Lake Travis - Friday night Texas Hoops analyst Blue Zertuche traveled south to Lake Travis High school to watch the Cavaliers take on Austin Westlake in a district 25-6A battle. Westlake won 59-44 and below is the breakdown of 10 players from the game. A lot of talent on the court in Central Texas.
Austin Westlake Chaps
Will Baker - The 6-foot-9 post comes off the bench for the Chaps which adds to the depth of this team. Baker only hit one field goal for two points off a spin move around fellow sophomore D.J. Thorpe. It was an impressive move and gave you a preview of what's to come from Baker.
Brock Cunningham - The class of 2018 was well represented on the floor Friday, and the state's most competitive prospect was on the court in Cunningham. If you want to know what toughness looks like, simply watch the 6-foot-7 power forward compete and throw his body around. With his left eye covered in stitches, Cunningham still went at his opponents hard using his body and every inch energy in the 15 point win. Cunningham tallied 9 points and 9 rebounds and battled down low on both ends.
Keonte Kennedy - One of the state's rising juniors is Kennedy, who is scheduled to have Kansas on campus this coming week. Kennedy scored a game-high 12 points for the Chaps, and he hit a three and was able to penetrate the Lake Travis defense to score at the rim. The slender 6-foot-4 also created contact to head to the free throw line. At the line, Kennedy made 5-of-6.
Alex Neahusan - The glue-guy for Westlake is Neahusan who adds another layer of toughness and the blue-collar work ethics that all teams with hopes of making the final four in San Antonio need. Neahusan scored 11 points going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field. Neahusan also added four rebounds.
Matthew Mayer - Mayer finished with 11 points but opened the first eight minutes of play with eight points hitting two three-pointers and a jumper. This type of play and energy that Mayer started the game with is one of the many reasons that TexasHoops.com once had the 6-foot-7 forward as the Preseason No.1 player in the state. He went 4-for-9 from the field, 3-for-5 from behind the arc, grabbed six boards, added two assists and two steals. The ceiling is still extremely high for Mayer.
Luke Pluymen - Coming off a recent offer from St. Edwards (Austin) Pluymen drilled three three-pointers in the Westlake victory. The solid all-around guard went 3-for-4 from threes and totaled two steals on the night.
Lake Travis Cavaliers
Ryan Bormann - Bormann might have been a smaller player on the court but he had big shot making ability from behind the arc. Bormann, a lefty, stroked three three-pointers and finished with 11 points, leading the Cavaliers. He was fast and dished out assists to his teammates.
Luke Hamilton - Hamilton had 10 points which included two threes (2-for-4 on the night), and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Hamilton had plenty of opportunities and every time the ball left his hands you felt the ball was going in. He is a skilled pick and pop forward that has upside.
D.J. Thorpe - One of the main reasons for the trip to Central Texas was to catch Thorpe in a meaningful game. What I saw was a big and strong interior post who attacks the glass and a prospect who will sacrifice his body to mix it up. Thorpe had to battle against both Cunningham and Baker and he hung in there for 32 minutes. The 6-foot-7 post showed patience under the basket and powered his way through defenders for 9 points and 7 rebounds.
Garrett Wilson - There wasn't another player on the floor who could match the athleticism of Wilson. A star Wide Receiver for Lake Travis on the football field, Wilson plays out on the wing for the Cavaliers on the court and springs to the ball. Wilson chipped in with 10 points and elevated off the floor to hit jumpers and to score off lay-ins.