6A State Playoffs: Richardson Survives vs DeSoto
The Texas State Playoffs are officially underway! The bi-district round began on Monday and will finish up tonight. I was treated to a thrilling first round 6A Region 1 matchup between DeSoto and Richardson last night at Forney High School…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Texas State Playoffs are officially underway! The bi-district round began on Monday and will finish up tonight. I was treated to a thrilling first round 6A Region 1 matchup between DeSoto and Richardson last night at Forney High School and was thoroughly entertained throughout. DeSoto and their assortment of bigs were in control for much of the evening, but Richardson’s pair of dynamic sophomore guards took over late in the game and helped their team escape with a 63-51 victory, though, this contest was much closer than the final score would indicate.
Here are seven intriguing prospects from this postseason matchup:
Rylan Griffen – 2022 6’5 Shooting Guard Richardson HS – Griffen was absolutely brilliant vs. DeSoto, finishing the night as the game’s leading scorer with 29 points. Nine of his 29 came in the fourth quarter courtesy of a big-time catch and shoot three to reclaim the lead, some clutch free throws, and a pair of emphatic breakaway dunks to seal the deal. He showed that he can hit from mid-range and behind the arc in a stellar performance.
Cason Wallace – 2022 6’3 Shooting Guard Richardson HS – Wallace has a diverse offensive style. He utilizes acrobatics to get to the cup but is also a solid jump shooter with a good mid-range game. The sophomore two-guard hit a moving baseline jumper in the fourth that cut the deficit to two. He swung the momentum back in Richardson’s favor late in the final quarter with a powerful two-handed dunk that put them up by five as well, ultimately accounting for 19 points.
Jaylon Barnett – 2021 5’9 Point Guard Richardson HS – The junior floor general is proof that size takes a backseat to savvy and effort on defense. Barnett has a great feel for anticipating and jumping passes, coming away with some huge steals in this one. Offensively, he possesses good speed with the ball and likes to utilize floaters when driving. He plays with a lot of energy.
Duncan Powell – 2021 6’7 Forward DeSoto HS – Powell has a college-ready build and the ability to operate out on the perimeter as well as in the post. He is comfortable handling the ball and is a freight train when he gets downhill. The junior has a good-looking jump shot from behind the arc too. He was DeSoto’s leading scorer with 16 points. Additionally, he contributes on the glass and is an excellent defender, accounting for numerous blocks vs. Richardson.
Chrisdon Morgan – 2021 6’8 Power Forward/Center DeSoto HS – Morgan is a motivated rebounder with a long frame. He can finish alley oops above the rim and has good touch in the post. Defensively, the junior big is a tough rim protector, highlighted by a rejection and stare down in the second half.
Tavion Carroll – 2020 6’6 Power Forward DeSoto HS – Carroll can score in a variety of ways. He has terrific footwork in the post and a soft touch around the basket, but he can also hit turnaround jumpers and even stretch out to knock down the three ball. The senior ended the game with eight points. In my opinion, he is one of the more underrated senior prospects in the state.
J’Kobe Williams – 2020 Point Guard DeSoto HS – The senior guard is an unselfish distributor on offense. Williams always keeps the rock moving and never settles for bad shots. He knows how to bait opponents into committing turnovers on defense and is a smart decision maker in transition.