On the Road with Texas Hoops... Central Texas Tip-Off Showcase

Concordia University – The Season tipped off in Austin with the third annual CTX Tip-Off Showcase hosted by the Concordia Tornados Basketball Program. This year’s event drew the area’s top basketball teams and the two-day event hosted 22 different programs.

KJ Adams • Austin Westlake • Forward • 2021

Adams showed off his powerful frame and bruising style of play as he bullied the McNeil defense. It was almost automatic when Adams attacked the rim because of his strength. If he wanted the rebound, he pushed through his opponent. He has a ton of help from his Westlake teammates and he relies on them to win a game as a unit.

Coleton Benson • Austin Bowie • Combo Guard • 2021

The first word that comes to mind after watching Benson this weekend is grit! The 6-foot combo guard leaves no question that he is gritty as he finds the open space inside and out of the three-point line. Benson plays carefree and makes good on his open shots. He showed his soft touch off the pull-up mid-range jumper and his ball-handling ability. He thinks score first and creates for himself but will find the open teammate when he sees he doesn’t have a clear look at the rim.

Greg Brown • Austin Vandegrift • Forward • 2020

TexasHoops.com No.1 overall prospect Greg Brown got into foul trouble versus an always stingy Schertz Clemens defense and saw his team fall behind while on the sideline. However, Vandegrift did come out victorious, and Brown had 29 points. Some of those points Brown had to fight for, and others he simply out-athlete his opponent. Brown dominated the middle of the paint, blocking shots, rebounding and throwing down dunks. Brown also has no problems sharing the ball as he has always been a player who will share the ball with his teammates.

Ryan Elvin • Round Rock Cedar Ridge • Shooting Guard • 2020

Elvin who will be attending Houston as a preferred walk-on had a terrific outing against his first opponent of the year in Austin Anderson. Elvin and his teammates took one on the chin losing to Anderson, but Elvin was constantly giving the Anderson Trojans trouble from the perimeter.

Miguel Mantilla-Pachiano • Lake Travis • Post • 2021

Was the biggest player on the court for either team Friday night as Lake Travis faced Leander Vista Ridge, and the big-man for Lake Travis was good in the middle of the paint. Mantilla-Pachiano displayed a soft touch around the rim and rebounded the ball in his area. Not a fleet-footed big, Mantilla-Pachiano still has some polishing to do, but he definitely is one to track in the Austin-area. A big with good footwork and hands will find a way to be effective for his team.

Noah Robledo • Leander • Forward • 2021

The upside of Robledo is eye-catching as he has the length to compete on both ends. On the defensive side of the ball, he can move easily on the perimeter to guard and to fly to the basket for a rebound. He has a really good recovery time on defense and will block shots. In transition, Robledo shows that he can be an adequate ball handler and passer. His strengths that he shows when his team has the ball is his ability to pick-and-pop or to dive to the basket to score. Against Buda Hays, Robledo was able to turn the corner on his defender and get to the paint. His upside is also in his athleticism and his versatility.

Brealon Seals • San Antonio Wagner • Combo Guard • 2020

He's back, and he looked great! Seals who left the state for a short time was back with his old teammates at Wagner and he only adds to the talent of the team. Seals nor his teammates were tested Saturday night, but the long rangy stroke and the ability to get around the edges of the defense makes Seals a very intriguing prospect.

Max Smith • Austin Anderson • Combo Guard • 2020

One of the states BEST shooters was on display at the CTX Tip-Off and he didn't disappoint. Smith hit bucket after bucket (32 points), and the ball went in whether he was off-balanced or squared to the basket. His skill level proved to be a big asset for his play, as his versatility as a scorer and passer make him hard to guard. Smith's game is simple, create space and shoot the ball, and last time we checked, scoring is how you win a game.

Jayden Williams • Pflugerville Hendrickson • Point Guard • 2021

If you're into super athletic guards, then Williams is your guy. There wasn't a more explosive guard in the CTX Tip-Off then Williams., and his first step to the basket left defenders seeing the back of his jersey. Williams threw down a dunk and drilled jumpers.

Sam Lacy • Leander Rouse • Small Forward • 2020

Lacy came out onto the floor and asserted himself as the “goto man” early for Rouse. Lacy played a steady game and did more than just putting points on the board. Lacy rebounded and handled the ball up the court. He is tough, strong and knows how to play.

Cy Young • Austin Bowie • Guard 2020

Young is a nice change of pace guard for Austin Bowie that gets the job done as a hard-nosed scorer. Listed at 6-foot-1, Young did a nice job hitting open jumpers and making tough lay-ins against Round Rock Stony Point’s defense. The one thing that Young does very well is he takes contact. The senior leader drives to the basket and looks for the physical play.

Petia Dogale Austin High Forward/Post • 2021

A quick twitched interior player, Dogale was unstoppable once he left the floor. A natural leaper, Dogale scored over defenders and laid the ball in. Dogale competed and ran the floor with long strides and used athleticism.

Noah Fax • Round Rock McNeil • Small Forward • 2020

Fax looks the part and has a game to back it up. The 6-foot-5 forward has a smoothness to his game bringing the ball up and slashing to the basket to score over defenders and to rebound. His athleticism can make his opponents think twice on how to defend the McNeil senior who can pull up from the mid-range area of the floor to make shots.

