Prospect Focus: Scott one of the Best Unsigned Senior, & "What They Got"
Forney High School - Once again, TexasHoops.com’s Recruiting Analyst Blue Zertuche was on the road, and this time it was to catch a Monday night of opening playoffs.
This edition of TexasHoops.com’s “Prospect Focus” looks into the Waco Midway win (62-54) versus Longview. There were plenty of prospects to soak in, and Anthony Scott has proven to be a player that needs to be on radar’s of the programs who need a guard, and that could be at multiple levels.
TexasHoops.com has also added the “What They Are Getting” portion of the recap to give readers a feel for what College Programs are getting from their signees or players who have made a commitment to join their roster next year.
If you are looking for a point guard who can go from 0-60 in a matter if dribbles, then Anthony Scott of Waco Midway will be a player you want to get to know. Scott plays fast and gets to the paint whenever he wants. He is a smaller guard but showed against Longview that no matter the size difference, he wants to prove that he is the best player on the court. Once he gets into the lane, Scott will use floaters and a soft jump shot over longer defenders.
The 5-foot-7 Scott also has the ability to find the open teammate to dump the ball off. He has always been a point guard who isn’t afraid of the moment or the distance in which he takes his three-point shots. When his game is clicking from dropping assists, scoring inside the arc, the three-pointers he makes make him a more valuable overall player. He does get trigger happy, but he is given the green light.
Defensively, Scott moves his feet and pressures the ball away from the three-point line. Scott was the second-leading scorer with 22 points
Senior Phillip Washington of Longview stepped onto the football field for the first time in his high school career as a slot receiver, only playing this senior year.
Well, on the basketball court, Washington plays with those instincts that transfers to the basketball court. But for Washington, he is a basketball player.
Waco Midway was fully aware of Washington and what he brought to the Longview offensive attack. Washington hit a three-pointer and took contact going to the rim. No question that the unsigned senior likes to play physical and should be a prospect that is looked at for the next level.
Other Players of Note
Senior Joran Byers from Waco Midway gave head coach Matt Brown another ball-handler and a guard that could get by pressure and to the basket. Byers was quickly getting the ball up the court and making the simple plays. On defense, Byers was pressuring the ball and getting the ball away from the opponent's ball-handler.
The talk from local reporters from Longview is football will win out when it comes to what long term sport freshman Jalen Hale will play. A raw athlete, the Longview future star (no matter what sport), Hale is a varsity wide receiver, and on the court, Hale is a forward who flies around and gets a rebound, a steal, and some buckets. He runs the floor and looks to make plays with his athleticism. Keep in mind, only a freshman, so things can change when it comes to which sport.
Longview received 10 points from Junior guard, Demarcus Washington as he got hot and hit three three-pointers. He was quick to get to spots behind the arc and get open looks at the basket. Waco Midway defenders lost Washington as he moved around the perimeter.
What "They" Are Getting...
Editors Notes: Below are players who have signed to play at a college program.
The Incarnate Word staff have them a nice face-up interior player in Godsgift Ezedinma. The 6-foot-6 long-armed Ezedinma has turned himself into a threat from 15-feet away from the basket and it consistently falls. The mid-range jumper off his face-up game has developed into his “go-to’ move, but he showed that attacking the basket to score and to reboundS are big parts of his game. Ezedinma totaled a game-high 26 points, and he made big shots. As the playoffs move closer to regionals, Ezedinma is a mismatch problem for opponents.
George Mason is getting a long rangy interior player in Longview's Malik Henry.
Versus Waco Midway, Henry's versatility was visible. The length of Henry was disturbing to his opponent as he blocked numerous shots and altered many more. He isn't your typical inside player who wants to sit on the block and wait for the ball to come to him. Henry goes out and gets involved in the plays and makes himself accessible to his teammates. He is an easy target on offense and Monday night, the 6-foot-8 forward ate up rebounds, ran the floor and scored around the basket. He was easily the best athlete on both sides of the court. Henry finished the game with 18 points.