6A State Playoffs: Standouts from Richardson vs Waxahachie

Andrew Loughmiller

March 5, 2020 @ 05:45 PM

I attended the third-round playoff matchup between the Richardson Eagles and Waxahachie Indians Tuesday night and was impressed by several individuals. Although Waxahachie put together a few promising runs, Richardson controlled this contest from start to finish. The Eagles’ pair of dynamic sophomores were dominate once again, leading their team to a 79-58 win. They will advance to the Regional Semifinals where they will take on Permian High School on Friday. Here are seven intriguing prospects from this postseason matchup: [player_tooltip player_id="781884" first="Cason" last="Wallace"] - 2022 6’3 Shooting Guard Richardson HS - Wallace operates as Richardson’s primary ball handler. He can score from all three levels, is a savvy facilitator, and contributes on the glass at both ends. His ability to make plays on defense is solid too. The 2022 prospect was a monster in the first half where he scored 14 of his 18 total points. He is a calculated player with a great feel for the game. The kid is simply a playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id="781883" first="Rylan" last="Griffen"] - 2022 6’5 Shooting Guard Richardson HS - The sophomore is a fearless three-point shooter who can also get it done with pull-ups from mid-range. Griffen doesn’t require much room to get his shot off. He finishes above the rim in transition and is wise enough to get himself to the free throw line when his shots aren’t falling. The sharpshooter finished the night as Richardson’s leading scorer with 22 points. He is going to be a superstar in the coming years. Gannon Parker - 2021 6’7 Power Forward/Center Richardson HS - Parker is a big-bodied post player who can cause havoc for opposing teams that don’t have a big of their own. The junior big man is a strong rebounder. He is an underrated passer as well, as evidenced by a few timely assists to wide open teammates vs. Waxahachie. Parker racked up some freebies at the foul line in the fourth quarter, ending the game with 13 points. Jaylon Barnett - 2021 5’9 Point Guard Richardson HS - The junior guard never allows the ball to stick to him on offense. His vision in transition and the half court is excellent. Barnett loves to throw the ball upcourt and initiate the break, but he proved that he can knock down the three ball from the catch as well as utilize his quickness to score inside. His engagement on the defensive end is also evident. [player_tooltip player_id="594588" first="C.J." last="Noland"] - 2021 6’3 Shooting Guard/Small Forward Waxahachie HS - Although the Indians came up short in this matchup, Noland still put together an impressive all-around performance vs. the Eagles. The Junior already possesses a college-ready build and can bully anybody who tries to defend him. I loved how he sought out contact and got himself to the foul line time and time again, where he is an excellent free throw shooter. He is strong in the post and has a soft touch inside. The No. 9 ranked prospect in our <a href="https://prephoops.com/texas/rankings/2021-rankings/">2021 rankings</a> accounted for 22 points and countless rebounds in his final outing of the season. [player_tooltip player_id="884579" first="B.J." last="Francis"] - 2020 5’11 Point Guard Waxahachie HS - Francis has a tight handle and likes to shoot off the dribble. He plays well in transition and makes some terrific no-look dishes to teammates. The senior floor general can exploit angles on the drive too. He had a big scoring outburst in the third quarter, finishing the final game of his high school career with 14 points. [player_tooltip player_id="684406" first="Jalen" last="Lake"] - 2021 6’4 Shooting Guard Waxahachie HS - Lake is a long three-and-D two-guard. He has a pure jump shot and can hit from behind the arc and mid-range. I think he is wildly underrated as a passer, delivering some incredibly accurate dimes vs. Richardson, including a picture-perfect pocket pass to a cutter early in the first quarter. He has a lot of upside.