GASO Rewind: San Antonio

TexasHoops.com’s recruiting analyst Blue Zertuche hits on a handful of items from the Great American Shoot-Out Fall Classic in San Antonio.

A season ago, El Paso Burges were minutes away from heading to state out of Region 1-5A, due to brothers Jawaun Newton and Tristen Newton. The pair combined for 50 points per game throughout the season and were hard to stop. Looks like more of the same for the upcoming year as senior, Jawaun and junior, Tristen showed at the GASO that they will continue their dominating roles as scorers.

Both are quick-triggered scorers with range as they take the “green light” to heart. They both step out onto the court to compete and battle with top teams and assert themselves quickly as one of the best players on the floor. While watching, the Newton Brothers hold nothing back as they play with still, something to prove.

Jawaun likes to create and slip his way to the basket to score while Tristen will look to create space behind the arc and shoot with range. Both show instincts within their own style of play and read their defenders. While teams zero in on their ability to score, the Newton’s are hard to stop. In games versus Cibolo Steele and San Antonio Marshall, Jawaun hit 30 points in each game (unofficially), and Tristen went for 43 against Steele and dropped 28 against Marshall. Both games resulted in a win.

Each sprinkled in another 20 points in the team’s one-point loss to Dallas Jesuit.

Jawaun is currently ranked 87 in the class of 2018, and Tristen holds down the number 49 spot in the class of 2019.

It was arguably the best I’ve ever seen the No.23 ranked Jalen Jackson play. The 5-foot-10 junior from San Antonio Wagner was comfortable on both ends of the court and athletically, the point guard was spectacular in the open court. The old saying goes, “Defense leads to offense”, and that formula is what Jackson used on the court at the GASO. He was active on defense and pulled in several steals in which he converted to dunks on the other end. Jackson showed more spring than ever, and parts of his game flourished in the guard-heavy system of Wagner who lost the TABC Player of the year Tristen Clark from a year ago to graduation (Baylor).

Without a true big man, such as Clark, Jackson can now pepper in more offensive opportunities. Jackson has a polished game and has a high-level IQ running the show for the Thunderbirds, but his strength has always been as a penetrator and finisher. A year older, the junior simply looks better, stronger and focused on more than just being a passer.

Rankings are always a topic of conversation and from what TexasHoops/GASO staff saw from San Antonio Brennan’s combo guard Jacari Sanders, he needs to move up from his current ranking of No.91 in the class of 2019. If Sanders produces during the season as he displayed in front of the staff, then 40 or 50 spots higher isn’t out of the question.

Sanders smooth approach leads to plenty of buckets and he was spot on from 15-feet away. He is proficient as he turns the corner and rises up to nail jumpers and shots inside the arc. Sanders has good speed handling the ball up court and will find the open man under the basket.

We have touched a bit on both Zach Clemence and Langston Love as they establish themselves as household names in the San Antonio area. -But allow the rest of the state to catch up.

Clemence, a San Antonio Antonian product is a versatile forward/post that will turn heads with his ability to knock down threes and willingness to stick his nose in the paint and works off the block. Still needing strength that most freshmen need, especially being 6-foot-8, Clemence is contending to be an elite prospect.

Cibolo Steele is becoming a factory of talent in Central Texas, and Love is next in line. Love already owns a college body and a skill level to match. A strong 6-foot-4 shooter, Love will hammer in shots past the three-point line.