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A slew of division one prospects were on hand for the Ball Out Event: “Get Ready, Go Live”. The TBB staff left Dobie High School with a handful of prospects that produced a strong argument on becoming a top 50-75 player in the respective class. There was an intriguing prospect out of East Texas and is Eddie Lampkin the top big man in 2020?

Ronnie Sanders, 2019 SG – DFW Defenders: The Crowley native put his talents on display all weekend. His ability to score off the dribble, defend impressed the TBB staff. Sanders against Texas Pro was vital in the Defenders win producing 15 points.

Biar Gurang, 2019 Wing – Stackz Elite: Biar comes from Australia and the talented wing is versatile, shoots it from beyond the arc and plays with a motor that rubs off to his teammates. Gurang will see himself in our TBB database in the 2019 class and has the chance to crack a top 50 slot in our rankings.

Delore Johnson, 2019 SG – Texas Pro: Johnson makes plays without the basketball and his ability to finish around the rim, punish opponents in the open court was on display at Dobie High School. Delore performed and his mix of skill and positional size will put him in our database.

Jackson Kennedy, 2019 CF – Ballers Nation: Another prospect that will definitley see himself in our rankings is Jackson Kennedy. The talented forward shot over 50% from three, finished above the rim and competed on the defensive side.If Kennedy carries this over to the Lonestar Challenge, the East Texas prospect could gain the attention from division one coaches.

Eddie Lampkin, 2020 C – Houston Defenders: Lampkin was the main attraction at “Get Ready, Go Live”. The Sophomore big man imposed his will on the block and possessing a slimmer frame than previous sitings, Eddie has shown the ability to finish above the rim in traffic. Lampkin has cracked a top 10 spot in his class and there is a strong argument on him being the top center in the 2020 class.

Bonke Maring, 2019 C – Houston Raptors: Bonke steps onto the scene and Maring was a walking double-double last weekend. Maring is still raw but he understands his strengths and is a good interior presence for the Raptors

Edited by AB

The grassroots season is underway as the texasboysbasketball.com staff drove down I45 for the Ballout Events Get Ready, Get Live Tournament at Dobie High School. Big men and wings primarily stood out in Friday’s action in Houston as there was a crop of underclassmen that produced that TBB got a strong evaluation of.

Eddie Lampkin, 2020 C – Houston Defenders:Lampkin has lost another 20 lbs (according to sources) and you can tell what impact that has made towards his development. Running the floors, finishing g above the rim consistently, Big Eddie was a force in the paint Friday. Lampkin possess offers from TCU and Oklahoma as he has received interest from UofH, Mississippi State, Butler, Oklahoma State, Texas and Baylor.

EJ Jones, 2020 C -Basketball University: Watching this promising big man three years ago, to where he is now has shown a level of commitment to his development. Jones still has ways to go but has became a dependable post option, and a more active rebounder and rim protector.

Abdul Alatishe, 2018 PF – Basketball University: Abdul has a nose for the ball as every loose ball he seemed to grab possession of and on the boards, collected close to 15 rebounds against the Defenders. A highly active, versatile defender, Abdul has received interest from several schools he told #TBB but is still looking for an offer.

Sahvir Wheeler, 2019 PG – Basketball University: Wheeler contributed to 18 PF the first 22 points for BU. The Texas A&M commit knifed his way through the defense, finished in traffic and defensively was a pest, guarding full length of the court

Keon Edwards, 2021 Wing – Upside: Keon is long and the multidimensional Wing impacted the game in multiple ways. Blocked shots down the stretch, handles pressure as he wore different hats in Upside’s win Friday.

Will Young, 2021 Guard – Select One: Young’s tenacity and ability to guard the full length of the court impresses the TBB staff. The the long, lefty guard gets to his spots, changes speeds, and scores in bunches.

Nathan Clover, 2020 C – Houston Defenders: Clover shares the frontcourt with Eddie Lampkin and the strong body big man is physical inside, rebounds and accumulated a near double double against Basketball University. The Port Arthur native has interest from Lamar and UofH.

Terrance Robinson, 2018 PF – M&E Elite: Robinson’s length mixed with his motor and lateral quickness allowed him to contribute on both ends of the floor. Needs to get stronger but an available prospect that is definitely can play at the collegiate level.

Larenz Williams, 2019 Wing- Houston Defenders: a long, high motor Wing that plays without the ball and rebounds it well for his position. Williams showed ability to hit the open jumper but his contributions came in the open court.

Jerrell Colbert, 2021 PF – Basketball University: Colbert in the staffs eyes was the best prospect in the gym Friday. In his 10 min of action in the 17U level, Colbert competed, rebounded and looked to finish above the rim when the opportunity was present. Colbert is very long, moves well and maybe the top player in his class in 2021.

Edited by AB

It’s Championship Saturday and the last day of the scholastic season was a memorable one. Dallas Carter and Silsbee produced arguably the most entertaining game all season. Port Arthur Memorial, Justin Northwest looked to make history as it took an extra period to decide the contest between Allen and Katy Tompkins.

Justin Northwest vs Port Arthur Memorial (5A State Final)

1st Soph Julien Smith Of Justin Northwest knocks down a transition three to make the score 5-2 in Texan’s favor. Sr Thailan Wesley for Memorial answers back with a three of his own to tie the ball game. It was a back and forth affair in the first quarter until Northwest locked in on defense, forcing Memorial to contested jumpers and imposing their will inside with the combination of Sr Mason Hix and Jr Sam Freeman. Another Wesley three pointer trimmed the deficit to six as the Texans head to the second quarter up 16-10.

2nd Sr. Jacob Keys for Northwest has played his role for his squad with five points, 2 rebounds and a block. He started the second quarter securing a rebound and knocking down two free throws. Mason Hix connected on two straight jumpers from beyond the arc which pushed the Texan’s lead to double digits. Sr Jomard Valsin For Memorial was effective in the second quarter handling the pressure in the backcourt and going on his own 4-0 run to keep Memorial in striking distance. Memorial began seeking shots in the paint and withered the margin to three points going into the half. Texans up 36-33

3rd The beginning of he second half was sloppy as four turnovers were recorded in a minute span.avery Anderson picked up his fourth foul with 5:09 left in the third as Memorial seek to make a push with Northwest star guard on the bench. Wesley knocks down a much needed three pointer to end the third to keep it a two/three possession game. 50-45 Northwest.

4th Memorial’s Sr Darion Chatman goes on a 6-0 surge in the beginning of the fourth and give it he Titans the lead for the first time since the first quarter. Chatman continued to play the alpha male role for Memorial and strung together a 10 point four quarter performance. Mason Hix knocks down a trey ball with 1:27 left in the game to make the score 68-62 Memorial’s way but the Titans made freethrows, strung together stops and hung on to win 75-69 for their first State Title.

Player Analysis
Mason Hix, Sr Forward – Justin Northwest: Hix was aggressive from tip-off as he crashed the boards, made jumpers from beyond the arc and executed on shots inside through contact.

Sam Freeman, Jr C – Justin Northwest: Freeman is showing the signs of turning the corner. Looked to finish above the rim multiple times and contested every shot at the rim. He finished with 11 points 15 rebounds.

Thailan Wesley, Sr SG – Port Arthur Memorial: Wesley constructed a strong outing with a 21 point outing. He added two blocks and three rebounds in the process but his ability to bounce back when his shots weren’t falling early and get to the line to find a rhythm (8-10 on Ft) won’t go unnoticed.

Darion Chatman, Sr PG – Port Arthur Memorial: Chatman received MVP honors and his fourth quarter performance propelled him to the award and onto the notable player list. He went on his own 10-0 run in the fourth quarter and rallied his team to a victory.

Silsbee vs Dallas Carter (4A State Title)

1st The beginning of the matchup stared the way the staff imagined. An exchange of baskets, fast pace and physical. Dallas Carter started off leading 4-0 but Silsbee’s Jr Wing Devon McCain produced 5 quick points and Soph Braelon Bush knocked down 3 threes in the first quarter as well and Silsbee led 22-18. A mix of Jr Zahad Munford and Sr Malek Butler gave Carter the lead as the finished the first quarter up 29-26.

2nd Carter goes on a 6-0 run after Jr Kyree Rodgers executed on a three point play and Malek Butler knocks down a three pointer making it 35-26. Braelon Bush answers back with his 4th and 5th three pointer and a McCain layup trims the deficit to one. Silsbee takes the lead and McCain records eight points and assists in the quarter. The tigers up 50-46 at half.

3rd The second half started off the same way the first half operated. Points were exchanged and the pace of the game was very fast. Silsbee orchestrated two straight stops and five straight points to take a 64-55 lead. Devon McCain continued to impose his will and finished with 29 pts after three. Dallas Carter made a wave of runs and tied the game on multiple occasions as Kyree Rodgers and Zahad Munford led those charges. Tigers lead 78-73 going into the fourth quarter.

4th With 8 minutes left in the season, Silsbee looked to continue their dominance in 4A and Carter seeked their first championship in over 20 years. Silsbee’s seven point lead after a Sr Jadon Bass three seemed to have evaporated as the Cowboys trimmed the lead to one. Devon McCain and Braelon Bush continued their explosive scoring performance as they scored the last 8 points for Silsbee. Dallas Carter rallied back in the game but the Tigers held on for their second straight 4A Title and Head Coach Joe Sigler’s 700 win 104-101.

Player Analysis

Devon McCain, Jr Wing – Silsbee: what a performance by McCain as he tallied 39 points and added 11 rebounds and six assists. McCain bullied his way into the paint and found the open man when he drove to the basket.

Braelon Bush, Soph PG – Silsbee: Bush produced a whopping 31 points in Silsbee’s win. Braelon connected on four shots from beyond the arc as he orchestrated his own personal runs in the first and second half. What Bush lacks in height, he makes up with toughness, skill and feel.

Zahad Muford, Jr Wing – Dallas Carter: Munford burst onto the scenes after his string of performances in the state tournament. He put together a 37 point performance and the strong body Wing will see his name on our database.

Malek Butler, Sr PG – Dallas Carter: Butler was knocking down shots off the bounce. He produced 16 points and defensively deflected passes and showcased ability to defend multiple positions.

Katy Tompkins vs Allen (6A State Title Game)

1st Sr Jamal Bieniemy for Tompkins started off hot scoring the first six points for the Falcons. Jr Isaiah Stevens knocked down a three pointer and Sr Jaylen Walker for Allen contributed with buckets in the paint and in the boards. Tompkins hot start helped hold the lead 14-9 after the first quarter.

2nd Tompkins starts the second quarter with a alley oop Slam which was finished by Jr Kristian Sjolund. Allen Jr Donovan Parham executed a layup and his energy coming off the bench kept the Eagles within striking distance. Bieniemy and Katy Tompkins up 22-19 going into the half.

3rd Jaylen Walker was efficient all across the board as he secured two rebounds, got an assist and finished a layup through contact. CJ Washington went on a 4-0 run, attacking the paint, drawing fouls and making the defense retreat back on defense. Efficient offensive production from Walker and Isaiah Stevens gave Allen the lead 35-32 going into the fourth.

4th it was a back and forth affair in the fourth quarter as both squads had to scrap and fight to produce a bucket. Bieniemy took the alpha dog role and made plays for himself and others down the stretch. Jr Jaylon Scott for Allen produced four points in the quarter and Mr. Reliable Jaylen Walker hit some tough shots down the stretch but a miss jumper at the buzzer from Walker tied the ball game up 44-44 and this one went to overtime.

OT only two field goals were made in OT as Sr Eden Holt connected on the first one with a three pointer to give Tompkins the lead 47-45. Walker knocks down two big time free throws to tie it up and a crucial turnover from Bieniemy allowed Donovan Parham with five seconds left to dribble down the court unguarded and make a layup with one second left. Tompkins failed to get a clean look at the basket and Allen makes history and wins the 6A State Title

Player Analysis

Jaylen Walker, Sr Forward – Allen: The Navy Signee has produced for Allen all season and the Alamo Dome in front of 10k people wasn’t a stage too big for him either. Walker orchestrated 18 points and garnered MVP honors for the tournament

Isaiah Stevens, Jr PG – Allen: Stevens finished with 11 points 5 assists and 3 rebounds as the talented guard got to his spots, shot 60% from the field and his ability to pick apart the defense gained open jumpers for his teammates.

Jamal Bieniemy, Sr SG – Katy Tompkins: Bieniemy almost produced a double double with points and assists as he gathered 15 points and 8 assists. If Tompkins would of pulled it off, The Future Oklahoma Sooner would of been the staff’s vote for MVP.

CJ Washington, Sr PG – Katy Tompkins: Washington finished with 15 points and his pursuit to get to the paint was a plus for the Falcons. Washington’s performance in the playoffs was terrific and stepped up to the occasion.

Friday’s slate of game consisted of the 4A and 6A State Semifinal Matchups. Thousands of fans from each program traveled to the Alamo Dome in anticipation of witnessing their  team punch a ticket to Saturday’s Title game. Tyrese Maxey placed himself in the record books and now that the table is set for Saturday, texasboysbasketball.com breaks down the games from a action packed Friday.

Dallas Carter vs. Seminole (4A Semi-Finals)

1st Qtr: Sr Dante Stearn Of Dallas Carter collects the first four points of the game as the Cowboys high octane style of play disrupted the Indians rhythm. A combination of inside baskets between Sr. Reese Moore and Soph. Jalen Brattain led the way for Seminole with a combined total of 9 points, 8 rebounds in the first quarter. Carter led 16-15 after one.

2nd Qtr: Seminole tied the ball game 19-19 after Moore made two free throws. The Cowboys full court press took a toll on the Indians as turnovers started occurring before reaching half court. Soph Jalen Williams came off the bench and brought energy for Carter on as he knocked down a momentum stopping three and made life difficult for the opposing guards to initiate their offense. Carter strung together a a 6-0 Run and lead going into halftime 33-25

3rd Qtr: Carter came out hot after a halftime speech from Head Coach Lyndon Love as the Cowboys go on a 12-2 Run in the first minute and a half. Jr Zahad Munford lead the Run with six points and two rebounds. Brattain kept his team within striking distance as he finished with 6 rebounds and 6 points after three to notch a double double. Carter stopped the momentum and increased the lead to as much as 19 points as they head into the 4th quarter up 59-41.

4th Qtr: Sr big man and Texas Longhorn Football Signee Reese Moore threw his big body around on the block. Finished through contact and led a 4th quarter surge for Seminole. Munford and his Dallas Carter group continued to dictate the pace of the game and went on their own 7-0 run to widen the gape The Cowboys shooting at a high clip from behind the arc, receiving strong production from their upper class men and defending with intensity for 32 minutes led to a 80-62 win and ticket to the state title game on Saturday.

Player Analysis

Jalen Brittain, Soph PF – Seminole: Brittain orchestrated a strong outing for the Indians as he produced a 17 point, 13 rebound double double. Brittain made shots from 12ft out. Looked to grab every missed shot and plays with a good feel for the game. A prospect that will definitely be in our database after his performance.

Jahad Munford, Jr Wing – Dallas Carter: Munford came alive in the second half with 15 points (2 in the 1st) Munford shot 7-9 from the field, was active on the defensive end and become the vocal leader for his group.

Dante Stearns, 2018 Wing – Dallas Carter: Stearns shot 86% percent from the floor (6-7 from the field) and had a solid stat line across the board with 6 rebounds, two assists, blocks and steals.

Silsbee vs Somerset (4A Semi-Final)

1st Qtr: Silsbee took control of the game early with a 15-2 lead over Somerset with 5 min left in the first. Soph Braelon Bush and juniors Devon McCain and Jordyn Adams produced 11 of the firs 15 points. Isaiah Rivera was a bright spot for Somerset. Handling the pressure Silsbee brought and getting to the paint. Silsbee trio of Bush, McCain and Adams has been too much for Somerset as they lead 30-9 after one.

2nd Qtr: Jordyn Adams connects on a three pointer to stretch the lead 35-9. Somerset starting picking through the press and found a rhythm early. Silsbee’s high octane offense and depth continued to impact the game and led by as much as 33 points in the first half. The Tigers led 48-20 after two.

3rd Qtr: The theme stayed the same in the second half. Silsbee came out of the gate finding their way into the paint, Winning the battle on the boards. Sr big man Jacob Harvey Of Somerset Played more aggressive in the paint as he used his length to block shots and finish inside. Despite a 16 point quarter, the Bulldogs were still down 69-39 after three.

