On the Road with Texas Hoops

December 3-5 - The weekend tournament circuit for TexasHoops.com started

Thursday in Katy at the annual Katy ISD tournament and ended in Georgetown at the Jack Frost. TexasHoops.com spent the weekend tracking down some of the key players from each tournament and getting familiar with new ones.

Besides Katy ISD and Jack Frost, TexasHoops.com spent time at South San Antonio, Matador Classic, and Liberty Hill tournaments and showcases. (click on player links for additional information and TexasHoopsRivals profiles)

Katy ISD

Freddie for Three, Four, Five

• One of the newer names in recent weeks is Freddie Ricks of Cy Springs. The junior shooting guard is 6-foot-2 and has a great looking stroke from behind the arc. Ricks is no stranger to the long ball as he hit nine threes at the Border Battle and rattled in five more while TexasHoops.com staff watched again.

Ricks has a long frame and a nice touch. Ricks did put the ball on the floor a few times get to the basket or get separation, but he is at his best when he runs the floor and gets his feet set.

• Jay Jay Chandler had a balanced offensive attack in the two halves of basketball against Klein Collins, as he scored a game-high 25 points (13 first half, & 12 in the second). Klein Collins took the game in an exciting finish 68-67.

Not sure if you can or if you need to pinpoint Chandlers true position, as he can play all guard spots. He's a ball handler, a passer, a scorer and a rebounder. He showed off his soft lefty touch from inside the three-point arc and got his teammates involved.

• Katy Tompkins' Jamal Bieniemy is a lanky guard that has incredible ball skills that he uses to get past pressure and fly up the court in transition. He is a slender combo that sees the floor and makes good decisions and passes. Bienemy adds a nice touch as he pulls up for jumpers off the dribble and penetrates to the rim.

Teammate, Josh Williams can play the one or the two, bit regardless what position Williams is running, he can score the basketball. Williams will get his feet set and stroke the perimeter shot with range out to the three-point line. He is quick to the rim and will score uses floaters.

• Cedrick Alley for Klein Forest is a bull in the paint. He is strong, rugged and a competitor. A bit undersized at 6-foot-5, the junior power forward is crafty and pushes his way to the rim. Alley gets position on his players and bangs on the block and will face up roughly 12-feet away from the basket. His strength sets him apart in any game as he is part of the Golden Eagles interior attack, which it starts and ends with him, as they are a guard heavy team.

• A thin but active interior post was Alief Taylor's Simon Falokun who is a lengthy 6-foot-7 prospect. The class of 2017 big has nice hands and keeps the ball alive when he is battling for the offensive rebound. He stays between the blocks and scores from point blank range. He has a ton of ability and is a nice athlete. He runs the floor and blocks shots. Falokun has upside and with added strength, he will be able to hang around and be the bully against any opponent.

TexasHoops.com Jukes and Jumpers

• When Houston Westside's 6-foot-7 shooter Greg Lee wants to display his shooting ability and mixes it with energetic play, you have a division I talent. Lee went hard as the senior leader for Westside and has the touch from behind the arc to put up big numbers. Lee has a rangy frame and a spot on stroke when he doesn't rush his shot and when he shoots in rhythm.

• After stepping off the football field and onto the basketball court full-time for his senior season at Katy High, Nathan Thormeahlen has shown a fast improvement in his game. With the extra time on the court, Thormeaheln is shooting the ball with confidence and playing a role of a pick and pop forward/post player. He has good range, and when he releases the ball, there is a feeling that it is going to drop. The former Quarterback for the Tigers, Thormeaheln has brought his gridiron mentality and toughness to the court. At a nicely built prospect at 6-foot-6, he will surely to grab the attention of more college programs in the future.

• Kristian Sjolund of Tompkins is an intriguing 6-foot-7 forward that can hit the perimeter shot or get to the rim. Sjolund plays with bounce and will get off the floor to finish.

• Antoine Gholson from Klein Collins was an energetic forward that did everything for his team. He was good in transition and scored in the paint off penetration. Gholson has a good frame and will take contact.

South San Tournament Notes:

• San Antonio Warren took a blow to the gut after losing Charles Johnson and Stanley Umude to injury, but the one guy that Warren will rely on is Isaiah Thorne, and he was good as the team's most productive player on the offensive side of the ball. Thorne balled the role as a ball handler and scorer, and both he did very well. The 6-foot-1 combo guard can hit the three and come off penetration to score. Thorne will weave through pressure and can find the open man. Even when he is putting up big numbers, he still finds ways to get his teammates involved.

• Once again there was a Kyle Murphy sighting and this time around Murphy went for six three-pointers. Murphy always puts himself into position to get separation and to get a clean look at the basket. His range is unlimited, and he is fast up the court.