Thanksgiving Hoopfest Recap Blog

It's been awhile since I've put anything up for TexasHoops/GASO as I adjust to my first year as a head basketball coach, but the slate of games (and venue change) at Thanksgiving Hoopfest was too elite not to cover. Glenn Smith always puts on a first rate event and this year was no different, packing the lower bowl and most of the second tier of the American Airlines Center for 4 marquee matchups on Saturday night. Though not all Texas teams found success, several individuals made national waves with some signature performances in front of rows of college coaches and national media. We look at the top performance I saw, and then play word association with 4 other prospects that had standout games below.

While the hype and fanfare that hosting Bronny James and Zaire Wade brought to Saturday night made for a fun atmosphere around downtown Dallas, the game I had circled on my schedule for the longest time happened earlier that afternoon at Sandra Meadows Arena. The Lewisville vs. FB Hightower contest featured two of the top 5 guards in the 2022 class and some legitimate college prospects in the supporting cast to be the highlight of the day's Duncanville games.

Where the main floor at Duncanville has served as the stage for countless signature games for prospects of all levels (Javonte Smart's 64 points, Drew Timme's triple-double come to mind as recent examples), Bryce Griggs etched his name into Hoopfest lore with as electric of a performance as I've seen this year. Griggs has that level of assuredness one would expect of an already-committed senior, getting to his spots with ease and knocking down shots at a high clip. He floored one defender with a quick dribble sequence on the way to a layup and showed elite body control to adjust to defenders in his pull-up game.

As if dropping 41 in front of Bill Self and several other Big 12 coaches wasn't enough, the super sophomore put the game on ice with a game winner off the glass as time expired. While Keyonte George had a solid performance as the game's other elite sophomore, it was Griggs who stole the show Saturday afternoon. This is a statement from Griggs to put some respect on his name, both at the statewide and national levels. A deep Hightower playoff run is inevitable if he can continue to produce these kinds of performances.

Harrison Ingram: TOUGH.

It's in all caps for a reason. Harrison Ingram has the grit plus the glamour. The St. Mark's junior wowed spectators with the kind of performance you hang your hat on, posting a line of 22-8-6 against Prolific Prep. In a game where team defense was the prevalent theme, Ingram turned up his physicality and his team fed off his energy as St. Mark's claimed a halftime lead over Jalen Green & co. Ingram uses his frame to create space and will go scrap for rebounds on both ends. The Cade Cunningham comparisons have been made in the past, but Saturday night looked like the moment they became widely accepted by most of the community. The No.1 player in Texas looks odds-on to keep that title throughout the rest of his HS career, and that's down to the toughness he exhibits in his game night in and night out.

Damon Nicholas: Glue

Damon Nicholas has always been an effective player no matter what team he plays for. You know what you're getting with him: Athleticism, hustle, rebounding, tough defense, and efficient scoring when he's called on. Nicholas is another blue collar player that will have his fair share of college interests as his offensive repertoire continues to grow. He was arguably Duncanville's most impressive performer Saturday night versus Sierra Canyon, and his versatility and motor give the Panthers an edge that they will need if they plan on defending their 6A crown come March.

Arterio Morris: Dynamic

Morris is another player who can look back on this weekend as the start of something special, as the next special guard off Dallas Kimball's vaunted production line has been stamp certified. His dunk on Friday was one of the moments of the weekend and the sophomore picked up a big time offer from Oregon on the back of his performance in a wire to wire Kimball win over Christian Brothers (MO).

Eain Mowat: Leader

Mowat really impressed Saturday afternoon as Westlake battled with a talented Sunrise Christian bunch, with his 12 first half points the driving force for his Chaparral team. Mowat has developed his game from that of a spot up shooter into that of a complete floor general. A leader who can score, defend, and get guys open. There will be no shortage of interested schools vying for his signature next year.