4th Qtr: With a commanding lead going into the fourth quarter, Adams, Bush and McCain played two minutes before being subbed out. Rivera for the Bulldogs continued to knife his way to the paint and went on his own 6-0 run in the fourth. Somerset outscored Silsbee 22 -11 in the quarter but the Bulldogs were too much for Somerset and won 80-61 to head to the State Title Game with a matchup against Dallas Carter.

Player Analysis

Jordyn Adams, Jr SG – Silsbee: Adams led the way for Silsbee with a 20 point performance. Adams collected steals, made open jumpers and had an emphatic jam in the first half. A TBB Top 30 prospect and Adams showed why he is today.

Braelon Bush, Soph PG – Silsbee: Bush is known as a scorer but he dictated pace, got his teammates involved and ended up with 14 points shooting 50% from the field. Bush played with a mature poise and when he is playing at a high level, Silsbee is very hard to contain.

Isaiah Rivera, Sr. PG – Somerset: Rivera continued to play hard and was one of the few bright spots on Friday for Somerset. He strung together 19 points but was even more impressive was his eight rebounds from the point guard spot.

Katy Tompkins vs South Garland (6A Semifinal)

1st Qtr: Both squads looked to play up-tempo in the early going. Katy Tompkins won the battle on the boards early and mainly scored in the paint. Jr duo Tyrese Maxey and Chris Harris Jr paced the Colonels with 8 of their 11 points and Sr Jamal Bieniemy recorded 4 blocks in the first quarter as the Falcons lead 12-11 after one.

2nd Qtr: The South Garland Duo recorded the first 11 points for the Colonels as they took a 22-17 lead over Tompkins. Maxey orchestrated a shooting clinic in the second quarter but a combination Kristian Sjolund, Jamal Bieniemy and CJ Washington withstood the run from the Colonels and got the deficit within two points. It’s 27 all going into halftime

3rd Qtr: Tyrese Maxey started the second half where he left off. Adding 5 points in the first minute and a half. The free throw line has been the home for CJ Washington as he has been on the line 10 times. Tompkins strung together a 9-0 run to take a 42-41 lead as Bieniemy produced 8 points in the quarter. All tied up going into the 4th quarter 50-50.

4th Qtr: Tompkins scores the first 7 points in the quarter as the momentum they gathered at the end of the third carried over to the fourth. Tyrese Maxey slowed the Falcons momentum after he executed on three point play. Tompkins had a comfortable 67 to 59 lead with 1:46 seconds left but after a timeout from the Colonels, Maxey and Harris Jr produced a 10-0 run and led 69-67 with 40 seconds left. After a rare occasion we’re Maxey goes empty from the charity strike, Bieniemy dribbles up and knocks down a clutch three pointer to go up 70-69. Maxey knocked down 2 clutch free throws with 3 seconds left as we head to overtime 71-71.

OT: It was still a back and forth affair but CJ Washington continued his aggressive pursuit to the rim as he scored 4 points in the extra quarter. Maxey executed in another 3 point play as the Colonels took a 74-72 lead. Jamal Bieniemy took his team on his shoulders making key layups down the stretch, knocking down 2 free throws and making it a two possession game and hold on to a 80-76 win in the most entertaining game so far in the Alamo Dome.

Player Analysis

Tyrese Maxey, Jr PG – South Garland: Maxey made history with his 46 point performance as he tied the UIL State Championship Tournament record for most points in a game (Marcus Freidberger, 1947). Maxey made clutch play after clutch play and showed he can wear any hat the Colonels need him to wear.

Jamal Bieniemy, Sr Wing – Katy Tompkins: Speaking Of clutch plays, Bieniemy answered the call when Tompkins needed points. Jamal finished with 25 points, 7 rebounds 4 blocks and the win. Oklahoma Head Coach Lon Kruger picked up a key asset for his Sooner squad.

CJ Washington, Sr PG – Katy Tompkins: Two things generally happened when Washington got to the paint. Either he drew a foul or he made the layup. CJ lived at the free throw line as he was 13-19 from the charity stripe.

Allen vs Austin Westlake (6A Semifinals)

1st Qtr: Allen takes the early 5-3 lead until Jr Big Man Will Baker finishes off a putback to tie it up for the Chaparrals. The duo of Jr Isaiah Stevens and Sr Jaylen Walker produced 11 points to lead the Eagles to a 16-13 game vs Westlake after one.

2nd Qtr: Austin Westlake saw a rise in their offensive production in the second quarter. Future Baylor Bear Matthew Mayer and Texas Longhorn signee Brock Cunningham led the charge for the Chaparrals and trimmed the deficit to one point. Jaylen Walker provided another four points this quarter and led all scorers with 10 going into half. Eagles up 30-28 after two.

3rd Qtr: Will Baker for Westlake started showcasing why he is a high major prospect with 5 straight points and added three rebounds in a two and a half minute span. Allen withstood the Baker run as Isaiah Stevens took the lead and strung four straight points himself. A momentum shifting three pointer by Allen Sr Brenton Mills increases Allen’s lead by 8. A layup by Sr Donovan Parham for the Eagles bumped the lead to 10 points as Allen leads 50-40 going into the 4th.

4th Qtr: Allen Increased the lead by as many as 15 points within the first two minutes of the quarter. A combination of Sr Jaylon Scott and Jerritt Dixon lead the early surge for Allen. For Westlake, Sr Luke Pluymen knocked down two shots and Xavier Signee Keonte Kennedy contributed 12 points as they continued to fight to keep Westlake in the game.

Player Analysis

Isaiah Stevens, Jr PG – Allen: Stevens was the floor general as he dictated pace, continued to be the vocal leader on the floor and scored when the momentum was getting away from his team. He shot a remarkable 71% from the floor as he contributed 12 points.

Jaylen Walker, Sr Forward – Allen: Walker came to play as he provided 14 points and an impressive defensive performance against the D1 talent Westlake possesses.

Will Baker, Jr Center – Austin Westlake: The staff left the game wanting more from Will Baker. He had a early third quarter stretch where he flashed his full repertoire, but didn’t put it all together in longer periods of time. He produced 10 points, 8 rebs and recorded a block as he showed his nice shooting stroke from beyond the arc and fluidity running the floor.

Edited By: AB

By: Brian Crawford

Reflecting back on the fall semester of Region 14 basketball, the North vs South zone matchups consisted of highly competitive and exciting basketball. I still can recall my times at Navarro College being on the sideline in those heated battles, fighting for position in the standings right before the Christmas Break. At this point I’ve watched 8 of the 14 teams in the league and two contests have stood out to me and that was the heated battles between Angelina and Tyler Junior College, followed by the Lee College versus Kilgore College. Both bouts went blow for blow, round for round, like a heavy weight fight that resulted in one team landing the final blow to seal the victory. The league is still filled with great coaches and many talented athletes, so I am excited about the upcoming Spring semester of Region 14 hoops as well. Notable prospects such as Micah Thomas for TJC has been impressive showcasing his skill set mixed with his athleticism and size. Gilbert Thomas for Angelina is a high motor forward that is good for a double double every night and Davon Newton for Kilgore College has produced on both ends, showcasing his impressive leaping abilities and improved ball skills. To date the overall standings are as follows; Trinity Valley, Paris, and Bossier Paris are tied for first with a 3-0 record. They are followed by Navarro and Tyler that sit at 2-1 for second place, and Angelina, Blinn, Coastal Bend, San Jac, Kilgore, Lee, Jacksonville, and Panola are all at a multi-team tied as well sitting at 1-2. Now speaking from my 3 years of experience at this point of the season, these records indicate nothing, as each program has to continually fight through injuries, player academic short-falls, and off the court matters that take place not only junior college, but collegiate basketball as a whole.

Some of my favorite upcoming matchups that I am excited to see, as we embark upon the second half of season are Blinn versus TJC on January 8 at Tyler, followed by San Jac at Trinity Valley on January 13. I’ll be looking to see how player’s such as Brian White for TJC brings in the second half of the season as he has been effective as a playmaker, shot creator and defender. Panola’s super-athlete Marlon Taylor will also be fun to watch again, as he aims to lead his team back to the National Tournament again this year. Last but definitely not least, the talented Trinity Valley team will be a force to be reckoned with, as they are lead by Baylor transfer Wendell Mitchell, who has a great supporting cast with Andres Ibaguen, Jaime Echenique, and Robinson Idehen. The Spring semester heading into the tournament for each team will be hard fought and tough contests night in and out, and I am looking forward to seeing the other teams and talented players this semester, as tournament play vastly approaches us.

Edited by AB

It was Primetime Thursday at the Alamo Dome where the matchups were prospect heavy  for texasboysbasketball.com. Port Arthur Memorial made their first trip to the State Semifinals in school history and Midlothian, who is led by TCU signee Kaden Archie also punched their ticket to the state tournament. Justin Northwest had unfinished business due to last year’s semifinal exit but Alamo Heights have their own aspirations of a state championship. The game and prospect analysis tells the story.

Port Arthur vs. Midlothian

1st: 15 to 12 Port Arthur  game statically balanced with exception of one more made three ball. Archie tied the game with a deep 3-ptr at the half way mark of the second quarter.

2nd: The duo of Jamyus Jones from the three point line and Jordan Valsin with paint touches at will while 4-4 from the line. Wesley provides the go ahead 3 pointer to give Port Arthur the 24-21 at the half.

3rd: The second half resumed where the first half started as each bucket was hard earned. Sr. Caleb Jordan and Evan Marshall  for Midlothian produced 9 points in the third quarter as Archie was in pursuit to find his way to the paint which resulted in something positive for his team. Sr. Thailan Wesley answered to Midlothian’s early run with 7 points in the last 4 minutes of the third quarter. Memorial up 37-33 after three

4th: The contest got chippy as the intensity of this bout saw an increase in intensity.  A rare double foul was issued as the players started jawing back and forth at each other in the beginning of the last period. No point was scored in the fourth quarter until the 6 minute mark as Wesley nailed a contested three pointer to make it 40-33 for the Titans. Midlothian scored it’s first point in the fourth with 3:33 left but Memorial steadily increased their lead and got up by as much as 16 points until the Panthers first bucket. Memorial withstood Midlothian’s late surge and won 61-49 to advance to the title game.

Player Analysis

Kaden Archie, Sr. Wing- Midlothian: didn’t have a efficient scoring outing (4-13 from the field) and forced the issue at times (7 turnovers), Kaden continued to apply pressure to the Titans defense and got to the line 12 times. Along with 18 points, Archie secured 7 rebounds and blocked 5 shots.

Evan Marshall, Sr. PF – Midlothian: The Air Force signee came out of the gate with an aggressive approach as he played the role as the rim protector on defense. Evan has shown progressive strides throughout the regular season and this semifinal game showed the steady growth in his game. Marshall stat line was 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Thailan Wesley, Sr. SG – Port Arthur Memorial: for Memorial added 24 points as he went 4-8 from three. Wesley grabbed 7 rebounds as the Sr. sharpshooter showcased his quick trigger and went on a 10-0 scoring by himself in the second half.

Nathan Clover, Soph C – Port Arthur Memorial: Clover was very solid in the Titans outing vs Midlothian. He made life difficult for opposing guards to get a clean look in the paint (3 Blocks) and although shots in the paint didn’t go in as much  as he would of liked, Clover showed comfort operating on the block and generating his own look.

1st: Jr. Avery Anderson of Justin Northwest began the second  tilt on Thursday night with a pull up jumper for the first points of the game. Sr. Brandon Johnson scored 8 of the first ten points for Alamo Heights as he displayed his smooth shooting stroke from beyond the arc. The Texans utilized their size advantage as UTA signee Mason Hix, Oklahoma Football signee Darrell Simpson and 2019 big man Sam Freeman combined for 7 points and 10 rebounds in the first quarter. Northwest up 15-12 after one.

2nd: The Mules obtained their first lead in this contest as they put together a quick 5-0 run in the first minute of the second quarter to go up 17-15. Soph. Charlie Dewitt knocked down a corner three and brought a great dose of energy for Alamo Heights. Jr. Sam Freeman gathered 7 rebounds in the second quarter as he secured 13 boards after two periods and Soph Julien Smith strung together a strong quarter with 5 points and 2 assists in a three minutes time frame.

3rd: Sr. Evan Carcanagues for Alamo Heights contributed the first points in the third quarter as he finished through contact on a layup for the and one opportunity. Northwest applied pressure on the defensive side of the ball as Sam Freeman was the anchor on that side of the floor for the Texans. Alamo City came alive in the third quarter with a 6-2 run but the major rebounding differential in Northwest’s favor allowed them to maintain a double digit lead after 3. 49-36 Northwest

4th: Northwest expanded the lead to 17 points as Julien Smith and Avery Anderson orchestrated the first 6 points for the Texans. Brandon Johnson and The Mules continued to fight to stay in the game as they shrunk the lead within 7 points until Avery Anderson answered with the execution of an and one layup and a block on a jumper in the next sequence. Northwest winning the rebounding battle(37-26) and four players in double figures compensated to the shooting woes the Texans faced early which allowed them to hold on and beat Alamo Heights 65-54.

Coaches Corner

Head Coach for The Texans Mike Hatch talked to TBB about the finale against Port Arthur on Saturday.

“Our players were anxious today but I’m confident on Saturday we will play calmer and closer to our  normal nature of play. The atmosphere and the first game here since last year brought a lot of nerves but we will be better on Saturday.”

Player Analysis

Avery Anderson, Jr. PG – Justin Northwest: Anderson produced 16 points and added 3 assists  and steals in the process. Anderson shot a very solid 47% from the field and his impact on both ends of the floor was critical in the Texan’s win on Thursday.

Sam Freeman, Jr. C – Justin Northwest: Freeman was a monster in the interior on Thursday night as he compiled a double double with 13 pts, 17 rebounds and multiple blocks. Freeman scored on the block, cleaned up on the glass and when he is playing with this energy, it is hard to bet against Northwest on Saturday.

Brandon Johnson, Sr. SG – Alamo Heights: Johnson shot 50% from the field on his way to a 20 point game. Brandon shot 5-8 from beyond the arc and was the leader in the fourth quarter surge for The Mules. Johnson refused to let the game get out of hand as he hit must needed jumpers to keep his team alive.

Edited By: AB

There were no shortage of division 1 prospects on hand at the National Hoopfest. EPLAY Sports provided the live stats as the fans were able to keep up with the numbers all Saturday. We give our 7 player take on our Saturday in Lancaster, TX.

Mike Miles, 2020 PG – Lancaster: Lancaster’s matchup was a good evaluation game for TBB prospect Mike Miles against Oak Hill. Defended by bigger, longer guards, the staff wanted to see if Miles would consistently generate a clean look and be effective and on Saturday he did. Mike got to the lane, finished against length and knocked down jumpers without being bothered by the contest. He produced 21 points and kept his team in the game.

Blake Hinson, 2019 CF – Sunrise Christian: Hinson is a mismatch problem with his size, strength and ability to space the floor. He led his Sunrise Christian squad in scoring with 22 and gave South Garland fits for four quarters.

Keyontae Johnson, 2018 Wing – Oak Hill: The strong, cut-up wing for Oak Hill value on the defensive side of the ball didn’t go unnoticed. Was active in help-side and kept up with the quick guards Lancaster possesses. Johnson added 27 points in the process as the Florida commit was effective on both ends of the floor.

Chris Harris Jr, 2019 SG – South Garland: Harris Jr. Couldn’t miss in the beginning of The Colonels outing vs Sunrise as he produced 10 of South Garlands first 12 points. Harris doesn’t need much space to get his shot off and his ability to get to the right spots on the floor allows him score. Finished with 19 points and the win on Saturday.

Larry Wise, 2018 Wing – Waxahachie: Wise produced what looked like an easy 12 point, 6 rebounds and 3 assists outing for Waxahachie. Wise is crafty around the cup and uses his length to make plays on both ends. The Indians ultimately lost to Chicago Simeon but Wise played an integral part in keeping his team within striking distance.

