the ball and that was evident Friday night. 2021 Tay Mosher looked like the player we believed he could become. Not only made shots from deep but showed fluidity when getting into his in-between game. A combination of Preston Aymond, Micaiah Abii & Jonathan Aku contributed to a dominant inside game as well.

Morris, Sykes Stood Stood Out In Showtyme 15U’s Narrow Victory

It was a tug of war for the most part in Showtyme’s Inaugural match up in Session II but the Gorillas came out on top. Electric guard Arterio Morris showcased his big-time athleticism and effectiveness once he gets downhill. There were spurts when he got careless with the ball but he still showed why we are very high on him. Duncanville‘s Davion Sykes played with more of a sense of urgency and subsequently led to a nice outing. Mid-range game ☑️, translatable length ☑️ are just a couple of boxes the Cream of The Crop Alum checks.

8:20pm

Bucket Getters Ft Lonestar Mustangs’ Guards

When your starting back-court combined for 59pts, especially in a grassroots game, the outcome will probably go your way and that was the case for Lonestar Mustangs on Friday Night. Mekai Pope (30pts) & Devon Hancock (29pts) were a handful for the opposing defense. Connecting on shots from deep, slicing & dicing their way to the paint, the duo were the show on Court 3. Hancock is hearing from UNO & Loyola.

Chris Marshall Deserves His Own Segment.

The outcome for Houston Superstars wasn’t ideal by any means but rising sophomore played that good. Made sound decisions with the ball in his hands, a dynamic scorer, Marshall looked the part and played the part on Friday. A no-brainer Top 10 player in his class.

Dallas Showtyme Was…. Dallas Showtyme

Ervin “Big E” Davis’ squad looks to disrupt the oppositions’ offensive flow and they accomplished that last night. The in-your-face, physical brand of basketball brought out strong performances from 20’ Dayday Hall, Wallace Onditi & Sherman Brashear. Hall plays with an attack-dog mentality and contributes in multiple ways. Onditi hands are all over the ball and he’s effective as a back-line defender. Brashear strung together impressive plays on both ends and the lefty can make defenders pay from deep.

9:30pm

Jahari Long, Cooz Elite Concluded the Night

Ah the late night gym days but I’ll catch a 9:30pm game if the set of D1 players Cooz Elite hold are on the court.  Premier 20’ guard Jahari Long played at a high level.  Cerebral and ability to probe with the ball and see the play before the play was refreshing to see. Jahari was the offensive engine on Friday and scoring came secondary. 2020 Rubin Jones moved the ball as his defensive versatility and eagerness to crash the boards helped his team. Forward Nate Lacewell connected on two jumpers from deep and in spurts made an impact from an interior aspect. DA Houston is a handful in transition. He’s strong, has burst and welcomed contact as he bowling-balled his way to the paint. Rising senior Elijah Elliot scoring punch was needed. A scrappy guard that is s prospect we will continue to look at.

Drive Nation is the host of the second session of the Under Armour Futures Tournament. Although we normally don’t cover players below 9th grade, UA presented the staff with plentiful young talent that can become a player in the future. Cream of the Crop Alums and future Cream of The Crop participants stood-out this weekend in Dallas.  

Chris Wilkerson 2023 Wing – TJ Ford – Lefty Wing with nice mid-range game. Feel & shooting touch was on the forefront when he played. 

Jaden Guidry, 2023 Forward – TJ Ford: Versatile Forward that can impact the game in multiple ways when his motor is up. Talent is without a question when evaluating him. 

King Grace, 2024 PG – Northstars: Albeit playing with a ankle injury, King produced in on offensive end. Hit shots from deep and made solid decisions on drives to the cup. 

C’Zavien Teasett, 2023 SF-Louisiana Elite:  Lefty guard with nice stroke from deep. Knows how to move without the basketball and makes defenses pay when given space. 

Finley Bizjack, 2023 SG – Texas Hardwork: Cream of the Crop Alum! Bizjack is a big-time shooter with pop & plays with an edge. Has the tools of becoming one of the top tier players in his class till he graduates high school. 

Trealyn Porchia, 2023 CF – Houston Defenders KB: Has made strides in his game in the past couple of months. Southpaw forward with uncanny way of finishing vs length. Had 16pts 5 Rebs & 4stls vs Cooz Elite. 

Tyler Smith, 2023 Forward – Houston Defenders KB: Equipped with great length. Not only looks the part but was playing it as well. Prospect to keep tabs on going forward. 

Hubert Caliste, 2024 Wing – Louisiana Elite: Size blended with skill makes him a mismatch nightmare. Best player in division. Made plays in lead guard role, as he scored 31pts on 60% shooting in their Saturday night matchup. 

Kendrick De’Luna, 2023 C – SA Fire: Big man with solid touch around the rim. Has ways to go but he possesses good size & played hard. 

Jaylen Gardner, 2023 Guard – SA Fire: Attacking Wing-guard with mass amount of toughness. Contributed on both ends of court. 

George Washington, 2023 PG – HCI Storm: Crafty guard that made plays in half-court setting. Understands how to play and been a big-time producer for his squad this weekend. 

Montavious Seraille, 2025 Forward – KREAM Elite: Really made his mark on the glass. Lefty forward that can become a prospect with growth and steady development. 

The number one prospect in the 2021 class on Texasboysbasketball.com, Arthur Kaluma talks to TBB about summer expectations, recruitment & more.

Kaluma will suit up for Nike ProSkills on the 17U EYBL Circuit but this will be familiar territory for the swingman from California.

“I feel like I’m at an advantage because I know what to expect coming in. The games are fast, physical & you have to bring it all the time,” Kaluma said. “I’ve prepared myself for this and I’m ready for my team to have success this summer.”

In his preparation, the scholastic season was a coming-out-party of sorts for Kaluma, who played a major role for Universal Academy. UA reached the 6A Trinity League Championship Game and Arthur this past season showcased his versatility on the offensive end and emerging skillset.

Arthur tells us his offer list.

“Texas Tech, USC, Stanford, UNT, UofH, UNLV & Arizona State have offered me,” Kaluma said. “Schools that have shown interest are SMU, TCU & San Diego State.”

Note: Kaluma’s older brother Adam Seiko plays for San Diego State

“Texas Tech have been constant with their recruitment, sending letters to the school, house, coming to see me play. They have been pursuing me the hardest.”

Kaluma talks about his rise as a premier prospect in 2021 and the recruitment process.

“It’s definitely a journey. A lot that comes with it. A lot of coaches have came to see me, reach out and honestly my parents hid my offers at first so my head wouldn’t get too big,” Kaluma said.  “I always wanted to be this good and get recruited like this but i didn’t know if I would. I knew if I worked hard enough it’ll all work out but All Glory to God!”

Be sure to follow the staff at Texasboysbasketball.com as we stay up to date on prospects, top events and more. We will be keeping tabs on Arthur’s recruitment as he has a chance to be a big-time national player by summer’s end.

The Club Season edition of the Freshman Report is in full swing. A lot of basketball has already been played and April just arrived. On this edition we note the top freshman performers in our time in Houston, Austin, DFW and in the country roads of East Texas.

Austin Nunez, Vincent Iwuchukwu Impressed in Houston

Spring IceBreaker the debut for Freshman Austin Nunez in the 17U level for Texas Hardwork and he showed he can more than hold his own. Hit shots from deep, compete defensively and managed the pressure thrown at him in the backcourt. Vincent as noted in our Houston piece was an active contributor on the glass and a imposing interior defender.

Griggs… Bryce Griggs

A familiar name in the 2022 class, Griggs was influential in Team Harden going 3-0 at the MI3 Center. His ability to break down defenses off the dribble and produce in tight moments is why he is a big-time prospect at an early age.

Agarwal is Coming Along, Naz Brown and Anthony Black Are As Well

The talk about 3D is geared towards the 17U group and rightfully so, but the 15’s contain next level prospects as well. Forward Ryan Agarwal provided sharpshooting as he knocked down shots from deep in consecutive fashion. Guard Nazir Brown is steady at the guard spot. He shoots it with range and scores within the flow of the offense as he plays sound individual defense. Black created havoc in the press. Deflected passes, racking up steals and accumulated his points via the open court. Three players that will be in our rankings this spring.

Drive Nation 2022

Man Drive Nations 15U group looks like a formidable 17U squad. Carry a lot of size and a beavy of prospects. Forward Colin Smith was a big-time addition as his athleticism mixed with a sound overall skillset make him a tough cover. Big man Lee Dort is massive. An imposing presence inside that gave opposing defenses fits. 4A State MVP Trae Clayton possess a strong inside/out game and the backcourt of Keyonte George & Noah Shelby provide spacing and strong play in the 1 & 2 spots.

Duo From Amarillo

A scouts attention normally gravitates when a prospect in the 6’9ish range step onto the court and Cade Hornecker play on the court kept my eyes glued. A mobile big man that finished around the rim and rebound, Hornecker definitely belongs amongst the top 2022 big man in his class. Guard Brendan Hausen was productive as well in Duncanville, holds good positional size and can get hot from deep. Both have heard from Virginia, Tech, Baylor, Texas A&M ,TCU  & Troy. Both prospects attend Amarillo High School and the staff will definitely keep tabs on the promising duo.

