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Vincent Lee came into the Spring with a chip on his shoulder and that was when the steady rise in his stock commenced. The #20 prospect in 2018, Lee decided he will continue his education in Nevada next fall. Lee is the second commit for the Wolfpack and the powerful 4-man will bring his high energy, scoring ability from 12 ft out and toughness to the program.

Having received an offer from Nevada on August 3rd, Lee talks to texasboysbasketball.com about his choice and future plans.

“When I stepped on campus I immediately felt at home. It just felt like the right place for me. The coaching staff is amazing at what they do. They promote work and I love to work hard,” Lee said. “The visit was just great. I got to meet all of the players. Everyone is very competitive and intense on the floor. That was one thing that stuck out to me over almost everything else.”

Hard work is going to be the predicator for Lee to enjoy early success at Nevada and he understands that. He has built a strong relationship with the staff and he envisions success when he dawns the navy blue and silver uniform.

I talk to (Associate Head) Coach Johnny Jones, (Assistant) Coach Gus Argenal, (Director of Basketball Operations) Coach Brandon Chambers and of course (Head) Coach Eric Musselman. I have built a strong relationship with them and they believe that if I work I can make an impact on the team early. I believe that in the long run I could be really important to the team.”

The head coaching experience of the staff caught Lee’s eyes as Associate Head Coach Johnny Jones has head coaching experience at Memphis, LSU and North Texas and assistant Coach Gus Argenal was one at Cal State East Bay.

“I love that the coaching staff has assistant coaches that have been head coaches at a very high levels. I also like that the coaches are all on point and make the biggest effort to make every player better.”

Vincent’s club season coach Darius Coleman reflects on Lee’s impact on his program and his growth as a player.

“Vincent made a great impact on our program, I measure that by our results as a team. We were overall a team that could compete with any grassroots team in the country and he was a big part of that, with the ability, leadership and work ethic,” Coleman said. He grew mostly with his approach and confidence. Vincent has worked really hard to get better and he bought in to everything I asked and his confidence grew weekly which allowed him to become our leader once (2017) Marek Nelson left for WKU.”

Coleman believes Nevada got a steal with Vincent and will have memorable career with the Wolfpack.

“Nevada is getting a high major talent, who could’ve gone to any Power 5 conference. He rebounds, scores inside, defends and has a good skill set for a big, Coleman said. “They’re getting a kid who’s going to come right in and work as hard as any player in their program, I think he’ll work his way to being a leader who’ll have an exceptional career. He’ll have a chance to be an all league player for them sooner than later”

Lee’s family have been his biggest influences in his life

“The biggest influences in my life are my Mom (Alicia Lee), Dad (Vincent Lee Sr.), and Stepmom (Jennifer Lee). They all bring different things to the table that make me into a better person. They have picked me up when I was down and been my biggest supporters throughout the process.”

“I am proud of where Vincent is today,”Vincent Lee Sr. said.”Coach (Darius) Coleman has done a great job with him and Vincent’s ability to score in multiple ways, tremendous work ethic will lead him to success.”

Lee will spend his last season at Midlothian Heritage and wants to build off the success the Jaguars possessed last year (32-6 record, District Title) and hopefully bring home a state title.

“I expect to hone my skill set in preparation for college while helping my team succeed with our maximum ability and effort. I think we we can go further than last year and I want to finish my last season of high school with a state title.”

Vincent talks about his motivation and what drives him as a player each day.

“I’m motivated by the process of becoming better and working on my skills. Seeing myself becoming a better player and person keeps me going because that means I’m on the path to be the best version of myself.”

Edited by AB

In a small town in East Texas with a population of approximately 8,300 residents, Whitehouse, TX is most recently recognized as the home of former Texas Tech star and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes. East Texas is known for its football tradition where hundreds of players have graced an NFL uniform from the likes of Hall of Famer Earl Campbell (Oilers), George Cumby (Packers) and recently drafted linebacker Tyus Bowser (Ravens). But in a football rich environment 2018 McKade Marquis of Whitehouse High School chose to go a different route and will become the second player in 8 yrs in the city to sign a D1 basketball scholarship out of high school. McKade joins a small group East Texans to commit to a D1 program out of high school in the last 11 yrs with the last being 2015 Garret Thibodeaux (Robert E Lee – Air Force), along with  2009 Jacob Holmen (Whitehouse -UNT) and 2006 Damian James (Nacogdoches – Univ. of Texas) come to mind. The #77 ranked player in our 2018 database will sign with Sun Belt Conference program UT Arlington and McKade talks to TBB about his decision and what he can bring to the table when he arrives on campus.

“The coaching staff is wonderful and the campus is beautiful. It’s an environment that I feel I can thrive in and the team felt just like a family,” Marquis said. “When I went on a visit I loved the fact of everything being a walking distance from the classroom to the gym.”

The future Maverick talks about his relationship with the staff at UTA.

“(Associate Head) Coach (Greg) Young is someone I’ve known  forever because of the relationship he has with my dad. He knows how to push me and knows what will make me tick,” Marquis said. “(Head) Coach (Scott) Cross is just a great coach. You can look at his record, accolades and success he has had as a head coach. The whole staff are full of good people and are full of energy. I’m excited to have the opportunity to play for them.

One quality trait Marquis brings to the table is his leadership and that is what he hopes to bring when he steps on campus next fall.

“I think I can bring some leadership to the guys on campus. Making sure everyone handles business in the classroom and bring energy as well,” Marquis said. “If we all are handling business and in sync it will translate on the court.”

McKade’s high school coach Brent Kelly also talks to texasboysbasketball.com about McKade’s leadership ability and what he has provided to his program.

“McKade has been on varsity since his sophomore year and he’s played a vital role in our team’s success. Last year he shot 42% from three and has been very reliable for us,” Kelley said. “He is a vocal leader for our team and holds himself and his teammates accountable.”

Marquis tells texasboysbasketball.com about his commitment to being the coach on the floor.

“I watch film on the other teams. I want to know the other team just as well as my team. We have a lot of guys that play football so I have to make sure those players are up to speed and know the plays,” Marquis said.

Marquis eyes sole possession of a district title for his Wildcats squad this season as they shared the crown last year with Nacogdoches.

“Our expectation as a team is to win a district title. We were co-district champs last year but I believe we have grown as a team and will be able to contend again this year and take it completely,” McKade said. ” I have been working hard in the summer, getting in shape, working on my body and improving my ball handling and defense. I’m ready to show my progress.”

Basketball is in McKade’s bloodline as his father is entering his 17th season as head coach at Tyler Junior College and his brother Mitch, who is entering his 5th season as assistant coach at TJC also played at Whitehouse, signed to UTEP after his playing stint at TJC in 2009. McKade credits his family for helping him be the leader and player he is today.

McKade is a high IQ wing that connects with consistency from beyond the three point line. His compilation of strong performances in July with Louisiana Roundballers grabbed the staff’s attention and put his name in our prospect board.

“I just want to be the best  I can possibly be. Not anybody else but the best I can be as a player and that my motivation. As long as I’m striving for that, everything will work its way out.”

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

Edited By: AB

Part II of available prospects, the staff takes a look at the guards that took positive steps toward their development and stock as they provided a skill set that texasboysbasketball.com believes  will translate to the collegiate level.

Sam Chaput, PG – Aspire Academy (KY): This past grassroots season allowed Chaput’s stock to go one direction and that is ⇑. Chaput is a crafty, quick guard that gets to his spots on the floor, gets his teammates the ball where they are most comfortable operating from, and defends with intensity. A top 30 prospect in the state, Chaput provided the staff a skill set that we are comfortable saying will translate.

Addison Wallace, CG – Cleburne: Wallace grabbed our attention in the Spring with consistent strong outings for LoneStar Elite. Wallace finishes in traffic and is a capable shooter from beyond the arc and off the bounce from 12-15 ft.

RJ Mason, PG – Desoto: RJ is one of the toughest guards in North Texas and the Desoto product has no problem taking the alpha role late in games. Mason has grown as a point guard and shown numerous times in the Summer he is talented enough to play at the next level.

Nigel Hawkins, CG – Cy Falls: Hawkins is the second highest rated available guard in our database and there is one thing Nigel knows how to do and that’s win. Possessing a state title with Cy Falls and a Adidas Uprising Championship with Yes II Success, Hawkins is a tough guard that can score in a variety of ways.

Laquan Butler, PG – Lancaster: Butler does a fine job knifing his way through opposing defenses and although he gets himself in a jam getting too deep into the teeth of the defense, Butler had stellar performances for LoneStar Elite. A super quick guard that is a lethal threat in the open court and has a promising stroke off the bounce.

Zach Thomas, PG – South Grand Prairie: Thomas exudes toughness as the set-up man for South Grand Prairie made good use of his summer opportunity with strong performances in front of the TBB staff. He’s shown the ability to get to the paint with consistency and makes good decisions on drives. Number 86 on our 2018 board, Zach’s summer outings cemented a top 75 status.

Edited by AB

As the fall signing period is around the corner, 2018 prospects have chosen the site of where they want to continue their education after high school. While numerous players have found a home, there are many prospects that are available and texasboysbasketball.com is embarking  on a 3-part series to take a look at available prospects in 2018.

Demarcus Fisher, C/PF – Roosevelt: The athletic forward  in the summer for Dallas Showtyme caused havoc due to his relentlessness on the boards and as a rim protector. The Roosevelt product struggles to generate own shot but his athleticism, ability to run the floors and productivity on the defensive end makes the staff believe he can play at the next level.

Kevin Obanor, PF – Genesis International: The staff got to see Obanor at the Main Floor and came away impressed with his two-way production for Texas Pro. Obanor throws his body around in the paint, rebounds and is a solid finisher around the rim. The strong interior talent sits at #54 in our TBB rankings after a strong performance in the July Live Period.

Souleymane Doumbia, C – Athlos: The rim protecting big man for Athlos will contest any shot that even sniffs the paint and Doumbia has progressed as an offensive player during the club basketball season. He showed capable of hitting the 12-15 ft jumper and although undersized at the 5, Souleymane makes up ground with his length and high activity.

Melvin Davis, C – Pro-Vision: The big, wide bodied Davis was another prospect that caught our attention at the Main Floor. The lefty big man has shown to be a viable option on the block and at the JUCO/Prep Showcase looks to have lost weight and was moving better on the floor for longer periods of time.