Jahmar Young, 2018 C – Desoto: Young was challenging everything at the rim and was aggressive as a help side defender. Whitney Young didn’t have anyone who could consistently match with the size and athleticism Young possess which warranted double teams on the talented post. Young finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Talen Horton-Tucker, 2018 Wing – Chicago Simeon: Tucker is strong, and used his size to bully his way into the paint on Saturday. He possess range on his jumper and concluded the night for Simeon with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists.

Edited by AB

The TBB staff made a routine stop at Ellis Davis Field House to watch Kimball and Cedar Hill as multiple state winning coach Snoop Johnson got inducted into the Kimball Walk of Honor. We made a pit stop to Irving to catch a nice guard matchup and we finished up in South Garland and Lancaster to catch a slew of big time matchups.

Cobe Williams, 2019 PG – Dallas Can Academy: Williams utilizes his quickness to get to the cup and against Universal Academy, was able to finish in traffic consistently. It was a blowout lost for Can Academy, but Williams produced and showed why he is a top 35 TBB prospect.

Jaylin Posey, 2020 PG – Universal Academy: Posey scores in high volumes and it doesn’t take long for him to connect on 6-8 points in a row. The staff is high on Posey as a prospect and can crawl up in the top 10 in the 2020 class. Posey has received interest from UT-Austin and Washington State per source.

RJ Hampton, 2020 PG – Little Elm: Hampton is one if not the best scorers in Texas regardless of class as he showed his ability to score from anywhere on the floor. Hampton orchestrated a very solid outing versus South Garland with 18 points and displayed playmaking abilities by racking up several assists in the process

Tyrese Maxey, 2019 PG – South Garland: Talking about top scorers in Texas period, Maxey is another guard prospect that contends for that title. Maxey produced 19 points against Little Elm and 27 vs Sunrise Christian. Maxey’s range goes way beyond the arc and showed a more attacking nature, getting into the paint and finishing.

Montre Gibson, 2018 PG – Waxahachie: Gibson is a steady guard that uses his body well to navigate and make plays. His ability to be smooth and efficient with the ball brings value to his Waxahachie squad and Montre is one of the better guards left on the board in the 2018 class.

Feron Hunt, 2018 CF – Desoto: Feron was flying on both ends of the floor and his motor and willingness to hunt for loose balls put Desoto in a position to win vs Whitney Young. Hunt notched a double-double on Saturday with 20 points, 10 rebounds.

Messiah Jones, 2018 PF – Chicago Simeon: Jones plays with a little bit of a mean streak and that was vital in Simeon’s win vs Waxahachie. He cleaned up on the glass, imposed his will from time to time on the block and that led him into conducting 23 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday.

N’Faly Dante, 2020 C – Sunrise Christian: Dante has the physical makeup of a high major big man and recorded a double double Saturday against South Garland with 10 points, 10 rebounds. Dante moves fluid up and down the court and his athleticism is of top notch as well.

Cole Williams, 2019 CG – Kimball: Williams second half performance was key in Kimball’s win vs Cedar Hill on Tuesday. Williams has range on his jumper, and was efficient scoring when fast break opportunities presented itself. Their are aspects of his game that Williams will need to improve in order to get what he wants in the recruiting trail but a talented guard that has attributes in his game that translates.

High Major prospects have participated in the past at wthe Scout Focus Elite 80 Camps. From Current UT guard Andrew Jones, SMU forward Everette Ray, 2019 Wing Samuel Williamson and a plethora more. The texasboysbasketball.com staff was on hand at Hebron HS this past weekend and took a look at the prospects that manned the floors.

Jordan Simmons, 2019 PG – Green Hill School: Simmons was the top guard in the camp. Plays with a great feel, shot it well and is a prospect that possess a skillset that translates to the division 1 level.

Jerrand Bradley, 2021 SF – Frisco Lone Star: Bradley was a spectacle in the air as he flew to the rim and looked to throw it down at any chance. A prospect in the 2021 class that has a lot of room to grow and displayed promise.

Justin Crawford, 2020 CG – Arlington Seguin: Crawford is fast with the ball and knows how to put the ball through the net. Crawford puts pressure on the defense as he continued to attack the teeth of the defense and made plays in the open court.

Tyrese Davis, 2018 C – Frisco: Davis body and size stood out amongst the talented crop of players at the Elite 80. Strong in the post, aggressive with his finishes around the paint and is an available prospect that is intriguing.

Zavion Jackson, 2019 CF – White Hall HS (Ark): Jackson was a handful as he looked to throw down a dunk when given the slightest of space. Jackson plays hard, runs the floor and although he still has things he needs to work on, there’s still a lot to like about him.

Saxon McClure, 2020 PF – Emerald High School: McClure is a wide body forward that knows how to use his size. Saxon’s ability to space the floor and take space impresses the TBB staff.

Michael Unga, 2021 C – South Grand Prairie: Unga has came a long way from when the staff saw the big man play as a 7th grader. He accumulated a beavy Of dunks in his last game of the camp as the the developing big man has shown progressions each yr texasboysbasketball.com see him.

Emma Aruna, 2022 C – Delay Middle School: Aruna was the youngest, tallest and arguably the top prospect at the camp. Really runs the floor, good hands and once he adds weight & strength, Emma has a chance to become a big time prospect.

Jacob Profit, 2019 Wing – ESTEM HS (Ark.) Profit has been a regular at the Scout Focus Camp and he looks to be turning the corner. Versatile, improved looking jumper and playing with a edge. The staff was impressed with his development and will take a look at him some more this grassroots season.

Legend Barrett, 2019 PF – Lake Ridge HS: Barrett is a burly, strong 4-man that knows how to play. Legend is undersized for his position but plays very hard and made plays consistently at the Elite 80

Caleb Mosley, 2020, Smithson Valley High: A player that was quietly productive but continued to make plays on both ends was Caleb Mosley. Having grown in the past yr, Mosley is a prospect that can blossom in the next yr as he continues to grow and develop.

KJ Pruitt, 2020 CG – Universal Academy: Elite 80 did good for KJ’s stock. He has improved in his shot creating and feel for the game. A top 20 prospect on texasboysbasketbal.com, the staff will take another look at the Lewisville product at the TCAL Championship in San Antonio.

South Garland “BIG” addition can shake things up and which players utilized the platform to prove their worth. The second edition of the Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest took place in Lancaster, TX and the TBB staff takes a look at the top stories.

South Garland’s “Big Three”

The Colonels are 2-0 since the addition of 2019 big man Dearon Tucker with impressive wins vs Little Elm and Sunrise Christian. Tucker’s interior production on both ends of the floor has been key for South Garland.2019 Tyrese Maxey was hitting on all cylinders on Sunday to his way to 27 points against Sunrise. Sharpshooter Chris Harris added 19 points and the South Garland trio accounted for a heavy portion of their team’s points. The Colonels were missing an interior presence and the inclusion of Tucker in the lineup gives them an opportunity to make a playoff run.

Underclassmen Lead Lancaster to Near Upset

The TBB staff noted the tall task Lancaster had to encounter on Saturday night with national powerhouse Oak Hill on the other side but the young guns answered the challenge. 2020 Mike Miles attributed 21 points and when Oak Hill looked to extend pressure, Miles showed poise and got to his spots on the floor. 2020 Marco Foster came off the bench and came out firing from beyond the arc, knocking down 7 three pointers and bringing value on the defensive end of the floor. 2021 Wade Taylor showed he belongs amongst the top guards in the 2021 class with a 20 pt performance and showcasing abilities to make plays for his teammates. Lancaster led by as many as 10 pts but Oak Hill’s size was too much for the Tigers down the stretch and lost 87-78.

Freeman is a Strong Pickup for Valparaiso

Valparaiso Commit Javon Freeman executed with efficiency offensively. He’s a savvy wing that is able to score on all three levels. Freeman contributed 31 points in a comeback win vs Desoto and mix of skill and length will be welcomed when he steps on to the campus in Indiana.

Keldon Johnson Displays 5 Star Talent

2018 Keldon Johnson is a powerful wing that can mix it up offensively scoring inside and out. The Kentucky Commit put his Oak Hill squad on his shoulder and led the rally against and motivated Lancaster squad adding 26 points and 10 rebounds in the process. The staff got to witness Johnson in Virginia at the NBPA Top 100 Camp and Keldon continues to show why he’s among the top players in the country.

Marqualan Grant Shows His Value

Waxahachie is primed for a state title and West Texas A&M Commit Marqualan Grant will be one of the leaders in charge for making that happen. The strong body guard made timely plays when Chicago Simeon was prepared to make a big run and was fearless attacking the basket. The TBB prospect will see a rise in his status.

Edited By AB

Part II of our January Prospect Series takes a look at intriguing prospects ranging from the 2018-2021 class. Is the big man from Skyline the top player in his class? Tariq Aman is looking to secure a scholarship offer and how good can Jaylin Posey be? These questions are being answered by our TBB staff.

Xavier Rhodes, 2021 Post – Skyline: Rhodes has secured a top 5 spot in 2021 with his compilation of performances in front of the staff. He is long, runs the floor and has a nice touch around the rim. He is contending for the top spot in the 2021 class but the staff will need to see more out of him. Rhodes looks the part and has held his own coming in as a starter on varsity for Head Coach Paul Graham.

Tariq Aman, 2019 PG – Coppell: Aman quarterbacks for the Cowboys and against Skyline he sliced his way onto the paint, shot it well from deep and continued to get his teammates involved.

KJ Liggins, 2021 PG – Coppell: Liggins has a good frame and plays with a mature feel for the game. Liggins at Skyline had no problems finishing through contact, knocking down jumpers and getting his teammates involved

Quevian Adger, 2020 SF – Coppell: Adger plays with a physical nature that passes through to his teammates. He compiled a double double in Coppell’s win vs Skyline and showed why he is a top 15 prospect on TBB.

Jase Townsend, 2018 CG – Skyline: Townsend didn’t shoot it well from deep but did solid job facilitating as the staff counted 5 assists for Townsend. The Denver commit still shot it with confidence and accounted for 9 straight points in Skyline’s second half push.

Jaylin Posey, 2020 PG – Universal Academy: Posey is an intriguing prospect. Size, length and potential scoring prowess has the staff high on him. Against Southwest Christian he scored 12 points and locked in defensively. Consistency is key for Posey going forward as he is a top 5 Talent in the 2020 but doesn’t consistently  show it.

Arthur Kaluma, 2021 SF – Universal Academy: In a game where there was potentially over 10 D1 prospects manning the floor, in stretches Arthur Kaluma was the best player on the court. Kaluma notched a double double against Southwest Christian and has taken the lead role in the scoring department for Universal Academy.

Tre White, 2019 SF – Mansfield Timberview: Speaking Of double doubles, Tre White has compiled a few in January in front of the staff. He’s strong, bouncy and has performed in his role for Timberview.

Shakur Daniels, 2018 PG – Southwest Christian: Shakur runs the point for Southwest Christian with fluidity and ease. Gets to his spots, gets his teammates involved and provides a strong scoring punch. Shakur produced 18 points against Universal Academy as he showcased a skillset that translates.

Edited by AB

At Texasboysbasketball.com we continue to take a glance at the prospects the staff evaluates each month. Arlington Martin possess a promising, talented power forward that is high on the TBB database. 2019 Joshua Miller and Marcus Sasser for Red Oak have built chemistry on the court and providing instant scoring for the Hawks. Let’s dive in on part 1.

Joshua Miller, 2019 Wing – Red Oak: Miller has been a productive key piece to Red Oak’s run to a playoff birth. He was able to get to his spots on the floor and accumulated 22 pts to go along 5 blocks in their matchup vs Mansfield Timberview.

Marcus Sasser, 2019 CG – Red Oak: Sasser struggled early on against Timberview as he couldn’t generate a clean release early but in the fourth quarter and overtime, Sasser produced when his team needed, as he accounted for the last 8points in regulation.

Chris Mullins, 2018 PG – Mansfield Timberview: The Rice Owl Commit has orchestrated strong performances when the lights are on. He looks to disrupt opposing guards defensively and offensively against Red Oak, produced 22 points and the win.

Isaac Likeleke, 2018 Wing – Mansfield Timberview: Likeleke continues to fill the stat sheet up as he plays any role that his team needs from him in order to win. If that’s guard the best player, become the primary playmaker or take the lead as a shot creator, Isaac put on different hats to lead his Timberview squad to a quest of another 5A State Title.

Montreal Pena, 2020 Post – Arlington Martin: Pena has a lot of upside and the talented big man showed flashes of what he will become down the road when the light stays on. The number 15 TBB prospect against Arlington HS rebounded, blocked shots and has a nice touch around the rim.

Jadaun Slack, 2020 SF – Arlington High School: A bruising forward that plays with physicality. Slack is a TBB Top 50 prospect in the 2020 class and he has the tools to become a D1 prospect.

Connor Redrow, 2021 C – Universal Academy: Redrow is starting to come around, his effort and activity on the boards and in the paint has resulted in a increase in minutes. Still ways to go for Redrow but he provided rebounding and a interior presence in Universal Academy’s win against Southwest Christian.

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North Texas vs The Nation; Some of the countries prestigious and storied programs will battle it out against some of the better schools in the DFW as The ARS National Hoopfest tour will stop by at Lancaster, TX to host a slate of games that the TBB staff will be on hand.

Highland Park vs Chicago Simeon 4:30 PM Friday

Highland Park has accumulated 6 wins in the season so far with an impressive victory against Trinity Christian Cedar Hill. Highland Park have been able to execute as a team and will need to operate at a high level vs Talen-Horton Tucker led squad. Tucker has a chance to win MR. Basketball in the State of Illinois and a program whose alumni consist Derrick Rose, Jabari Parker that have dawn the blue and Gold, Tucker looks to join the club in adding a Illinois 4A State Title on his resume.

South Garland vs Sunrise Christian 2:30 PM Saturday

The dynamic duo of 2019 Chris Harris and Tyrese Maxey will be heavily relied upon in South Garland’s heavyweight matchup vs Sunrise Christian. Harris is following a explosive 40 point performance against Lancaster and is one of if not the best shooter in the 2019 class in Texas. One of the premier guards in the country in Tyrese Maxey has proven his status so far this season and recently produced a eye-catching second half performance against Allen.  Sunrise Christian advantage comes in the front court as they mann great size, length and depth at the 4 & 5 slots. 2020 N’Faly Dante is an impact big man that makes his mark on both ends of the floor and shown potential to stretch the floor. With him is 2019 Blaise Keita, a rim running, shotblocking big that possess good feet and hands and showed to be a solid post option at the Elite 14 in October.  2019 TBB prospect Jordan Turner will also be suited up for the Buffaloes and the staff will take a look at his progress. If South Garland stay within two or three possessions in the fourth quarter, that will allow Maxey and Harris to finish.

Desoto vs Whitney Young 4:00 PM Saturday

The pg matchup is an intriguing one between unsign senior guard RJ Mason (Desoto) and USF commit in 2018 Xavier Castanada (Whitney Young). Mason, who is  playing with an edge and a  chip on his shoulder will look to rise to the occasion to prove his worth. On paper, this is one of the more evenly matched up games but big contributions from SMU signees Feron Hunt and Jahmar Young are needed for the Eagles squad to come up on top. Valpo commit Javon Freeman is a talented wing that excels in a a variety of ways on the court for Whitney Young. 2021 Duncan Powell for Desoto has stepped up and excelled in his role at Desoto and this is a test that the staff will be able to see how he performs in the bright lights.

Waxahachie vs Chicago Simeon 5:30 PM Saturday

The Indians of Waxahachie contain a trio of prospects that have produced on a consistent basis for their school with 2018 Drake signee Larry Wise, 2018 strong body guards Montre Gipson and Marqualen Grant. Wise has displayed an ability to score off the dribble, finish around the rim and connect on a nice percentage of shots from beyond the arc. Gipson embraces contact and plays with a good feel and motor. Grant is another guard that utilizes his strength to get in the paint and scores within the flow of the game. The Indians have a tall task in containing 2018 Iowa State Commit  Talen Horton – Tucker. Tucker is a strong, athletic wing that scores on all three levels as 2018 Xavier Pinson and Zion Young have added to the scoring punch for Simeon.