Crab5’s 16’s Came to Play

It was a coming out party of sorts for Crab5’s 16U group. A 2-0 record on Saturday in Duncanville and we got a chance to analyze the 2022 prospects on hand. Joe Lucas is an attacking guard that allowed his aggressiveness to subsequently lead to a bucket. Wing Jaden Lawton’s vertical explosiveness stood out very quickly during play. A highlight poster dunk in their first game on Saturday was the exclamation point to a hard fought win vs the Gators. Micah Clark is a forward that contains a skill bag mixed with an assortment of ingredients. Can defend multiple spots, handle in the open court and was hitting jumpers when left open.

Morris, Henderson Headline Showtyme’s 15U Group

Started in Fort Worth for me when on the far end court I see a guard go coast-to-coast for an emphatic jam amongst the trees in the frontline. Again, my eyes naturally gravitated toward that court but  Arterio Morris of Lincoln HS is more than a dunker. An talented guard that can make plays for himself and others. Morris game isn’t complete by any means but big-time athleticism mixed with a tight handle and sound vision allows him to have a chance in this game. Out of Kimball, Kyron Henderson was a terror for opposing frontline players. He plays with a constant, hard motor as well as being able to alter shots & finish around the rim due to his length. We paid attention to his two-way production.

Notables

Cason Wallace, 2022 CG – ProSkills 16U: A heady guard that gets downhill. Wallace found a groove in his 2nd outing at Duncanville and was a handful for the opposing defense.

Trey Cheatem, 2022 Wing – FOE 2022: Trey’s evolution in the past year as a dependable ballhandler and decision maker has been noted here. Know for his athleticism, Trey’s Live dribble game allowed him to get to the rim.

David Ruff, 2022 C – Ballers Nation: The big man out of East Texas is intriguing. Has grown 2 inches since we last saw him at Pangos Camp in October. A big man that has the potential to be a late bloomer when it’s all said and done.

Dreyon Barrett, 2022 SF – Palestine HS: The lefty out in Palestine as the physical tools of becoming a next level prospect. As long as he continues to groom his skillset, could be a name that pops up in for coaches in time.

Who’s this kid from Texarkana? Dayday Hall is on a mission this club season, get a peak in on 3D Empire’s dynamic duo’s recruitment. Texasboysbasketball.com has it all for from our time in Fort Worth for the WarB4The Storm hosted by YGC36 and Duncanville for the Dallas Regional Showcase which was coordinated by Dallas Showtyme, Dallas Mustangs & Stacy Houston.

CJ Kelly Stands Out

Out of Texarkana, CJ Kelly was no stranger in being productive. Active on the glass, sped up and down the floor and made plays on the defensive end. He still has some ways to go but Kelly game fits the mold of a top 25-30 player in 2020. Recruitment will soar this summer.

It Translates! Dayday Hall Segment

The wing out in Sulphur Springs gets a lot done…. and I mean a lot! At Duncanville Fieldhouse his production was key to Showtyme going 2-0 on the weekend. Pursued missed shots, utilized length to make an impact defensively and scored off the dribble. Hall’s game translates and this grassroots season, he can unveil that to college coaches.

Baylor Hebb, Logan McCloughlin talk to us about Recruitment.

The backcourt duo for 3D Empire are generating buzz with their strong play. Hebb, a crafty scoring guard that shoots with range holds an ACU offer and is receiving interest from UNT, Utah State, Colorado State & Sam Houston. He plans to take an unofficial this summer to Utah State & Colorado State.

McLaughlin is a high voltage, attacking guard that makes defenses pay with space from the perimeter. He also holds an ACU offer and holds interest from Texas Tech, TCU, Ok. State, Colorado State & Kansas State. He plans to take an unofficial to Colorado State this spring/summer.

Standouts

Elijah Huey, 2021 SG – Urban DFW 16U: Huey has game and a body that causes fits for opposing guards. He hit shots from deep, used larger frame to initiate contact on drives and was a standout  this past weekend in Duncanville.

Manny Obaseki, 2021 Wing – Mudiay Elite: Manny’s athleticism stands out right away. Excelled in the open court and took on the role as the lead guard for Mudiay.

Ed’Xavier Rhodes, 2021 PF – ProSkills 16U: Has an ample amount of talent. The lefty forward’s mobility mixed with a promising inside/out game makes him a formidable foe vs opposing frontline prospects.

Chrisdon Morgan, 2021 PF – Urban DFW 16U: Speaking of a forward with ample talent, Morgan stood out to the staff in stretches with his ability to effect the game on both ends

Marcel McReary, 2021 SF/PF – Crab 5 16U: has made strides in his game from the past year. A Cream of The Crop Alumn, Marcel was effective on the glass and a spacer from the perimeter.

In the past 14 Days, the TBB staff has been on the road…. and I mean on the road! From San Antonio, to the Bayou City (Houston) and spent some time in Missouri. It’s apparent we’ve logged a vast amount of miles but consequently, that means we have a immense amount of information coming your way. Our recruitment notebook takes a look at the top performers from Houston at the UIL State Tournament and the Spring Ice Breaker.

2019
– Calvin Solomon displayed a versatile offensive skillset. A grab and go candidate, sound passer and was key in Klein Forest making it to the 6A State Championship.
– Holds an offer from TSU & SFA
– Hearing from Illinois, LA Tech, Sam Houston

2020
– Stephen Faramade for Texas Elite Mel is a physical presence in the paint. A double-double candidate that interest from HBU. Plans to take an official this spring/summer.
– Talking about a big, physical presence. Houston Defender’s Eddie Lampkin has slimmed down and imposed his will inside. Been hearing mainly from TCU, Georgetown, LSU, Baylor and plans to take an official to Georgetown. Missouri has recently shown interest.
– 20’ Hayden Hefner game has taken a leap. Thrived in the open court and has improved as a 1on1 shot creator
– Hayden has been hearing from Clemson, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Colorado St. & Colorado
– Plans to take an unofficial to Colorado & Colorado State
– Prior to his injury in the semi’s at the UIL State Tournament, Rubin Jones of Houston Yates/Cooz Elite was a producer in multiple box-score stats in San Antonio.
– Connecting on the long ball, finished around the rim and was quintessential in the Lions success during the scholastic season.
– Holds offers from UNT & UTEP
– Have been contacted by UH, UTSA Minnesota, VCU, Oregon St, Baylor, TCU, SFA, Sam Houston, American University, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Lehigh, Colorado, Colorado St, Kansas St, Rice, Nebraska, Oral Roberts.
– Nate Martin for the Houston Hoops showcased a sound inside/out game blended with a toughness he competed with.
– Expect his recruitment to pickup this grassroots season.
– Holds offers from Houston, Oral Roberts, Texas State.

2021

   – Javier Francis for JL3 is furnished with freakish length. A top 5-7 talent in the state of Texas.
– holds a Texas A&M offer
– Has taken visits to Aggieland & UofH
– Francis’ teammate at JL3, Griffin Datcher helped his stock immensely. Strong, athletic slasher that hits shots once his feet are set.
– Interest: Iowa, Texas Tech, Stanford
– Has taken visits to Baylor and UofH


Standouts

LJ Cryer, 2020 PG – Houston Hoops: Was the best guard in the gym regardless of class. Possesses a gift for scoring but also is very capable of running an offense.

Bryce Griggs, 2022 PG – Team Harden 16U: Griggs sure does have a knack for scoring the ball. A crafty, scoring guard the shouldered the offensive load and led Team Harden to a 2-0 record on Sunday.

Valentine Catt, 2020 C – Houston Defenders: Valentine has made some strides in his game. The most eye catching play was when he comfortably took and knocked down a mid-range J in transition. Now that’s not his strength but the rim running, shot-blocking big man has a better understanding on how to play.

PJ Neal, 2021 PG – Houston Hoops 16U: Neal is a steady driver of the car. Advances the ball, holds plus vision as his size mixed with lateral mobility allows him to defend multiple spots.

RJ Keene, 2021 Wing – Houston Hoops 16U: Holds a flamethrower from deep. Keene is a versatile shooter that plays with constant effort. One of the top 2021 performers from the Spring Ice Breaker.

PJ Haggarty, 2022 PG – TJ Ford: We’ve been high on PJ Haggarty at this camp. A saavy guard that can score in consecutive fashion. Avg. over 20pts a game this pst weekend.

Kharee McDaniels, 2019 PG – Klein Forest: The UCO Commit was a big-time performer. Knocking down clutch shot after clutch shot. The quick guard out of Klein Forest got to his spots and played efficiently on the offensive end.

Bruce Scott, 2019 Wing – North Shore: A bruising, powerful wing that was executing on shots from deep. Helped his stock with performance against Duncanville at the Alamo Dome.  

Thursday’s Action didn’t disappoint. High profile matchups led to high-level games. Vincent Iwuchukwu didn’t disappoint, CJ Smith, Jalen Jackson piloted their troops as this TBB Diary, we highlight a key element in the programs advancing to Saturday’s title game.  

