And we’re back! Basketball is picking back up as the high school season looms and teams prepare for the 25-30 game grind. The GASO held their annual fall league at Duncanville, Texas and the TBB staff was present to watch the top prospects in the state battle among-st one another.
1.Kaden Archie, Feron Hunt go Toe to Toe
It’s not common to see a packed crowd for a fall league game but the much anticipated Desoto vs Midlothian contest was one that deserved to be. The middle court at Duncanville Fieldhouse was crowded but 2018’s Kaden Archie (Midlothian) and Feron Hunt (Desoto) put on a show to the viewers. Jawing at each other, trading basket after basket, seeing these high major players compete at the level they did was a site to see. Feron consistently scored off the bounce and showed the staff the ability to make reads coming off the pick. Just when it looked like Desoto was going to run away with the game, Archie made clutch shot after clutch shot and blocked Hunt’s jumper at the buzzer to seal the win for Midlothian. Regardless of who won, IF there was any question of what level of player these prospects were, it was erased after watching this game.
2. 2021 Gentry, Fair Hold their Own in Varsity Play
Damon Gentry’s performance on Saturday ranks up to some of the top showings out of any guard regardless of class. Gentry is a long, scrappy guard that utilized his speed in the open court. Defensively he excelled as he plays on that side of the ball with intensity and was key on stops when OD Wyatt were making a run. Kendall Fair showed his nice stroke from beyond the arch and looked to attack the basket in transition. He moves laterally and when he didn’t have the ball in his hands, he looked to make plays off the ball & defensively.
3. Big Men Starting Turning The Corner
These big men didn’t offer anything amazing as far as play but what the TBB staff did see was gradual improvement and the start for these young centers to start reaching their potential. 2020 Darius Miles for Bishop Lynch has a wide body and is moving better up and down the floor. His footwork and touch is a work and progress but Miles is starting to throw his body more inside and compete on the defensive end. 2019 Sam Freeman (Justin Northwest) showed flashes of becoming a dependable post option but where he made his mark at the Fall league was rebounding, blocking shots and running the floors. The two games we looked at Freeman he corralled over 10 rebounds and is becoming a defensive stalwart for his Justin Northwest quad. 2019 Dearron Tucker for Universal Academy is showing improved body control and defensively displayed more activity. He needs to jock more for better position on the block but has a solid touch with either hand. We believe the light bulb will turn on for Tucker in the next 6-8 months.
4. Who is Jay Gates?
When the forward for North Crowley checked into the game in the first half against Midlothian, his play in that five minute stretch caught our eye. Gates possesses good feet, soft hands and the ability to finish inside with either hand but also dug in and battled on the boards. A prospect that will see his name pop up in our rankings soon enough.
5. Denton Guyer Quest for State Title
Denton Guyer have a good mix of size, athleticism and the ability to score inside and out. With a strong two-way backcourt of 2019 DeVion Harmon and 2018 Calvashawn Darthard, both players looked to disrupt the flow of the opposing teams offense and connected on jumpers and finishes around the rim. 2019 Jalen Wilson ran the floor and displayed his nice stroke from the perimeter coming off the catch and on the move as well. 2020 Jakobe Coles and 2018 Georgetown commit Grayson Carter are a mismatch nightmare with their ability to stretch the floor, put the ball on the ground and use their size to finish through contact. The quest for a 6A state title won’t be easy but Guyer has the talent to bring home the hardware.
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.
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