The Southwest Regional Showcase held over 90 + kids at Duncanville Fieldhouse and the TBB staff believes close to half have the chance to play at the next level somewhere. Sunday’s edition of the camp included new faces that separated themselves from the pack due to their performances and the staff got the chance to take a look at two 2020 forwards that could creep into our top 25 player database.

Quevian Adger, 2020 F: Adger was a mismatch nightmare as he scored on mismatches on the block, connected on shots from beyond the arc and blew by bigger defenders. Adger has been making a strong case on being a top 10 player in 2020.

RJ Hampton, 2020 PG: Hampton dictated pace on Sunday and his innate ability to put the ball in the hole has labeled him one of the best if not the best guard prospect in the country. He finished amongst the trees, made quick decisions when double teamed and slide into the alpha position when his team needed to make a comeback.

Joshua Miller, 2019 Wing: Miller versatility on both ends was on full display. Flying above the rim in transition, scoring off the bounce and showing improved body control when finishing around the rim.A top 5 wing in the state of Texas, Miller’s stock has skyrocketed in the last 4 months.

Austin Lewis, 2020 PF: Lewis is a young forward with a skill package that allows him to hit the perimeter shot and score some off the bounce. Lewis is a solid athlete that was finishing inside and although physically needing to get stronger, Austin has made long strides in his development.

Drew Timme, 2019 PF: Timme is a versatile talent who finds success at the power forward and center position. He has advanced footwork on the block, soft touch inside and was handling the ball in the open court. Drew’s  ability to score inside made him a mismatch problem all Sunday.

Duncan Powell, 2021 F: Powell was at his best when he aggressively attacked the paint. He is a capable shooter from beyond the arc and has shown an improved feel when operating from the perimeter.

Kylil Anderson, 2020 Guard: A long guard that shot it at a high clip on Sunday and made plays without having the ball in his hands. A 2020 prospect that had a quiet, very effective camp.

Tripp Mayes, 2019 PF: Mayes didn’t do anything great but contributed solid numbers accross the board on Sunday. Tripp played to his strengths and defensively held his own inside.

Preston Aymond, 2020 F: Aymond has a good feel for the game and plays with a mature poise. A skilled forward that can score inside and out and will be a top 25 kid in our class. Aymond caught the staff’s eye at Scout Focus Elite 80 Camp and followed up with another strong showing at the Southwest Regional Showcase.

The Inaugural Southwest Regional Showcase and Camp presented the stage for players to “come raise their stock,” and multiple prospects on Saturday executed just that. “The Battle of the Big Man”  between Tyreek Smith and Nigel Johns only secured the reason of a raise in their #. There is a Dallas Can Academy product that is making a case to be a top five point guard in his class and two 2018 forwards made the most of the opportunity given. Live stats powered by EPLAY are on display at Texasboysbasketball.com as this is the first camp ever in grassroots basketball to provide live stats. Blocks, rebounds, points, etc. this wave of technology by EPLAY is only breaking ground on what it is to become in the near future.

Tyreek Smith, 2019 PF: Smith’s athleticism and tenacity on the board was on full display as he showed some promise as a face-up scorer from 12 ft out. Smith averaged three blocks on Saturday and making a strong case for a top 3 spot on our 2019 list.

Bryce Cook, 2019 PG: Cooks was a handful to contain period as he sliced through the opposing defenses and got to his spots on the floor. What was most promising was his ability at his size to finish against length at a consistent basis and the Tulsa commit arguably had the best point guard performances on day 1.

Caleb Lohner, 2020 SF: Lohner scored in a variety of ways as he showcased his smooth shooting stroke but the staff saw his willingness to scrap on the boards and finish through contact. Checkout Lohner’s interview with the TBB staff here

2021’s Make a Mark

One of if not the best rebounding guard regardless of class is Joseph Venzent. Having recorded the second most total rebounds overall and second most in game rebound performance, Joseph’s aggressiveness on the glass was refreshing to see.  Venzent scored off the bounce with regularity and showing more consistency with his stroke from beyond the arc. PJ Neal has a very good feel for the game for his age and held his own at this varsity camp. A strong body set-up man that is making some strides on his jumper and although can be unselfish at a fault, constantly looks to get his teammates involved.

Stock Risers

Nigel Johns 2019 C: The #21 player in 2019 at texasboysbasketball.com cemented himself as a high major prospect. Johns has slimmed down, played more explosive around the rim and had a strong showing when matched up against Tyreek Smith. The staff has been high on Johns for a while and I believe he is a top 3 center regardless of class.

John Henry Nwachukwu, 2019 G: John Henry played  with a high motor and his activity generated scoring opportunities for himself. John Henry rebounds, defends and connected on jumpers coming off the dribble. Nwachukwu averaged 14 points on Saturday and could squeeze in our top 75 in 2019.

Cobe Williams, 2019 PG: Williams got wherever he wanted on the floor as the super quick guard’s athleticism was on full display when finishing around the rim. He utilizes his speed in the open court and finds the open man on drives. Williams was the only player to record a double double at the camp with 10 points, 11 rebounds in his first outing.

Steven Samuels, 2018 F: Samuels was flying around and finished above the rim on multiple occasions. Samuels was aggressive on the boards as he gave his team second and third chance opportunities. His feel for the game is improving and a prospect that definitely has the talent to play at the next level.

Camden Patterson, 2018 C: Pittman got his nose in and looked to be physical in the paint. He’s capable of connecting on jumpers from 10 ft out. Shows a decent touch inside but did a good job operating in tight spaces. Another 2018 player that showed he is talented enough to play at the next level.

Follow Texasboysbasketball.com and also follow TBB for news and notes. Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and sign up for our Southwest Regional Camp  on October 14-15 in Duncanville. We are over almost filled so sign up now at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org.

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

The morning & early afternoon contests at the Lone Star JUCO/Prep Showcase fielded mid-high major prospects battling against each other. Southwest Christian (AR) looks primed for a big scholastic season, Kilgore JC goes 3-0 on Saturday and Ranger JC were impressive in their evening bout.

Antavion Collum, 2019 Forward – Tennessee Prep: Collum handled pressure well and was able to finish with consistency in traffic. Collum shot it well off the bounce and took what the defense gave him.

Efe Odigie, 2018 Post – Provision: The Fresno State commit was a handful in the paint on Saturday as he threw his body around and finish at a high clip on the block. Odigie shot the ball well from 12 ft out as well, shooting 50% from the field on perimeter jumpers.

Jahmel Bodrick, SO Forward – Ranger Junior College: Bodrick rebounded with regularity in his area and used his strength to gain deep position on the block. Jahmel impacted the game on both ends for Ranger JC and was key to their victory against Arkansas Baptist.

Davon Newton, SO Guard – Kilgore College: Newton’s athleticism caught the staff’s eyes as he mixes it with a solid skill set that to go with it. He finished through contact and scored in double figures in all three games Kilgore played on Saturday.

Tiandre Jackson – Young, SO Guard – Tyler Junior College: Jackson-Young moved very well without the ball and hit shots from beyond the arc with consistency. Jackson defends, runs the floor and gets his nose in and rebounds amongst the bigs.

Simeon Jovic, 2018 Forward/Center – Southwest Christian: Jovic is a skilled big man that displayed good footwork on the block and the ability to finish inside with either hand. Jovic is also effective defensively, showing the ability to hold his own on switches against guards.

Larenz Williams, 2019 Guard – Cy Fair Learning Center: Williams had a strong outing against Kilgore College as he scored in double figures and defended with length and intensity. Williams was a key piece in CFLC’s run in the first half and was able to create off the dribble and finish in traffic.

Nate Pendarvis, 2018 Guard – OK Storm: Pendarvis was the leader for his OK Storm team and contributed eight points in the last 3 minutes of the game and made the game winning basket in overtime against Arkansas Baptist (Purple). Nate showed a promising stroke from the perimeter, played with a high motor and took control offensively when his team needed him to.

Follow Texasboysbasketball.com and also follow TBB for news and notes. Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and sign up for our Southwest Regional Camp  on October 14-15 in Duncanville. We are over almost filled so sign up now at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org.

Edited:AB

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

Over 100 potential college prospects were in one building today for the Lone Star JUCO/Prep Showcase. This the first official kickoff  for scholastic institutions to compete in an structured environment. Therefore Division 1 coaches traveled to North Texas (Duncanville, TX)  in the observation/evaluation lane as junior colleges and HS/prep schools of  various  levels have the chance to to display their talents to garner a scholarship from a four year institution.  Day one of  this year’s pilgrimage did not disappoint the 50+ college coaches in attendance. The group below only open the door for a closer look and day two anticipations of selected match ups.

Jourdan Smith, 2019 Wing – Cy-Fair Learning Center: Smith had a high scoring output against OK. Storm with 20 points as Jourdan excelled in the open court and finished through contact on a consistent basis. Smith got physical inside defensively and offensively scored in a variety of ways.

Jahlil Nails, SO SG – Navarro JC: Nails shot the ball from beyond the arc at a high clip. Nails moved very well without the ball and was consistently knocking down jumpers with contest. Jahliil averaged close to 15 points on Friday for Navarro.

Brian Warren, SO PG – Tyler Junior College: Warren knifed his way through the opposing defenses as the sophomore guard competed on both sides of the floor. Brian utilized his speed in the open court and found the open man running the lanes. Warren was beneficial in TJC erasing a 15 point deficit against Mountain View College on Friday.

Chuks Isitua, 2021 C – Pro-Vision: Chuks has a chance to becoming a high major player when it’s all said and done. Isitua showed an improved feel when operating on the block, ran the floors and looked to finish above the rim when the opportunity presented itself.

Tim Ceaser, 2019 PF – Southwest Christian: It was a tale of two halves in the first game Ceasar played on Friday because in the second half, Tim played with a more sense of urgency as he crashed the boards, used his length to block/alter shots and finished in traffic. Ceaser’s talent isn’t in question and the staff will see how he follows up on Saturday.

Jahbril Price – Noel, 2018 Guard – Southwest Christian: Noel played with poise and was able to set-up his teammates for open looks in the half-court setting. Jahbril displayed a promising stroke from 12 ft out off the bounce and is capable of hitting jumpers from beyond the arc.

