Throwing an event is a beast. Shoutout to the people that organize events on a regular basis! The first annual “The First Look” scrimmages presented by 5statehoopreport, Snoop Johnson Basketball & Xccelerated Sports Metrics had many of the best teams in the state of Texas and a few programs ranked in the 2023-24 preseason FAB 50 National Rankings. In this edition, I’m going to highlight a plethora of individual game performances. Stats were provided by Xccelerated Sports Metrics.
Kingston Flemings vs Waxahachie
It may seem weird to say this season could be a breakout year for 2025 Kingston Flemings of preseason FAB 50 No. 30 Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) especially after last year’s performance. He’s already a top 100 player nationally, but I think he’ll solidify himself higher than that and into the top 50 range. At The First Look in Brennan’s scrimmage vs. FAB 50 bubble club Waxahachie, Kingston strung together a 17-pt. 11-reb and 6-ast performance. Kingston’s balance of scoring and passing was present in this matchup. He got to the paint, zipped passes to the open man when the defense gravitated heavily to him. His added strength with plus vertical pop allowed him to rebound in traffic and ignite fast and secondary breaks. Best guard in the state of Texas and holds a strong argument of being the best player in his class in Texas.
Antoine & Armon Almuttar vs Denton
The Almuttar twins of Parish Episcopal School (Dallas, Texas) are a handful to cover. The 2026 duo are versatile players that can impact the game in a multitude of ways. Rebounding, transition playmakers, paint finishers through contact and make a jumper when left open.
In Parish Episcopal School's scrimmage victory vs Denton, Antoine Almuttar had 17 points, seven rebounds, 6 assists and four steals on 70 percent shooting.
Armon collected 15 points, six assists and five rebounds.
LD Jones vs Kimball
It was a fun matchup between Kimball and North Forney. Fast paced, athletic plays and a lot of talking on the court. 2025 LD Jones of North Forney accumulated 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and two steals. An athletic, downhill guard that thrived in the pace of the game and showcased his speed and vertical pop in transition. Led his team to a win. Also wanted to point out Kei’von Johnson’s statline: 17 points, three rebounds and three steals.
Jaylon Dean-Vines vs North Forney
Speaking of athletic power, 2025 Jaylon Dean-Vines for Kimball has a lot of that. An explosive wing-guard that gets off the ground fast and high; even in traffic. He exploded for 24 points on 10 for 12 shooting and 3-of-3 from deep.
TK Lawson vs LD Bell
Versatility and feel are big strengths when it comes to T.K. Lawson. At about 6’6-6’7 Lawson knows how to play. A 2024 prospect that’s a swiss army knife. Functional handle, a playmaker in the open court and has strong rebounding instincts. 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists on 7-of-9 shooting.
Tyreek Swindle vs Pace Academy
Someone that has made huge strides in his game. A 2026 guard that’s engine stays on. Although it was a loss for Roosevelt (Dallas, Texas), Swindle accumulated 18 points and five rebounds, as he seems comfortable in his mid-range game and has a nose for the ball.
David Wilson vs Red Oak
This Grind Prep Academy group is very well coached and their game vs. North Crowley was a good evaluation game. 2024 David Wilson flies up and down the court. An athletic finisher that’s an active rebounder, assertive driver to the rim and an adequate help-side shot-blocker. Wilson finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks in Grind Prep’s scrimmage win.
Dawson Battie vs LD Bell
A monster game for 2027 Dawson Battie. A 6’6 wing that’s one of the best prospects we have in the class. He recorded 24 points & 10 rebounds in St. Marks’ win vs LD Bell. Someone that can mix it up with his scoring. Can go inside as a driver and offensive rebounder and finish. Also a young player that can handle on the perimeter and make shots off the bounce. Crazy upside with this one.
Zolan Skinner vs PSAT National
Richardson Lake Highlands will be a formidable team in UIL 6A this season. 2024 Zolan Skinner is coming to his own. He's a 6’5 athletic wing-forward that plays with a high motor. Mid-range shooting has improved, he rebounds well for size and finishes above the rim. He’s learning how to play the game and showing progression in his skill-level. 19 points, seven rebounds in Lake Highlands’ win vs PSAT.
Jeremia Buress vs BigTyme Regional
IL-Texas had to reload after its team made it to the championship game last season in TCSAAL. 2024 Jeremia Buress made key plays in this 9 am matchup. Got to the rim and finished, kept the defense honest draining a three ball, plus I liked his intensity on the defensive end. He finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals.
Nicholas Addison vs RWG Stem
Cedar Hill plays with a lot of aggression. Defends full court, embrace physicality as a group and will be a tough matchup for anyone in the state. Lefty 2024 wing Nicholas Addison led the way for Cedar Hill vs RWG Stem. Had 13 points , five assists and two rebounds, as he knew how to carve space on his drives going left and showed improved poise when navigating through traffic to make the right basketball play.