Lancaster vs Oak Hill Academy 7:00 PM Saturday

Lancaster depend on a bevy of guards for production with 2020 TBB prospect Mike Miles running the show at the point. 2018 LaQuan Butler can get hot quick on the perimeter as he is capable of going for 20 points in any game. 2021 Wade Taylor has emerged as one of the top guard prospects in the freshman class, and can hold or boost his stock with a strong outing against Oak Hill. Oak Hill is filled with talent with Oregon Ducks commit in Will Richardson, Kentucky commit Keldon Johnson on the wing and Kansas commit David McCormack controlling the paint. McCormack imposes his will in the paint, relagates action inside and will have the opportunity to contribute right away when he arrives to Lawrence, KS. Recent Virginia Tech decommit BJ Mack runs the 4 spot for Oak Hill as Lancaster will have to contain both Mack and McCormack on the glass to have a chance in this game.

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Cedar Hill hosted the Lions Club Tournament and the staff was on hand to view some of the “sleeper prospects” in the 2018-2020 class. 2019 Marcus Sasser discusses his recruitment to TBB as we analyze one of the top unsign senior forwards in the 2018 class in Texas and a promising 2020 big man from   Forth Worth.

Marcus Sasser, 2019, CG – Red Oak: Sasser knows how to put the ball through the net. Off the bounce, Marcus found the seams in the defense to attack, averaged over 20 ppg and led his team to a championship. Kansas State, North Texas, UT Arlington, Tulsa as UTA and Tulsa have stayed in contact with the promising guard on a weekly basis. Sasser told TBB he plans on visiting the campus of the schools interested when the scholastic season ends.

Tyreek Smith, 2019 PF – TCCH: Smith presence was felt in the paint as his activity altering shots inside led to opponents thinking twice before attacking the cup. He was mixing it up on the block, facing up, scoring with his back to the basket and how far he’s came along in stretching his game.

Ray Pugh, 2018 CG – Pugh shot the ball at a nice clip at the Lions Club Tournament as he was a threat from the perimeter off the catch. Pugh has improved as a playmaker, looking to get his teammates involved and in spots they can excel. Arkansas Pine Bluff, Hofstra, Southern have shown interest in the point man for Cedar Hill as Hofstra made the trip to see the guard this past week. Pin-Bluff assistant coach has been in contact with Pugh on a weekly basis he told texasboysbasketball.com.

Justin Nimmer, 2018 SF – Waxahachie Life: Nimmer will see his name in our TBB database as the unsign senior versatility was in full display at Cedar Hill. He shot it well from the perimeter, showing to be dependent on knocking down the open three. He hunted for loose balls, able to defend off switches, and was in control handling the ball in the open court and making the right read.

Dominique Jackson, 2018 SG – TCCH: Jackson is another unsign senior that impressed the staff. He produced efficient scoring outings and defended with a sense of urgency. His length, strength and ability to score in variety of ways this past week presented mismatch problems on opposing guards.

Mark Freeney, 2019 SF – Red Oak: Freeney activity on both ends can’t go unnoticed to the staff. He finished around the rim in traffic, runs the lanes hard in transition and impacted shots in the paint. Freeney is a strong glue guy with his ability to defend multiple positions, rebound, and score off of straight hustle.

CJ Weathers, 2018 PF – CHANT: Weather’s used his size to score over defenders on the block and high post. He can stretch the floor out, being able to knock down a three pointer when open but also take slower bigs off the dribble from the wing.

Jeremiah Keys,2019 WING – FW Dunbar: Keys can launch out a flurry of buckets when in a rythym. Shot selection is questionable but Keys mix of athleticism, speed and a solid looking shooting stroke allows him score inside and out and a danger in the open court.

Tim Hartman, 2020 Post – FW Dunbar: Hartman is a developing big man that showed some promising aspects to his game to the staff. A floor runner with solid hands and feet, Hartman looks to secure rebounds in his area and shown to have a decent touch around the basket.

Edited By AB

Going into February, the regular season is winding down and the TBB staff dives in to the third part of our available prospect series. Players have come out and performed their way on the list and other talents are waiting out the process.

Zach Wrightsil, 2018 SF – Prosper: Wrightsil has accumulated several eye popping performances in district play and the forward has shown the ability to stretch the floor, defend multiple positions and excel in the open court.

Tre Gipson, 2018 PG – Waxahachie: Gipson has utilized the scholastic season to up his stock as he has been the floor leader for TABC’s Number 1 Team in the state in 5A. Gipson is a strong decision maker, a plus defender and shown ability to generate his own shot.

Brenton Mills, 2018 SG – Allen: Mills has stepped up for Allen and in the summer produced in front of the staff. Mills has a strong body, shoots it from beyond the arc and is a good athlete.

Justin Nimmer, 2018 SF – Waxahachie Life: Nimmer’s versatility and length makes him an intriguing prospect. With his size mixed with his strong playmaking abilities, Nimmer sits at 56 in our TBB database. Has followed up sound performances in Vegas with a series of strong performances in the school season.

Brick Fosnight, 2018 SF – Clear Springs: Fostnight 14 pt performance against Mac Irvin Fire in Vegas stood out to the staff. His size, smooth shooting stroke and readiness to release whenever he catches the ball translates to the next level.

Zach Nutall, 2018 CG – Bryan: The explosive guard from Bryan may have his school in mind and the staff expects a decision soon after the season. Nutall is a talented guard that makes plays in the open court and quick off the dribble.

Calvashawn Darthard, 2018 CG – Denton Guyer: Another talented two way guard that has recovered from his leg injury and has produced for Denton Guyer. Darthard is a prospect that the staff believe will be effective and produce for the program he joins for next fall.

Zach Watson, 2018 PF – Frisco Liberty: Watson’s athleticism stands out as the powerful 4-man for Frisco Liberty finishes above the rim, rebounds and really effective when he plays to his strengths.

Khaliel Spear, 2018 SF – The Colony: Spear has recently received an offer from Buckner and Arkansas State offered the forward in the Summer. Spear is amongst the top available 3-men in Texas as his length, an improvement as a scorer on the wing has been on display at The Colony.

David Nzekwesi, 2018 C – Byron Nelson: Nzekwesi accumulated offers due to his play during the summer. Nzekwesi has chose to wait it out and the staff recently spoke with David and told us his recruitment is still open. Interested to see what happens in his recruitment and who picks up the burly, skilled big man.

Zakari Hart, 2018 Post – Universal Academy: Hart has shown flashes of his upside and with his size and ability to shoot the ball, Hart is an intriguing prospect. When he commits himself consistently to the right things, he looks like a D1 prospect. An intriguing available prospect in 2018.

Nabil Rurangwa, 2018 C – Timber Creek: Talking about intriguing big men, Nabil is another prospect on our list as the developing big man has come along in the past 365 days. He has become a solid post option for his squad and starting to understand how to be consistent.

Steven Samuels, 2018 SF – Bishop Lynch: Samuels possess length, athleticism and has been one of those prospects that still has ways to go but his development gives the staff confidence on his potential at the next level.

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Tournament season is in full throttle in the high school season as the TBB staff traveled through several cities in North Texas this past week.Tyrese Maxey took on the alpha male role in crunch time as we take a look at the talented 2019 guard from Wilmer Hutchins and were he could land in our 2019 database.

Tyrese Maxey, 2019 PG – South Garland: The early portion of the South Garland v Allen game was heavily one sided as Allen possesses a 18 point advantage over the Colonels. Maxey in the second half went on a scoring tear on his way to 36 points and a overtime victory for his squad. Whenever the game is close and Maxey is on the floor, it can be hard to bet against the 5 star guard knowing the ball will be in his hands.

Chris Harris Jr, 2019 SG – South Garland: Harris was another prospect that rose to the moment for South Garland as he connected on multiple jumpers from the perimeter. Harris decision making was shaky operating off the bounce but bounced back and stepped up when his team needed him.

Isaiah Stevens, 2019 PG – Allen: Stevens produced an efficient 15 pts in Allen’s overtime lost against South Garland. Stevens has a good feel, plays with a motor and is a crafty finisher in traffic. Isaiah has been one of Texasboysbasketball.com’s biggest stock risers and continues to produce in the scholastic season.

Brenton Mills, 2018 Guard – Allen: Mills shot the ball well from the perimeter and the strong body guard displayed solid playmaking ability this past Saturday. The unsign senior guard continued to impress being able to score on the move, and defend with physicality.

Quentin Grimes, 2018 Guard – College Park: Grimes scoring abilities was on full display in Mansfield. Athleticism mixed with his ability to score off the bounce efficiently made the Kansas Jayhawk commit a handful for opposing defenses.

Daveion Sanders, 2019 PG – Wilmer Hutchins: Sanders impressed  the staff with his speed, quickness and physcial nature he displays in his game. Sanders utilizes his speed in the open court, a capable shooter from the perimeter and brought value on the defensive side this past week.

Grayson Carter, 2018  PF – Denton Guyer: Carter orchestrated several strong performances in Mansfield as he gobbled up on the boards and played with a motor and toughness that the staff wanted to see. The Georgetown commit has found a rhythm in the strong Wildcat’s starting lineup and continuing to provide solid interior play.

Edited by AB

We are in the heart of district play and the Texasboysbasketball.com staff looks back at some of the storylines from the scholastic season. Who is the top 2019 prospect in Houston? Where does DJ Thorpe rank amongst a crop of talented big men in the 2019 class? We dive in to those subjects in our TBB Storylines

Isaac Likeleke In-Season Production Ranks amongst Top in State of Texas

Future Fresno State Bulldog Isaac Likeleke has produced at a high level for his Mansfield Timberview squad as he has been the engine that makes the car go for the Wolves. Rebounding, willing his way to the paint, and taking the task of guarding the opposing team’s top perimeter player, regardless of thoughts of the next level projection as far as where it translates for Isaac, there is no doubting his production during the season as he has led Timberview to a 16-5 record and 4-2 in conference play.

DJ Thorpe Rises in Rankings, Becoming a Legitimate High Major Prospect

The hottest rising prospect in the 2019 class in the Lone Star State is DJ Thorpe of Lake Travis. The 6’10 big man moves well, possess athleticism and motor that high major coaches are taking notice. With recent offers from Texas A&M, UVA, TCU and Kansas State, the #13 ranked player on Texasboysbasketball.com can see himself in the top 10 with productive performances against high level bigs.

Donovan Williams The Top 2019 prospect  in Houston?

There is a lot to like about the Elkins standout as “Stretch” which he is called utilizes his length when he competes. The staff has gotten the chance to see Williams a few times this season and his strong performances and high upside has landed him number 25 in the TBB database (#2 in Houston RCS). By the scholastic season’s end which gives the staff more of a body of work, the way it’s trending, Williams will see the jump and be the number 1 prospect in Houston.

Freshmen Making Strong Contributions on Varsity Level

We have kept track of the 2021 class with our Freshman Report. While it’s been a while for the 5th edition (coming soon) several freshman have logged in heavy minutes for their varsity squads. Arthur Kaluma of Universal Academy has played in contests where he looked to be the best player on the court with other D1 prospects manning the floor. Xavier Rhodes for Skyline has grown 4 inches since 8th grade and his feet, hands, length and touch translates to a top 5 spot when our 2021 rankings release. Duncan Powell of Desoto, has provided strong-production coming off the bench as the talented forward has seen a smooth transition to the speed and physicality of the game. Probably the most productive guard in the 21’ class in Wade Taylor as the Lancaster product has manufactured powerful performances in big games for the Tigers (20 pts against Oak Hill, 26 pts vs South Oak Cliff). Houston possess several promising prospects with the Sam Rayburn tandem of Keon Edwards and Jerel Colbert, which both could see their name in our top 5 in 2021. Cream of the Crop Alum PJ Neal for The Heights has been averaging over 6 assists a game as the starting point guard and another Cream of the Crop Alum Chris Felix of Hightower has excelled in his role for the Hurricanes. Another prospect I am high on is Kaleb Stewart of Crosby and Noah Kon of Houston Christian. Both have produced when the staff has watched them play and have used the school season to boost their stock.

Larry Wise Chooses A Program That He Will Thrive In

Wise was among the top unsign seniors when the fall rolled around and the talented wing for Waxahachie committed to play for Drake University next fall. Drake, who currently is 1st in the Missouri Valley League will be losing 5 of their 6 top scorers next year and Wise will have the opportunity to come in and contribute right away. The staff views Wise chose was a great fit for him and believe he will be a All Conference Standout for the Bulldogs and manufacture a nice four year career at Des Moines.

The Hype Sports Winter Jam has become one of the Premier middle school basketball events in the Lone Star State. It is one of the 4 middle school events the staff covers on a yearly basis. We will continue to a look at how this class compares to previous classes at this point in their young careers. We will watch to track there development as you watch their names roll through TBB for next 5-6 years.

Cam Amboree, 2022 PG – Hardwork: Amboree shot the ball at a high clip from the perimeter. Has a quick trigger and averaged over 12 points at the Winter Jam.

Cason Wallace: The Younger brother of UTSA standout guard Keaton Wallace, Cason has a good feel, defends and shows a natural ability of putting the ball through the net.

Collin Smith, 2022 SF – Hardwork: Smith length and versatility was on display at the Winter Jam. Smith oozes with talent and his ceiling is high. When Smith elevates his game, Hardwork is a dangerous team to match up against.

PF Jaden Robinson, 2022 CF – Higher Goals: Robinson down the line could turn out to be one of the top Texas prospects in the 2022 class from this event. Can shoot it from beyond the arc, handle the ball with fluidity in the open court and is long.

CJ Ford, 2022 PG – Dallas Mustangs: Ford is Quick with the ball and produced high scoring totals and most notably against Team FOE. Ford was one of the best scoring guards at the Winter Jam.

Kamayua Blac, 2022 SF – Dallas Mustangs: Blac has a promising stroke from the perimeter and has range even past the three point line. Still needs to get tougher, but can turn out to be a TBB prospect once he enters high school.

Xavier Martinez, 2022 PG – Hardwork: Martinez produced at the semis and championship game. Xavier has some toughness to his game and made big time plays in pressure situations.

Kevin Garcia, 2022 PF – Hardwork Black: Garcia has slimmed down and has stretched his game. Garcia produced consecutive 20 point outings and although he still has ways to go, Garcia has shown improvement.

Isaiah Foster, 2022 PG – Team FOE: Foster is a young talented guard that is crafty with the basketball. Still developing as a floor leader but shows promise.

JD Legarde, 2022 PG – TSI: Legarde has grown in the past year. A Cream of The Crop Alum is Quick and developing into an efficient point guard.

Kobe Bratton, 2022 PG – TSI: Another Cream of The Crop Alum, Bratton has a good body for his age and scored off the bounce. A talented guard that has a high upside.

Omari Abor, 2022 CF – Team FOE: Abor is strong and knows how to carve out space in the paint. Shot the ball well from beyond the arc, connecting on multiple jumpers each contest the staff watched.

The stage was set at Shands Arena in Lufkin, TX for a Saturday showdown between Region
XIV programs Angelina College and the Apaches of Tyler Junior College. TJC arrived on
Saturday with an unblemished 10-0 record to start the season and Angelina have accumulated
impressive wins against Ranger and South Plains College. Conference play just began but the
atmosphere at Shane’s Arena possessed every bit of the vibe of a conference
championship matchup in March. For the Roadrunners, sophomore forward Gilbert Thomas (16
pts, 15 reb) set the tone early with his infectious energy on both ends for the Roadrunners by
finishing with an impressive double-double. Thomas’s teammate, sophomore wing Bryan
Mitchell (21 pts) is a lengthy athlete that is very dangerous in transition, along with doing a really
good job getting into the lanes and finishing in the half-court, was also very efficient as well for
Angelina. They both were followed by freshman Deedy Guano (18 pts) who is an athletic guard
that’s creative off the bounce and plays with a high motor on both ends, as he lead the charge
as the floor general for Angelina. Sharpshooter sophomore guard Angel Bullock (14 pts) a solid
athlete who shot it well with range from behind the arc for the Roadrunners against the lengthy
and athletic Apache zone. Other notable performers for Angelina included sophomore forward
Nylek Cobb (11pts) a long and wiry athlete that slashes well and showed the ability to knock
down the outside shots when needed for the roadrunners. Lastly, freshman guard Kevin
Norman (6 pts) a strong body athlete that is a really good slasher that plays with a toughness
and tenacity on both ends of the floor for his team.