Shawn Cornelius, 2018 Forward- Tennessee Prep: Cornelius was active on the glass and has a nose for the ball. His intensity to retrieving rebounds on the  offensive end allowed his Tennessee Prep squad to have second and third chance opportunities. Cornelius understands his role on the team as a run and jump high motor forward that can defend multiple positions.

Brandon Porter, Post Grad Forward – Washington Academy: Porter scored in a variety of ways and his sized mixed with his skill and athleticism was on full display in Washington’s Academy matchup vs Up Tempo. Porter was one of if not the best player on the court on Friday and the staff will see how he performs on Saturday vs Southwest Christian.

Isaiah Washington, FR Forward – Mountain View College: Washington plays bigger than his listed height as the 4-man for Mountain View corralled rebounds in his area and finished against the long front court TJC possesses. Isaiah played with a high motor and navigated well in the paint.

Antoine Banks, FR Guard – McLennan CC: Banks shot the ball at a high percentage off the catch and was able to get to his spots on the floor off of limited dribbles. Antoine played with intensity on the defensive end and had a strong rebounding performance in McLennan’s sole game Friday.

follow Texasboysbasketball.com and also follow TBB for news and notes. Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and sign up for our Southwest Regional Camp  on October 14-15 in Duncanville. We are over almost filled so sign up now at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org.

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

Schedule for the JUCO/Prep Showcase that will be held at Duncanville Fieldhouse.

*Schedule is subject to change (updated 10-3-17 9:17 pm Central)

Friday, Oct. 6

Saturday, Oct. 7

Texasboysbasketball.com caught up with 2018 guard Larry Wise as the Waxhachie product compiled a string of strong performance this past weekend at the GASO Fall Shootout. Wise disusses his offers and a hard push from a Big Sky program.

“I have offers from Florida Gulf Coast, SMU, Texas A&M, Tulsa, Middle Tennessee State and Tulsa,” Wise said. “Purdue has shown interest and Weber State have offered me as well.”

Weber State, Larry tells the staff has been in pursuit of him the most and believe they can take his game to another level. Wise has aspirations of being in the category of Joel Bolomboy (2016) and Damian Lillard (2012) as products of the system to make it in the NBA.

“They want to win but they also want to prepare their athletes for the next level. I have aspirations to one day be in the NBA and although that will be a long, tough road they feel like under their wing I can make it,” Wise said.

Larry talks about the keys to his ultimate decision.

“The environment, development and academics are key factors for me. A good environment will allow me to develop and all the schools I have been in contact have good academics so that is fine.”

Wise plans on taking a official visit to Weber State in October and doesn’t have an exact time frame on when he will make a decision.

For more updates on Larry Wise follow Texasboysbasketball.com and also follow TBB for news and notes. Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and sign up for our Southwest Regional Camp  on October 14-15 in Duncanville. We are over %60 percent filled so sign up now at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org.

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

A commitment seems to come every day from a 2018 prospect and one of the “available”  top 10 prospects on the TBB 2018 ranking board is Jordan Phillips. Jordan talks to texasboysbasketball.com about his recent visits as a decision can come in the next Month

Phillips on Sept. 2 went to visit Fresno State and on Sept 15 the wing had an official to Arkansas. On Sept 30, Jordan is reportedly  head to Blacksburg, Virginia to visit Virginia Tech.

High School coaching staffs and fans cover the stands as the Fall  Shootout presented that consisted of several TBB prospects. The saying evaluations, rankings have an opportunity to change every time prospects play is a true statement.  There were players that jumped on our radar and prospects that made cases on bumping up (and down) on our rankings as we watched.

Samazha Hart, 2019 SF – Universal Academy: Hart oozes with potential as he possesses great length, athleticism and solid skill set that translates. There is still work to do but the promising forward rebounded well offensively and is a capable shooter off the move and catch.

Tyrese Maxey, 2019 PG  – South Garland: Maxey’s decision making and ability to score on all three levels was on full display. Maxey committed himself on the defensive end and the energy he protruded transferred to his teammates.

Chris Harris, 2019 G – South Garland: Another prospect that displayed intensity on the defensive end was Harris. Chris connected consistently on jumpers with heavy contest and moved well without the ball.

Chris Turner, 2020 F – South Grand Prairie: Turner’s performance on Saturday was very encouraging. Chris showed a promising stroke from beyond the arc and was able to face his man and score off the bounce from 10-12 ft out.

Avery Anderson, 2019 – Justin Northwest: Smoove is best way to describe Avery Anderson’s offensive game as the guard for Northwest has a great feel and scores effortlessly. Avery is showing more bounce in traffic and is primed for a big season.

Julius Marble, 2019 C – Dallas Jesuit: Marble secured deep position in the paint and finished on a consistent basis. Marble faced up and showed potential as a shooter from 12 ft out. Consistently performed well at the GASO.

Quevian Adger, 2020 SF – Coppell: Adger was one of the top 2020 performers on Saturday as he played with an aggression and toughness that the staff likes to see. Rebounded, blocked shots, and was a effective decision maker in the open court.

Jaquan Scott, 2020 PF – Mansfield Timberview: Scott held his own in varsity play as he rebounded, active defensively and was a decent finisher in the paint. Scott is long and played with more of a sense of urgency than the staff has seen in the past.

Mike Miles, 2020 PG – Lancaster: One thing that stood out to the staff was Miles’s larger frame as the sophomore guard used his improved strength to take contact and finish through contact. What was most impressive was focus on crashing the boards defensively due to the lack of frontcourt depth his team possess.

Drew Timme, 2019 PF – JJ Pearce: Timme was a force offensively as he scored 30 points at the half in JJ Pearce’s first game on Saturday. Timme was comfortable handling the ball in transition, rebounded on both ends, and navigated well in tight spaces.

More updates will be on Texasboysbasketball.com and follow TBB for news and notes. Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and sign up for our Southwest Regional Camp  on October 14-15 in Duncanville. Registration is up on texasgrassrootsbasketball.org.

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

The next 3-5 months will be crucial for 2018 wing Kris Dixon as the 6’6 prospect from Dawson High School is hopeful a coach pulls the trigger on a offer. The TBB staff got a chance to talk to Dixon as he tells texasboysbasketball.com about his recruiting situation. Dixon is a physically developed wing that is versatile on both sides of the ball. He can handle the ball in the open court and make shots from the perimeter on the catch and bounce.

Dixon has been hearing from schools in the Southland, Missouri Valley and Big Sky conference.

“Schools that have contacted me are MSU, Oral Roberts, South Dakota, Drake University, Lamar, University, and Northern Colorado,” Dixon said. “They said they like me at stretch wing position because they don’t have many players that have the skill set and ability to shoot the the three at at a 6’6 and kill in the post”

Dixon tells us MSU and Oral Roberts have been in contact with him the most and Kris feels confident that he will  have an offer before the school season ends.

“I just want to go where it is a right fit, where and how it will benefit me and and will it affect my family. I will have offers before the school year is up so I plan on making my decision before the school year end.”

Updates on Kris Dixon’s recruitment will be on  Texasboysbasketball.com and follow TBB for news and notes. Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and sign up for our Southwest Regional Camp  on October 14-15 in Duncanville. Registration is up on texasgrassrootsbasketball.org.

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

A prospect that put the texasboysbasketball.com staff on notice was forward Keith Haymon. The top 50 TBB player collected a bevy of offers in his last grassroots season as his size, versatile skill set and smooth shooting stroke was on full display.

“The latest offers I have gotten in the Spring are from Northern Arizona, UT Rio Grande Valley, Lafayette College, University of Illinois-Chicago, Oral Roberts, and Northern Colorado,” Haymon said.  “The schools that seemed to have made me a top priority are Northern Arizona, Lafayette (College), UTRGV, UI-Chicago, and Oral Roberts.”

Sept 16. Haymon plans on taking his first official visit and will take a visit to Pensilvania a few weeks after.

“I do plan on taking a few official visits in the fall months. September 16th is the first one to Northern Arizona then Lafayette (College) will follow a couple weeks after,” Haymon said. “Other than those two I haven’t decided any others but I’m looking to see where else I would like to visit based on the relationship with the coaches and priority and everything.”

Being in a program that he will develop is key for Haymon as he has aspirations on continuing his basketball career after college.

The things I’m looking for in a school is somewhere that I can develop and where the coaching staff believes in my abilities. Also where I have the opportunity to earn good playing time and personally develop my game to be able to play professionally.”

Academics is also a major factor in Keith’s decision making as he wants to pursue studying law.

“I also take a very high consideration into academics, looking for a place that will put me in a good position to go into law moving forward (specifically corporate law),” Haymon said. “Those are the major factors in my decision along with the overall fit of the school and location for me as well.

Updates on Keith Haymon’s recruitment will be on  Texasboysbasketball.com and follow TBB for news and notes. Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and sign up for our Southwest Regional Camp  on October 14-15 in Duncanville. Registration is up on texasgrassrootsbasketball.org.

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

Tracking official visits, final school cuts and verbal commitments compile a large percentage for the texasboysbasketball.com staff in the fall as we peak in on the recruiting trail for 2018 posts Wyatt Dolberry & Vincent Lee.

Vincent Lee

Edited by AB

As we conclude the three part series of the Cream of The Crop Camp, texasboysbasketball.com reviews the standouts from this past weekend. Players from all over the lone star state traveled to Duncanville, TX to battle amongst one another in front of the TBB staff as we attempt to find the stars of tomorrow.

Duncan Powell, 2021 F: Duncan arrived on Sunday and played with a large amount of intensity in his matchup against Jaden Jones. The competitiveness is always something the staff wants to see out of players and Powell also exhibited his touch from the perimeter and ability to finish inside with either hand.

Imo Essien, 2021 PG: A poise, crafty set-up man that is coming along as a scorer. Can see he is fixing the hitch he used to have on his shot as his stroke has improved. Essien isn’t the quickest but he is smart and finds a way to get to the small openings on the floor.

Griffin Datcher, 2021 SF: An athletic multi-dimensional small forward  that rebounded and played with a high motor. Datcher shot it off the catch and exude confidence when operating from the perimeter.

Joseph Venzent, 2021 SG: Joseph on Sunday cranked up the intensity knob and put pressure on the opposing defenses with constant drives to the basket and guarding the full length of the court. A solid decision maker with the ball as well, Venzent is at his best when he plays with an aggressive mindset.

