GASO Thoughts and More
Editor's Note: The Great American Shoot-Out just finished up it's 27th year, and here are some notes from over the four day event that took place in Duncanville, TX. The GASO hosted 460 teams, and more than 450 college coaches were in attendance. Also note that the Scouting Service is in its 28th year.
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• Can't say that the TexasHoops.com/GASO staff was totally surprised, but Tristan Clark (Converse Judson) of Nike Pro Skills game looked to be heading in a new direction, upwards. Clark spent most of his game in attack-mode anytime he was around the rim making every opportunity count as he played above the rim for most of the games. Blocking shots, rebounding in and out of his area, and putting the ball through the hoop with dunks was a big part of his game. But he also showed that he could score off the bounce hitting 15-footers and putting the ball on the floor to get to the basket. Clark did a great job of finishing through contact and scoring with either hand. Clark, who will be a junior (c/o 2017) is adding strength up top and has a strong lower body. He runs the floor from end to end and is now playing with confidence and has added an intensity that wasn't always there during the high school season. After the Great American Shoot-Out, Clark added an offer from UNLV.
• Lets go ahead and beat a dead horse by saying that Clevon Brown (San Antonio Churchill) was the most talked about player at the Great American Shoot-Out and he earned the respect of many college coaches, national media, and players from around the state. The No.9 ranked player in the state came ready to play and with the hype from so many other outstanding performances at earlier GASO's. Brown showed what TexasHoops/GASO staff has been raving about, and that was his strengths as a shot-blocker/rebounder and paint player that takes his game above the rim. Brown simply has the make-up for high level basketball, and his ability to elevate above his opponents to get to the basket on the offensive end, or to get to a shot taken by his opponent makes him one of the best instinctive players in this class. However, Brown does not possess the body of a Schnider Herard, Jarrett Allen, or Marques Bolden, but he does have the athleticism and instincts that will payoff once he enters the college scene. Brown came in with offers from Kansas State, UTSA, Richmond, Houston, SMU, Vanderbilt, Rice, and San Diego, but left with additional offers from Auburn, Illinois, Miami, and Oklahoma State. Interest is now coming from Texas after a call to Brown from Shaka Smart, and Notre Dame.
• Maybe Jalen Harris (Duncanville) didn't explode as much as some might have thought coming into the spring and summer, but it was noticeable that the 6-foot-3 Harris has packed on some muscle and plays hard for Nike Pro Skills. Harris is more of a two guard, but has some point to his game. He showed off a nice stroke and was smooth getting into the lane and finishing with nice body control. Once in the paint, Harris used a long reach at the rim to finish over the defense. Harris picked up five offers from the weekend, North Texas, UTEP, Utah State, Florida Gulf Coast, Texas State, and Duquesne.
• One player that has star potential is 6-foot-8, Adrean Johnson (Lancaster) of Nike Team Texas. Johnson is a developing big-man who has matured over the course of the year and has a nice frame. There were whispers among the college coaches that Johnson had a "Big 10" body and was a player that high majors will have to take a look at. Now, the staff of TexasHoops.com has seen the development of Johnson and he is getting the minutes he needs to showcase his game.
The Nike Team Texas group is dominated by their guard play, but Johnson doesn't mind doing the dirty work for the time being. He rebounds and blocks shots and gets himself into position to grab an offensive rebound to get a put-back. Saying that Johnson is ready for the "Big-Time" wouldn't be fair, but he's not that far off as he puts everything together and gets more touches. Johnson, along with Harris is a sleeper in the class of 2016, when it comes to level of play, but he has received quite a few offers from the weekend. Offers came in from La Tech, Colorado, Wright State, Texas State, Southern, Texas A&M Corpus, Middle Tennessee, and Arkansas-PB.
• Julian Miranda (DeSoto) has never been the biggest player when he steps out onto the court with either his high school or summer team, but what you have to like about the 5-foot-9 point guard is he understands how to play the game. There is no question the Mirnada is the catalyst for Urban DFW Elite, and he is a spark plug to a team that has three high major players. It would be easy to think that he can't keep up or that he wouldn't be an impact player on the court, but Miranda is. He keeps up with the speed of the game and doesn't let opponent's size overwhelm him. Miranda plays uptempo, keeping pace with teammates Cameron McGriff, Josh Parrish, Jethro Tshishumpa and Alex Vilarino.
What put him over the top during the 27th annual Great American Shoot-Out was his ability to lead the break and feed his players who were open. Miranda takes smart high percentage shots, hits the three and has no problem getting into the lane off penetration to finish or to take the contact. He will not pass the eye test, but he is a player that is a division I player.
• It was back in February when TexasHoops.com first saw 7-footer Hayden Koval of FV 5:17. Koval was impressive back than being one of the best players in his home school arena. At the time, Koval had the tools to be considered a prospect at the next level, but questions still remained as he had to step his game up to perform against some of the elite players from the state. Koval has answered that question while he continues to improve and as he conditions himself for the possible division I level. He picked up an offer from Oral Roberts becuase he is a long framed skilled forward that can go inside and work in the paint. He showcased his game in front of college coaches with with many liking his upside. You would have to suspect that after a well played GASO tourney and, more questions will be answered in Vegas.
