GASO: The Top 13
The May Great American Shoot-Out served as a prelude of what to expect for the upcoming summer circuit. It was a tournament that featured big upsets, rising talent and, most importantly, hungry individuals looking for respect - and a college home.
Marcus High School repeated as NBA champion of the May GASO, while the Texas PRO-Rhossi (NCAA) and the Oklahoma City Power (NCAA) walked away from the Integrated Athletic Development with GASO titles. While these teams wowed the crowds in their own ways, several athletes impressed the crowd with their own playmaking skills.
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Here is a list of 13 players who stood out from the GASO. All names are in alphabetical order.
Class: 2011
Height: 6-foot-3
Position: SG
School/Summer Team: McKinney North HS/Southwest Elite Blue
Notable: Few players made the highlights that Arnold, an unsigned senior, made throughout the two-day tournament. He made great passes. He penetrated to the lane and finished strong. He posterized opponents with monster dunks. Arnold was impressive.
Class: 2012
Height: 6-foot-2
Position: SG/PG
School/Summer Team: Lewisville HS/Dallas Mustangs
Notable: As a two-guard, Bowie showed his worth by playing with athleticism and intensity on both sides of the court. As a point guard, he showed poise by effectively running the offense. This could be just the beginning for Bowie.
Class: 2012
Height: 6-foot-5
Position: SF/SG
School/AAU team: A&M Consolidated HS/Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Houston
Notable: With every game, Caruso's stock continues to rise. Caruso was a consistent player for the Ambassadors, and it was his consistency that helped the team advance to the semifinals. Caruso is getting better and better as the spring progresses.
Class: 2012
Height: 5-foot-10
Position: PG/SG
School/AAU team: Flower Mound Marcus HS/Texas Assault
Notable: When Forte shoots, no matter where he is, most think it's going in. That seems to be expected out of one of the state's best shooters. How Forte surprised onlookers, however, was with his reliable -- and highly underrated -- point guard play.
Class: 2013
Height: 6-foot-2
Position: SG/PG
School/AAU team: Wichita Falls Hirschi HS/Dallas Mustangs-Booker
Notable: Foster played with both the Mustangs and his high school team during the tournament. The double dipping simply meant Foster had twice as many opportunities to show he was one of the state's elite players -- and he didn't disappoint.
Class: 2013
Height: 6-foot-5
Position: SG
School/AAU team: Irving HS/DJH5-Houston
Notable: Frazier is ranked among the top 10 Class of 2013 players in the nation for a reason. He showed a will to score when his team needed points, and he played above the rim. Frazier is playing with motivation to be the top player regardless of class.
Class: 2011
Height: 6-foot-5
Position: SF
School/AAU team: Victoria East HS/Islanders Basketball Foundation
Notable: This tournament served as an audition of sorts for Friedel, an unsigned senior. The recruiting analysts on site believe he passed the test. Friedel was sharp for a team that is gaining huge respect within the GASO circuit.
Class: 2012
Height: 6-foot-4
Position: SG/SF
School/AAU team: Fort Worth Trimble Tech HS/Fort Worth FIRM
Notable: As athletic as they come, Jackson was the FIRM's go-to player throughout the tournament. He was able to get to the basket off the dribble on offense, and he used his long frame to frustrate players when he was on defense.
Class: 2014
Height: 6 foot
Position: PG
School/AAU team: Kennedale HS/DJH5-Houston
Notable: The race for the best freshman in the state has a new player. There were times when Robinson looked less like a high school freshman and more like a college freshman against the competition. He's a savvy guard who plays with confidence.
Class: 2013
Height: 6-foot-4
Position: SG/SF
School/AAU team: Flower Mound Marcus HS/Texas Assault
Notable: Once again, Smart proved that he is one of the most versatile players in the country. He scored, rebounded, accounted for assists and played defense. Most importantly, when the games got close, he took over and showed his leadership ability.
Class: 2012
Height: 6-foot-8
Position: PF/C
School/AAU team: South Grand Prairie HS/DJH5-Houston
Notable: If there's a book of post moves, one might think Washburn contributed to the content. When he's low in the post, he's difficult to stop because of the variety of ways he gets to the basket. It doesn't help opponents when he also drains the 3-pointer.
Class: 2012
Height: 6-foot-7
Position: PF
School/AAU team: Frisco HS/Dallas Mustangs
Notable: White, a bulldozer at 265 pounds, had his way with nearly all of his competitors inside. He showed that he had nice touch from 12 to 15 feet and that he was very light on his feet. The sky is the limit for this bruising power forward.
Class: 2011
Height: 6-foot-9
Position: SF
School/AAU team: Crosby HS/Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Houston
Notable: Those who watched Willis play wondered why the unsigned senior is still searching for a college home. In several cases, he was the best player on the court. Willis plays with a lot of passion, and he can be a solid Division I sleeper.