Isaiah Olayinke, 2021 F: Olayinke finds a way to make a play and grasps the concept of running the floors and crashing the glass will lead to positive outcomes. Isaiah scored on the block and made quick moves off the triple threat to find his way to the basket.

Jalen Lake, 2021 G: Lake plays with a mass amount of confidence and shot the ball well from the perimeter. On Saturday, Lake made defenders pay when he was left open and was unbothered by the closeout.

Dallas Hobbs, 2022 PG: A smart decision maker with the ball for his age, Hobbs understands when to look for his shot. Dallas is a competitor and looked to put pressure and harrass the opposing guards when he was on the court.

Rylen Griffin, 2022 G: Another player that quietly was effective on the court was Griffin. A multi-dimensional player that is long, rebounds and  when opportunities were present, scored when operating from the perimeter. Griffin has a high ceiling and impacted the game in several ways. He is another one of Alan Branch’s high ceiling guys.

Tre White, 2022 SG/SF: White’s strength and frame allows him to bully his way to the basket but Trey displayed some skill when operating from the perimeter. He finished in traffic and was able to find the open man on drives.

Keyonte George, 2022 PG: A long guard that scores with length. George uncanny ability to maneuver and finish around the basket was shown as he took purposeful dribbles as well in the half-court setting.

Grant Kostos, 2022 F: Kostos was quietly effective at the Cream of the Crop. Plays a little timid but Grant possesses a skillet that impressed the staff. Able to hold his own inside against players stronger than him, shoot the ball from 12 ft out and kept the defender guessing when facing towards the basket.

Follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana. Our Southwest Regional Camp will be on October 14-15 in Duncanville. This will hold our elite 2018-2020 prospects and registration will be available soon

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

Edited by AB

We continue to take a look at the 2021-2022 talent that was present in at The Cream of The Crop Camp. Part two of this series mainly examines the guards as the TBB staff saw a blend of skill and physical abilities in these young athletes that translates to the varsity level.

PJ Neal, 2021 PG: Neal’s feel and ability to get the ball to his teammates in stride was in full display. Neal’s frame allowed him to take contact on drives and was a threat with the ball in his hands due to his high level decision making. Going forward he will need to build a consistent jumper but the feel and IQ is there.

Jaden Jones, 2021 CG: Jones was the most skilled guard at the camp and tipping  towards 6’6, Jones is a mismatch problem. Jaden needs to compete more on the defensive end but his ability to see the floor, make the right play allows Jones to be an effective & efficient player without having to take a great deal of shots.  Alan Branch felt he had the highest ceiling of potential in 2021 class all depending on his developmental environment.

Damon Gentry, 2021 PG: Gentry is a tough, scrappy guard that defends and made good decisions with the ball on drives. His ability to knife through the defense and finish and pass when he gets inside impressed the staff.

Andrew Iyamah, 2021 C: Iyamah has soft hands and ran the lanes well at the Cream of the Crop. Andrew still has to work on his footwork on the block but he finished inside and showcased solid stroke from 10 ft out off the catch. Iyamah plays hard, rebounds and is a strong glue guy.

Kendall Fair, 2021 PG: Strong physical guard with exceptional lateral explosion. One of the few player at camp that demonstrated the readiness for varsity basketball. Impacted his team’s success on and off the ball.

RJ Keene, 2021 SG: The 2-Guard from the Woodlands scored in a variety of ways. He showed a nice stroke from behind the arc and did a solid job scoring off the bounce from 15 ft out. Keene separated himself from the other two guards at the camp.

Mason Gibson, 2021 PG: A physical, tough guard that finished in traffic a plethora of times this past weekend. Gibson was rebounding, defending with intensity & communicating on the offensive end.

David Martinez, 2022 PG: Martinez has a tight handle and found the open man in transition. A crafty finisher that caught fire quick from the perimeter and got better as the camp went on of reading the defense.

Alex Anamekwe, 2022 F: Alex has a nose for the ball as he rebounded in and out of his area all weekend. He may not be the most skilled but he will look to outwork his opponent. Anamekwe is a tough, physical forward that showed that he can put the ball on the floor and score on straight line drives.

JD Legarde, 2022 PG: A speedy, quick electric guard that is tough as nails. Legarde got his shot off and scored on bigger defenders and competed on both ends. His ability to score and lead was on display but will need to be a quicker decision maker with the ball.

Anthony Black, 2022 PG: A tough, fierce point guard that plays with a lot of heart. He didn’t get too deep into the teeth of the defense and finished with floaters and runners. Black is able to get where he needs to get to in limited dribbles and displayed a good feel for the game at his age.

Trey Cheatham, 2022 F: When Cheatham got in a rhythm, he was able to reveal his versatile style of game. At 6’3 and looks to still be growing, Cheathem ability to put the ball on the floor, get physical on the glass and defend multiple positions allowed him to impact the game in a variety of ways.

Follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana. Our Southwest Regional Camp will be on October 14-15 in Duncanville. This will hold our elite 2018-2020 prospects and registration will be available soon

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

Edited by AB

When talking about explosive scorers in Texas for 2018, Elijah Parquet comes to mind to the TBB staff. The Westbrook product bounced back from an injury that derailed him for all of the school season but made great use of the evaluation period in the grassroots season.

“I feel like this spring/summer I’ve been able to prove that I’m one of the top guards in the state of Texas offensively and defensively,” Parquet said. “Ever since I’ve came back from my shoulder injury at the end of April after being out for 3 and 1/2 months, I felt like I had to show these coaches that whatever adversity I go through,  I will continue to work hard and get better.”

Elijah talks about the biggest growth in his game.

“Over these past months, the most growth I’ve seen in my game is my scoring ability as I’ve been in the gym working on my shot and my ball handling. I can score on all 3 levels.”

Going into this fall, Parquet and his family decided to narrow his list down to five schools; Colorado, Virginia Tech, Louisiana Lafayette, Denver, and Northern Iowa and Elijah breaks down each school to texasboysbasketball.com

Colorado: (Head) Coach (Tad) Boyle says he really likes my versatility on the court and they say they think it’s a good fit for me,” Parquet said. “They believe they can really develop my game if I go there and get to play against good competition in the Pac 12. Over these last few weeks, I’ve been doing some research on the school and I really like what I see.”

Virginia Tech: (Head) Coach Buzz (Williams) really likes the way I shoot it and can score on all 3 levels. The coaches say it would be a good fit for me to come in and compete against top competition in the ACC.”

Louisiana Lafayette: “I’ve went on an official visit back in the spring and I really like it up there. (Head) Coach (Bob) Marlin really likes my game and he thinks with my versatility I can come in and make a big impact on the team.”

Denver: “(Head) Coach (Rodney) Billups and the rest of his staff have been watching me for these past few months and think I’ve got what it takes to be a great player at the next level> They also want to develop my game at Denver to take my game to another level.”

Northern Iowa: “(Head) Coach Jacobson really likes the way I score on all three levels, and with the success they’ve had the past few years, him and his staff believe I can be a great fit with their program.”

There are several factors in Parquet’s decision as he looks to see which program will be the best long term fit. Elijah told the staff that he plans on making his decision after his official visits in September. His calendar looks like this:

Sept. 1 – ULL

Sept. 7 – Colorado

Sept. 15 – Virginia Tech

“They main focus when I make my decision will be wherever I feel is most comfortable and best fit for me. Playing style, where I would fit in at on the team, the school atmosphere, the relationship with the coaches, and most importantly where i can go develop my game and take my game to another level,” Parquet said. “Distance really isn’t a factor as my family will be able to see me play wherever I go.”

Follow Texasboysbasketball.com as we keep track of Parquet’s recruitment and other top prospects in the lone star state. Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana for updates and our Southwest Regional Camp will be on October 14-15 in Duncanville. This will hold our elite 2018-2020 prospects and registration will be available soon

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

Edited by AB

In the second part of our three part series, the staff dives in to the 2019 recruiting class in Texas. We take a  look at prospects that saw their recruitment heavily pick up in July and also players that displayed more parts of their game that translates to the next level.

Samuel Williamson, 2019 SG – Texas Impact 4:13: Williamson’s recruitment has heated up in the past month as Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma have offered the 2-guard from Rockwall. Williamson was a big piece in Texas Impact’s success in the grassroots season and starting to come to his own as a player. The staff have been high on Williamson’s talent and it’s a good sign seeing him trying to figure it out.

Jalen Wilson, 2019 SF – YGC36: Wilson seemed to not miss a beat recovering from his leg injury he suffered in the spring as he produced explosive scoring performances in the month of July. La Tech, Virginia Tech, Purdue and LSU have offered Wilson in the past 21 days and his ability to score in a variety of ways was in present.

DJ Thorpe, 2019 PF – TJ Ford Austin: Thorpe continually maneuvered around the paint and scored efficiently when faced to the basket. DJ battled in the lane and  had numerous high caliber games in Vegas. The Lake Travis big man has received offers from Tulsa & Tennessee and is creeping into the TBB Top 10 board for 2019.

Justin Webster, 2019 G – ProSkills: Webster showcased his smooth, quick perimeter stroke and with the minutes played at the point, he made consistently solid decisions with the ball off the bounce. Webster produced double figure outings in the matches we watched but came away impressed with his improved poise when playing on the ball.

Kevin McCullar, 2019 SG/SF-Yes II Success: McCullaar definitley benefited from a strong July as Mid+ to HM programs took notice and pulled the trigger with an offer. McCullar played with a high motor and a large amount of grit as he scored in a variety of ways. With a UofH, Kansas State and Oklahoma offer in July, McCullar could possibly be our highest rising prospect in our 2019 rankings.

Sam Freeman, 2019 C – 3D Coalition: Freeman has the length and athleticism that is intriguing and in July he started to put it all together. He showed better footwork & touch on the block as Freeman also interrupted shot attempts with his long reach. At the Main Floor and GASO, Freeman contributed double double after double double and physically held his own in the paint.

Devon McCain, 2019 G – Houston Hoops: McCain stood out when his Houston Hoops squad played in the July evaluation period as the Silsbee guard used his strength to get to his spots on the floor. McCain finishes through contact and in traffic as he also competed on the defensive side of the floor. Sam Houston offered the burly guard in July as McCain also has Baylor and Lamar offer on the table as well. Devon showed the staff growth in his game that we wanted to see and exhibited why he is a top #25 player in his class.

