I finally got out of the house after a couple of days and into the gyms in the DFW for various holiday tournaments. I stopped by the Dr. Pepper DISD Tourney and the Snoop Johnson In Season Showcase.
Here are my storylines and standouts from Monday:
Beaumont United vs Frisco Memorial
A key UIL Class 5A Matchup occurred at the Dr. Pepper Invitational with Frisco Memorial and Beaumont United. United has won a few state titles in the past five years and Memorial is eyeing the main prize this scholastic season. Beaumont secured a 75-70 win and needed an extra period to do so.
Here are my in-game player evals:
Frisco Memorial
Caden Deffebaugh, 2026 6’4 SG: The New Mexico State signee ended up with over 25 points, but the fourth quarter is when he really got going. Attacking the basket, rebounding, utilizing his athleticism on both ends. An athletic scoring guard that in clutch moments or in the last four minutes of a game, he’s the main source Memorial relies on to score.
Dylan Steffe, 2028 6’0 PG: Pure point guard that made good reads throughout the game. Got to the rim in multiple ways and dotted guys in the corner, wing or dunker spot. He was assertive looking to spots, not only just to pass, but actually score as well. Better blend or scoring and play-making here than at recent events. Once he makes guards pay for going under on the screen, he’ll open up his game even more.
James Johnson, 2028 6’3 Wing: A high motor utility wing that can impact winning without scoring the ball. Offensive rebounds, deflections and pressure on defense, making the occasional three, some unorthodox finishes at the rim. Johnson motor doesn’t stop running.
Beaumont United
Payton Jones, 2027 6’2 CG: The four star guard got downhill and it was a wrap. The jumper wasn’t falling early, so he insisted on his shot diet being a heavy dose of rim finishes. Connecting on floaters and layups, Jones utilized his burst, long arms and big hands to get where he wanted and navigate in the air vs. traffic.
Joshua Coleman, 2027 5’9 PG: Strongly built, tough as nails guard who’s a pesky defender. Albeit size, he drove to the basket and finished vs. contact, made catch and shoot threes and looked to get in the personal space of the ball-handler. He does the little things that impact winning.
Ephriam Moore, 2028 6’9 C: A large body back to the basket big that had a so-so outing, but I thought made key plays at the end to collect the win (he was better in the evening matchup vs Kimball). When he gets a deep position in the post, Moore is a handful to deal with. Not just when he gets the ball in the post, but even when a shot goes up because Moore has the advantage to gather the offensive rebound. When his motor is high and he’s playing really physical, he adds another dimension to this BU squad.
Twin Towers At Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie nabbed a convincing win vs. Melissa on Monday and there is a lot to like about this squad, period, as it can make a run at a state title because its front-line causes a lot of problems. 2027 Steve McLeod and 2029 Felix Okam anchor the Gophers. Steve is a 6’8 forward with adequate back to basket and face-up game. He scored from the high post vs. Melissa’s zone and would post up early in the middle for drop step finishes or hooks. A lot of mid, mid plus schools should be on this one.
Felix is a wiry, long armed forward that has promising touch from inside and out. Made a few threes, attacked a close out to connect on a floater and he attacked the glass on both ends. His jumper mechanics aren’t the greatest, but the shot goes in. He’s only a freshman but plays like an upper classman. He has upside as a two-way big wing one day.
D1 Coaches Should Take a Look at Anthony Spencer
Bigs come at a premium but especially in the transfer portal. Even though this kid is in high school, D1 coaches need to take a serious look at Desoto’s Anthony Spencer. A 6’8 big man with a lean/muscular frame. Bouncy, runs the floor and holds solid touch from 10-15-feet out. He’ll obviously be a late grab, but what he brings to the table, it’s a no brainer for a school that’ll be looking to add translatable size and athleticism to their program without having to pay an arm and leg for their services.
More Standouts
Rylan Austin, 2027 6’0 PG - Kimball: Crafty lefty point guard that made big plays down the stretch in their win vs Beaumont United. Initiates hang dribbles in isolation and uses ball-screens to get to his spots. A lefty that uses off foot layups and finishes to keep the help defense guessing.
Kayden Gray, 2026 6’2 SG - Kimball: Shot the cover off the ball. Kayden got going early and it was like he was shooting a ball in the ocean. Once a few catch and shoot jumpers went in, then the heavily contested one off the bounce did, too. An available player that will eventually have options on where he will play in college.
Amarion Hunter, 2027 6’2 CG - Dallas Carter: A pure bucket getter that excels at making tough shots. His confidence is through the roof, he’s tough and he is unbothered by the defender’s contest. He draws so much gravity that in time he will have to make better reads and that’ll actually open up his offensive game more. But what he specializes in, very few in the state regardless of class, can score like him.
Terrell Jackson, 2028 6’8 C - Dallas Carter: Terrell had a good game vs. Frisco Liberty. He worked early to get good position in the post and carved space inside with his elbows. A throw-back approach on generating offense. He showed a flash of face-up skill, knocking down a three and drove to the rim for a layup. Terrell just needs to keep stacking the days and keep adding to his game.
Tra Young, 2026 6’0 PG - DeSoto: Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of calls on this one. I saw Tra play once this season vs Parish Episcopal. That game he got going offensively and despite them losing, I was impressed with his play. Anyways, I made sure to watch him on Monday vs. Dallas Lincoln. He’s a bucket. He didn’t make shots at an ideal efficiency, but you can tell he’s a bucket with solid feel. Needed about three minutes to see that. Young takes tough shots and he’s thin, but when he gets hot, you have to send two defenders at him. He just needs to go to the right spot next yearr, where he can grow as a decision-maker and get stronger. His best basketball is ahead of him. If you haven’t seen him play, he’s worth going to see.
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