Ethan Sheats vs Crowley
One of the better 2026 prospects the state has to offer, Ethan Sheats of Denton (Guyer, Texas) is a 6’8 wing-forward with a ton of upside. Can make open shots from deep, comfortable getting into a mid-range pull-up and is active as a rebounder. In Denton’s loss vs Crowley, Ethan produced 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
R’Chaun King & Christian Alston vs Lancaster
Bartlett (Tenn.) bounced back well after its scrimmage game vs TACA, and secured a win vs Lancaster. The front-court duo of Christian Alston and R’Chaun King provided formidable scoring and rebounding. Alston, an Abiline Christian commit, recorded 18 points and five rebounds as he’s a high level finisher with an adequate pull-up game. King is a load inside. A physical post that can stretch the floor out some. His bread and butter is his ability to absorb contact and finish. His statline was 17 points, 8 rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Isaiah Kalala vs Duncanville
The junior forward is coming along. He was more assertive and confident with the ball inside. His shot mechanics from the mid-range area looked clean and made more attempts to alter shots around the rim. Hopefully, this is the Kalala we see more of in his campaign with W.T. White (Dallas). In a win vs preseason FAB 50 No. 47 Duncanville, Kalala recorded 13 points, four rebounds and two blocks on 50 percent shooting.
BJ Davis & Kayden Edwards vs Ischool
Duncanville secured a 66-52 victory in its scrimmage vs. Ischool and their 2025’s carried the offensive load. 6’6 wing B.J. Davis had 18 points, five rebounds and two assists, as he showed his scoring efficiency on spot-up situations and in isolation off minimal dribbles. Kayden Edwards had a game high of 23 points, four rebounds and two steals on 70 percent shooting. A lefty speedster that’s a legit threat from deep. Have to locate him at all times when you’re on defense. His ability to blow by the defender to get to the rim, but also be a threat to connect on step-back threes, makes him a tough cover.
David Iweze vs Duncanville
When 2025 David Iweze is locked in, he impacts games on both ends. Ischool was down 20 points and its run to decrease the deficit to six points was due to Iweze’s increase in his offensive aggression. Blocking shots, running rim to rim, finishing inside and cleaning up rebounds. He fouled out with a couple minutes left in the game, but David finished the matchup with 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
Mason White vs Hallsville
White in Denton Guyer’s win vs. Hallsville recorded a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double. A heady 2025 guard that gained plenty of paint touches. Driver to the rim, active on the offensive glass, as he collected six of them and albeit not shooting it well from deep, he gained an offensive rhythm by finding the rim.
Anton McDermott vs Denton Guyer
I like Anton’s game. A 2024 prospect that falls fairly under the radar as a collegiate prospect. 6’5, quality movement shooter and plays with an edge. In Hallsville’s lost vs. Guyer (Denton, Texas), McDermott constructed a 22-point, 11-rebound and 3-steall outing. In my opinion, a D1 level player.
Jordan Vasquez vs Seagoville
Efficient is the key word in Jordan’s performance vs Seagoville. 20 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep and he did that in 21 minutes of play. Jordan got hot early, gathered easy shots in transition and sprinted to spots while playing off the ball to gain a quality shot from deep.
Trent Pane vs WT White
Allen’s overall defense was on lock vs WT White, only allowing 21 points in their matchup. 2025 guard Trent Pane is a handful. Athletic guard, albeit on the smaller side, is tough, can be a pesky defender and is a natural scorer with the ball in his hands.
Leon Horner vs Waxahachie
2024 Leon Horner has been consistently good all fall. A 6’6 wing with a strong frame and playstyle. Switches and guards multiple positions, someone that excels in spot-up situations as a shooter, attacker on closeouts, hand-offs to get to his midrange jumper or be a driver to the rim. In Dynamic Prep’s scrimmage vs Waxahachie, Horner recorded 14 points on 66 percent shooting and five rebounds.
TJ Burch & Perico Smith vs Bartlett
Another fun game to watch. The TACA Storm group played with a meanstreak. In its rout vs. Bartlett HS, McNeese State commit TJ Burch led the way with 19 points and four steals and got wherever he wanted to on the court. Additionally, his finishing abilities translate to the college level. One of the best guards in the 2024 class in Texas. 2024 Perico Smith is a 6’4 combo that recorded 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. A strong built guard with a crafty handle. Really can score it in isolation and make plays for others.
Tyran Mason vs Mesquite Horn
The UNT commit is a pure bucket. A three level scorer that can make tough shots consistently. In Plano’s win vs Mesquite Horn, Mason put together 24 points on 61 percent shooting, six rebounds and four assists. A great pick-up for UNT and someone that shows translatable scoring power.
Bryce Melvin vs Kimball
Someone that is putting himself in the high major prospect category in 2025. Melvin of RWG was a matchup problem for Kimball. In a loss, Melvin orchestrated 16 points, nine rebounds and six steals. A sturdy built guard that’s found an appropriate shot diet and improving his balancing act of playmaking and scoring
Parker Jefferson vs SA Brennan
The result of the scrimmage vs SA Brennan for Waxahachie wasn’t ideal, but 2025 big man Parker Jefferson excelled in his role. A skilled big man with a functional handle for his size and scores it with back to the basket and face-up game. Finished matchup with 18 points, 6 rebounds and two steals on over 50 percent shooting.
Kaison Mebane vs Leadership Prep
Pace Academy has a talented group and finished 2-0 in its scrimmages at The First Look. Athletic 2024 guard Kaison Mebane had a monster statline in their morning win vs Leadership Prep. 14 points, seven rebounds and a whopping seven steals. A downhill off-guard that thrives in transition as a finisher and active as an off ball cutter.