Joshua Miller, 2019 SF – Texas Impact 4:13: Miller talent hasn’t been in question but his IQ and feel needed work. In July, Miller started to put it all together in July as he produced a string of strong games when his team wasn’t in full strength. Miller is a 2019 prospect college coaches need to take notice as he is viewed as one of the top SF in his class in Texas.

Tyreek Smith, 2019 PF – Houston Hoops: Smith athleticism and strength held up perfectly fine in the 17U level and Tyreek could see himself as high as the top three on our TBB 2019 list. Smith has become a definite high major prospect and the best version of Tyreek Smith could be something special.

Jordyn Adams, 2019 SG – M&E Elite: The staff weren’t able to get a glance of Adams since after the school season but Jordyn has the tools in becoming on the top guard prospect in the Houston but better yet the state period. In the July period , Jordyn paraded is all around offensive skill set and showed why the staff was high on him.

Nigel Johns, 2019 C – BlueStar Shooters: Johns seemed to get better each week he played in July. At The Main Floor, Johns rebounded, blocked shots and finished in the paint. He stamped his presence inside and his name in our rankings.

Follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and Register for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state.

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

Edited by AB

In one of texasboysbasketball.com’s daily meetings, a topic that was discussed was which prospects took advantage of the stage the July evaluation period brought. However, as this process goes, there were players that helped themselves and ones that didn’t  do themselves a favor but in this three part series we take a look at the players for the 2018, 2019 & 2020 class that put themselves on college coache’s radar in July.

Riley Abercrombie, 2018 PF – Sanni Hoops: Riley saw his recruiting stock soar after continuous efficient performances in July with close to 20 offers (according to sources) gained in less than a month. Abercrombie’s ability to stretch the floor translates and he has came a long way on his ability to score off the bounce. Riley ceased the opportunity in front of him and benefited the most off of the July period.

Marcus Hill, 2018 G – Texas Impact 4:13: The three point specialist showed college coaches that what he does best translates to the D1 level as Hill received an offer from Boston University and Air Force. Marcus has a quick draw and more importantly showed he can hold his own on the defensive side. There are still concerns about his decision making off the bounce but Hill against elite level talent produced.

Feron Hunt, 2018 F – Urban DFW: Hunt could potentially go lower than his talent level, but that would be a steal for that college program. In July, Hunt showcased his versatile play on both ends and played with a higher motor. His athleticism, length and improved ball skills were on display in July and it is starting to click for Feron.

Trajan Wesley, 2018 PG – Houston Hoopstars: Arguably the best sub 6′ point guard in 2018, LA Tech received a very strong pick-up with Trajan Wesley. The Cy Fall’s set-up man managed the floor and defensively guards the full length of the court with intensity & physicality. Receiving a offer as well from San Diego in July, Wesley utilized his opportunity and showed he is a top five point guard in his class.

Calvashawn Darthard, 2018 G – Dallas Showtyme: Talking about a player that turned the corner, Calvashawn (Better known as Ice) Darthard showed the other elements of his game. A talented perimeter defender, Darthard took an increase offensive load and scored efficiently. The two way guard has seen a pick-up in his recruitment and the staff sees an offer coming for the Denton-Guyer product.

Elijah Parquet, 2018 G – Team Stage: Virginia Tech pulled the trigger on Elijah Parquet in July as the explosive scorer competes and got to where he wanted against elite level talent. Parquet shot it well from the perimeter and finished through contact as he knows how to initiate and create space to get his shot off. Colorado, UNI, Denver, ULL along with VA Tech compile Parquet’s top five and the staff will be talking with Elijah in the upcoming days.

Reggie Chaney, 2018 PF – RM5: Chaney in July received offers from two SEC programs in Ole Miss and Arkansas as the forward for Findlay Prep showcased his explosiveness around the rim. Although undersized for his position, Chaney finished inside against taller defenders and High Major programs took notice with his play this past month.

Addison Wallace, 2018 G – Lone Star Elite: Wallace play has take notice from college programs and the staff has a strong feeling his offers will be coming soon. Wallace decision making needs improvement but what he does on the court translates. A smooth athlete that finishes around the rim to go with his solid frame, recently took and a unnoficial to Texas State with Virgina Tech amongst other programs that are showing interest in the Cleburne product as well.  Addison benefited with two consecutive weeks of strong performances in July and confirmed his top 30 TBB status.

Zach Nutall, 2018 G – Texas Pro: Texas State, Boston University and Denver offered the electric guard for Texas Pro in July as Nutall’s quick first step and athleticism was on full display. He had a solid showing in Vegas but his performances in the Summer II period turned heads and Nutall is getting the attention of coaches that we feel will be able to go to and contribute.

Kristian Sjolund, 2018 PF – Shooting Stars: Schools lined up in Vegas to watch the Norwegian 4-Man for the Shooting Stars as his performance against Seattle Rotary cemented a high major status to his name. His size to mix with his skill and athleticism make Sjolund a hot target as the Tomball forward scored efficiently inside and out.

Follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and Register for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state.

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

Edited by AB

There were several 2019 Texas prospects stood out in the Summer III NCAA evaluation period and texasboysbasketball.com has compiled a two part series of the rising juniors that stood out to us in the burning heat that Las Vegas had to offer.

Joshua Miller,  SF -Texas Impact 4:13: Miller will definitely see a jump from his #36 spot in the TBB rankings as the Dallas Shelton forward put up a string of strong performances in the 17U level in Vegas. With his team not in full strength, Miller showcased his improved promising stroke from the perimeter and his feel of the game is polishing up as well.  The staff views Miller as a top 5 player in his position in Texas and the talent was present in Nevada.

Tyreek Smith,  PF – Houston Hoops: Smith’s improved strength allows him to take and initiate contact in the paint in the 17U level in Vegas. Smith was flying to the rim for a board and was active & quick in help-side. Smith is starting to seperate himself from the other power forwards in his class and will see his name in the top 10 in our Fall rankings.

Tyrese Maxey, G – RM5:Maxey: One thing Tyrese Maxey continually showed in Las Vegas and in the grassroots season period was the ability to get a bucket. He got to his spots effortlessly and produced double-digit scoring outings. The attention he brought on defense allowed him to find the open man on drives and defensively, played with more physicality.

Isaiah Stevens, PG – Triumph: Stevens managed the pace of the game for Triumph which resulted in his team going 3-0 in pool play. Isaiah displayed advanced poised and we saw him compete more on the defensive end. Stevens starting to show more aspects in his game that the staff believes will translate.

Bryce Cook, PG – ProSkills: Talking about managing the pace of the game, Cooks did just that at a high level. The Tulsa commit was a pest on defense and handled himself well in high pressure situations. The consistency in the approach and mentality Cooks brings has led to a strong live period for the South Grand Prairie Product.

Garrett Wilson, G – TJ Ford – Austin: Basketball is a game of runs and Wilson’s offensive flurry’s are a run in itself. Wilson against the Seawolves locked in on both ends and scored in bunches from inside and out to rally his team that was down by 20 at half. He attacked the defense and even when he had the hot hand, still looked to make the right play.

Jalen Wilson, SF – YGC36: Wilson is another one of those prospects that is hard to contain when he has the hot hand. Scoring off the bounce and catch, a big difference in Wilson’s game has been his IQ offensively as he is seeing the floor and understanding how to get to his spots on a consistent basis.

Will Baker, PF – Basketball Univ: Baker displayed improved footwork at the Adidas Summer Championship. He played with a high motor and finished around the rim when isolated on the block. Baker averaged a near double double in the games the staff viewed and is starting to see how good he can be.

Follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and Register for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state.

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

It was 5:30 in the morning and the Texasboysbasketball.com staff is headed south I-45  to Houston for Adidas Nations on Sunday.  Collegiate and potential mid-high major prospects manned the courts at the MI3 Center as we take a look at the seven Texas prospects that performed on Sunday.

Greg Brown, 2020 SF – Team USA 2019/2020 Blue: Brown is a fluid scorer in transition and still was able to finish around the rim against older, stronger players. His jumper was off but Greg showed a relentlessness when attacking the basket which found himself at the line or a high percentage shot.

Charles Bassey, 2019 PF – Team USA 2019/2020 Blue: Bassey’s quick, explosive elevation to blend with his length allows him to rebound in traffic, block shots and finish above opposing big men in the paint. The bigs for Team Latin America challenged Bassey physically and the staff saw Charles respond by standing his ground. Bassey avg. 10 points, 6 rebs and 1.5 blocks a game on Sunday.

Will Baker, 2019 PF -Team USA 2019/2020 Blue: It’s been a difference of night and day when looking at Baker’s confidence on the court from May to August. The Forward from Westlake in his sole game on Sunday showcased his improved stroke from the three point line and has made strides being in control with the ball when taking contact inside.

Brock Cunningham, 2018 PF- Team USA 2018 Blue: The future Longhorn knows how to be effective on the court. He isn’t the fastest nor the most athletic, but Brock’s IQ and constant awareness to be in the spot to make a play stands out to the staff. Going 6-6 from the floor to go with five rebounds in his second game, Cunningham had one of the most efficient performances of the day.

Jalen Wilson, 2019 SF-Team USA 2019/2020 Red: Wilson moved very well off the ball as he understands spacing in the open and half court. He shot better in his second outing going 3-7 for nine points but Wilson looked to crash the boards and play with intensity on the defensive end.

Grant Sherfield, 2019 PG, Team USA 2019/2020 Red: Sherfield is starting to think his position and it showed on Sunday at Adidas Nations. We didn’t see as many instances where he got too deep into the teeth of the defense as he stopped and popped for the pull-up. Sherfield avg 8pts, 2.5 assists and 3 reb a game on Sunday.

Quentin Grimes, 2018 G -Team USA 2018 Red: Grimes played primarily off the ball as Javonte Smart ran the point. He mainly looked to get his scoring opportunities off the catch than off the bounce but looked to get to the open spots on the floor to score.

The first 2019 DFW guard is off the table as Bryce Cooks made his verbal commitment to Tulsa this week. Albeit his small stature, the toughness and ability to manage the pace of the game reminds the staff of sub 6′ pg’s in the past that received and garnered success in the D1 level. Cooks talks to the staff about his decision and where he can fit in with the Golden Hurricanes.