Experience Can 

Never be undermined… an adage that continues to be the theme for the programs that win on the grand stage. Mansfield Timberview holds a roster that carries a mass amount of experience and subsequently put on a show  Thursday with a 79-55 win vs Manor. Air Force signee Tre White was an animal on both ends. He cleaned up on the offensive glass, blocked shots and lead the break once he nabbed a rebound. 19’ CJ Smith’s growth as a lead guard has been a key aspect in the Wolves stamping a spot in the title game. It’s also been key in CJ’s recruitment as well. Smith accumulated 24 points but his ability to make plays for others and run a team translates. Another unsign Senior, Rodrigo Soares strung together a sound performance with 13pts 7rebs and his steady production will be much needed for the Wolves to win. 

San Antonio Wagner, as noted in our previous article have been here before and the two players that stepped up in the semi’s vs Sulphur Springs was two (TBB) Cream of The Crop Alums Jalen Jackson (UNT Signee) & 20’ Journee Phillips. Jalen Jackson was in attack mode early; getting to the paint, making right reads once backline defense arrived in which his teammates made the defense pay. Jackson orchestrated a 18pt 5ast & 3 stl outing. Wherever the ball is, more than likely you’ll see Phillips in the mix. Journee’s strong rebounding instincts mix with his attack doggish game was key in leading the Thunderbirds in scoring (19pts) and rebounds (7). 2021 Ja’Sean Jackson , the younger brother of Jalen connected on 4 three pointers and his offensive production brought a jolt of energy for Wagner. 

Although the Dallas Madison roster doesn’t hold a group that have been in the Alamo Dome before, they do have a coach that has. HC Damien Mobley, who has won two state titles with Dallas Madison in 2009 & 2013 is under the helm and his group recorded a big-time second half performance against Cole for a 43-33 win. Sr. Dominique Robinson led the way with 12pts 11rebs as he was a key cog on Madison’s defensive execution; tipping passes, keeping his man in front and playing strong help-side defense. 

Vincent Iwuchukwu Is Who We Thought He Is

We Previously spoke about Vincent needing to provide a strong presence inside for Cole HS to win. Although they couldbt get past Madison, Vincent’s stat-line was impressive. 10pts 7rebs and 8blks. Vincent was disruptive on the defensive end and offensively showed flashes of a player that can score inside & out. One could say Iwuchukwu’s ceiling is the highest of any prospect in the 2022 class and there isn’t going to be a rebuttal on this end.  He does have ways to go but the talent he possesses is very noticeable. Vincent holds a UTSA offer and his family has heard from Baylor. 

Notable Box-Score Stats

• Keaston Willis, 2019 PG – Sulphur Springs: 23 pts on 50% Shooting (11-11 From Foul Line) 
• Daedae Hall, 2020 Wing – Sulphur Springs: 20pts 5rebs on 64% Shooting)
• Scott Thomas, 2019 Wing-Forward: 19pts 7 Rebs

Seems like it was yesterday when the staff was prepping for the Elite 14 in Wichita Falls. Now we are reaching the end of the scholastic season as the staff is on the road to San Antonio for the UIL State Tournament. We break down the top prospects remaining from the 3A, 4A, 5A & 6A classifications. Is the best prospect a Freshman? Duncanville, Jamal Shead’s heroics & more below.

3A

Will Young Vincent Steal The Show

If Cole High School plans to win a state title, Fr. Vincent Iwuchukwu will need to provide a strong inside presence. We haven’t release our freshman rankings but Vincent has made a strong argument as the top prospect in the 22’ class. Leading the Cougars to a 34-5 record, recording double-doubles in key matchups and rising to the occasion defensively when his team needs it.

Jerome Rodgers, Dallas Madison Have Eye on The Prize

There’s a familiar face on the sidelines of this year’s Dallas Madison squad and Coach Damien Mobley looks to add another state title on the resume. Madison  will be in a battle vs aforementioned Cole High School as TBB prospect, Jerome Rodgers will be on a stage to showcase why the staff is very high on him. Rodgers utilizes his athleticism on both ends and has made strides as a jumpshooter and lead guard.

4A

Faith Family Looking to Bring Title Back to Oak Cliff

Although reaching this point may be unfamiliar territory for the Eagles, overcoming deficits and coming away victorious in big-time games has become habitual at this stage. The freshman duo of Trae Clayton and Jordan Walsh have provided stellar play for Faith Family. Clayton has an attack-doggish approach to the game, testing opposing defenses inside and tackling the challenges defensively on switches. Walsh is a tantalizing prospect as his length, athleticism and improved ball skills allows him to make his mark in a game even when he doesn’t score. Seniors KJ Barnes, Langston Murphy-Brown and Jeremiah Coleman bring experience, scoring punch and leadership that has gotten the Eagles to San Antonio.

Jack Yates Looking for 5th State Title

Head Coach Greg Wise and Houston Yates make their 7th trip to the State Championships after a 108-89 victory vs defending champions Silsbee. 20’ Rubin Jones leads the Lions as this is an opportunity for Rubin to stake his claim as a top 15 prospect in the state. It has all slowly been coming together for Rubin and the staff will see what he will provide at the Alamo Dome. Other prospects to take note of is Junior guard Antwon Norman., who’s as explosive as they come at the guard spot. Intercepting passing lanes and racking up steals in Yates’ notorious press, punching it home on drives to the basket and supplying grit and energy. When Jo. Valrie is hitting shots, Yates is a handful as the talented senior is furnished with sound athleticism, rebounding prowess and shot making capabilities.

5A

Continuous Rise of Jamal Shead

We’ve been high on Mr. Shead since freshman year, slicing and dicing his way through defenses and fast forwarding two years later, it’s more of the same but he’s also added layers to his game that’s made him a household name in the 2020 class. One thing Jamal has shown time and time again is there isn’t a moment too big for him. We expect a big-time performance out of him this week.

2 in 3? A Trio of Seniors Look to End Their Careers With Gold Around Their Necks

“Can never undermine experience,” and that quote holds true in analyzing Mansfield Timberview’s run to San Antonio. Having won a title in 2017 which was pioneered by current Oklahoma State guard Isaac Likeleke, the Wolves looks to add another title in he mantle. Sr’s Rodrigue Soares, CJ Smith & Air Force Signee Tre White along with HC Duane Gregory have been steering the ship the right direction this season. Soares is a methodical, smooth scoring wing that gets hot quick from deep. Smith has ran the show at point and has provided a scoring punch that cannot go unnoticed. White is the ultimate glue-guy. He’s a proficient rebounder, shot blocker and finisher that he gathers monster boxscore stats without having a single play drawn for him.

Jalen Jackson Looks to Complete Some Unfinished Business

Has been a few years since the Thunderbirds have been in the Alamo Dome. The previous time, current Baylor Bear Forward Tristan Starks was manning the front line. Jalen, who was a sophomore at the time looks to finish the season with a championship. The future UNT guard is a fearless competitor; making his mark on the defensive end and being able to get to his spots and hit shots. Jr. Journee Phillips, who was a freshman on that team in 2017, shares the backcourt with Jalen as Journee provides  high volume scoring and steady defensive play.

Peaking At The Right Time- Feat. Sulphur Springs

Sulphur Springs wasn’t projected to be in the Final Four, albeit bolstering a handful of D1 prospects, but chemistry and continuity is where it needs to be. UIW Commit Keaston Willis is a natural scoring guard that at any given night can score 30pts. 19’ Xavier Cork has been coming alive as of late. Scoring on the block and making highlight plays on the glass and on the defensive end. Junior Cameron Kahn, who holds a UTA offer has shot it well from deep all season. Him being able to widen his game has allowed Sulphur Springs to be creative in lineups. The X Factor for the Wildcats however is  Daedae Hall. A big-time competitor that wears different hats. Rebounds, defends multiple spots and plays with a mass amount of energy.

6A

Keiman Capers, North Shore In It to Win It

Possessing a 33-3 record this season, Production from a multitude of prospects has gotten the Mustangs to this point. Senior Keiman Capers, a Cream of The Crop Alum  is active on the glass and scores in a variety of ways. Bruce Scott supplies firm play at the guard spot and is capable of shouldering offensive load if circumstances permit. Joshua Cooper provides production on multiple boxscore stats as the showdown vs Duncanville will be a must watch.

Year 1 = Championship?

Speaking of Duncanville, It’s the first year HC David Peavy is at the helm.  Although at times the production on the court was shaky, The Panthers have meshed and are two games away from a title. Texas Tech Signee Jahmius Ramsey is a handful for opposing defenses. His explosive athleticism mixed with his size and scoring prowess makes him a mismatch for rival guards. Junior Micah Peavy has been stellar on the glass. Recording multiple double-double outings in the playoffs and displaying his high-level versatility on the offensive end. Others to note is 20’ sharpshooter Derek Luna, quick, disruptive guard Evan Gooden and promising sophomore Damon Nicholas.