Top performers for the TJC Apaches were sophomore Brian Warren (26 pts) an crafty, talented
guard who plays with toughness, good vision and strong IQ for his team. Warren was followed
by UTA commit Tiandre Jackson (13pts) a bouncy athlete that is a deadly shooter from outside,
who caught fire and hit some big shots for the Apaches during second half of the game.
Other notable performers for TJC were freshman guard, Cameron Johnson (11 pts) an athletic
guard who does a great job getting into the lane and finishing with traffic, along with Micah
Thomas (11 pts) a lengthy athletic wing who shoots it really well from behind the arc, both were
key contributors for the Apaches as well. Lastly, sophomore Tajuan Agee (8 pts) a tough strong
body athlete that is very active on both ends of the court, also made a solid impact during the
course of the game that resulted in a 81-76 loss to the Angelina Roadrunners.

Edited By AB

North Texas was a hotspot for Hoops last week with battles between UIL 4A-6A schools and TBB prospects. Get to know Demarcus Fisher’s game and of top performers from last week.

Jakevan Leftridge, 2019 SF – Wilmer Hutchins: Leftridge has an intriguing skill-set as the forward plays with length and made his offensive contributions operating off the bounce and finishing on put back opportunities. The long, slender forward has been impressive in the last 10 days and is a prospect to continue to look at throughout the year.

Jalen Wilson, 2019 SF – Denton Guyer: Wilson has collaborated constant efficient performances for Denton Guyer as the TBB high major prospect. Wilson has shown a diverse skill set in the process as he is a tough, physical player who has the ability to shoot off the catch and moves well without the ball.

De’Vion Harmon, 2019 PG – Denton Guyer: Harmon nabbed the MVP for the Spring Creek Tournament as the gritty, talented guard imposes his will in ball games. He has a relentless approach in attacking the basket and makes defenses pay when they are lax defensively. Harmon has performed just as good if not better than any guard in the state of Texas so far in the season.

Jae LeDee, 2018 PF – Kinkaid: Talking about players that have been imposing their will, Buckeye commit Jae LeDee has been making his mark in the paint and has an impressive double-double average to start the season. Jae handles the ball in the open court and was able to consistently convert on shots through contact.

Isaiah LeBlanc, 2020 Guard – Kinkaid: LeBlanc in the half-court setting was efficient as he was able to keep his defender guessing when operating off the triple threat. LeBlanc has shown steady improvement over the summer and texasboysbasketball.com will keep track of Isaiah throughout the season.

Wade Taylor, 2021 PG – Lancaster: Taylor against South Oak Cliff was in the staff’s opinion the best player on the court last Tuesday. He handled pressure, fires away off the dribble, off the catch and has a competitive spirit about him. Taylor constructed a 25 pt performance which was vital in a back and forth battle vs SOC.

Kylon Owens, 2020 PF – South Oak Cliff: “KO” stat line doesn’t draw a viewer but his time on the court, Owen’s showed that he has put time in stretching his game. He possess a solid release from 12 ft out and nabbed the ball coming off the rim consistently.

Demarcus Fisher, 2018 PF – Roosevelt: The unsign senior forward has been a strong interior presence for Roosevelt. Blocking, shots, corralling rebounds in his area and finishing above the rim when the opportunity presents itself.

Edited by AB

There is a dynamic duo from El Paso Burges that did themselves a favor at the Cy Creek Classic. The TBB staff got a good look at the talented duo and which long rangy wing has one of the Blue Blood Programs inquiring about him?

Jawaun Newton, 2018 CG – EP Burges

Jawaun strung together multiple efficient scoring outing at the CY Creek Classic as he was able to score on the move and found a home at the free throw line, being able to draw contact while attacking the basket. Jawaun possess a nice stroke with range and brought value on the defensive end for EP Burges.

Recruitment

Jawaun currently has offers from Jackson State and West Texas A&M as Jackson State has shown the most interest in the rising guard. Texas Tech, New Mexico and UTEP have inquired about Newton as he has taken unnoficials at Texas Tech, UTEP, West Texas A&M and Northern Colorado. Jawaun plans on waiting until the spring to decide and with performances like the compilation he put together this past weekend, his recruitment could  jump.

Tristen Newton, 2019 PG – EP Burges

Equipped with good positional size, length and athleticism, the talented 2019 guard prospect jumped out to the TBB staff after EP Burges win vs College Park and Kansas bound number one prospect Grimes. Newton produced 32 points as he handled pressure, attack with either hand and used his length to finish in traffic. Newton all tournament was a standout and was one of the best players regardless of class at the Cy Creek Classic.

Recruitment

Jackson State is the lone offer on the table for Tristen as a USC assistant was in attendance for his game against College Park and spoke to his father after the game. He has also received interest from New Mexico State and UTEP.

Donovan Williams, 2019 Wing – FB Elkins

“Stretch” as his teammates like to call him, and it’s very obvious why as the wing for FB Elkins is equipped with arms that allow him to conveniently scratch his knees and when he elevates to shoot or finish in the paint, he utilizes his length very well. Although his team suffered defeat in the hands of a extremely talented Denton Guyer squad, Williams produced a solid performance showing the ability to score off the bounce and excel in the open court.

Recruitment

Williams offers include Sam Houston State (offered first) and followed by SMU and Houston. Sam Houston State has been in pursuit the hardest for Donovan as Williams has been contact with Assistant Coach Chris Mudge daily. Williams has also been in contact with the coaches at SMU and Houston on a weekly basis. Williams was on a unofficial at Uof H last weekend and plans on taking a visit to SMU in the next week or two he told TBB. Richmond, San Diego, Texas A&M, Tulsa have also shown interest and been in contact with the talented wing and Williams has had multiple conversations with Associate Head Coach Jeff Capel from Duke since the summer.

TBB was at the MI3 Center for the first day of John Lucas Right Way. The 2017 edition marks the 10yr the staff has evaluated some of the top 8th graders in the south.

Terrance Arceneaux, 2022 Wing: Tyler was the top performer on Wednesday as the talented prospect possess length, size and developing skill set to become a big time player in the future.

Tre White, 2022 Wing: A Cream of The Crop Alum, White imposed his will as he got to the paint and finished through contact. Tre was a mismatch problem in the 5 on 5 setting.

Adam Stewart, 2022 C: Another Cream of The Crop Alum, The staff was impressed with Stewart’s shooting stroke. Still has ways to go as a big man but showed improvement since August.

Colin Smith, 2022 SF: Smith has a chance to be talked about heavily from the TBB staff till his senior year. Although the light flickers on and off, Smith is a prospect with a high ceiling.

Austin Nuñez, 2022 PG: Nunez competes and that’s one aspect of his performance on Wednesday that the staff liked. Has a promising shooting stroke.

Cameron Crocket, 2022 SG: Crocket made getting a bucket off the dribble look easy. Long, fairly skilled and made his mark at Camp Right Way.

Nehikhare Igiehon, 2022 CF: A forward that threw his body around and displayed some fluidity handling the ball. One of the top standouts from the camp.

Jacolb Cole, 2023 PG:Cole plays with a mature poise and has a good feel for his age. Had one of the top performances from a 2023 guard at the camp.

Bryce Griggs, 2022 PG: A prospect that has a chance to be near the top of his class from freshman to senior year. Strong, has tight handle and knows how to play.

Jaland Lowe, 2023 PG: Lowe made plays on both ends. Lowe got his nose in and hunted for loose balls. A promising guard that plays hard.

Noah Wright, 2022 Wing: Wright knows how to play without the ball. Seemed to make the right play when ball was in his hands.

Christopher Lockett, 2023 PG: One of the quickest guards with the ball in his hands, Lockett got to where he wanted on the court and made plays.

David Martinez, 2022: Scoring guard that is able to get to his spots. Got hurt on Wednesday but showed grit and still played solid through injury

Cameron Amboree, 2022 PG: Cam handled pressure and looks to make the right play with the ball. Not quick late.

Joyful Hawkins, 2022 PF/C: Joyful is long and has a solid touch inside. Runs well and made his presence known inside.

Javonte Smart compiled the best scoring performances ever in  the Thanksgiving Hoopfest and who’s presence in the paint garnered the defensive player award at the Hoopfest? Texasboysbasketball hand out our awards from a hoopsfilled weekend at the Sandrow Meadows Arena.

MVP of The Hoopfest: Javonte Smart, 2018 PG – Scotlandville

Smart had a string of performances that was unprecedented scoring 102 points in two games on 46 shots as he shot 71 percent from the field to go with his 51 ppg average. Smart scored 43 points on Friday against Lincoln and followed up with a 59 point outing vs Little Elm as the LSU commit played in his own pace, shot it well from 3 and when his jumper was off, was able to find his way into the paint with a finish or a foul. Smart takes the MVP honors and it was a no brainer after Saturday as his team went 2-0 on the Hoopfest and look to gain another state title.

Defensive Player of The Hoopfest: Sam Freeman, 2019 C – Justin Northwest

Freeman presence defensively was not matched at the Hoopfest as his performance against Booker T Washington, he contributed 7 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. Freeman altered many shots as players thought twice about taking shots in the paint when Freeman was around. There was a big difference in points in the paint when Freeman was in the game vs when he was out and that’s why the promising big man wins defensive player of the weekend.

Offensive Player of The Hoopfest: De’Vion Harmon, 2019 PG – Denton Guyer

Harmon was in contention for MVP on Friday but Smart’s performances on Saturday sealed the deal. Nonetheless, Harmon’s performances cannot go unnoticed as the OU commit was the most entertaining  player to watch. Slicing through defenses, playing with aggression on the defensive end and knocking down key jumpers to slow down the opposing team’s momentum as he averaged 30 points a game. Harmon was a star at the Hoopfest and his team is primed to making it to the Alamo Dome if they continue to build off these performances.

Breakout Performer(s): Dearon Tucker, 2019 C – Universal Academy & Jakobe Coles, 2020 PF – Denton Guyer

Jakobe Coles

Coles compiled two strong  performances for Denton Guyer in their win vs  South Garland and Austin Westlake. When Coles is playing to his strengths, he can impact game with a nice touch on his turnaround jumper and cleaning up on the glass. Coles play on Saturday garnered an offer from North Texas as they were in attendance to watch him. He already has a SMU offer as well with Tulane, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State having shown interest in the young 4-man.

Dearon Tucker

Tucker contributed 12 points, 6 rebounds and I accounted two blocks in Universal Academy’s win vs Woodrow Wilson. Tucker got his nose in and played with physicality and a little bit of a meanstreak. He was a viable post up option for the Eagles and his performance caught the TBB staff eye as we believe the switch will stay on for the gifted post-man.

Edited by AB

Who does the staff view as the top shotblocker in 2019? Two of the top candidates made their claim as their respective teams competed in the holidays. The TBB staff dives in on the second part of our Takeaways as we review the 2019 class in a week full of basketball in North Texas.

Bryce Cook, 2019 PG – South Grand Prairie: Bryce is a tough cover due to his quickness with the ball and his high level shot making abilities. He started the Whataburger Tournament with a 30 point outing and continued to impress earning All Tournament honors.

Karlyn Kenner, 2019 SG – South Grand Prairie: Kenner will see his name in our TBB 2018 database as Karlyn plays with grit and toughness at the guard spot that the staff was impressed by. Kenner knocked down jumpers and committed himself on the boards and defense.

Tyrese Maxey, 2019 CG – South Garland: Maxey produced for South Garland and led them to a consolation championship at the Whataburger Tournament. Maxey made tough shots from beyond the arc and was making strong decisions with the ball.

Chris Harris, 2019 SG – South Garland: Harris can get hot quick from the field and did just that at the consolation championship. He contributed 31 points but going into the second quarter with only 2 points. When Harris and Maxey are playing off each other, South Garland are tough to beat.

Grant Sherfield, 2019 PG – North Crowley: Sherfield produced steady play all week at the Whataburger. Sherfield was huge in North Crowley’s win vs Sam Houston and the UCLA Commit didn’t need much space to get his shot off.

Sam Freeman, 2019 C – Justin Northwest: Freeman played his role as a rim protector and rebounder. One of the top 3 shot blockers in the 2019 class, Freeman has shown some strides offensively this past week.

Tyreek Smith, 2019 PF -Trinity Christian Cedar Hill: Talking about shot blockers, Smith in my opinion is the top shot blocker not only in 2019 but in the state regardless of class. Smith offensively scored inside and out as he made a strong statement as to why he is a top 3 prospect in his class.

DJ Thorpe, 2019 Post – Lake Travis: Thorpe is big and strong as the efficient big man not only looks the part of a high major prospect but plays the part as well. More on him later this week at texasboysbasketball.com

Trezarian White, 2019 Wing – Mansfield Timberview: White garnered All Tournament honors at the Whataburger and his activity on both ends of the floor was instrumental in Timberview winning the championship. White is an intriguing prospect that the staff will continue to take a look at.

Isaiah Range, 2019 Wing – Trinity Christian Cedar Hill: Range wins the DISD Tournament MVP as he was an integral part in TCCH Success all week. A top 70 prospect in TBB, Range’s mix of athleticism and improved skill was on display.

Jalen Jackson, 2019 PG – SA Wagner: Jackson’s defensive contributions for Wagner doesn’t go unnoticed to the staff. But along with his impact defensively, Jackson knifed his way to the paint and finished on a consistent basis.

Contributing Tournament Editor: Erven Davis 

Saturday’s slate of games from the Thanksgiving Hoopfest provided individual and team performances that will be remembered. Denton Guyer added a convincing win against top ranked 6A program Austin Westlake, hear thoughts on how good the really are. We analyze RJ Hampton’s performance and who is in hard pursuit for 2019 guard Justin Webster?

Justin Webster, 2019 Guard – Prestonwood: Webster was lights out from the perimeter engineering a 29 point performance in Prestonwood’s win vs Lee High School. Webster was scoring off the closeout and he continued to get to the spots on the floor which generated open looks for him. A top 30 TBB prospect Webster told TBB he has offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tulsa with Tulsa pursuing him strong contacting him on a day to day basis.

Grayson Carter, 2018 PF – Denton Guyer: The Georgetown commit played with more activity and toughness on Saturday. Matched up with UT signee Brock Cunningham, Carter rose to the occasion and finished the night with a near double double and more importantly the win.

Chris Harris Jr, 2019 SG – South Garland: When Harris was aggressive looking to get his shot, South Garland was tough to beat. On Saturday he came out of the blocks the same way he ended on Friday and that is putting pressure on the defense. Harris stole a pass with 10 seconds left in the game vs Houston Christian and hit a smooth looking pull-up jumper for the win.

Tyrese Maxey, 2019 PG – South Garland: Maxey was lethal from deep all weekend and he pulled together another strong performance with 21 points in S. Garland’s win vs Houston Christian. Maxey exudes confidence on the floor and worked to get to his spots. Tyrese continues to solidify his five star status.

Will Baker, 2019 C – Austin Westlake: Baker had a strong showing on Saturday finishing through contact and looking to finish at the rim. He  showed capabilities of scoring with either hand on the block and he has a nice stroke when shooting from beyond the arc. Baker, the highest ranked center in TBB showed why high majors are calling.

RJ Hampton, 2020 PG – Little Elm: Hampton was noticeably upset after Little Elm’s lost against Scotlandville (And Javonte Smart’s 59 pt outing) but the young, highly talented guard showed bounce back in the second half. With only providing eight points in the first half, RJ orchestrated 32 points after intermission to put his team within two/three possessions afterwards. It was a learning experience for Hampton as he had lapses on the defensive end that but with all that,  it was good to see him continue to fight in the battle against the experienced Smart.

Eduardo Andre, 20120 PF – Woodrow Wilson: This was the first time witnessing the long big man for Woodrow Wilson and Andre does some things on the court that can slide him into the top 25 status in 2020. He is a solid re-bounder, runs the floor, plays with a motor and doesn’t think twice about pulling the trigger from 15 ft out. We will continue to get a body of work on Andre but he gave us a good initial impression.

Jalon Clark, 2018 SF – Houston Christian: Clark couldn’t miss from three in the first half as he was a threat from beyond the arc. The Texas A&M Corpus Christi commit made shots with a hand in his face and when his team needed a bucket, he provided that by exploiting the size advantage he had on the block as he finished with 19 pts.

Miller Kopp, 2018 SF – Houston Christian: Kopp’s game continues to grow on me every time I watch him play. He is skilled, is prepared to shoot it everytime he touches the ball and Northwestern State got a strong pickup with the addition of Kopp. Miller finished with 21 points and had solid numbers in the rebound and assist department.

