2021 Prospects That Caught My Eye at the Dallas Showtyme Classic XIV

Grassroots basketball in Dallas/Fort Worth returned with a bang. Like everyone else, I missed basketball more than ever, and it was a pleasure to get back into the AAU atmosphere and witness competition again. The Dallas Showtyme Classic XIV put together an awesome tournament. They brought out all of the talents in the city and gave us some highly anticipated matchups with some of the top players in the state and the top teams in the metroplex. Here are a few players from the class of 2021 that really stood out and caught my eye this past weekend. [player_tooltip player_id="959056" first="Cameron" last="Taylor"] - Forward - Texas Legion Elite <img class="wp-image-1003914 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/IMG_2838-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="153" height="204" />This 6’7 forward is an all-around hooper that showed off his skills every game this past weekend. Cameron played hard every second he was on the court despite the score on the board. The team got off to a slow start and seemed a bit intimidated until he got them going with his high energy and score first nature. No matter who was in the paint waiting, he wasn’t afraid to attack the hole over and over again; he even picked up foul calls and knocked his free throws down. Taylor consistently beat his man off the bounce, he showed off his solid ball-handling skills, was under control, and didn’t lose his dribble. An unselfish and smart ballplayer, he saw the court very well and looked to kick it out almost every time he drove the ball. Cameron uses his length perfectly at his position, he was able to blow by guys, shoot over, and outrebound them. He was very effective on both ends. Defensively, he was a problem, he picked up a few steals and contested every shot that came his way; he had a game where he came up with 3 blocks in one half. [player_tooltip player_id="959056" first="Cameron" last="Taylor"] made his name well known in the city this weekend, he’s looking like he’s ready to take his game to the next level going into his senior season. [player_tooltip player_id="1003841" first="Ja’Matthew" last="McGhee"] - Point Guard - Texas Legion Elite <img class=" wp-image-1003917 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/IMG_2837-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="144" height="192" />Tough gritty defensive point guard that just keeps coming at you. Ja’Matthew plays with no fear, he shows leadership qualities, and is very engaged on defense. He takes pride in locking down the best player on the court and getting them out of their game. This defensive stopper is a great teammate to have, he has a good attitude, seems very coachable, and is willing to do everything asked of him and more just to get the win. He’s a great hustler, he dove on the floor, chased down loose balls, and didn’t give up anything easy. On the offensive end, he didn’t shoot the highest percentage, but he did hit some big shots when they were needed most. [player_tooltip player_id="1003841" first="Ja’Matthew" last="McGhee"] is a true competitor who made his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball. He showed and proved that he’s one of the best defenders in the city right now. [player_tooltip player_id="887080" first="Elijah" last="Stephens"] - Point Guard - Southern Assualt 17U <img class="wp-image-1003922 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/IMG_2839-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="133" height="177" />Eli Stephens was an absolute problem this past weekend. He was a pest on defense, locking up and giving the other teams fits. The ball always seemed to find him and just stick to him. Eli racked up one steal after another and put the pressure on every game, he was all over the court making play after play. His speed, quickness, and handles were highly impressive. He played at top-speed and got to the rack whenever he wanted to. [player_tooltip player_id="887080" first="Elijah" last="Stephens"] was one of the top players of the weekend, he did it all and he did it well. Kaden Morgan - Point Guard/Shooting Guard - Texas Legion Elite <img class="wp-image-1003937 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/IMG_2878-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="146" height="195" />If you were not familiar with the name Kaden Morgan before the Showtyme Classic, you should be now. He balled at a high level this weekend. Kaden showed off his combo-guard skills and went off from the point guard position. Not only did he create for himself and put points up but he also set his team up for easy buckets. Good assist-to-turnover ratio, if Kaden wasn’t scoring he was dishing the ball out. This standout guard played his best when facing off against some of the toughest competition and defenders in the city. He didn’t shy away one bit, he was in attack mode the whole time. He showed off his handles and first step by continuously blowing by the defense to get to the basket. Kaden Morgan is a name to remember, he’s a hungry player, his confidence is growing, and he just keeps getting better.   Honorable Mention: Savion Red - Guard - Texas Legion Elite - Class of 2022 <img class="alignright wp-image-1003935" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/IMG_2877-1-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="157" height="209" />This may be a 2021 list, but a class of 2022 guy by the name of Savion Red played up and did an exceptional job. The 6’2 guard has a great combination of speed, strength, size, instinct, and competitiveness; he can play and guard just about every position on the floor. When Savion steps on the court expect him to go all out and give an outstanding effort. He’s a confident hardnosed intense competitor who’s incredibly strong and physical. Not the biggest guy on the court but he sure plays like it. Red has a rock-solid frame and good body control when finishing through contact or snagging a rebound. A terrific hustle guy, he played like he wanted the ball more than the next man. On defense, he played hard, has quick hands, and harassed ball handlers into making bad decisions. Savion Red stood out at the tournament, showing off his versatility with the way he contributed across the board.