Multiple Prospects At Klein Forest

It wasn’t an easy path for the Eagles. Defeating a Samuel Williamson led Rockwall on Friday then subsequently defeating a Tyrese Maxey, Chris Harris led South Garland the next day. Unsign Senior Calvin Solomon was on a tear. Active on both ends of the court and showcasing an offensive game that translates. UCO Commit Kharee McDaniels makes big time play after big time play. The Saavy, quick guard is capable of running a team and producing on he offensive end.

Can Langston Love & Cibolo Steele Get it Done?

One of the top guard prospects in the 2021 class, Langston Love (another Cream of The Crop) has piloted his troops to the finale. A 33pt performance vs Austin Westlake, Love uses his strong frame to finish vs contact and showcased dynamic playmaking capabilities.

Conclusion

For the programs not mentioned on the article, the TBB staff will be there to get a good evaluation of the top players at Decatur, Liberty Hill, East Chambers & Brock.

The road wasn’t an easy one. From finishing his high school career with 0 Division 1 offers  to being sought after coaches from the likes of Bill Self and Bob Huggins in a matter of 500 days. We talk to Collin County’s Taz Sherman, one of the  most electric players in Junior College Basketball about the path and recruitment.

“You got to love the process. My teammates in high school went through it and they told me it’s my turn to go through it. It’s great to see how my work has paid off honestly.”

Sherman talks about where he’s improved since his time in Collin County.

“I feel like my time at Collin I’ve improved on my ball-handling and vision. I know I’m known for my scoring but one aspect I feel is overlooked is my ability to make passes.”

Taz breaks down what motivates him once he steps on the court.

“I definitely play with a chip on my shoulder. I know when I step on the floor, defenses will be ready to stop me and Another thing is I wasn’t recruited by many schools. That motivates me everyday; practices, games I want to show people that they missed on me coming out of high school. That along with playing for my mom. I want to one day buy her a house and take care of her for all the things she has done for me.”

Offers from West Virginia, Texas Tech, Utah, SMU, Oklahoma State to go along with interest from Memphis, Kansas, NC State, Texas A&M, Purdue and a slew of others.

Recruitment

SMU
“SMU for sure has pursued me the most. (Assistant) Coach Shawn Forest has been to a lot of my games. That’s my guy and they have shown me where I can be a fit to their program.”

West Virginia
“I have a good relationship with (Head) Coach Bob Huggins. Our conversations go real well, we talk on the phone every now and then and he has told me I’m a top priority for them. He’s a Hall of Famer and I was nervous eat first because he’s the first one I’ve ever talked to.“

Texas Tech
“I talk to (Assistant) Coach Brian Burg like every other day and he’s cool. We talk about basketball, school, life and we have a good relationship. I talked to Head Coach Chris Beard once and I see myself as a fit in their motion offense. Their offense will give me space to operate on the wing and top of the key to create a good look.”
Utah
“I talk to the staff at Utah basically every day. I can see myself there. West Coast, play in the PAC 12 were its guard heavy and they run a similar offense to the one here at Collin. Baseline screens, ball screens as I do a good job attacking coming off screens.”

Side Note: With leading scorer Sederick Barefield graduating, staff would expect Taz to come in right away and play.

Oklahoma State
“I mainly talk to (Head) Coach Mike Boynton. We talk often, and he often comes to my practices and games. He offered me after one of the first games he saw me play. But even outside of basketball, Coach is just a really good person to chop it up with.”

Kansas
“I talk to (Head) Coach Bill Self a couple times. He came down to see me as well and he’s a really cool guy. I also talk to Assistant Coach Norm Roberts about twice a week. We just follow up on how each of our games went.”

There are three factors in Sherman determining his next destination.

“As you know I’ll have two years left to play after this year and I want to go somewhere where I’ll have the chance to play. I know I would have to work to gain a starting spot but getting minutes, making the NCAA Tournament (Which is a dream of Taz) and getting the opportunity to play in the NBA are the major factors.”

Sherman is averaging a whopping 26ppg this season and at one point was averaging 30ppg in conference. A dynamic, fearless scoring guard that creates 1on1 offense. Taz will definitely be of help for any program he decides to go to.

Two top 25 level talents were identified  by the Texasboysbasketball.com staff this past weekend. As the staff was planted on the north side of Dallas for the Primetime Winter Blast. Full stats were provided by EPLAY Basketball as break down our top performers through the power of EPLAY.

Wayne Pritts, 2023 PF – 3D Empire: Pitts still on the raw side but on the boards he was effective even playing up a grade. Pritts averaged 7 rebounds a game.

Gehrig Norman, 2023 2/1 CG – 3D Empire: Norman is a talented guard that draws similarities to past prospects that have came from 3D. Norman strung together strong outputs, averaging 20 pts a game. 

Zuby Djiofor, 2022 PF – Dallas Thunder: One of the most exciting moments that happen’s in the life of an evaluator is locating a “locating in the rough.” Zuby’s size blended with his athleticism stood out as he pieced together near double-double numbers at the Winter Blast. It’s not far fetch to have Djiofor in a top 15-20 conversation in the rankings. 

Tyson Berry, 2023 PG – bEASTtx Bullies: The high point man for the Bullies, Tyson got to his spots, hit shots as he composed 22 points in the championship game. 

Robert Bellard, 2023 PF – bEASTtx Bullies: Out of Marshall, Tx, where current UTA guard Tiandre Jackson was born and raised; Bellard is has a chance of becoming a next level prospect if everything shapes up right. Robert challenged shots (1.5 blks a game) ran the floors hard and constructed 5.5 ppg & 6 rpg. 

In the first episode of the 12 in 12 we dive in on the sophomore class in a Texas. In a near two weeks span, the TBB staff traveled to Houston twice for the McDonalds Invitational and Hoopsgiving Classic presented by Jim Hicks of RCS Sports. There was plenty going around in the DFW post Thanksgiving with the Robert Hughes Hall of Fame and  Glenn Smith’s Thanksgiving Hoopfest.

Arthur Kaluma, 2021 SF – Universal Academy: Kaluma showcased why he is the top player in the 2021 class. His feel and old-school swingman style-of-play equates to positive results. Arthur guided his UA Eagles squad to two impressive victories against Tulsa Memorial and LA Peabody at the Robert Hughes Hall of Fame Showcase.

Kaleb Stewart, 2021 PG – Crosby:  Flashback a year ago from this time – that’s the first time the staff identified Kaleb Stewart. Fast forward to present day and we have seen a growth in his game that was foresaw. Stewart at the McDonald’s Invitational scored more efficiently while his leaping abilities have noticeably seen a jump.

Joshua Farmer, 2021 CF – Sharpstown: I traveled to Aldine Davis to watch the #4 player in our rankings in Josh Farmer and although I left wanting more, there was still no question about the talent Josh is equipped with. He’s long, athletic,  fluid operating out on the perimeter and in spurts looked like the best player in his class.

Toney Green, 2021 Wing – FW OD Wyatt: Green is an intriguing prospect out of Fort Worth. He can attack both ways, furnished with solid passing instincts but can get carried away at times. Green is a top 30 prospect that averaged 13 pts 4 rebounds a game in three games.

Manny Obaseki, 2021 Wing – Allen: Going back to the time clock. A year ago from this time, Manny was trying to figure out how to be productive in the varsity level. Skip ahead to now and Obaseki has tighten his game up and viewed as one of the key pieces to Allen winning basketball games.

Keon Edwards, 2021 Wing-Guard – Sam Rayburn: Edwards participated at the McDonald’s Invitational and The Hoopsgiving Classic as he displayed a skill-set that makes him a top 5 prospect in his class. Keon’s positional size mixed with his ball skills and shooting capabilities was shown in stretches.

Chucks Isitua, 2021 C – HCYA: Chucks has made strides in understanding the game. He gets in position to score, challenges shots, rebounds as he was a strong presence in the paint.

Allen Udemadu, 2021 PF/C  – HCYA: Allen has also made strides in his game via his instincts. He’s a powerful athlete that finished above the rim in traffic. Udemadu accumulated a double-double outing.

Jerome Rodgers, 2021 PG – Dallas Madison: Rodgers carries a strong bloodline as his mom and dad were both notable athletes. Jerome at Massive Monday penetrated through the opposing defense and found his teammates on drives to the cup. A top 25-30 talent in the state of Texas.

Chris Felix, 2021 SG – FB Hightower: Texasboysbasketball.com has been high on the lanky guard out of Hightower. Felix impacted the game on both ends utilizing his length on the glass, intercepting passing lanes and knocking down shots from the perimeter.

Harison Ingram, 2021 Wing – St. Marks: Ingram’s wielded his size and IQ to string together a stellar game against Austin LBJ at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest with 23 pts 9 rebounds & 4 asts. Harrison’s recruitment has picked up in the past 60 days.

Sir Isaace Herron, 2021 PF – Lamar: Herron stock has rose towards the end of the summer. He’s a long, athletic forward that supplies an emerging game. Sir Isaac will see his name pop up in our 2021 rankings due to his potential and steady production.

The 9th Annual Lonestar JUCO/Prep Showcase has closed and the TBB staff recollects on the bevy of potential D1 prospects that were on hand at the Drive Nation Facility. We got a good/early evaluation at the JUCO programs from Region XIV and V as well as the abundance of talent that will be competing in 6A TCAL this year. We analyze 12 prospects in the first part of our report as a young prospect from Houston has emerged in our players to watch list.