Edited by AB

It may not have been an ideal start of the season for the Universal Academy, but only sporting three upperclassmen and a roster with several TBB prospects, there is a mass amount of potential for the program out of Coppell, TX. At the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, two freshman played a large part in the UA Eagles victory against a talented Woodrow Wilson squad.

Kamryn Waites

They say the days of the traditional back to the basket big men are dead,but 6’10 260 lb Kamryn Waites has something to say about that. This is the third time the staff has gotten to see Kamryn in the scholastic season and he moves well on the court for his size and he knows how to use his large frame to generate a bucket in the paint. The long front court Woodrow Wilson possessed caused issues early for the talented big man but Waites continued to scrap and engineered a near double double in UA’s victory.

Devin Martin

Martin is a recent addition for the Eagles as he transferred from Mesquite Horn. Devin has a strong body, big calves and his path to the basket didn’t see many roadblocks. He knows how to impose his will and has a bully-style type of game. One aspect of his game that won’t go unnoticed is his capabilities to shoot it from the perimeter. Martin notched 17 points to go with 8 rebounds on Saturday and will see himself in the 2021 player rankings.

Notables

Previously stated in the beginning of the article, this is the staffs third time witnessing Universal Academy but big man Connor Redrow, who saw a few minutes on Saturday is a prospect to continue to look at. Long, a capable shooter from 12 ft out and can score off either shoulder. The speed and physicality of the varsity level he will grow accustomed as time passes.

Arthur Kaluma was not available on Saturday but he is another freshman on that squad that has been very impressive. A skilled forward with a good feel for the game and has at moments in games, looked to be the best player on the floor.

Noah Kon for Houston Christian stood up to the task of defending top 2019 guard Tyrese Maxey in spurts. Kon is a competitor and has ascended to the starting lineup for his Houston Christian squad contributing on both ends.

From the In N Out Allen Invitational, DISD Tournament and the Whataburger Tournament, the TBB staff were able to evaluate over 60 prospects in 3 days. We begin our Takeaways with the 2018 class as several unsign senior prospects made a statement on the big stage.

Brenton Mills, 2018 CG – Allen: With an injury from 2019 PG Isaiah Stevens, Mills picked up the playmaking and scoring load for Allen. Mills was in attack mode all week and compiled several impressive scoring outputs that help lead Allen to a championship in the In N Out Burger Tournament.

Kaden Archie, 2018 Wing – Midlothian: Archie Exploded with a 40 point outing on Thursday and led his Midlothian squad to the semifinals in the Allen Holiday Invitational. Archie sustained an ankle injury and played through it as he exhibited toughness and rallied his team within striking distance against Allen.

Jawaun Evans, 2018 CG – EP Burges: Evans knows how to put the ball through the net and the talented unsign senior guard out of El Paso displayed his shot making abilities.

Isaac Likeleke, 2018 Wing – Mansfield Timberview: When talking about competitors in the 2018 class, Isaac name is amongst the top. Leading his Timberview squad to wins vs Katy Tompkins, Desoto & Waxahachie, Likeleke does what is needed to place his team in position to win ball games.

Chris Mullins, 2018 PG – Mansfield Timberview: Mullins was another guard with a string of solid outings at the Whataburger Tournament. Mullins was effective on both ends of the floor and produced 11 points in the championship game for Timberview.

Gerald Liddell, 2018 SF – Cibolo Steele: Liddell oozes with talent and the gifted forward’s multidimensional offensive game was on display. If Liddell puts it all together on a consistent basis, he will reach his high ceiling.

Jayden Martinez, 2018 Post – Cibolo Steele: Martinez plays with a motor and is going to hunt for loose balls and rebounds. The New Hampshire commit has a edge to him and averaged a near double double at the Allen Invitational.

Tre Gipson, 2018 PG – Waxahachie: Gipson has emerged as one of the top unsign senior guards in 2018. He produced 27 points in Waxahachie’s win vs Denton Guyer and was solid all week at the Whataburger tournament.

Mar’Qualan Grant, 2018 PG – Waxahachie: West Texas A&M got a good pickup with Mar’Qualan Grant. Has a strong body and ran the point effectively at the Whataburger Tournament. Grant committed himself defensively and made timely plays down the stretch for Waxahachie.

Tre Darthard, 2018 SG – Denton Guyer: Darthard’s stats weren’t eye popping at the Whataburger Tournament but he made plays off the ball and was effective as a defender as well. Just coming back from injury, the TBB staff expects a couple breakout games from the talented two way guard.

DJ Peavy, 2018 PG – Spring Dekany: Peavy received All Tournament honors at the Whataburger and the Mercer commit made plays off the bounce that generated Easy looks for himself and his teammates. Peavy was in double figures each game this past week.

Dominique Jackson, 2018 Wing – Trinity Christian Cedar Hill: Jackson has emerged as a sleeper prospect in 2018. Has good size, finished at the rim and playing with more and more confidence.

It has started to become tradition for the staff to spend the day after Thanksgiving in Duncanville TX for the Thanksgiving Hoopfest and if Saturday is anything like Friday night, the 9th year of this event will be one to remember. Look at what Harmon told John Calipari about his recruiting process. Hosted by Glenn Smith, this year’s edition of the Hoopfest has provided the audience premier guard and big matchups that allowed the players to compete center court in front of hundreds of fans,multiple scouts and college coaches.

Maxey, Harmon Put on A Show to Remember

The scene was set at Sandra Meadows Arena as 6A State Title contenders Denton Guyer, who possesses one of the best rosters in the Lone Star State battled it out against the high octane squad of South Garland High. Two of the top prospects in 2019 in De’Vion Harmon (Guyer) and Maxey (South Garland) went toe to toe with a 2015 Andrew Jones v De’Aaron Fox feel on the court. The stands were filled, oohs and aahhs after each impressive bucket.  Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari  came to watch Maxey after Maxey’s midnight madness visit to Lexington. Each prospect put constant pressure on the opposing defenses as Harmon willed his way to the paint and with a full head of steam, there wasn’t much South Garland could do to slow him down. Maxey exhibited great range on his jumper as he knocked down three pointers from 25 ft out, exuding confidence on the floor. Harmon took notice of coach Cal sitting front and center at their game and on two made baskets stared down the Blue Blood coach yelling “Should of Offered Me.” In a up and down battle, Guyer came out victorious as Harmon finished with 37 points for the Wildcats as Maxey finished with 33 points.

Javonte Smart Puts on A Show

2018 LSU commit Javonte Smart was one point shy of tying the scoring record at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest as he accumulated 43 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Smart plays with a mature poise as the double-teams didn’t rattle the high major point guard as he continued to get to his spots on the floor. He shot it well from the perimeter and Javonte percentage from the field eclipsed over the 65% mark on Friday.

Timme & Smith Make Cases for Top PF Supremacy

The premier big man matchup at the Hoopfest was 2019 Drew Timme of JJ Pearce vs 2019 Tyreek Smith of Trinity Christian Cedar Hill. Timme’s skill set was on full display as he notched a near double-double with 23 points 9 rebounds  5 assists and 4 blocks on 8-9 shooting. Smith orchestrated a near double-double performance as well with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.Timme’s squad won the match and Drew won the matchup on this day vs Smith but both staked their claim as the two best power forwards in their class by a good distance.

2020 Duo lead Booker T Washington Over Northwest

Booker T Washington traveled to Texas Friday in sight of a impressive victory vs Justin Northwest and got exactly that. 2020 guards Trey Phipps and Bryce Thompson combined for 57 points (31 for Thompson, 26 for Phipps) as they compiled a hefty 15 three pointers between the two.  Booker T Washington’s fast pace offense traveled well, Northwest had trouble finding the shooters in transitions and Thompson and Phipps made them pay. Down by 1 with one 50 seconds left, Thompson hits a step back three and knocked down two free throws at the end to seal the victory. The staff was wondering how the young guards would respond the added pressure Northwest showed in the fourth quarter, and although the Mavericks came back into the game and at one point led by 4, Booker T Washington showed nice bounce back and the tandem attributed to the last 15 points.

The Reliables

When your team needs a stop, a rebound, a bucket or whatever in the process of winning a basketball game, it’s good to have a player that produces just that in the nick of time. 2018 Jordan Keys of Justin Northwest and 2019 Jalen Wilson of Denton Guyer were those guys for their respective squads on Friday.Wilson finished with 20 points to go with 5 rebounds, a block and 2 assists and when South Garland made their runs against Denton Guyer, Wilson seemed to be key in getting a stop, or collecting an offensive rebound for the and 1 opportunity to stretch the lead. Keys finished with 22 points, 6 rebounds 2 assists and 2 blocks on Saturday and was vital in his Mavericks second half surge against Booker T Washington. Keys has been consistently productive for Northwest and will see his name in our updated 2018 list.

Edited by AB

The slate of games on Thursday at the Whataburger Tournament was must see basketball with many TBB prospects in the building. Texasboysbasketball.com is handing out our starting five from a full plate of hoops and many notable performances.

De’Vion Harmon, 2019 PG- Denton Guyer: Harmon starts at point as he possessed the most efficient performance on Thursday, going 11 for 11 on shots as he got his teammates involved and the ball to their spots consistently. He has become a strong leader for his Wildcats squad as they continue to have no blemish on their record.

Avery Anderson, 2019 CG – Justin Northwest: Although Avery primarily plays the one, he is efffective off the ball and is scoring outing Thursday gave me no choice but to add him in the starting 5. Anderson a lethal scorer and he orchestrated 24 points in the second half with a 15 straight scoring spurt in a two minute span in the 4th quarter. Avery put his Northwest squad on his back and garnered a win.

Kevin McCullar, 2019 Wing – SA Wagner:
McCullar starts at the three as he was very influential in Wagner’s overtime win vs South Grand Prairie.Kevin produced 30 points and has become one of the hottest rising prospects in Texas.

Duncan Powell, 2021 PF – Desoto: In a game which sported multiple mid to high major prospects, Powell in stretches was the best player on the court. Starting at the four for me, Powell put together 18 points as he did his damage operating from the block and gobbling up close to 10 rebounds in the process.

Drew Timme, 2019 PF – JJ Pearce: Timme begins at the 5 in our starting lineup but the talented forward displayed his versatility on offense. Timme moves fluid and was a mismatch problem due to his ability to score inside and out.

Reserves

Micah Peavy, 2020 SF – Dekany: Peavy produced 13 points, several rebounds and assists in Dekany’s blowout vs Bowie. Versatile forward that the staff will expand on this week.

Kendric Davis, 2018 PG – Sam Houston: It was tough decision on who starts at the one but Harmon’s efficiency and defense gave him the slight nod over Kendric. Davis scored 31 points and exhibited his quickness with the ball in his hands.

Larry Wise, 2018 Wing – Waxahachie: Wise performance against North Crowley was a compilation of plays made off the bounce that looked effortless. Larry produced 29 points and The Fast Break Club (Waxahachie) advance.

Dearon Tucker, 2019 C – South Garland: Tucker was a physical presence in the paint for South Garland as the big man’s point total isn’t eye popping but Tucker took the role as a rim protector, blocking shots, standing his ground and gobbling up rebounds.

Jamal Bienemy, 2018 SG – Katy Tompkins: This group of ten will get out and run and although ideally would want to add another big man, the Sooners Commit performance Thursday allows him to be implemented in the rotation. Jamal made plays for others, scored in a variety of ways in his way to scoring 22 points and was solid on the boards.

The big men dominate this edition of the recruitment series as TBB interviewed some of the top performers at Sandra Meadows Arena at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest. Which schools came to see Tyreek Smith? And the crowd got a nice surprise in the premier late night bout on Friday.

Julius Marble, 2019 PF – Dallas Jesuit

Marble had a solid outing producing 11 points and added 7 rebounds in the process. Marble in the second half played with more activity on the glass and orchestrated a solid defensive outing.

The Recruitment

Pepperdine, UTSA, Florida International have offered the talented 4-man and been in contact with him on a daily basis. Marble in October traveled to San Antonio on a unnoficial to UTSA and plans on taking a unnoficial to Florida International in the upcoming months. Julius has received interest from San Diego, North Texas and Richmond as each program has stayed in contact with him on a weekly basis.

Evan Marshall, 2018 PF – Midlothian

Marshall was on fire from the perimeter as he connected on four three pointers in the first half. Marshall was moving well without the ball and the TBB prospect created issues in the pick and pop scenario for Grace Prep.  Evan finished with 24 points and displayed a skill set that translates.

The Recruitment

Air Force is the only offer on the table and Marshall tells TBB that he is looking for more as the season progresses. Evan will travel to Colorado Springs in January for a visit to Air Force and he has received interest from Loyola-New Orleans and from Ivy League programs such as Dartmouth and Brown.

Tyrese Maxey, 2019 Guard – South Garland

Maxey shot with confidence jumpers from way beyond the three point line. As double – teams arrived, Maxey still found a way to generate a bucket (Finished with 33 points). He was key in South Garland’s second half run vs Denton Guyer but it wasn’t his scoring in the second half that allowed his team to creep back in the contest but his ability to get others involved. Maxey commands attention from opposing defenses and made solid reads on Friday.

The Recruitment

Head Coach John Callipari of Kentucky was in attendance in Maxey’s much anticipated matchup against Denton Guyer as the five star guard and top guard in the 2019 class in Texas has been a priority for the Wildcats.

Tyreek Smith, 2019 PF – Trinity Christian Cedar Hill

The number three prospect in our database for 2019 displayed his high level athleticism, swatting/altering shots in the paint, finishing above the rim and soaring for rebounds. Smith finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks against JJ Pearce as he engineered a solid performance on Friday.

The Recruitment

Smith holds numerous of offers from Virginia Tech, LSU (who came to see him Friday), TCU, SMU, Houston, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Baylor and VCU have shown interest in the highly touted prospect as VCU was in the building to watch him play Friday. So far Smith has taken a unnoficial to LSU and the staff feels that LSU will be in the mix for the Louisiana native towards the end.

Drew Timme, 2019 PF – JJ Pearce

Timme possessed the most efficient offensive outings at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest as Drew went 8-9 from the field for 23 points and 10 rebounds. Timme also collected 5 assists where his versatility and skill set inside makes him a tough matchup for opposing bigs.

The Recruitment

Timme holds several offers as Creighton, Gonzaga, Oklahoma State are among the many that have requested his services. Colorado is the most recent program to show interest in Timme but also has received interest from Wake Forest as well. Wake Forest came to see Timme in October and Drew’s last unnoficial visit was to Oklahoma which was in October as well.

Edited by AB

Texasboysbasketball.com landed in Houston, Tx this past week for the first time in the scholastic season as the highly anticipated McDonald’s Texas Invitational was occurring. Which point guard has made a strong case as a top 40 TBB prospect and which Sun Belt Conference program came to Pasadena to watch an available 2018 prospect?

Isaiah Stevens, 2019 PG – Allen

The Body of Work
Stevens had the best string of performances from the point at the Texas Invitational. He racked up at least 5 assists each game and shot it at a high clip from the perimeter. Stevens has a real good feel and was able to finish in an array of ways in traffic. A prospect that will see a nice jump in our rankings.

The Recruitment
Programs ranging from the Western Athletic Conference, Sun Belt, Conference USA and among others have reached out or have offered Stevens as he possesses offers from University of Albany, UT Arlington and University of North Texas. He has visited the UNT campus twice already and has taken a unofficial to UTA once so far. Stevens has picked up interest from Liberty, UAB, South Dakota State, Cal State Bakersfield, Sam Houston State, and Air Force reaching out to him on a weekly basis.

Bryson Etienne, 2018 SG – Fort Bend Bush

The Body of Work
Etienne was in attack mode all week and his focus on getting to the cup generated finishes at the rim or foul call. He recorded double digit rebounding numbers in the games we watched as he generated second and third chance opportunities for his team.

The Recruitment

Etienne currently has no offers but has heard from Nicholls State, Nebraska, UTEP and most recently Texas State. Texas State came to watch Etienne on Thursday according to Bryson and have been in communication with him multiple times a week.

Tramon Mark, 2020 SG – Dickinson

The Body of Work

Mark in my opinion was the best player at the whole event regardless of class. His ability to score on all three levels and handle pressure impressed the staff. He plays the passing lanes well and has the physical tools to becoming a very valuable defender.

