What we saw: Aymond, Brashaer, Hancock, & Sawyer. Tuesday's Prospect Focus
Mesquite - TexasHoops.com/GASO Recruiting Analyst, Blue Zertuche witnessed the District 11-6A match-up of Rockwall vs Mesquite Horn, where the Mesquite Horn Jaguars clinched their first District Championship since opening the doors in 2000.
Preston Aymond, Sherman Brashear, Devon Hancock and Zaakir Sawyer are the players we spotlight in this edition of "Prospect Focus".
Point totals are great, but they don't always tell the story of how a player might have impacted a game. In this case, take Preston Aymond of Mesquite Horn who finished with 11 points Tuesday night. I think he was the best player on the court because of his versatility. He showed off his skilled basketball nature as a passer, rebounder and yes, as a player who can do some scoring. Aymond makes the tough plays by getting to a loose ball or rebounding in a crowd. At 6-foot-6, Aymond did everything he needed to do to help lead Mesquite Horn to their first-ever District Championship.
To simply put it, Aymond's game is "elementary". Nothing flashy, just results. He told TexasHoops.com that he holds offers from UT-Arlington and Air Force but Junior College may be a route he is willing to take. He has the size and smarts as a basketball player on the court (also a great student in the classroom) to play at the next level.
Sherman Brashear of Rockwall High School is an intriguing prospect with upside to his game. Right away, he presents himself with his long arms and athleticism and has a basketball body that looks as if it's just beginning to mature. He definitely has the body to add muscle and weight for the next level to go along with his instincts to score the ball slashing to the basket.
Brashear is a lefty with the ability to handle the ball out past the arc and dribble past his opponents, but also has a nice looking lefty touch off the dribble. Brashear currently holds an offer from Panola Junior College, but I suspect more to be coming his way.
Devon Hancock has been making some noise this season as one of the state's top unsigned seniors. Last night on his home court at Horn, Hancock showed some flashes as to why being a top available prospect has been the case. He finished the night with 10 points off two three-pointers, a lay-in, and a dunk.
He certainly has the physique, athleticism and shot-making ability that a player needs to compete at the Division-I level. What Hancock does so well is off his shot, he gets elevation shooting the ball at a higher level then his opponent can reach. When given the ball in the open court, Hancock knows how to electrify a crowd.
After last night's 10 point performance, Hancock, via-twitter posted that he had received an offer from Jackson State which adds to his other Milwaukee offer.
Mesquite Horn's Zaakir Sawyer tallied a game-high of 19 points and he played his usual game that is built around power. I can't imagine too many players that want to step in front of Sawyer as he makes his way to the basket and explodes through the defense. The Louisiana-Monroe signee takes hard dribbles and gets to the basket quickly. Sawyer continued to show throughout the game that he was going to the basket, but did drop in some shots from the perimeter when he needed to. With his intensity level, Sawyer is able to get to the glass, grab the rebound and turn and go up the court in transition.