Nate Lacewell, 2020 SF – Legacy School Of Sports Science: Lacewell is a very intriguing prospect that possesses size and perimeter skill set that popped out to the staff. A top 50 prospect in his class that will surely see a jump in his ranking on the update.

Reyhan Cobb, RS FR. CF – Tyler Junior College: An athletic, mismatch 4 man that sat out last year due to a hand injury. Cobb hasn’t put it all together yet but his athleticism mixed with his inside/out skillset was on display this past weekend.

Jonathan Bryant Jr, SO CG – Tyler Junior College: Bryant was a handful for opposing guards. Strong, got downhill and did a solid job running the show for TJC.

Tajzmel Sherman, SO SG – Collin County CC: Sherman is an electric scoring guard and in the morning game against TJC, Tajzmel showcased his ability to score on the move. The Houston native produced a solid performance on Saturday.

Jonathan Aku, 2020 C – Ischool High: Right off the bat, Aku was matched up against a more experienced,  longer post. However, Jonathan more than held his own – winning the battle on the boards and able to score inside. Aku showcased why he is the top big man in the 2020 class.

Rodrigue Andela, FR. PF/C – Kilgore College: Andela is physically imposing and was accumulating near double-double numbers on Saturday. Rodrigue was efficient in his minutes and helped anchor the big Kilgore College frontline.

Arthur Kaluma, 2021 CF – Universal Academy: Kaluma is only a sophomore but his feel and IQ is one of an upperclassman. Kaluma averaged over 14 points a game and generating open looks for his teammates.

Jalen Posey, 2020 PG – Universal Academy: Posey played two games on Friday and was disruptive on the defensive end. Playing the passing the lanes, challenging jumpers – Posey’s stock has climbed dramatically in the past 60 days.

Michael Thomas, Post Grad SG – Texas Prep: An athletically gifted guard that finished above the rim in the open court. Talent is there for Thomas as we will see if he can put it all together on a consistent basis.

David Nickelberry, SO. Wing – Forward – Trinity Valley CC: The transfer from Memphis is a tough cover for opposing forwards. He has a good handle, motor and strung together a double-double in each contest.

Larenz Williams, 2019 Wing – Cy Fair Learning Center: An attacking, hardworking wing that flourished in transition. Williams impacted the game on both ends for Cy Fair Learning Center.

Edited by AB

The second part of our  TBB Prospect Preview, we surveyed the mass amount of  potential and definite division 1 prospects that participate in programs that fall into the 5A UIL Classification. One of our breakout candidates comes from Sulphur Springs; In this section, we are breaking down teams ranging from M-Z. A handful of juniors will need to produce big seasons as we analyzed over 50 prospects in this edition. Plenty to read, plenty to digest here at texasboysbasketball.com.

*Note – All rankings mentioned are from the TABC Pre-Season Team Rankings

Manor High School

Manor welcomes 2020 Jamal Shead to their program as the confident guard out of Central Texas holds offers from Drexel, Texas A&M, Colorado State and Texas State. Shead has shown he won’t shy from any moment on the court and is the player that can make the Mustangs a contender for a district title.

Mansfield Timberview

Isaac Likeleke is onto the next chapter of his basketball life, currently playing for Oklahoma State. But Mansfield Timberview are equipped with prospects that can step up and rack wins for the Wolves even after taking another blow with 2020 JaQuan Scott transferring. The senior trio of Trezarian White (Air Force commit), point guard CJ Smith and wing Rodrigo Soares pack experience and strong intangibles. White’s rebounding instincts, nasty streak and heart he competes with lobbies himself as a double-double candidate on most nights. Smith is capable of stocking the point column as he has made strides as a decision maker. Soares plays methodical, at his own pace and it manufactures production. There are still questions in regards to what level Rodrigo’s game translates to but Soares will be given the floor to answer those questions this season.

Milby

Sophomore Will Young, who collected offers from Houston and TCU is the top returning prospect for the Buffs. Young is a strong, steady guard that is armed with an impressive offensive arsenal. The addition of Junior Gerald Doakes by the way of Arkansas will provide a scoring punch due to his ability to generate airspace off the bounce and possessing an innate ability to finish around the cup versus length.

PA Memorial

The reigning state champions graduated three prospects who went on to sign with Lamar State College – Port Arthur and Kenneth Coleman took the Head Coaching job at Humble Summer Creek. Returning is 2020 big man Nathan Clover as he will gain a bigger role with the Titans. Clover is strong, physical interior presence that has made progressions on his post game. The junior post holds offers from Lamar and UTSA.

Pflugerville Connally

The 9th ranked Cougars lost 2020 guard Jamal Shead (as stated earlier in the article) but still contains prospects that can get the job done. Senior backcourt of Kylin Robinson and Tyrone Perry will be a handful for opposing teams as each one provides an offensive jolt that can carry the scoring load if needed. 2019 big man Eddie Burgess is a rock. He’s big, strong and finishes through contact with regularity.

Red Oak

The Hawks missed the playoffs last year but Red Oak is placed in a new district which is expected to be less grueling than the previous year. 2019 Houston Commit Marcus Sasser will lead the pack as he will be required to set the table up but also showcase his explosive scoring abilities. This season will be big for 2019 Joshua Miller as the wing had an up & down summer showing. To the staff, talent isn’t the question for Miller but if he can put it all together and string a high quality season, that will catapult his stock.

Rudder

The Rangers are ranked 10th in according to TABC and 2019 KJ Cunningham will play the role as the floor commander. Cunningham is a steady driver of the car as he locates his teammates for open shots and steps up to the moment when his name is called.

SA Wagner

UNT commit Jalen Jackson is the leader and floor general for the Thunderbirds. Jackson’s relentless motor, defensive prowess and decision making will be needed for the 5th place Wagner squad. Jalen’s brother Jasean (Jackson), who is a sophomore has the talent and capabilities of being a strong contributor on the varsity level. 2020 Journee Philips will likely boast an increased role on the offensive front for Wagner. Phillips plays with a chip on his shoulder and we expect him to come out of the gate aggressive. 2021 Kajion Thornton possess a nice ceiling as well and when he’s zoned in, Thornton can contribute on both ends of the floor.

Shadow Creek

The Sharks attained second place in their district last year and lost to eventual State Champions in Port Arthur Memorial during the playoffs. Hartford commit PJ Henry will help pilot his troops to a hopeful 20 + win season this year as there is no ambiguity on what Henry does and that is score. 2019 Auston Chatman is another prospect to mention as he provides scoring and defensive versatility due to his size, shooting capabilities and IQ.

Sharpstown

Texas A&M have recently offered 21′ forward Joshua Farmer as the Sharpstown native has been high on the TBB board since May. Farmer is equipped with length, a versatile game and athleticism that translates. Brian Perry is another sophomore for the Apollos that can have a strong season. Perry makes shots along the arc and contributes in an array of ways on the floor.

South Oak Cliff

We are waiting for junior post Kylon Owens to take the next step as a player and the 2018-2019 school season could be it. Owens is a big, interior prospect that can be a force on both ends of the floor. Owens is also capable of making shots from the three point line/challenge shots but consistency is key for Kylon this year.

Sulphur Springs

Three integral pieces from Sulphur Springs team last year are gone as the low hanging fruit of the conversation is, who will step up? Well all this does is open the opportunity for prospects such as senior post Xavier Cork and 2019 Keaston Willis to help engineer the process. Corks vertical athleticism and capable post game bears positive results. Willis is capable of shouldering the scoring load and fill the scoring column as his recruitment can see an up-stick with a very sound season. Who I’m intrigued about the most on this team however, is 2020 Cameron Kahn. Cameron ability to grab & go, finish and create in transition to go along with his defensive instincts are impressive.  A breakout candidate for this season, Kuhn has a chance to make the most out of this opportunity.

Waller

Freshman big man Adam Stewart will hop right in and be counted on to be a key piece for the Bulldogs. Stewart is a traditional post with a promising shooting stroke from 12-15 ft out. Adam will struggle in moments (like majority of underclassmen) but we believe he will benefit immensely at the end of the day.

WF Rider

Lubbock Christian recently received a commitment from 2019 forward Ty Caswell. The future Chap packs great range on his jumper, plus vision as he will be pivotal for the Raiders to match or surpass last year’s achievements. Rice commit in senior Ben Moffat will supply sound post play and dependency as a shot changer & rebounder.

Edited by AB

The second part of our  TBB Prospect Preview, we surveyed the mass amount of  potential and definite division 1 prospects that participate in programs that fall into the 5A UIL Classification. The maturation of Jay Wilson, Tristen Newton and a bevy of prospects ahead.  In this section, we are breaking down teams ranging from A-L so there is plenty to read, plenty to digest here at texasboysbasketball.com

*Note – All rankings mentioned are from the TABC Pre-Season Team Rankings

Carrolton Newman Smith

Junior guard Jarren Cook profiles as a legitimate shooting threat as the marksman for the Trojans will be relied upon to provide efficient offensive gains and steady play when running the point position.

