Continuing our pre-season hoops coverage, I made the journey to Dallas to take in the GASO JUCO/Prep Showcase. Held at the gorgeous Duncanville Fieldhouse, the JUCO/Prep Showcase blended over 50 JUCOs and prep schools from throughout the country under one roof, with courts that made things easily accessible to watch multiple games at once. Blue Zertuche, Michael Timmons, and the rest of the GASO staff made things seamless.
The field was led by defending NJCAA D1 champion Trinity Valley Community College (Tex.). Countless other junior colleges from within the region made the journey to Duncanville, culminating with a loaded two day event. Region V and Region XIV feature some of the strongest junior colleges in the nation, with household JUCO names such as Odessa, Tyler, Paris, Navarro, Angelina, and more, all joining the ranks for what actually proved to be the most exciting and competitive hoops of the weekend.
Having already taken a look at the top high school seniors, the top juniors, and the top underclassmen, here are some of the top junior college players who will see their stock rise with their play at the 2025 GASO JUCO Showcase:
Armani Henderson, 6’2, PG, Trinity Valley CC (Tex.)
The catalyst to the defending national champions, Armani Henderson, brings a level of energy to the floor that is absolutely infectious. “Mani” was an absolute blur pushing the rock up the floor, and is one of the best on-ball defenders that you’ll find at the JUCO level. The nation’s JUCO leader in steals last season has no shortage of D1 programs recruiting, with plenty more to follow as the season goes on, with the success that Trinity Valley should have.
Ahmere Carson, 6’3, PG/SG, Odessa CC (Tex.)
An electric scorer, Ahmere Carson, has quickly cemented himself as one of the best guards at the junior college ranks and showed that at the GASO JUCO Showcase. The lefty is a physical lockdown defender, capable of playing either guard spot for spurts, and is in constant attack mode when he has the ball in his hands. The Chicago product has no shortage of elite experience running with the EYBL and then playing at Kansas City last year, so he will undoubtedly be able to contribute immediately to whichever of the 15 or so D1 programs that have already offered him.
Zati Loubaki, 6’9, PF, Trinity Valley CC (Tex.)
The MVP of last season’s NJCAA National Championship has continued building on what was an outstanding freshman campaign with his play at the GASO JUCO Showcase. The face-up forward is automatic with his mid-range jumper, brings positional versatility, and has the ability to exploit mismatches. Loubaki is a native of France and has played with Overtime Elite prior to arriving at Trinity Valley, giving him a wealth of experience at different levels that will make him an immediate impact player at the D1 level.
Jaquarious Patterson, 6’6, SF, Navarro College (Tex.)
A player whom I was not familiar with leading into the event, Jaquarious Patterson, stood out within five minutes of watching him. The athletic swingman changed the game with his level of activity on both ends, was an outstanding cutter, and put constant pressure on defense with an explosive first step. Toss in the fact that the South Carolina product shot 42 percent from 3-point range last year, and you see why Patterson has all the makings of a mid-major prospect.
Braylon Wagner, 6’5, SG/SF, Trinity Valley CC (Tex.)
The epitome of a plug and play guy, Braylon Wagner fit in perfectly with the defending national champions with his ability to shoot the ball from deep. He was outstanding flashing to open areas versus zones, shot the lights out when he had his feet set, and constantly occupied defenders as a shooting threat from beyond the arc. The Ohio native is the type of guy that you don’t have to run any plays for and already holds offers from Bradley, Grambling, Eastern Michigan, Louisiana Tech, and countless others.
Clarence Payia, 6’6, SG/SF, Angelina CC (Tex.)
Another player generating buzz coming into the event was Clarence Payia, a swingman out of Beaumont. With nice size for a swingman, he is an effective straight-line driver, jumps the passing lanes really well defensively, and showed the ability to knock down deep threes. Already holding D1 offers for next year, Payia brings D1 experience (he played at Louisiana Tech) to an Angelina squad that will be expecting him to put points on the board this season.
Derelle Desire, 6’10, C, Trinity Valley CC (Tex.)
The most intriguing physical prospect that the GASO JUCO Showcase brought to the table was Derelle Desire, a product of London. The super talented lefty has an outstanding frame, is very comfortable shooting the ball from mid-range, and looks to dunk anything that he touches in the paint. Owning all of the tools and talent of a high major big man, Desire’s production this session will ultimately depict what D1 level he lands at—massive frame.
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𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 $𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝐭𝐨 $𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 $𝟐𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟕 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐛. 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐍𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐬, 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲……….
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𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐬→→→→ 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝟏.𝐜𝐨𝐦