• Josh Parrish (Arlington Seguin) will be the first to tell you that he has to work on his outside shot and become more consistent, but defenses haven't figured out how to stop Parrish who is a bull heading to the rim. Parrish maybe one of the states more physical guards once he gets penetration, and he is a forward that can run the point with a high skill level. He has the size, the athleticism, and speed to go against anyone in the nation, and he has proven that while playing with Urban DFW Elite in both the GASO and adidas circuits. He was powerful in his games this past weekend playing above the rim and laying the ball in every time he was in traffic. Parrish picked up his fourth offer this weekend when Fresno State offered, adding to SMU, TCU and VCU. Yes, his perimeter scoring is probably slowing down his offers a tad, but the 6-foot-4 bruiser has interest from Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana Lafayette, Grand Canyon , Long Beach State, Florida, and Rice.
• To this point, it's hard not to mention the development of Lavaris Duncan (Converse Judson) of the 210 Jayhawks. He has come a long way trimming down and learning how to play hard. Duncan showed off his soft hands and footwork when he was in the paint battling for the ball. When he worked 15-feet away from the rim and had an open look, Duncan nailed it. Only issue might be is his lack of lift off the floor, but his body will push opponents out of his way as he competes on every play. He may draw a comparison to another San Antonio player from last year, Tony Lewis. Duncan has heard from Texas A&M Corpus and Illinois State in the past few days.
TexasHoops.com Jukes and Jumpers...
• Texas PRO's shooting guard Alex Hobbs (La Porte) hit the court and played solidly throughout the tourney helping his team to a GASO championship. At 6-foot-3, Hobbs plays with a poker face and has a high ceiling with his soft three-point stroke and ball handling that helps with taking care of the ball through pressure. Hobbs held offers from Kansas State, Boise State, Duquesne, Northeastern, Houston, Rice, Butler, Fresno State and Western Kentucky. Now you can add Baylor, Oklahoma, and VCU.
• Say what you want about R.J. Nembhard (Keller), but the 6-foot-4 Nike Team Texas member is an elite guard. The score sheet might not always say it, but the way he moves out on the court, whether defending, scoring from behind the arc or getting to the rim, everything is smooth. Nembhard comes off the dribble and drains jump shots, he has good court vision, and he doesn't back down from competition. TexasHoops.com will stick behind the No.3 ranking in the state, knowing that national scouts, and top end recruiters agree.
• After being sidelined with an ACL injury during his junior season at Triple A Academy, Jamar Sandifer broke out during the GASO for FV 5:17. Sandifer, an athlete that can get to the rim and finish through contact received an offer from Mercer, and with his play over the four days, he will compete for a spot in the fall TexasHoops.com 2016 rankings.
• TNBA 2017 Love has a nice stack of prospects including Jake Shaper (Kinkaid). Sharper attacked the basket when he was given a lane and hit the long range shot. Lamar dropped an offer for the 6-foot-3 shooting guard.
• Jarrett Culver is a wiry wing from Lubbock Coronado that travels with the EliteBasketball Family squad. Culver is a "New Kid on the Block" and quickly grabbed two offers over the weekend. The 2017 prospect showed skill and athleticism while handling the ball on his way to the basket. UT-Arlington and Lamar were the two programs who extended the offers to Culver.
• Coming into the weekend, Isaiah Brown of YGC36 ELite was getting looks and even picked up offers from UT-Rio Grand Valley, Arkansas State, UTSA, and Nebraska-Omaha. The lanky forward is versatile and can get the rim off the bounce. Brown is a really nice athlete that will slip by defenders to finish at the basket. Brown had a good showing at the GASO that earned him another offer, Northern Arizona.
• Elijah Schmidt (Klein) has been sitting the TexasHoops.com top 100 for over a year now, and after his weekend, his stock should rise a bit as he showed that he was a post player. Schmidt score inside the paint using spin moves and a soft touch over either shoulder. He is long and can alter/block shots, and is a good athlete running the floor. Schmidt helped Franchize All Star to a GASO title. He is a Texas Hoops Academic All Star with plenty of interest from non-division I academic schools, but now is getting calls from DBU, Southern Miss, Arkansas Pine Bluff, James Madison, Texas state, and UMass Lowell.
• Coming to life for Nike Team Texas was Zac Saddler (New Braunfels) who had limited time in front of college coaches since April, used the GASO to display his 6-foot-6 frame and his shooting touch. Saddler is a stretch four who can get hot from behind the arc and play the pick and pop role, or find himself in space where he can get his shot off. He did have limited touches and never got things going to the rim, but he has a good first step to the hole. From this past weekend, Saddler has two offers. One from Evansville and Texas-Rio Grand Valley (formerly UT-Pan Am). If he will show off his motor and get more touches, Saddler will build off his two offers.