Denton Ryan

This past grassroots season we saw a maturation from 2020 Jay Wilson. Motor and energy was brought on a more consistent basis as Wilson embraced what he is as a player. Jay has been gaining attention from college coaches as he is on the cusp of collecting offers from division 1 programs. If he can followup a sound spring/summer with a strong scholastic season, he will be where he wants going into next year.

EP Burges

Senior Tristen Newton caught our eye last December in what looked like an mano y mano bout with current Kansas Jayhawk Quentin Grimes. Newton produced over thirty points in that contest against College Park and thus began his name being on our TBB database. The Spring/Summer didn’t go the way we anticipated it would for him but we expect another high caliber season for Tristen.

Fort Bend Hightower

There is an ample amount of buzz surrounding 22′ Bryce Griggs. He carries a good feel for the game, nice scoring package in which he makes shots in an array of ways and has shown capabilities of opening scoring opportunities for his teammates. Griggs will be an immediate impact player for the Hurricanes. We definitely can’t forget about 2019 Denver commit in Mykell Robinson,  who is a strong finisher in transition as he utilizes his athleticism to influence the game. Robinson skill-set has vastly improved from this time a year ago as the Pioneers collected a talented wing that has the ability to contribute for four years. Sophomore Chris Felix boast a sound game that transfers onto the floor. A promising jump shooter that employs his length on the defensive end. Another one to note is crafty senior guard Kevin McGaskey who will look to convey a quality grassroots season to the scholastic year.

Fort Bend Marshall

2022 Chris Marshall is one of the top guard prospects in the freshman class. Marshall delivers off the dribble, exudes confidence when he plays and possesses the ingredients to concoct himself of becoming a household name. Chris still has ways to go as a player but the next 3-4 years will be interesting as we track his development.

Frisco Liberty

2019 Lamar commit Zion Richardson comes back to the fold for his senior year as he looks to guide his Redhawks squad to the top of their district and make a playoff push once again. Richardson has continually made progressions in his game and has thrown new wrinkles to his skill-set. Junior Micaiah Abi will have the opportunity to display his unique inside-out game and can make the jump as one of the primary scoring targets for Frisco Liberty this year.

Frisco Lone Star

Northern Arizona commit Isaiah Lewis will be the primary option for the Rangers this year. Even better news, Lewis is healthy and has an opportunity make an immediate impact on the court.

Frisco Wakeland

Junior Austin Lewis was solid during the grassroots season as he started to grow accustomed of the speed and physicality the game brings. Lewis can stretch the floor as he also brings a solid touch around the rim. Utah State has came to the see the talented forward.

Highland Park

Impressed with the versatility freshman Luke Hardenburg brings to the table. He’s a smart player with vision, handle and make defenders pay when left open.

Justin Northwest

Northwest fell short of a state title last season and Head Coach Mike Hatch accepted a staff position at SMU. Mason Hix (Collin County CC) graduated, but the trio of  2019 Avery Anderson (Oklahoma State Commit) Sam Freeman and 2020 Julian Smith return. Anderson is a dynamic, play-making guard that provides a high-level scoring punch. Freeman’s rebounding prowess and shot-blocking instincts supplies an interior presence that gives the Texans an edge against their opponents. Smith, who has been viewed as a catch & shoot prospect, showed in the latter part of the summer and in the fall that he can contribute and score when operating off the dribble.

Kimball

Seniors Cobe Williams, Deaunte Lee & Kenyawn Bowie should have no problem with continuity and chemistry when they are on the floor together due to them having played on the same club team (Dallas Showtyme). Williams is a quick, attacking guard that keeps defenders treading backwards when he gains a full head of steam.  Lee is a shooting marksman that can open huge leads for his team when he executes on a barrage of three pointers in consecutive fashion. What Bowie provides can be overlooked; He’s not likely to score 30 points (more or less 20 in that matter) but he cleans up on the glass, is a physical interior presence and will get his hands dirty and make plays that contribute to winning basketball. 2019 Cole Williams will also be a key cog for Kimball as he  has displayed the ability to score in bunches.

Lancaster

Lancaster is projected not only to win their district but potentially reach San Antonio for the Final Four. 2020 Mike Miles and sophomore Wade Taylor will be key pieces to the puzzle for HC Ferrin Douglas and staff. Miles holds offers from Houston, LSU, Old Dominion, TCU and Oklahoma State as Mike balances scoring and generating looks for his compatriots. The speedster, Wade Taylor is a blur in transition as he seamlessly gets end to end with a finish or kickout.  Taylor holds offers from SMU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Florida State and TCU. Junior Marco Foster will be a key piece for Lancaster also as his shot making, floor spacing and confidence will be needed.

Little Elm

When Little Elm comes up in a casual conversation, 2020 RJ Hampton’s name seems to quickly comes up. Hampton is not only number one in our 2020 rankings but he is one of the top prospects in the country. Positional size, scoring dexterity, RJ will be relied upon if the Lobos hope to make a playoff run.

Hampton isn’t the only story as freshman Tre White has showcased in the fall leagues of being a budding star. White is arguably the top player in his class as well and his ability to score and carry the load when needed will be essential for Little Elm.

Edited by AB

Back to Back weekends in the Clutch City for Texasboysbasketball.com as Scout Focus hosted their annual Elite 80 Camp  at  “The Gym” in Humble, TX. Weekend of mining we found what Alan Branch would say, “Diamonds in The Rough,” as we identified a handful of Top 50 TBB Candidates.

Jailan Ardoin, 2022 CG Tekoa Academy: Out of Port Arthur, Jailan displayed a strong scoring package as he accumulated bucket after bucket in the 5 on 5 games. A prospect that will receive more ink in the future at texasboysbasketball.com

Javonne Lowery, 2019 SG – Pearland HS: Lowery was one of the top performers at the camp. Lowery athleticism blended with an improved feel was showcased as he recently had an in-home Visit from Louisiana-Lafayette.

Miles Goodman, 2020 SG – Second Baptist: Goodman had a solid summer playing 17U with Stackz Elite. At the Elite80, Miles is a dangerous outside shooter as he played with an edge about him. 

Cole Kelly, 2021 PF – Friendswood HS: Cole got a lot of stuff done. A forward with a solid skillset, feel and a uncanny ability to finish against length. 

Markel James,  2020 PF – Hightower: A potential late bloomer candidate. couple years from now, people maybe scratching their heads, wondering how James slipped through the cracks. He’s still has ways to go in the development process, but he possess an intriguing skillset to go with his size. 

Jacob Duran, 2022 CG – Bridgeland HS: Duran connected on jumpers from deep at the Elite80. A freshman out of the Bayou City that could be a household name with a big school and grassroots season. 

Noah Smith, 2019 PF/C – Dekany: The Burly, fleshy forward arrived on Sunday and imposed his will inside. Nimble, skilled and possess a game that translates at the next level. 

We’re over two weeks away until the scholastic season kicks off and we at Texasboysbasketball.com are providing a four part preview of the top prospects in the classifications of 4A, 5A, 6A UIL and 6A TCAL. We will examine over 100 players in this series so stay tune because there is plenty to read for our subscribers in the upcoming days.

Silsbee

Only right to start with the back to back champs as the Tigers return their top three scorers from last year in 2019 Devon McCain, Jordyn Adams (Austin Peay Commit) and 2020 Braelon Bush. McCain carries the duties as the primary ball handler as his bullish play and vision creates match-up problems for opponents. Adams had an compilation of electric performances when the staff saw him in September as he seems more comfortable operating off the bounce and draining contested jumpers. Bush, who’s scoring prowess will be on full display can torch the nets in a hurry as he possess great range on his jumper and the ability to get where he wants on the floor.

Dallas Carter

Dallas Carter isn’t equipped with much size but 32 minutes against Coach Lyndon Love’s group is a tall task to take on. The Cowboys contain a slew of interchangeable players that compete with an unmatchable amount of intensity, energy and speed.  5 come in, 5 come out and nothing glaring changes in regard to production.

The most notable prospect from last year’s 4A state runner up is Grambling commit Zahad Munford. Munford, who shepherded the scoring load for Dallas Carter in the final four last year is geared towards having another big season for the Cowboys as he excels in transition and carries a nice scoring package. 2020 Jalen Williams was another standout in our eyes from the team a year ago. A pesky defender who knocks down shots from beyond the arc and plays with confidence.

Pinkston

Last year’s record for the Vikings wasn’t one 2nd year Head Coach Cedric Griffin would like to recollect on much but with a full season under his belt with his group, things can definitely turn around. One major positive is Pinkston does return SFA commit 2019 Sama’Zha Hart – who exploded onto the recruiting scene with a strong performance in the April Viewing Period. Hart  gathered offers from several Power 5 Programs such as TCU, Oklahoma, Kansas State as he showcased his elite athleticism and ability to knockdown shots from deep.