Jayden Guevara Dripping Springs Guard • 2021

Dringing Springs had plenty of options in their game against Rouse and for this game it was Guevara who stepped up and made the most of his opportunities. Guevara hit a three and a couple of shots inside the arc, but it was his toughness-taking contact from the Rouse defenders that put him on the charity stripe where he was perfect.

Carson May • Austin Westlake • Post • 2020

May is versatile and responded well to the athleticism of Round Rock McNeil’s guards who had to play inside the paint. May stepped out and hit perimeter shots, and banged inside of the paint to score around the rim and rebound. Overall, May is a smart player who will give teams problems as the season gets going.

Reese Miller • Round Rock • Point Guard • 2022

One of the smaller guards on the court had one of the biggest impacts for his team. Miller had a knack for putting the ball in the hole from all distances. He likes to look for the three-point line and hit a couple of early threes versus Austin Akins. Once Akins tried to stop the sophomore from shooting the three, Miller put the ball on the floor and passed the ball to his open teammates.

Journee Phillips • San Antonio Wagner • Small Forward • 2020

Phillips didn’t waste too much energy while playing Lockhart, and the 6-foot-3 player his game. Phillips was able to attack basket with ease and rake in rebounds. Though the score was on Wagner’s favor, that didn’t stop Phillips from working hard.

Blake Spiller • Austin Anderson • Guard • 2020

Having multiple players as sharp-shooters is what Austin Anderson has when Spiller teams up with Max Smith. Spiller holds his own and is making a name for hisself. Spiller nails the shot from behind the arc and steps inside getting open perimeter looks. He is skilled and plays a blue-collar style. He will race up the court and handle pressure.

Sean Colbert • Leander • Point Guard • 2021

Newcomer to the TexasHoops.com staff is Leander’s point guard, Sean Colbert. The junior is smart with the ball in his hands and makes the right decisions as he runs the team. He has a burst to his game that allows him to get to the basket and score, and versus Hays, the 5-foot-11 Colbert was able to handle any pressure they threw at him.

Noah Fax • Round Rock McNeil • Small Forward • 2020

Fax looks the part and has a game to back it up. The 6-foot-5 forward has a smoothness to his game bringing the ball up and slashing to the basket to score over defenders and to rebound. His athleticism can make his opponents think twice on how to defend the McNeil senior who can pull up from the mid-range area of the floor to make shots.

Marques Gates • Schertz Clemens • Combo Guard • 2021

Gates came out and played the only way that a Clemens program works, and the is fast, hard and apply pressure. Gates was a valuable asset for Clemens as he handled the ball through traffic, hit mid-range jumpers and defended. Gates from a family of ballers and will look to follow the path of his father and two brothers who all played Division I Basketball.

Jake Hatch • Austin Vandegrift • Guard • 2020

Every team needs a glue-guy and Vandegrift has theirs in Hatch who is an all-purpose guard. Hatch took care of the ball, distributed to his teammates, grabbed rebounds and hit jumpers.

JaSean Jackson • San Antonio Wagner • Point Guard • 2021

A guard with a lanky built is part of a dangerous squad in Wagner. Jackson knows how to play and shows that he is an extension of head coach Rodney Clark. Jackson is quick off the dribble and elevates on his shot. He strokes the three and defense his opponent the length of the court. Jackson is a fun player to watch.

Bryce Jefferson • Leander Rouse • Point Guard • 2021

Jefferson was quick to the hole and made the 12-footer, but he did a great job of getting to the paint and making a decision with the ball. He has a rangy body and is a nice defender.

Andrew O’Neal • Round Rock • Combo Guard • 2021

O’Neal played at a steady pace and did the little things the right way. He was quick to make the right decisions. A solid ball handler and passer, O’Neal got everyone involved and did his fair share of the scoring.

Rob Wade • Austin McCallum • Small Forward • 2021

From the look of things, Wade isn't going to wow you, but he has a few surprises to his game. He maneuvers well with the ball in his hands and can make perimeter shots, When he has the defense off-balance, he will head to the basket and score.

Trace Young • Dripping Springs • Shooting Guard • 2020

Young competes and played defense for Dripping Springs. He made a couple of threes and the Rouse defense was aware of his whereabouts. Young drew attention from the defense which helped with getting open looks for the teammates.

• Playing against each other was Pflugerville Hendrickson's MaShy Hill and Austin High's Josh Jones. Both class of 2023 bigs that played well. Hill has great timing on the defensive side of the ball and will block shots. Offensively he has nice footwork and touch around the rim. As for Jones, he is still developing and works hard. He too has nice hands and footwork on the block and has a quick move to the basket.

• Jaylen Brooks made a nice impression with his athleticism while suiting up for Round Rock High. The class of 2022 guard plays with bounce and will stroke the open three. And he can get to the basket in a hurry.

• Keep an eye on class of 2022 guard Jahvante O'Connor. He passes the eye test with his length and skill. O'Connor can drain the open shot and dribble through pressure.