“I had OSU,UTA, and UIW in the running but what ultimately led me to choose Tulsa is because of the coaching staff. I felt like they just loved me for who I was, not just on the court but also off the court,” Cooks said. “The coaching staff is great, they’re all funny guys with great personalities.”

The Tulsa staff sees a lot of a former Mizzouri & Boston Celtic guard in Cooks. He views that his strong relationship with the coaching staff will help him fit in quick with the program when he arrives on campus.

“They were telling me they see a lot of similarities of Phill Pressey in me. Also they told me about the type of offense they have and that I would fit in perfectly with it because we basically run the same offense at my high school,” Cooks said. “I feel like i will fit in great when I arrive at Tulsa because I already have a connection with the coaching staff.”

Cooks believes his leadership will translate at Tulsa and that he will be able to compete against anyone in front of him. The South Grand Prairie product has some advice for other undersize guards that are trying to play at the next level.

“I want to show that I’m a leader that makes everybody better whether that’s on the court or off the court. You have to have the mentality that nobody is better than you, no matter what their ranking is or how tall they are”

“As they say you can show them better than you can tell them”

Bryce will take a visit to Tulsa next week and be sure to follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and Register for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state.
Texasboysbasketball.com evaluates the prospects in each event the staff covers with in-depth scouting reports. College coaches, subscribe to the site to receive reports as we assess hundreds of prospects from the state of Texas.

20+ years of NCAA summer III evaluation period in Las Vegas, Nevada, two things we have always been able to count on is 95-125 degree heat and that the players are always the top attraction.  The Cashman Center was in its normal check-in mode with anticipation of one more look over the prospects before the summer season comes to an end. Today we start our series of team recaps in Las Vegas and we will begin with looking at the independent Houston programs.

Sanni Hoops

A recruit that has benefited from a strong summer are 2018 Ajari Sanni as Sanni scored in bunches and got to his spots off the bounce consistently all week. When he is in a groove offensively, Ajari scores in numerous ways. On drives, Sanni found 2018 Riley Abercrombie, who arguably has been the hottest prospect in the last 10 days with 16 offers. The Clear Lake product shoots it off the catch and bounce and followed a stellar play at the second live period week with another convincing performance in Nevada. 2018 Tayvion Johnson had a quietly productive July live period as he plays his role on the Sanni Hoops squad, cleaning up the glass, running the floors and finishing inside.

Houston Hoopstars

2018 Trajan Wesley left the Fab48 with a San Diego offer and the Cy Falls guard became the engine to get the Hoopstars rolling. Wesley set-up his teammates and was a pest the full length of the court defensively. We talk about the ingredients a sub 6′ guard needs to succeed at a high level and Trajan possesses those components. 2018 Efe Odigie may be a under the rim big man, but his size drained his opponents as he threw his body in the paint and kept initiating contact. Odigie averaged a double double in the games the staff watched and coming soon we will catch up with Efe on his recruitment.

All 4 Sports Dream team

SFA commit Jock Hughes showed a skill-set that will translate well in the Southland Conference as he aggressively attacked the guards of Mac Irvin Fire and finished with a real solid performance of  with 13 points and a couple boards in traffic.  6’8 Melvin Davis is another prospect that the staff has been keeping up in the past week as the burly lefty center has been receiving low-mid major interest. Davis has a solid feet and touch in the paint and is coming along with his knowledge on how to navigate inside. 2018 sharpshooter Rick Fosnight caught our eye as well with a 14 point performance but it was the 6’6 forward’s quick trigger and knocking shots down off the closeout that intrigued us the most.

Shooting Stars

2018 Kristian Sjolund has taken notice from high major programs as his skill and athleticism can convert to that level. In Nevada, Sjolund shot the ball well from deep and seemed more bouncy than in the past with his finishes inside. He will need to continually get stronger but Kristian helped himself in the last live period week. 2018 CJ Washington stock went the right direction as the strong guard looked to knife through the defense and finished inside through contact. Washington also showed a solid touch in the perimeter and impressed the staff in the two games we viewed.

Rl9

One aspect in Jalen King’s game that we liked was the way he moved without the ball and rebounded. King is still has some work to do but used his athleticism to alter/block shots and crashed the offensive glass. Against the New York Dragons, the staff saw Jalen play with a more sense of urgency.  Another big man that played with more urgency is 2018 Jonathan Dorsett – Morris. The 6’8 post for RL9 put his nose in and looked to get physical inside. His skill-set is coming along as well but he is long, runs the floor and grasping the concept that if he just plays hard, he will see the floor.

Houston Superstars

Superstars have a couple of players that piqued the interest from the texasboysbasketball.com staff. Demarcus Morris a long 4/3 man that finished above the rim and showed an improved feel with the ball in his hands on the perimeter. 2018 David Ekezie had a sound performance as well, being able to defend multiple positions and finished inside efficiently in the game we watched. Ekezie showed solid feet, has good hands and is a prospect that could easily creep into the 60’s in our prospect list.

Be sure to follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and register for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state.

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

Ascending from the texasboysbasketball.com prospect board and getting attention from Mid to HM schools, 2018 Kristian Sjolund recruitment has erupted in the 2017  grassroots season. Tennessee, UIC, UTA, Northern Iowa & Colorado are among many programs that have come to see Sjolund this past week in Vegas and the 2018 Norwegian stretch four talked to the TBB staff about his recruiting experience and the schools targeting him.

“I have offers from Georgia Tech, St. Mary’s, Ole Miss, UTA, Tulsa & Tulane that I know off the top of my head since,”Sjolund said. “The ones that have been on me the hardest so far have been Georgia Tech, St. Mary’s, Tulsa.”

Sjolund talks briefly on how each school views him so far and how he fits to what they do.

Georgia Tech

“They contact me every single day just saying they want me in their program (laughs). They like how I score the ball and think I can come in and get minutes and help them in many ways on the court.

St Mary’s

“They really like my personality and how I am as a teammate. They think I’m a really good fit for their system and I can contribute quickly with what I do on the court. I like the staff there and are nice to talk to.”

Tulsa

“They have been real interested and making me a priority. They have had the whole staff watch me this week (In Vegas) and believe I can come in and be their main player and I’m real happy to hear that.”

“UTA, Tulane and Wyoming have also been contacting me talking about how they want me and think I can fit in right away.”

Sjolund said the recruiting process is a “crazy experience,” but believes it’s been a funas well and that he can teach others how to handle it going forward.

“You can just say my phone has been blowing up everyday. Some days I feel like I need two phones (laughs),” Sjolund said. ” It’s fun and its been good to experience to go through this because I can teach others how to handle their recruiting and keep focusing on getting better and playing basketball.”

Kristian’s improved athleticism and deep range translates and views the work he has been putting in since last spring has been the most beneficial to his growth as a player.

“I have been working on my core a lot since last spring and that has helped me a lot with my athleticism. I am in better shape and I’m more comfortable putting the ball on the floor and playing off the dribble.”

Sjolund is linning up his visits and will let the staff know where he will be visiting soon. He is also looking to make a decision before the basketball season so be sure to follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and updates on Kristian’s recruitment. Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana and Register for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state.

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

Gym Hopping is the term I would describe the staff’s Thursday at Vegas. A couple hours at Bishop Gorman, a few games at Clark HS, premier matchups at Cashman Center, and three more sites later we have completed another day of hoops. Here are our stories from Thursday

Big Man Battle

Sierra Vista HS was the stage for the heavyweight big man matchup of 2018 Efe Odigie (Houston Hoopstars) and 2019 BJ Mack (EOTO) as the clash was a site to see. The two burly, fleshy big men threw their body at each other and both displayed advanced footwork on the block. Efe (18pts) and the Hoopstars edged Mack (18pts) EOTO at the end but this game had all the feeling of watching a heavyweight boxing match.

Nimmer Showcased Versatility

2019 Vernon Carey and Nike Team Florida In the second half were too much for Texas Hardwork but forward 2018 Justin Nimmer exhibited his versatility on both ends. Nimmer was able to switch and guard multiple positions and attacked the rim with either hand. His jumper was off in his a.m. game but Nimmer looked to impact the game in other ways.

Caution Sign Going to the Paint

One thing the TBB staff knows that’ll translate at the next level for 2018 Ousmane Ndim is his shotblocking. The elite rim protector made opposing players think twice before attempting a shot in the lane. He’s one of those players that doesn’t need to attempt a shot to show his presence on the floor and YIIS win vs Mass Rivals showed that.

Stevens, Nzekwesi Lead Triumph Gold to a 2-0 Record

The chemistry on the court 2018 David Nzekwesi and 2019 Isaiah Stevens presented was a large factor in Triumph’s success on Thursday. Nzekwesi was able to find Stevens on quick outlet passes that allowed fast break opportunities and Stevens found Nzekwesi on post ups and when the big man rolled to the basket off a pick. Both are TBB top 50 prospects in their respective class, and we will see how they follow up these performances on Friday.

Petion Influential in YGC36’s Comeback Win

YGC36 faced a big early deficit vs OSA Crusaders and needing a spark to make a rally, 2019 Marvens Petion came off the bench and made use of the opportunity. Knocking down two triples in the second half, Petion biggest impact was using his length to limit OSA’s second shot opportunities by fighting and rebounding in traffic. His perimeter game is coming along, although still a work in progress, but the top 20 prospect continues to be a spark plug for his YGC36 squad.

Be sure to follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana. Register for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 at texasgrassrootsbasketball.org as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state.

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

It was a rather unusual day in Las Vegas as the weather screen on our phones displayed a comfortable 78 degrees in the morning rather than the scorching climate of 120 that a late July day normally brings in Nevada.