Forth Worth Dunbar

2019 Jeremiah Keys and 2020 big man Tim Hartman will have big roles to shoulder for the Wildcats. Keys flies up and down the floor as he competes and plays with energy. A big season for Jeremiah will be beneficial for his recruitment as he has the tools but will need to show if he can build a more refined product. Hartman is intriguing, he has good size, length and in spurts when the TBB staff watched him; he impacted the game defensively. We haven’t seen Hartman since last school season and we are interested to see how far he has come along since then.

Seminole

Seminole punched their ticket to San Antonio as they reached the Final Four last season.  2020 Jalen Brittain busted out on the scenes with a 20 (points) & 10 (rebounds) double double in the Alamo Dome. Jalen is a physical, traditional post with an interior game that yields results.

Faith Family

It maybe a little too premature to say but the staff believes the freshman duo of Jordan Walsh and Tre Clayton will be primary targets for the Eagles. Walsh, who received and offer from Texas A&M, produces in the open court, utilizes his length to disrupt shots and cover ground defensively as he has all the capabilities of becoming a high-end D1-player. The attribute that stands out about Clayton is his intangibles – He rebounds, wins the 50/50 balls as his attack dog offensive game allows him to score inside.

Houston Yates

Yates will have a different look compared to last year as Jock Hughes and Mitchell Serialle graduated and are  currently rocking the purple and white with Stephen F. Austin. 2020 Rubin Jones is the headlined prospect for the Lions as he holds offers from North Texas and UTEP. Rubin is strong, athletic and has made strides operating as the primary ball-handler. With the pace Yates play, Jones has the chance to generate news worthy stat-lines this season. 2019 Joquarius Valrie is another prospect we will keep tabs on. Valrie is an aggressive wing that welcomes contact and finishes around the rim.

Wilmer Hutchins

A heartbreaking 1 point lost to Dallas Carter last year ended the Eagles season but 2019 Davian Sanders and Jakevan Leftridge will look to lead Wilmer Hutchins to the playoffs once again and make a deep run. Sanders is a speedy guard that probes with the ball in his hands and finds his teammates. Leftridge is a versatile forward that manufactures, handles and delivers in transition.

Dallas Lincoln

Ken Milton is gone to Oral Roberts as this years reigning district champs will look to repeat and march down to San Antonio this time around. 2020 Cameron Johnson will be one of the primary options for the Tigers as the physical guard can score it and stuff the other categories. The staff likes what 2020 Quinntez Grimes brings to the table. He rebounds, capable of defender multiple positions and he has expanded his game.

Burkburnett

2020 Tre’Von Dean is an interior impact player for the Bulldogs as he utilizes his athleticism to rebound and finish strong around the cup.

Dallas Roosevelt

Demarcus Fisher and Zach Thomas are gone but 2019 guard Marquiss Childs returns and can generate points in a flurry. Childs is a shifty, quick and can fill the scoring column up.

Few Notes

• We will sit down and take a good look at several teams this year such as Argyle, Estacado, Liberty Hill and a couple others. Each of these schools are ranked in the TABC Pre-Season list.
• Region II District 10 possessed 5 teams that eclipsed over 20 wins last season. Although each team lost an reliable piece from a year ago,  the talent is still present and looks to be one of the toughest districts in the state once again.

The Texasboysbasketball.com staff drank their coffee, hopped in the car at 5am and drove down I45 South to catch a several prospects in Houston this  past Saturday. How good did 2019 Jordyn Adams look this weekend? Who is in pursuit of 2019 Devon McCain? We have the answers here as we evaluate our time in the Bayou City.

Will Baker, Darius McBride Combo For Austin Westlake

Westlake graduated three division one players from a year ago as Keonte Kennedy (Xavier), Brock Cunningham (Texas) and Matthew Mayer (Baylor) are onto the next chapters of their basketball careers. Returning is 2019 top big man Will Baker as 2019 SMU Commit Darius McBride transferred to be a big time contributor to the process. Baker showcased his fluidity out on the perimeter, mainly operating on the wing this weekend. Texas and UCLA are considered to be in the lead for the talented big man. McBride utilized his strong body and high IQ to make an impact offensively as he exploited mismatches on switches. When these players are clicking, Westlake becomes a tall task for opposing teams.

Sam Rayburn

There were an abundance of eyes capturing Sam Rayburn mann the court on Saturday. With top 2021 prospects Jerelle Colbert, Keon Edwards and top 30 2020 guard  Jalen White participating – it makes sense as to why. Colbert has ways to go but we loved the energy he brought. Crashing for offensive rebounds, changing shots at the rim and finishing in the paint with powerful dunks. Edwards was solid. He was up and down at Pasadena but he displayed in flashes how dynamic of a play-maker he can be. White provided steady offensive production, always ready to shoot the ball and make sound decisions with the ball.

Silsbee’s Trio

The Silsbee Tigers, who are back to back 4A State Champions have the opportunity this season to achieve a rare feat and that would be to three-peat. Their “Big 3” of 2020 Braelon Bush, 2019’s Devon McCain and Jordyn Adams led the charge as the Tigers went 2-0 on Saturday. Bush was a headache for opposing guards, nabbing steals in the backcourt and connecting on shots from deep. McCain is an intense competitor that relentlessy attacked the basket. He executed on and-1 opportunities and took the role as the primary ball-handler. He plans to take official visits to Austin Peay, New Orleans and SFA in October as he told the staff that he will make a verbal commitment after he takes all of his visits. Adams in our eyes was the top performer from this Saturday at Pasadena, as he shot the lights out from deep, displayed a tighter handle and was a legitimate scoring threat off the dribble. He will take an official visit to Austin Peay on October 7 and Adams plans to take an official to Longwood in October as well.

Standouts

Javonne Lowery, 2019 SG – Pearland High School: Lowery is relied as a playmaker for Pearland and he did a very solid job scoring off the dribble and hitting shots from deep. He will take an official visit to Arkansas Little Rock and Louisiana-Lafayette.

Damon Gentry Jr. 2021 PG – Fort Worth OD Wyatt: Gentry was electrifying in his matchup against Sam Rayburn. Despite losing, Damon took the reigns at point and powered OD Wyatt back into the game after trailing by as much as 20 in the first half. Gentry got to his spots, made strong decisions with the ball and locked in defensively.

Amaree Abrams, 2022 SG – Port Arthur Memorial: The only 2022 that stood out to the staff this weekend in Houston was Amaree Abrams. He played his role well as he was in the mix for 50-50 balls, knock down shots from the perimeter and finished in the paint.

Nathan Clover, 2020 PF/C – Port Arthur Memorial: Clover was a handful in the paint. He utilized his strong body to muscle his way on the block as he strung together back to back double-double outings.

Kaleb Stewart, 2021 PG – Crosby: Stewart has stayed on the TBB staff’s radar since we watched him play last school season at the McDonald’s Invitational. Stewart this Saturday strung together impressive scoring outings as he led Crosby to a 2-1 record this weekend.

Zachary Iyeyemi, 2019 PF/C – Cy-Fair: The staff saw Iyeyemi put together a solid double-double outing in the morning. Zachary will take an official visit to McNeese on October 7th, Will also take an ov to Coastal Carolina in October as well as one to Denver. He told the staff his recruitment is still wide open and looking for right fit.

Montavious Murphy, 2019 PF – Concordia Lutheran: The Kansas State commit was a handful inside for Silsbee. Although he fouled out, Montavious was aggressive getting to the cup and the foul line.

RJ Keene, 2021 Wing – Concordia Lutheran: Keene got a lot of things done at the court. Known to be a shooter, but RJ contributes to winning basketball period. Looking to rebound, make hustle plays as well as knocking shots from deep stood out to the staff.

Edited by AB

I went back to the ole stomping grounds and took a trip to Tyler, TX this past weekend for the ETX Elite Showcase. In an area where football reigns supreme, several prospects from the area possess a game that translates to the collegiate level. Plenty of size manned the courts at Cumberland Academy and we at texasboysbasketball.com are diving in and handing out our top performers from Saturday.

Cedric Kelly, 2020 PF/SF – Texas High: A prospect to definitely keep an eye on. Contains size,  athleticism, length that transfers to the next level.

Matt Wages, 2019 CG – Palestine High School: It didn’t take long to find out what Mr. Wages excels in and that’s score the basketball. A crafty guard that strung together consecutive strong scoring outputs.

Enoch Fatade, 2020 PG – Palestine High School: A steady, sound guard that can be given the keys to the car and drive it to safety. The Palestine native was definitely one of the top guard performer at the camp.

Michael Ruff, 2022 C – Hallsville: A developing big man equipped with broad shoulders and length. Ruff has ways to go but he is a promising prospect that the staff will keep an eye on going forward.

Daimion Collins, 2021 PF – Atlanta High School: Speaking of length, Collins bolsters a wingspan that extends past 7′. Daimion possess a high ceiling as he was arguably the top prospect at the camp and could be a top 10 player in Texas when it’s all said and done.

Emma Zuberu, 2022 PF/C – Ischool High: Zuberu continues to make strides in his game. Played the role as a rim protector as he showcased a jumper that extends to 12-15 ft out.

Teraven Rhodes, 2020 Wing – Lufkin Hudson: The last time we’ve seen Rhodes was in the Summer as the athletic wing out of Lufkin thrived in the open court as a finisher. We can see Rhodes recruitment pick up in the next 365 days.