The Recruitment
TCU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and UCLA have offers on the table for Tramon as Texas A&M came to see the skilled guard play on Thursday. All the schools that have offered Mark has came to see him at practice as well along with Rice University stopping by.

Eddie Lampkin, 2020 C – Morton Ranch

The Body of Work
Lampkin weight lost and commitment to being in shape has molded himself into being one of the top post prospects in his class. The wide bodied post for Morton Ranch was able to seal good position on the block and showcase a solid touch inside. He has a solid feel with his back to the basket and Lampkin is a discipline defender as well, not jumping on ball fakes and standing his ground.

The Recruitment
Lampkins holds an offer from TCU which came on Sept 22 and Oklahoma came to see him in practice in September as well. Eddie took an unofficial visit to OU on Oct. 7 and along with those two Big 12 programs, LA Tech and University of Houston has expressed interest in the young interior talent per source.

Mike Miles, 2020 PG – Lancaster

The Body of Work
Miles is taking on a new role as the vocal leader for his Lancaster squad and has done a solid job so far in the early season. He can score on the move or off the catch and is a good decision maker with the ball. Defensively he can make his mark on that end but consistency is key.

The Recruitment
Mike has four offers right with LSU, Old Dominion, TCU and Oklahoma State requesting his services. On 10/14 Miles took a unnoficial to Stillwater at the Oklahoma State Campus.

Edited by AB

As Alan Branch would tell me, “go where the players are,”  and in my opinion that is the main rule of thumb as a basketball evaluator. Mr. Kevin Allen set up a small but talent heavy three game showcase at St. Thomas High School that boasted prospects that are high in the TBB database. We got to take a strong look at the young guard for the talented Houston Yates squad and where he fares in the 2020 class with impressive guard depth.

Jock Hughes, 2018 SG – Houston Yates: Hughes struggled putting the ball through the rim in the first 10 minutes of Yates game against St. Thomas but when the SFA commit connected one of his transition threes, the landscape of the game tilted afterwards. Jock went on a tear and engineered 15 straight points to open up the lead for the Lions and finished with 29 points in the win.

Mitchell Seriale, 2018 PF – Houston Yates: Seriale terrorized the rim with multiple above the rim finishes as the SFA Lumberjack signee possesses good length and athleticism that  allows him to impact games in the interior on both sides of the floor. Other parts of his game will need to grow as he will need to develop a dependable 10-12 ft jumper but you can see where he can make his impact for HC Kyle Keller.

Ruben Jones, 2020 PG – Houston Yates: The lefty set-up man for Yates has good snap on his passes and shot it well on Saturday from the three point line. The speed of the game is an adjustment for the the young talented pg but once he settled himself, he got to his spots and made plays on the offensive end. Jones now isn’t in the very top tier category for 2020 in the guard department  but has good upside and wouldn’t be surprised if he was when it is all said and done.

Jahari Long, 2020 PG – Episcopal: A top 15 prospect in 2020, Long is a smooth operating lead guard that looks to get his teammates involved first. He has a understanding to when he needs to get his own shot and did a good job manufacturing a good look off the bounce. Talent is in no question in regards to Jahari Long and the staff will keep tabs of him throughout the season.

Adam Kanafani, 2020 Wing – Episcopal: Kanafani played his role for his team being placed at the four-spot but showcased a skill set that the staff witness at the Scout Focus Elite 80 in Houston in September. He is a solid finisher around the rim but has a nice stroke from beyond the arc and showed flashes of a scorer off the dribble.

DJ Peavy, 2018 PG – Dekaney: DJ did a good job dictating pace and looking to get the ball to his teammates. He connected on a high percentage of his jumpers on Saturday and has no problem keeping the ball in his hands and score in any looks the defense give him.

Micah Peavy, 2020 SF – Dekaney: Micah is a top 5 prospect in 2020 as the wing for Dekaney is a crafty finisher in the paint and excels as the ball handler in the open court. Peavy has a good feel for the game and cracked the 20 point mark in the Wildcats win vs St. Pius.

Edited by AB

This edition of the Freshman Report, the TBB staff drove down I45 for the McDonald’s Texas Invitational and witness four 2021 prospects that not only produced on varsity, but three of them were integrated into the starting lineup. The physicality and speed of the game was an adjustment for these young prospects but the texasboysbasketball.com staff left Houston impressed.

Cream of The Crop Alum Chris Felix continued to get better as each game approached. The first half in Hightower’s bout against Allen, Felix struggled to find a way to impact the game but in the second half he played with more activity and produced off offensive glass. The two-guard for the Hightower Canes began to gain confidence as he started putting the ball on the floor, finished around the rim and became a disturbance on the defensive side in his Saturday’s game against Dickinson. Felix is a solid shooter that has range that extends from beyond the arc and I believe can turn into a 3rd scoring option for the canes going into district play.

Kaleb Stewart has burst into the 2021 prospect scene and will definitely be in out database. Equipped with good length, skill, instincts and the ability to dictate tempo, the point guard out of Crosby doesn’t play like a freshman. Stewart looks to get his teammates involved as he will attack the gaps of the defense and showed capable of scoring off the bounce. Another standout attribute to his game is his ability to rebound. Against Sam Rayburn, several instances when the game got out of control, he would secure the board and slow the game down. A talented young guard that we will continue to keep an eye on.

There have been a lot of positives things that have been said about Keon Edwards (Sam Rayburn) upside and skill-set that is mixed with his size but one thing TBB was impressed with the young wing on, is his ability to handle pressure and get his teammates involved in the offense. He was put in position to run the point for Sam Rayburn and took upon himself to get his teammates the ball where they needed it to be. Edwards has the makeup of becoming a high major player but that road will be a long one for the talented wing.

Allen has been on a hot start in the beginning of the season winning their first five contest and we have seen a build up in Manny Obaseki’s confidence and minutes for the Eagles. The long, wiry frame guard possess good bounce and feel for the game. He was able to rebound and push the ball in tranisition, executing off of fast break opportunities when his team had numbers. Obaseki will need to get in better shape to stay in longer on the varsity level but he has become one of if not the most productive bench player for Allen.

Edited by AB

Who is the best 2020 guard in Houston? The staff was present Thursday at Pasadena, TX for the McDonald’s Texas Invitational and one highly touted TBB prospect stepped up on the court and provided that answer.

Tramon Mark, 2020 G – Dickinson: Mark engineered two strong performances as Dickinson went undefeated in pool play. He avg. 20 points on Thursday and has been the best player so far at the Texas Invitational regardless of class. Tramon possesses a smooth perimeter stroke as he can score on all three levels and brought a lot of value on the defensive side of the ball by having good instincts and utilizing his quicks hands & feet.

LJ Cryer, 2020 PG – Morton Ranch: Putting the ball through the hoop has not been an issue for Cryer and hasn’t for some time now but the staff is looking for him to get his teammates involved more. Nonetheless, Cryer showed some bounce back vs Fort Bend Bush and was key to his team’s second half run which resulted in a win for Morton Ranch. Cryer handled the pressure FB Bush applied and made plays down the stretch to win.

Isaiah Stevens, 2019 PG – Allen: Stevens has continued to build off the last strong performance the TBB staff witness and the quick set-up man played with a lot of poise and dictated the pace of the game. He connected on multiple jumpers from behind the arc as well and been a big factor in Allen’s early hot start this season.

Bryson Etienne, 2018 Guard – Fort Bend Bush: Etienne found his way to the cup on Thursday as he showed a relentless effort to get in the paint and finish. He tallied 24 points against Morton Ranch and coveted over 12 rebounded in the process.

Nigael Ceasar, 2018 PF – Ridgepoint: Ceasar produced offensively as he amassed the 30 point mark and collected over 10 boards. Nigel shot it well from 12 ft out, blocked shots and played with a high motor. Although Ridge Point fell short against Allen, Nigael helped weather the storm and led the rally to get his team back within 2 possessions.

Mike Miles, 2020 PG – Lancaster: Miles is was more efficient running the point at the varsity level. He looked to get his teammates involved and provides the ability to thread the ball through the needle. Miles scored within the flow of the offense and took steps as a leader on Thursday.

There was no better way to spend a Saturday than to watch the matchups that were put together at the Cow-Town Tipoff in North Crowley. It is starting to click for post Sam Freeman and one could argue he was the best front line prospect in the gym (No rebuttals from this staff). Let’s take a look at how one of the (32) teams could be one of the most talent high school teams in Texas, who we could  be seeing in the Alamo Dome in March with their roster of prospects.

Denton Guyer vs Justin Northwest

Several TBB prospects got in the trenches at the 5:15 pm game as Denton Guyer was too much for Justin Northwest and sealed up a 97-82 win. The premier guard match-up between 2019 Avery Anderson (Northwest) and De’Vion Harmon (Guyer) was one to take note of as Harmon produced an efficient scoring outing with 22 pts as he got to his spots, manned the troops and fed his teammates the ball where they needed it to be. Avery couldn’t get in much of a rhythm and struggled getting the ball through the net but still found ways being productive by finding the open man coming off a pick and fighting on the glass when 2019 Sam Freeman was out of the game due to foul trouble. Speaking of Freeman, the switch is on for the promising post that the staff is flirting with the HM label for Sam. Playing with more activity, rebounding, blocking shots, running the floors hard, Freeman also has made strides offensively and had the strongest showing out of all the bigs. 2019 Jalen Wilson (Guyer) and Mason Hix (Northwest) produced strong scoring outings as Wilson put up 30 points and 28 of those came after three quarters. Wilson found his home in the paint and when he got inside he either finished or drew a foul. Hix scored 32 points and what I like about the UTA commit is his short memory on misses. He continued to take his shots although he struggled early and the second half he carried the offensive load for the Cowboys.

Sulphur Springs vs Arlington Bowie

One of the most competitive games on Saturday at the Cow-Town Tipoff was Sulphur Springs and Arlington Bowie. Sulphur Springs pulled out the victory with a 66-58 win where Alan Branch told the staff at North Crowley High School , “Victor Iwakwu is a high major Small Forward.” The athletic forward made plays above the rim, punishing it any chance he had. He has shown improvement as a ball handler and defensively contained 2020 high major prospect Cade Cunningham to 9 points. Sulphur springs is one of the few schools in the lone star state to possess 5 potential division 1 players as point guard Keaston Willis will join the TBB database after a strong showing and 2020 forward Michael Jefferson produced a top 20 prospect performance. 2019 big man Xavier Cork is intriguing as he rebounded it well in his area and is a solid post option for his Sulphur Springs squad. Still things he needs to work on but a promising player that has the tools and skill set that we believe will translate to the D1 level. 2020 3/4  Gods Gift produced coming off the bench as he plays physical, makes plays without the ball and can score from inside and out

Desoto vs Mansfield Timberview

In a hard fought battle between the reigning 5A state champs Mansfield Timberview and 6A powerhouse Desoto, Timberview fell just short against the Eagles 65-60. 2018 SMU commit Feron Hunt received a tech early and didn’t come back into the game but his teammate and another SMU commit Jahmar Young held down the fort in Hunt’s absence with 16 points. Young made his presence known in the paint on both ends of the floor but ultimately fouled out in the beginning of the fourth quarter. 2018 TBB unsign senior guard RJ Mason stepped up in a big way as he knocked down big shots and became the alpha dog when his team needed him to be. 2021 Duncan Powell stepped up his play by playing his role and doing the dirty work needed for Desoto to win. More on Powell’s performance later on today. For Timberview, Isaace Likeleke was an issue in the first half with 17 points. Isaac is the leader of that squad and when he wants the ball in his hands he goes for the rebound and makes sure his teammates are where they needed to be. The Fresno State commit put his team in a position to win and orchestrated a double-double in the process.

Midlothian vs South Garland

The night cap game at North Crowley High School was between Midlothian and South Garland. The 8:30 matchup actually started around 9pm but the stands would still have been full if the game started two hours later. On one end you have 2018 TCU commit Kaden Archie (Midlothian) and on the other side there is 2019 highly touted guard Tyrese Maxey (S. Garland). Midlothian was able to contain Maxey for the most part of the game throwing double teams at him and making him get it out of his hands early. Chris Harris had very solid first quarter but being in foul trouble kept him on the bench a lot longer than usual.  Archie was taking what the defense was giving him as he knocked down jumpers, finished around the cup and most of all control the glass with 24 rebounds. When it looked like Midlothian was going to run away with it, Maxey put the team on his shoulders with the help of  and with a 11 pt 4th quarter outing, South Garland closed it two points in the final minutes of the game. Maxey hit the back of the rim in a potential game winning three pointer and 2018 Caleb Jordan of Midlothian sealed the game knocking down 2 freethrows in the final seconds to push the lead to four. Jordan’s performance cannot go unnoticed by the staff as he manufactured 27 points and scrappy defensive play. With Nevada commit Vincent Lee having transferred, questions rose on who would step up for the Panthers and tonight Jordan did.  Archie finishing with 30 points, he and Caleb combined for 77% of  Midlothian’s points. Maxey had 25 points, the bounce back after a tough start impressed the TBB staff and showed why he is the top guard in 2019 in Texas.

Edited by AB

With a group that are led by upper class-men, The Desoto Eagles possess a roster that has a  chance to make a state title run. Freshman Duncan Powell is the only player in the 2021 class that Head Coach Chris Dyer has put on varsity and when the call was made for Duncan to play on Saturday, Powell made the most of his opportunity.

Desoto had a tall task ahead of them with 5A defending champions Mansfield Timberview matched up against them at the Cow-Town Tipoff but they left North Crowley High School with a 65-60 win. With 2018 Feron Hunt receiving a first half technical foul, Powell stepped up as him and 2018 SMU commit Jahmar Young manned the paint on both ends a playing well off each other.

When the fourth quarter began,Young fouled out leaving Duncan Powell, the freshman to be the man in the middle and provide an interior presence.  The two blocks, five rebounds and four points in the fourth quarter, Powell played his role and was one of the main reasons his Eagles squad starts out the season 1-0.

Texasboysbasketball.com has kept track of Duncan throughout the grassroots season with Basketball Means More as we have seen him compete and thrive in games on the 17u level which has the chance to translate well in varsity basketball. The staff has seen growth in Duncan as player.

Duncan has a good body and strength that allows himself to hold his own against varsity level competition. He showcases the ability to put the ball on the floor and score from 12 ft out but his focus on the defensive side of the ball, moving laterally and altering shots that came inside was a big lift for Desoto. The season is in its adolescent stages but with the highs, there will be lows in the process and the staff will see how the young forward responds. There are still blemishes in Duncan’s game that he will need to improve on in order to becoming the prospect we believe he can be but with a solid mix of toughness, skill and athleticism blended together to go with his height, he showed the staff why we believe he is a top 5 player in his class.

The Cowtown Tip-Off Classic has arrived to find there place on the calendar of top 10 high school basketball events in Texas. If a fan, college coach or media/scouting service was looking for prospects, North Crowley was the place to be. Let’s also look at the face that this event was the first time the shot clock was implemented at a UIL game (prospects vs the masses). Is it right or wrong for TX is the question.

Friday night was opening night/short night for the Cowtown Tip-Off Classic but the stage and performance was up to par with 2019 Drew Timme a 6’9″ power forward that ranks top 5 at TBB in the state.  Drew opened up for a star studded Saturday on Friday by turning in the top performance of the weekend 37pts/21rbs/8ast.  I knew it would be hard to top this but he is one top 10 prospects in Texas regardless of class. Timme showed the most valued attribute in 21st century basketball “versatility” that maintains through his activity, IQ and mindset. There is not a more recruitable prospect in Texas regardless of class.  There are Power 5 conferences full of programs that would take Timme and continues to show why.

Rockwall HS 2019 Samuel Williamson 6’7″ SG was in the other gym (Crowley HS) where we were informed by (Texas Impact Staff) that he delivered a 24pt/14rb/4ast performance.  Sam is a top 10 player with multiple power 5 conference offers.  He reportedly showed his usual balanced high IQ game. Sam’s willingness to rebound has obviously improved which potentially develops him into an impact guy.

