Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic: Standout Prospects (Part 2)
I got to see some really talented players go head to head this past weekend at the Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic in Frisco, Texas. 32 high school teams from all around the state competed in this early season tournament, and…
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Continue ReadingI got to see some really talented players go head to head this past weekend at the Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic in Frisco, Texas. 32 high school teams from all around the state competed in this early season tournament, and although I wasn’t able to see every team play, I was really impressed with every school I did have the opportunity to watch. With that in mind, here are seven standout prospects that caught my eye during the Thanksgiving break:
You can check out Part 1 here.
Andrew Laczkowski – 2020 6’6 Small Forward (Marcus Smart YGC36 (Adidas)) Dallas St. Mark’s – The University of Pennsylvania commit helped lead his team to a first-place finish in the tournament. He is a smart player who makes timely cuts and exploits mismatches when he has them. When Laczkowski has a smaller defender on him, he is smart enough to back his way into the post and get a high percentage look close to the basket. He is also a good three-point shooter from the catch.
Jamarion Brown – 2020 6’4 Small Forward Mount Pleasant HS – Brown is a long and versatile forward. He has an excellent back to the basket game but can also score off the drive or from behind the three-point line. The senior wing can even bring the ball up and initiate the offense. Furthermore, he is a sneaky good interior passer. Brown’s length allows him to be very disruptive on defense as well. He affects a ton of shots and passes when he is locked in.
Trace Boling – 2020 6’4 Guard The Village HS – Boling is a strong guard with good size for the position. He can do it all at both ends. The Village’s primary ball handler really flashes when he is playing downhill. He is an excellent facilitator who always seems to know where to go with the basketball. His willingness to keep the ball moving is something you don’t see very often. Additionally, he also displayed the ability to make open threes from the corner. Boling was named the tournament MVP of the silver division and had 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the championship game.
Shannon Lowery – 2021 6’4 Small Forward (Urban DFW Elite 16U (Adidas)) Frisco Memorial HS – This is another guy who already has a strong frame. Lowery gets to the rim with physicality or finesse. He is very good at drawing contact when he gets inside. The junior wing can shoot the three from the catch too. He lets the game come to him and will make the extra pass whenever necessary. Defensively, he was tasked with guarding a 6’9″ big man in Frisco Memorial’s first game of the tourney and did a good job of containing him.
Connor Redrow – 2021 6’10 Center Prestonwood Christian Academy – Redrow does a terrific job of cleaning up the glass at both ends. He high points the ball like a wide receiver. The 6’10” big man can score in the post, but he can stretch out and make a mid-range jumper from the elbow as well. Redrow really shines on the defensive end. He did a great job defending Greg Brown (The No. 1 player in our 2020 rankings). The junior center is a tremendous rim protector.
Dallas Craven – 2020 6’0 Point Guard Desoto HS – Craven is a pass-first point guard, which is something that you don’t see as often as you used to. He commands Desoto’s offense and knows how to get his team in the right position. He is a twitchy athlete with good burst. The senior floor general can really fly when he gets going. Don’t let his facilitating nature fool you though, because he can also hit pull-up jumpers from mid-range. Craven plays with a lot of passion, and that makes him a ton of fun to watch.
Beau Becker – 2020 6’6 Forward Dallas Wilson HS – Becker had a big game in his team’s opening game of the tournament. He drained three triples in the third quarter that kept Dallas Wilson in the game. The senior forward is a sniper if you give him an inch of space. He has a long and wiry frame and moves well for his size. His off-ball movement is excellent, and he knows his spots on the court. In addition, he can do some damage in the post. I also liked how engaged he was on the defensive end.