Charlie Powell, 2019 Wing Forward – Atlanta: Powell contributed in multiple ways at the ETX Showcase. He rebounded, finished above the rim as he can connect on shots from the perimeter when left open.

Jackson Parks, 2020 PG – Lufkin: Parks, who had a solid outing in July at the Lonestar Top 100 Camp, arrived with an improved skillset. He can get carried away and do too much but was a solid performer in the 5 v 5 games.

Logan Francis, 2020 PG – All Saints: Francis knows how to play and that was apparent in the scrimmages. Decision making, moving with a purpose, Logan utilizes his IQ to make an impact on both ends.

Edited by AB

The second and final chapter of my journal, I share more of my thoughts/evaluations/intel/predictions from a memorable 2018 grassroots season. An abundant amount of information coming your way as we look at the Texas Titans’ ample amount of front-line prospects, how Cade Cunningham & Greg Brown made a claim for the #1 spot,  and much more when you subscribe.

Lone Star Elite

• Darius Coleman’s group comes back with a crop of players that caught the staff’s attention. 2020 Donte Green carries the tools that college coaches want.
• 2019 Cody Collinsworth’s game didn’t grow the way we expected it would this year but he still possess game that translates to D1 level. Cody is a lefty big man with good size and touch. Northwestern State has recently offered – TCU offered last summer and Collinsworth will attend Lindale High School in the Fall.
• 21’s Christian Green and Tay Mosher did a very solid job performing in the 17U level. Christian Green oozes with potential as Mosher’s contributes to an array of ways on the floor.

3D Empire

• 2020’s Baylor Hebb and Logan McLoughlin carried the load for the Empire 16U backcourt. Both carry offer from Abilene Christian. Hebb’s 43 point outing in July was a sight to see.
• 2019 Evan Anderson improved as a point guard as the season went. Confident on the ball, sound decision maker and close to receiving first D1 offer

Texas Titans

• The Titans field a crop of talented front-line prospects. 2020 Jakobe Coles is savvy, skilled and moves the ball well. Received offer from UNT. 20′ Richard Amaefule is talented – forward that has promising jumper, athletic and versatile defender. Holds offers from TCU & LSU.
• 20′ Eduardo Andre & Kylon Owens line up the rest of the big man crop the Titans possess. Andre possess an intriguing offensive package  that can continue to be added to. Owens was decent, impactful in spurts – Kylon has the tools to make things happen on a consistent basis.
• 20’ Mike Miles scored at a high level throughout the season. Solidifying himself as a upper echelon guard in the state.

YGC36

• 2019 Jalen Wilson commits to Michigan. A good fit in Head Coach John Beilein system as we believe he will conduct a strong career with the Wolverines. Another commitment came from 2019 Bryce Cooks (SMU). Cooks suffered leg injury but recovering very well. Cooks maybe small in stature but he’s a big time/electrifying player.
• 20′ Gethro Muscadin rebounds at a high rate. He’s active, possess a developing offensive game as the forward that attends Sunrise Christian possess 3 offers (La. Tech, SMU & Wichita State). Has visited TCU – Auburn has shown interest.
• 2019 Zion Richardson played to his strengths all summer long and he reaped the benefits. LA Tech, Rice, Texas State and Wyoming have been on him the hardest but recruitment is open.
• For the 16U group, 2021 Harrison Ingram produced playing up. He can shoot it, contains good ball skills as the St. Marks product nabbed a Baylor offer in the Spring and Houston offer this past week.
• I like what I’m seeing from 2020 Thailand Wesley. He plays above the rim, knocks down shots off the catch. We want to see his handle it better but a kid to keep an eye on. Colorado and Michigan have shown interest according to sources.

Drive Nation’s 16U

• When 2020 Cade Cunningham is on attack mode, he can be a one man wrecking crew. Handles it, strong play-maker that is making an argument as top player in his class.
• Continuing with Cunningham, he doesn’t talk about schools much –  could see him playing close to home or land in one of the Blue Blood programs.
• 20′ Montreal Pena does things on the court that we really like. Long, athletic, plays with a motor. Holds TCU & UTEP offer. Oral Roberts and a wide range of schools have shown interest.

Dallas Mustangs

• Rising senior DJ Bassey finished the season strong.  Lefty big man that swats shots and is figuring out how to be productive.
• 2019 Isaiah Range received 1st offer from D2 program Midwestern State. When he doesn’t think much and plays, he looks comfortable on the floor.
• I left games wanting to see more out of 2019 Jakevan Leftridge. Talented, has good positional size and in the stretches were he made his mind up and took over, looked every bit of a D1 basketball player. Once light bulb stays on, he will be a problem.

Nike ProSkills

• 2019 Justin Webster has improved as a primary ball handler. Still more comfortable off the ball but possess “Coaches Son Feel.” San Diego, Oklahoma, OSU, Tulsa  & Pepperdine have offered.
• J’Wan Roberts has been consistently  productive for ProSkills even against the opposing high end D1 big men he has matched up against. Washington State, Houston & Texas A&M have offered in July.
• 19′ Samazha Hart blew up didn’t he? Been high on the kid for a while and is now starting to put it all together. He looks the part and starting to play the part. Renege on SFA verbal early in the season – we will keep a track on recruitment.
• Ja’Mare Redus is a tough gritty guard that makes winning plays. Missouri State, ORU, Hofstra and Texas Southern have offered the guard out of Houston.

Houston Defenders

• 2019 Jared Garcia comes back to the Lone Star State to grace the black and yellow. Strong, scores inside and out; UTSA and UNO are on him heavy – could say those are the top 2 but Garcia is weighing his options according to sources.
• 2019 Valentin Bilounga excels in his role as a rim protector and rebounder. Feel for the game has improved the more games he’s played.
• For the 16U, Front-line duo of 2020 Eddie Lampkin and Nathan Clover were a handful as they imposed their will. Lampkin recently received offers from LSU and Wichita State. Texas A&M considered front runners according to sources.
• Staying with the 16U, 20′ Hayden Hefner played with more energy.  Hunted for his shots, connected on jumpers on the move. Jalen White was a quiet, efficient contributor. Should garner attention from coaches.

Team Faith

• You could make a valid argument for Greg Brown being numero uno in Texas for the 2020 class. He plays above the rim,can impact the game on both ends as he put together a great outing at the NBPA Top 100 Camp. Texas seems to be favorites – could Duke or Kentucky come in later on?
• Isaiah Stevens utilized the platform the grassroots season creates. Received first Power 5 offer from Mississippi State. Could he be headed to Starkville?
• 2019 Baylor commit Jordan Turner was solid. Jordan can impact the game in an array of ways when locked in.
• 2021 PJ Neal held his own on the 16U level. Jumper has come along – guard with feel and plus vision.

Mo Taylor Elite

• 2021 Jerrel Colbert is considered the top player in his class. Tall with freakish length and ability. Colbert can be as good as he wants to be.
• 20′ Isaiah LeBlanc shot the ball very well in the last two weekends of the July Viewing Period. Exudes confidence, playing to his strengths.
• 21′ Jimel Cofer has a high upside. Athletic, gets downhill and crashes the glass.
• 2020 Jayden Colleymore is spurty (If that’s even a word) but in flashes he showcases his ability to contribute in many ways. Hasn’t put all the pieces together yet.

Cooz Elite

• 2019 PJ Henry is a natural when it comes to scoring the basketball. Picked up Hartford and Longwood offer in July.
• 19′ Mykell Robinson is another talented prospect for the 17U Cooz Elite squad. Excels as a slasher – Denver and Longwood have offered him.
• On the 16U team,  2020 Jahari Long showcased he is one of the top guards in his class and there is more to his game that hasn’t been unlocked yet. I Like when he is more aggressive with the ball as Jahari has collected offers from Minnesota (Where he will take a visit this month), Rice, College of Charleston, VCU, La Tech & Wichita State.
• 20′ Ruben Jones is another player that has been very solid in the Spring/Summer. Athletic, plays above the rim and a underrated ball-handler.

Basketball University

• Texas A&M commit Sahvir Wheeler was the top Texas Performer at the NBPA Top 100 Camp. Plays fast, pesky defender and won’t get stopped of getting to where he wants on the floor.
• 20′ LJ Cryer has seen his stock raise. Showcased elements of his game with the ball on his hands that impressed the staff.
• Baylor, LSU, Houston, OSU and a couple more are high on Cryer’s list according to source.

Stackz Elite

• 2019 Jesse Zarzuela’s recruitment blew up in July. La Tech, Denver, San Diego and several more have offered  Jesse.
• 19′ Joe Rollins is a very steady guard. Sound decision maker and could see him in Pacific playing for Head Coach Damon Stoudemire.

Crab5

• 19′ Jarius Hicklin is primed for a big season for Desoto. He scored with efficiency – received Oklahoma Baptist offer. Should see bump in recruitment.
• 2020 Austin Brewer is on the trail of figuring it out. More skilled than given credit – still has ways to go but a promising prospect.

Edited by AB