The Elephant in the gym was the 30 second shot clock.  There were many debates amongst credible and un-credible individuals leading up to Friday’s Cowtown Tip-Off.  The one fact that came out of this trial/experiment was that it is a doable piece and the game could be better for it.  There were three shot clock violations and four operator mistakes (watching the game and not restarting the clock on the change of possession)  in the ten games I watched at North Crowley high school. The two major arguments can it be staff and does hurt the less talented teams. I (Alan Branch) knows that it presents a additional learning curve for college freshmen.

SMU has landed their second commitment in the 2018 class and their second commit from a Desoto Eagle (Jahmar Young)  this year as Feron Hunt signs to take his talents to the national rising program in the AAC Conference.

Hunt originally committed to TCU on Sept. 3 but reopened his recruitment on Oct. 20 with Texas A&M and SMU being the front-runners for his services per source.

“I really like the relationship that the staff and I have and I felt like it was the best fit for me. (Assistant) Coach (Shawn) Forrest and (Head) Coach (Tim) Jankovich have been in pursuit of me the most. Out of the seven days of the week, I know they were in contact with me five days weekly,” Hunt said. “They stayed in contact with me and I built a real strong relationship with them.”

Feron most recently visited the SMU campus on Nov. 2 according to Hunt.

“I visited the campus last week actually, on Thursday I went to see the academic advisor to make sure that the (The Academics) was where it needed to be. I also got a chance to take a tour on the campus and got to watch practice,” Hunt said.”I like the campus, it’s not too big, not too small, just has a calming atmosphere.”

Texasboysbasketball.com staff believe Hunt will thrive in the offense SMU runs and his multi dimensional skill set mixed with his length and athleticism will put him in position to potentially see a lot of minutes as a freshman.

“They are getting a very versatile athlete that will be able to make plays in the Pony Up Tempo and in the 4 out, 1 in sets that they run. I’m strong in transition and I feel that I can come in early and make a impact.”

Hunt’s steady rise in the spring and summer on the TBB database came after a tough, long battle recovering from a torn ACL injury in his sophomore year.

“First I want to thank God. I also want to thank my mom because their were plenty times during rehab that I wanted to quit and she kept pushing me and believing in me,” Hunt said. “After going through that, I knew I could make it through anything and I’m blessed to be in this position today.”

Hunt’s mother Khadijah Marshall has been his biggest motivation. The 8hr work shifts, the support and care she gives day in and day out makes him want to give it back.

“My mom motivates me. I mean she’s done so much for me. She gets up and works a 9-5 and still has time to support me and be there for me which has been great. I’m glad we can share this moment together because we both have worked hard for this.”

For recruiting news and updates Texasboysbasketball.com is where you can find it! Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & @ani_umana. Coming Soon: texasboysbasketball.com content will be available for only $3.95 a month. For a little over 13 cents a day you can get weekly content from players in the High School/Grassroots scene to Region XIV JUCO. Stay Tuned.

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.

Becoming a freshman on varsity is an impressive feat but contributing to the cause and becoming a viable option stands out. In the pinnacle level of high school basketball, which draws similarities to 17U basketball in the spring, a young collegiate aspiring prospect can get ahead of the learning curve playing in the speed and physicality that “big boy ball” presents. In an environment that the Elite 14 presented with a plethora of recruitable athletes occupying the gymnasiums, three freshman displayed a skill set that translates to the varsity level and could potentially translate to the next level if they continue to build.

I had the chance to talk to the coaches at Houston Christian prior to their outing against Southwest Christian (AR) and assistant coach Teddy Wheeler mentioned point guard Noah Kon (2021) had the opportunity to be the 6th man and still finish out games. Kon’s play kept himself on the court as the hard nosed guard played physical defense, made plays without the ball and shot it solid off the bounce against division one length. Noah keeps opposing defenses on their feet as he looks to get to the cup but can get himself caught up in a jam. The Houston Christian product is a top 25 TBB prospect in 2021 and Kon’s motor, athleticism and solid skill set makes him a prospect to keep looking at.

Looking at the speed Lancaster possesses especially with the guards is a sight to see and scoring guard Wade Taylor (2021) deameanor and poise in varsity competition felt as if he had years of experience. Taylor can light it up quick from the perimeter and even though he didn’t score a lot, he got to his spots on the floor as he  looked to get his teammates involved. Defensively he competed on that side of the ball and when he wanted the ball in his hands he looked to crash the glass. Another top 25 prospect in 2021 that did himself a favor.

With the front court size The Colony possess in 2019 Bryce Okpoh and 2018 Kahliel Spears, Tay Mosher (2021) understands his role at the forward position and made the most of it. Mosher has a promising stroke from 3, finished in the paint with either hand and made a strong contribution on the offensive glass. Mosher was not in the TBB radar before The Elite 14 but now he is and we will keep track of his performances going forward.

Edited by: AB

Traylyn Spencer leads the way both on and off the court.

Traylyn a 6’7″ SF/PF at O. D. Wyatt H.S. past, present and future says he is leading. We at Texasboysbasketball.com are taking a look at why and where Spencer goes from here and how he got to this point. The 2018 signee has worked his way through the classroom, three grassroot seasons and is beginning his third season on varsity.  Spencer has sealed his verbal commitment to University of Arkansas at Little Rock as UALR is a competitive member of the NCAA division one Sun Belt League where the league RPI was in the top twelve of the (34) division one leagues in the country.  ULAR is a huge opportunity for Spencer and from time to time, stable D1 programs have the opportunity to bring in a prospect with this kind of upside and potential on and off the court.

Traylyn has the responsibility to lead as shown here with his four younger siblings.  Being a senior, a three year varsity starter, holding a 950 verbal/math SAT score with 3.0 gpa  and now the first D1 signee for fourth year head coach Demarqus James who is in his first high school job, Traylyn epitomizes the words first, pioneer, and leader as he has demonstrated with his body of work that he is up to the task.

Basketball is huge vehicle for Spencer but he loves the game as he expresses on dead balls with his contagious smile.  The 6’7″ versatile forward said,”On defense I am most comfortable from the basket to 15 ft out with opportunities to rebound and block/contest shots/steal the ball. Then I love when it is time to run to the other end with more opportunities.”

Spencer is active 4/3 forward with good length who has proven he can and does affect the game in a positive way on both ends. The Sun Belt league allows the appropriate level for Spencer to develop and potentially shine at the national D1 level.  There is a huge opportunity for Spencer, in my (Alan Branch) opinion we will get a good look this 2017-18 season where pre-season top 15 O. D. Wyatt will be in pursuit to a deep playoff run.

For recruiting news and updates Texasboysbasketball.com is where you can find it!  Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & @ani_umana.

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 Elite 14 has grown into a national spotlighted event that HS teams, media and college coaches from all over the country mark in their calendars to attend.   See why Alan Branch thinks Sam Freeman could blow up, meanwhile several players put themselves in a good spot on Saturday and may see a rise in their stock.

Braelon Seals, 2020 G – SA Wagner: Long, skilled  guard that plays with a good feel and possess ability to score off the bounce. A smooth offensive player that continued to make plays on Saturday which lead to a solid full stat line on Saturday.

Jalen Roberts 2019 PG – Lancaster: Attacking, heady guard that knifed his way through the defense. Jalen scored an easy 11 points in Lancaster’s win against Hirshi as he constantly put pressure on the defense and scored in a variety of ways. A guard prospect that has a chance in seeing his name in our TBB top 75 in the 2019 class.

Jaquan Scott, 2020 PF – Mansfield Timberview: Scott plays his role very well for Timberview as he blocks shots, rebounds and finishes inside. His length bothered opposing big men and is cementing himself as a top 25 player in the state of Texas.

Chris Baguma, 2018 SF- CYM: Baguma unloaded the full repertoire on Saturday as he has shown improvement as a player on the perimeter. He plays with a good feel, rebounds, defends and plays with a edge to him that translates. A no brainer stock booster.

Garren Davis, 2019 CG – The Colony: There weren’t many hurdles in Davis’ path to the basket as he finished through contact and embraced physicality. Davis averaged 11 pts, 4 rebounds and 4 assists on Saturday and is a guard the staff will keep their eye on.

Trezarin White, 2019 Wing – Mansfield Timberview: Flying is the best word to describe what White was doing at the Elite 14 as he soared on the boards, finished above the rim and had a highlighted two handed block. White did himself a favor this Saturday and he mixes his strong athleticism with a very solid skill- set.

Sam Freeman, 2019 C – Justin Northwest: Freeman’s play put him in another category with the staff and Alan Branch as he rebounded, blocked shots and cleaned up everything in his area. Sam is making a hard push cracking the top 20 in our 2018 prospect database. Alan Branch said “Sam Freeman has located the switch, now can he find his way back to it everyday”. “You can’t teach size, size just has to want to”

Oklahoma University has received their first commitment in the 2019 class with highly touted Denton Guyer PG De’Vion Harmon pledging to dawn the Crimson & Cream.

Harmon is the 5th 2019 TBB prospect to commit and he talks to texasboysbasketball.com about his decision. De’Vion chose Oklahoma over Texas, Oklahoma State, Marquette and Baylor.

“From the coaching staff all the way down to the city of Norman led me to want to go to Oklahoma,” Harmon said. “The city is great and everytime I go down there (Norman, OK) I get to do everything from playing video games with the guys on the team to watching football games and hanging out.

On Harmon’s last unnoficial visit to Oklahoma on Sept. 12, De’Vion talks about the effect it had on steering him to become a Sooner.

“In the last visit something clicked. I just kept thinking about it everyday and I came to the  conclusion that I wanted to play at Oklahoma which has become a reality today.”

In our last conversation with Harmon he mentioned his strong relationship with the whole staff at Oklahoma from top to bottom. Harmon received weekly calls and texts. from Head Coach Lon Kruger and Associate Head Coach Chris Crutchfield.

“Coach Kruger and Coach Crutchfield pursued me hard. They made me a priority and even when the communication slowed down in some moments they would always try to check up on me,” Harmon said. “I build a strong, trustworthy relationship with them and I’m glad to be apart of the family.”

The staff first got a glance at De’Vion in January of his 8th grade year. Things have changed as he played the 3-spot at the time but two aspects of his game that has stayed with him as he was in the process of developing into a high major point guard has been his toughness and leadership qualities.

“I felt that I was a good leader at that time and I became a stronger leader since. Over time you are going to get better if you stay in the gym and work on your game but my pursuit of the game has allowed me to be where I am.”

The summer of his Freshman year, Harmon decided to put the cleats up and give up football to pursue his dream of basketball. A sense of urgency  and mentality came to the Denton Guyer product the day he announced it.

“First I really love the game of basketball and although I liked playing football and I was good at it, I knew I wanted to pursue basketball in the long run,” Harmon said. “The day I made that decision, I knew I had to put in a lot of work in after the 5-6 months of playing football, now I got to be in the gym and just work!”

Harmon has big aspirations as a player in Oklahoma but he wants to be remembered not just as a great player that performs in the Lloyd Noble Center but leave a lasting impression as a great person.

I just want to be remembered that not only was I a good player but a great person. A person that likes to laugh, have a lot of fun and not just with my teammates but with everybody on the campus. I just want people remember me as a person that always has a smile in his face.”

Edited: AB

For recruiting news and updates Texasboysbasketball.com is where you can find it!  Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & @ani_umana. Coming Soon: texasboysbasketball.com content will be available for only $3.95 a month. For a little over 13 cents a day you can get weekly content from players in the High School/Grassroots scene to Region XIV JUCO. Stay Tuned.

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.

2019 high major prospect De’Vion Harmon generated buzz in the recruiting trail this past week by announcing  his top 5 programs. Three days later Harmon revealed he will make his verbal commitment on Friday Nov. 3 with Texas, OU, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Marquette still in the running for the point guard’s services. Harmon breaks down his top 5 to TBB.

Marquette

Marquette is the only program in his top 5 that Harmon hasn’t taken a visit to but he has a quality relationship with the staff.

“I have built a strong relationship with the staff. (Head) Coach (Steve) Wojciechowski, and (Assistant) Coach (Stan) Johnson have been pursuing me since April and that’s before they offered me in June.”

Harmon talks about what the staff believes he will bring to the Golden Eagles program.

“Leadership and strong, steady play from the point guard position,” Harmon said. “They feel that I can come in and be a big part of their program early.”

Baylor

Harmon has been on campus three times and most recently took a unofficial on Sept. 9th.

“The campus is great. It’s A good atmosphere and it’s only about a hour and half away so the proximity is a plus.”

De’Vion talks about his relationship with the staff.

“I have a bond with everybody on the staff. They are great to talk to and have made it clear where they envision me to be if I commit to them.”

Harmon can see himself as the next big time point guard for Baylor. From Pierre Jackson, Lester Medford and Senior Manu Lecomte, The Bears have gotten high level play from their point guards in the past 5 years.

“They think I can come in and make a major impact. I can thrive in their system and bring strong leadership to the program. It has a family atmosphere there which would help me thrive as well.”

Texas

The Longhorns offered Harmon in November of 2016 and De’Vion told TBB he has been on the campus five times. With his fellow RM5 teammate 2018 Gerald Liddell having committed to Texas, could Harmon follow suite to the Burnt Orange Nation?

“The city of Austin is vibrant and the campus is great. The facilities, I mean everything about it is really good,” Harmon said. “The whole coaching staff I am familiar with and build a good relationship with.”

Harmon continues to talk about the staff.

“From (Head) Coach Shaka Smart to (Assistant) Coach (Jai) Lucas, they all have been great and the atmosphere around the locker room feels like family.”

Harmon enjoys the pace the Longhorns play in and confident he would excel in it.

“Texas gets up and down and I like that. They like that I can bring leadership at the point guard position, the toughness I play with and the intensity I play on the defensive side.

Oklahoma

Out of the 5 programs, Harmon has visited OU the most (6x) he told texasboysbasketball.com.

“Everything about Oklahoma I like. From the coaching staff, campus, environment, the team, overall It’s just a great place to be.”

The Sooners offered De’Vion in July of 2016 and Harmon tells the staff they have made him a top priority.

“They told me upfront I am a top priority for them. I’ve enjoyed each visit I’ve had over there,” Harmon said. “I can see myself flourishing over there and playing to my strengths.”

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State offered the Denton Guyer product on September (2016).

“Oklahoma State is another program that I have a strong relationship with the staff. Actually (Former Head) Coach Brad Underwood was the one that was recruiting me and offered,” Harmon said. “(Current Head) Coach (Mike) Boynton is a great person and he has stayed in contact with me since taking the head coaching job. He told me I was a top priority and is a coach that would be great to play for.”

De’Vion has been to Stillwater three times to visit the campus and talks to us about his visits.

“Stillwater is a one of those college towns so the atmosphere is great. Definitely a great spot to be as a student.”

The prospects Denton Guyer possess this year is noteworthy with all starters being talented enough to play at a D1 level. With Georgetown commit 2018 Grayson Carter, 2019 higher major prospect Jalen Wilson, top 20 TBB prospect Jakobe Coles, and two way guard in 2018 prospect Calvashawn Darthard that the staff is high on. Harmon looks to be a leader and do whatever it takes to win.

“We are talented enough to win state but we as a team need to be all in mentally for it to work,” Harmon said. “Difference between good and great teams are how well they are bought in to each other and the system.”

Harmon continues to talk about what it’ll take to come out of San Antonio in March on top.

“We as a whole have to take everything seriously. Not just do it because the coaches tell us to but because we understand that’ll help us get what we want and I think all of that will happen. We are all on the same mission.”

Next Friday Harmon will be the fourth 2019 Texasboybasketball.com prospect to commit to a school (Sahvir Wheeler (Texas A&M), Grant Sherfield (UCLA) and Darian Gibson (UTSA) are the other two) and it isn’t very common for a prospect to commit in his junior year but De’Vion told the staff that he is ready to take the next step in his life.

“The recruiting process is fun but I’ve matured and it’s time for me to make a decision. It’s  just part of the growing up process for me and I’m confident the time is now to make my decision and close this chapter.”

Harmon tells TBB his mind isn’t completely made up on who he will choose on Friday but has a good feel on who he will commit to. The staff believe Harmon will take his talents to Norman, OK and play for Lon Kruger at Oklahoma but on Nov. 3 we will find out.

Edited: AB

For recruiting news and updates Texasboysbasketball.com is where you can find it!  Follow us on Twitter @texasboysbasketbal & ani_umana

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.

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%