The Texasboysbasketball.com staff covered reasonable portion of 8,000 square miles Clark County possesses as we evaluated over 40 TBB & potential TBB prospects on Wednesday. Below is our  summaries from CP3 The 8 games from our Texas Nike teams

RM5 vs Mac Irvin Fire

The saying basketball is a game of runs can be applied to this contest as it was a back and forth affair in the 6:30 pm game at Valley Ridge High School. RM5 burst through the gate with a fourteen point lead and held a double digit advantage going into the half. Later in the second half, Mac Irvin Fire compiled a 15 pt run together to take the lead but after a timeout with 2 minutes left, RM5 went on a 9-0 run to take a one point lead. However, Mac Irvin Fire pulled together one last push to seal the win but 2019 De’Vion Harmon (16pts) for RM5 did work attacking the gaps and knocked down two quick corner triples to start the game. 2018 Reggie Chaney (16pts) exceled at taking the defender off the dribble and getting to the rim as was also on the receiving end of passes from his teammates when they attacked the basket as well. What will not go unnoticed is 2019 Tyrese Maxey’s defense on the opposing guards on Wednesday. The rim wasn’t friendly to him as shots rimmed out but he made it a priority to take away the strengths of his opponent in the half-court setting.  For Mac Irvin Fire, 2018 Ayo Dosunmu came alive in the second half as he pushed the tempo in order to get to the cup before the defense could set up and  2019 Khalil Whitley played with  a vast amount of intensity and made big time play after big time play.The 6’7 forward can shoot it as he  fought and finished around the paint.

Player Notable

Keonte Kennedy, 2018 SG – RM5: The three point assassin from Westlake, Keonte Kennedy displayed his quick trigger and didn’t need much space to get his shot off from the catch as he finished with 15 points off of five threes for RM5. Kennedy’s size, length and shooting abilities has taken notice from high major programs and continued to show a skill set that will translate to that level.

Houston Hoops vs New Jersey Playaz

One of the most entertaining games the staff has seen all summer was Houston Hoops vs New Jersey Playaz. This was a shootout at it’s finest as the 2018 duo of Jhivan Quinerly & Naz Reid (59 pts combines) for the Playaz was enough to squeeze by the Hoops 104-94 in OT. Reid is a handful and displayed great feet and hands last night. He had a 32 pt performance but the staff liked how he saw the floor when double teamed on the block. LSU commit Javonte Smart took the reigns of the team and managed the floor well. He found his teammates in the open court, communicated on both ends and knew the stretches in the game to carry the offensive load. The staff was impressed on what 2018 Jacobi Gordon brought to the table as the Cal-Berkley commit produced 14 points as he played within his strengths and put himself in position to open the floor for his teammates. Baylor commit Matthew Mayor played with tons of energy and was mentally locked in on Wednesday. He was aggressive with the ball and put pressure on the defense in the open court as he looked to get to the cup. His overall high motor was what the staff needed to see and when he is playing with an attacking mind-set, Mayor performs at top-level.

Player Notable

Mitchell Seriale, 2018 F – Houston Hoops: Future SFA Lumberjack Mitchell Seriale made a living on Wednesday finishing off put backs and above the rim finishes in transition. His activity on both ends was a large reason he recorded a double double to go with his 19 pts last night.

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

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

As we turn the curve and get to the home stretch of the July live period there were five prospects the staff evaluated closely on the second weekend that gave us a clearer view of their level.

Morris Udeze, 2018 C – Houston Defenders: There is a lot to like about Morris’s game as it comprises of solid feet, good hands, and the strength to bang and finish inside on the block.  On Sunday Udeze recorded a double-double and showed the staff why his recruitment has heavily picked up since April. With offers from Washington State, Butler, Fresno State, St. Johns & Tulsa in the past ten days, programs from power 5 & power 9 conferences will reportedly head down to Florida this week to watch Udeze play before pulling the trigger.

Zach Nutall, 2018 G – Texas Pro: The electric guard from Bryan, TX showcased his explosive first step to the rim and things seem to be clicking on all cylinders for Nutall. With near 20 point outings on Saturday, Zach revealed his full offensive repertoire and that contributed to recent offers from Texas State, Boston University & Denver.

Kevin McCullar, 2019 G/F – YIIS/TX Future:  McCullar did the most with his opportunity this past weekend as he constantly worked his way to getting to his spots on the floor. The staff liked that McCullar is a gamer and understands if he out works his opponent, he will be in position to make productive plays. With recent offers from Oklahoma and LA Tech, If we had to hand a MVP for Saturday & Sunday, McCullar would receive that reward.

Jeremiah Keys, 2019 G – Texas Impact 4:13 Winn: Keys erupted in Saturday’s matchup against Bluestar Shooters with 20 pts and five blocks.  Keys in the open court is a sight to see as he floats to the rim looking to dunk the ball regardless of whoever is in his path. What was more impressive is the intensity he played on the defensive end and making opponents second guess on being open for a fastbreak layups. Key’s may not look as athletic as he is, standing at 6’1 and rocking the Horace Grant goggles, but Jeremiah scored in a variety of ways on Saturday and couldn’t be stopped getting to the cup.

Jalen Wilson, 2019 SF – YGC36: Wilson didn’t miss a beat since returning back from injury as he shot the ball efficiently off the bounce. Wilson looked to get up the floor quick which allowed open looks for himself in transition. His play generated a LSU and Purdue offer as Jalen is becoming a sure fire high major prospect.

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

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

If I had to give Samuell Williamson a grade from his play from Thursday to Saturday I would give him a B-. A solid grade as Williamson at 6’6″ showed his ability to score off the bounce and defend with length. On Sunday vs Basketball University, the TBB #10 prospect in 2019 showed why the staff believed he could be a top five player when it is all said and done as he has top five talent but still looks to mature to consistent level of aggressive.

Williamson had 18 points in Texas Impact 4:13’s win on Sunday and it was one of the most efficient scoring performances we saw all day.

The Rockwall product talked to the staff about his recruitment and how it has picked up since April. Williamson had two offers coming into the grassroots season but has picked up a few high major looks since.

“UNLV, Rutgers, Tulane, UTSA & UIW have offered me and that has added on from what I got before April which was Tulsa and ACU. Right now I have heard the most from Tulsa, Rutgers & Tulane.”

Samuell says one of the things he is looking at most from a school is style of play that fits.

“Just being in a school that is the right fit, A personable coaching staff, campus and being in a system that plays up and down and spaces the floor.

Williamson talks about how the schools that offered him want to implement them to their system.

“All the schools that I’ve been talking to like that I can Space the floor, Shooting threes, and being a big, long guard, I can score on all three levels and feel they can fit me in to what they do.”

Rugters

“I’ve only talked to the assistant coach there; Coach (Brandin) Knight and he seems real cool. They have been talking to me about playing in the Big 10 and how there is much exposure out there and how the market is crazy out there. Just telling me the fact that it’s one of the best conferences in the country.”

Tulsa

“They have a guard oriented offense. They run a lot of four out, one in sets and they want to go up and down, space the floor and shoot the ball. That will allow me to show what I can do at the next level.”

Tulane

“Tulane has been reaching out to me a lot and I like that they have been making me one of their priorities. The staff over there seem real down to earth.”

The staff is high on Williamson and should see more calls come his way from Power 5 Conference programs and be sure to follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana. Be on the lookout for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state. Registration will be up soon!

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

Jordan Turner has slowly became a household name in the state of Texas and the staff caught up with the 2019 High Major prospect on his recruitment and development in the past year. Texasboysbasketball.com got to take a look at Turner at the July Open Great American Shootout as he showcased his high level versatility and ability to play with length on both sides of the ball.

“I’ve been more physical now than I was last year. I was close to 170 lbs last year and now I’m at 180 so that has been helping me a lot taking contact and finishing. This year I’ve been trying to be more aggressive with my play and overall becoming a leader for my team. I just want to put my team in position to win games.” Turner said.

Big 12 programs are well aware of Turner’s talent and upside as they have been making the biggest push for the Houston Hoops forward.

“Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M, TCU, and Oklahoma have been in contact with me most so far. Oklahoma, Texas and Baylor have been pursuing me hardest so far.”

Turner talks about the Oklahoma, Baylor and Texas staff.

“I like head coach Lon Kruger. He is relax and real cool and he’s is just a real cool guy to talk to and be around. He thinks I can come in to help right away when I get on campus .”

“Texas HC Shaka Smart and Baylor HC Scott Drew really believe I’m a good fit for their program and system. They think I can come in and help them win right away.”

Turner’s main factor when it comes to making a commitment is being part of a program that is the best system wise and able to showcase his versatile skills set.

” I just want to go to a school where the whole staff really knows me and my parents are really comfortable with. I just want to go to a program where it’s the best fit and makes sense for me and my family.”

Turner will be attending Sunrise Christian in Kansas this school year and the staff will be keeping track of his progress and follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana. Be on the lookout for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state. Registration will be up soon!

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

When talking about guards that play defense with intensity in the 2019 class, Jalen Jackson immediately comes into mind as the set-up man has shown to be a winner with a 5A State Championship with Wagner High School and now has added a 16U title from the Under Armour Association. Jackson knows how to win and follows a strong performance in Atlanta by leading his Hardwork squad to an 5-1 record at the GASO in the second week of the live period.

Hardwork is the first grassroots program ever to bring a Under Armour title to Texas and Jackson talks about the factors that led to his team’s success

“We came together and a couple weeks before (UA Finals)  and we had a couple practices in San Antonio where a couple of my teammates drove from Dallas to get to it. It helped a lot with the team chemistry on the court.”

Jalen looks at his team like a brotherhood

“When we finally got there (Atlanta) it just felt like a family. It felt like a brotherhood and that was big for us in winning it all. When we play, we move the ball well and we fly around on defense. When our defense gets going and we’re scoring, we just have fun out there.”

Jackson also talks the staff about his recruitment. Jackson in the past month has turned the interest he’s been getting to offers.

“UIW, UTSA, Middle Tennessee State, and Tulsa have offered me so far. They all have been to my games in this live period and have all have been in contact with me a lot.”

He talks to us about what the schools see where he fits into their system and what he brings to the table.

“They like how I run my team and shown that I can score when I need to. How I lead and how the intensity I play with carries over to my teammates. They think I can bring those qualities to their school and key piece to their success.”

Jackson has shown the ability to score off the bounce and also feels his improved jumper has helped schools pull the trigger with an offer.

“I feel that my jump shot has seen a lot of improvement although I gotta keep working on it. Showing that I can shoot has helped me with my recruitment.”

We will see what Jackson has in store in Las Vegas and going forward but be sure to follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana. Be on the lookout for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20 as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state. Registration will be up

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

The second live period week has been a productive one for the TBB staff and at The Main Floor, 2019 forward Drew Timme had productive outings in the three games he appeared in. Timme’s game isn’t flashy and as the fundamentally sound forward is effective with the ball in his hands. We got the chance to chat after ProSkills close victory over Texas Impact 4:13 where Timme scored in a variety of ways and displayed great footwork.

“We played a great game. Although I felt like it was way closer than it should have been.  I was able to push, create, finish inside and it was a great team win as we fought to get back in the game and won playing together.”

Timme has a long offer sheet with offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Creighton, Texas A&M, Baylor, Illinois, Purdue, SMU, Kansas State, and Utah State. Timme believes his motor mixed with his skill-set has been the biggest asset in the increase of the 6’10’s recruitment.

“I’ve been able to show that I’ll outwork anybody and that I play with a high motor. Also that I can play 3-5 (Position) and create well for a big man and score inside at a high level.”

Timme has also heard from a few other Big Ten programs lately as well.  Notre Dame and National Champion runner up Gonzaga have reached out to Timme also.

“Michigan State, Ohio State, Gonzaga, Notre Dame  have been the schools that I have given me the heavy interest lately. They like my footwork and see me doing a lot of things on the court for them.”

There are four main things that will factor in for Timme when he decides to commit.

1. “The relationship I have with the coaching staff and the feeling that they have my best interest and I have theirs as well. I have to see that they actually care about me.”
2. “They have to have a good education where I can get a good degree.”
3. “Third I want to play for a winning program because my ultimate goal is to win a national championship.”
4. “Fit is also important for me because I don’t want to play somewhere where I’m only restricted to the paint or the perimeter. I want to be able to play inside and out.”

The JJ Pearce forward is a TBB top 10 player in the 2019 class and we will continue to keep track of Timme and evaluate him more as the the staff heads to Vegas. Follow Texasboysbasketball.com for news and notes and follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana. Be on the lookout for the Cream of The Crop Camp on Aug. 19-20  as we showcase the top 2021-2022 players in the state. Registration will be up soon! (Texasgrassrootsbasketball.org)

Texasboysbasketball.com evaluates the prospects in each event (Coaches Report) the staff covers with in-depth scouting reports (Current subscribers to TBB fresh reports are up) . Non college coaches subscribers, subscribe to the site to receive reports as we assess hundreds of prospect from the state of Texas w/evaluations.

Another full day of basketball is in the books as the second day of The Main Floor came back where it left off on Thursday with a collection of high profile matchups on Friday. Lets get to the story lines and the top performers that were center stage at Trinity Christian Cedar Hill.

Adger Making Case for Top 10 Spot for 2020

Quevian Adger has seen large leaps in his game year by year and on Friday at the Main Floor, he impacted the game on both sides of the ball as he scored inside and out in BMM’s win vs Texas Impact 4:13 Winn. Adger was instrumental in his team’s success on the boards and their success rate in capatilizing on fast break opportunities. Quevian still needs to polish his game but the staff is impressed by the length, skill improvement rate and motor he plays with.

Drew Timme Shows Versatility

2019 Drew Timme showcased his full offensive repertoire in ProSkills win vs Texas Impact 4:13. Timme handled the ball in the open court and scored when he operated on the block and 15 ft out. The JJ Pearce product finished with either hand and his presence in the paint open up scoring opportunities for his guards. Timme is #6 in our 2019 TBB rankings and showed a skillset that will translate to the high major level.

2020 Shootout

The #1 and #2 players in Texas faced off at the Main Floor as Greg Brown of Dallas Seawolves (TBB #1 Player) and RJ Hampton of Texas BU Nation (TBB #2 Player) went on a scoring spree. Brown displayed his high level athleticism to go with his ability to score with length. Hampton looked to get his teammate  involved early but got hot in the latter part of the first half to keep his BU Nation squad close in the contest. Dallas Seawolves won by one but the performances from Brown and RJ stole the show combining for 54 points between the two. (Brown 24 pts, Hampton 30 pts)

Obanor, LeDee & Sule Mane the Front Court for Texas Pro

Texas Pro’s front court became the deciding factor in their win  vs Dallas Mustangs. 2018 Kevin Obanor, Jae LeDee and 2017 Alonzo Sule combined for 43 points. Sule was the highest scorer of the front court trio with 17 pts and Obanor, who scored 14 points was able to generate second and third chance opportunities for himself and seemed to have a nose for the ball. LeDee (12 pts) was a mismatch problem as his strength and his ability to navigated inside on Friday allowed him to get good looks on post-ups and drives.

The Main Floor Performers

Marcus Hill, 2018 G – Texas Impact 4:13: The way Hill has been shooting it especially in the past month; the rim has to be viewed as wide as the ocean. In Texas Impact’s matchup against ProSkills, The marksman for Dallas Jesuit hit four three pointers in his 18 pt performance and showed his quick trigger when shooting off the catch.

Feron Hunt, 2018 F – Urban DFW: When Hunt is engaged, running the floors and crashing the boards, he is a handful for opposing forwards. Hunt against Dallas Showtyme finished through contact on a couple of plays and was active in being in open spots to make quick moved towards the basket off the catch.

Mason Hix, 2018 CF – 3D Empire: Hix had a 12 point scoring output which isn’t earth shattering but the way he got his points and the toughness that he continues to play with doesn’t go unnoticed. In a tight battle vs The Program, Hix hit shots when his team was making a run and became a vocal leader for his team on the floor.

Jaden Jones, 2021 G – Texas Impact 4:13 Winn: Jones shot the ball well from deep and continues to play with a mature poise. Jones in two exhibitions averaged 11 points and found his teammates for layups and jumpers when he attacked the paint. Jaden showed on Friday he has the talent to produce against older players.

Justin Webster, 2019 G – ProSkills: Webster showcase his nice stroke from the perimeter and scored off the bounce as well that led to his 17 pt outing. He hit the go ahead jumper to give his ProSkills team a one point lead but the staff likes Webster’s confidence even when he misses a couple shots in a row. Webster had a solid performance on Thursday but followed with a stronger showing on Friday.

Calvashawn Darthard, 2018 G – Dallas Showtyme: Darthard has been steadily producing at The Main Floor and was key in Dallas Showtyme’s run vs Urban DFW. Darthard had 17 pts in the contest and took the task of guarding TBB atop five prospect Kaden Archie.

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

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

Tyrese Maxey Showing 5 Star Status

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

2020 Caleb Lohner receives BYU Offer

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

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

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

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

Darthard showing D1 Translation

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

Milton, Archie Guide Urban DFW to Victory

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Devin Newton Shines in Bracket Play

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

JB Mukeba Shows his Presence in the Paint

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

Top Guard Performers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Forwards & Bigs

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Performers

Sean Como, 2018 PG – Blade

Osayi Osifo, 2019 PF – Elite Academy

Xavier Elam, 2018 G/F – ProSkills

Hunter Woods, 2018 F – LA Rockfish

William McBride, 2020 SG – Urban ASAK – Snead

Quevian Adger, 2020 F – BMM

Brian Wilson, 2018 PG – Texas Cougars

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

Fletcher

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

Recruiting

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

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

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

Key

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

Key’s Recruiting

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

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

Doolittle

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

Recruiting

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

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

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

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

Jay Wilson Shines at EPLAY

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

Sterling Hopkins Running the Show

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

Johns, Poleder Show Potential

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

Player Standouts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday Impact  Performers 

Jared Peele, 2018 PG – NJH

Hunter Woods, 2018 F – Los Angeles Rockfish

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

Evan Ghormley, 2018 G – CYM 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CYM

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

Elite Academy

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

RM5-East

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

BMM 15U Black

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

BlueStar Shooters

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

Sleeper Impact Players

Jakevan Leftridge, F 2019 – ProSkills 16U

Noah Wheeless, G 2018- Southwest Elite

Tivon Berry, G 2019 – The Program Red

Romel Logan, F 2019 – YGC36 Black

Trip Mays, F 2019 – BigTyme Sports

Jamal Shead, G 2020 – Urban ASAK 15U

Tyrese Taylor, PF 2019 – Urban ASAK Gold

Keller Casey, PF 2018- Blade Elite

Collin Wilkerson, G/F 2019 – Ballers Nation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fast break with Jacob Jackson

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

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

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

Recruiting Update

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

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

Triple Townsend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Camp Grade: B

Camp Stats

10.8 ppg

1 rpg

1 apg

43 fg%

34 3p%

83.3 ft%

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

Camp Grade: C+

Camp Stats

8 ppg

2.4 apg

2 rpg

39 FG%

33 3p%

67 ft%

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

Camp Grade: B-

Camp Stats

9 ppg

2 rpg

3 apg

39 fg%

28 3p%

90 ft%

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

Camp Grade: C+

Camp Stats

8.6 ppg

5.4 rpg

61 fg%

44 ft%

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

Camp Grade: C

Camp Stats

5 ppg

3 rpg

1 apg

54 fg%

42 3p%

67 ft%

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

Camp Grade: B+

Camp Stats

6 PPG

5.4 RPG

1 BPG

43 FG%

70 FT%

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

Camp Grade: B

Camp Stats

7.8 ppg

3.9 rpg

52 FG%

43 3P%

79 FT%

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

Camp Grade: B

Camp Stats

7.4 PPG

1.3 RPG

1 APG

59 FG%

50 3P%

83 FT%

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

Camp Grade: A-

Camp Stats

13.9 PPG

2.9 RPG

1.4 APG

45 FG%

33 3P%

80 FT%

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

Starting to Click

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

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

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

Friday Grade: B+

Player Notables

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

Friday Grade: B+

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

Friday Grade: B

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

Friday Grade: B

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

Friday Grade: B-

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

Friday Grade: B-

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

Friday Grade: C+

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

Friday Grade: C+

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

Friday Grade: C+

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

Friday Grade: C-

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

Maxey, Davis Form Monster Backcourt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOP TEXAS DAY PERFORMERS 

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

Day one grade: A-

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

Day one grade: B- 

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

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

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

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

Player Notables

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jersey Facts

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

Deandre Jordan (2016)

Derrick Rose (2014, 2010)

Lebron James(2012, 2008, 2006)

Bill Russell (1956)

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

Harrison Barnes (2016)

Deron Williams (2012)

Carmelo Anthony (2004)

Scottie Pippen (1992)

AU: What parts of your game has seen improvement?

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

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

Centex Lockdown vs Lone Star Elite

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

Texas Impact 4:13 vs Urban DFW

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

Player Notables

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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