The War: All-Buckets Team

The War, presented by War Hoop Events, gave us what might possibly be the last grassroots tournament or event of the year, seeing as though the school year is starting for most kids in Texas. This event consisted of the absolute best teams in Dallas along with some of the top teams from Utah, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The building was filled with talent and future NBA prospects, this tournament had every type of recruit from the class of 2021-24 that a college coach could possibly be looking for. Here are a few of the top-performing scorers from the past weekend at The War. [player_tooltip player_id="887070" first="Marcus" last="Rigsby"] | Shooting Guard | Lone Star Elite | 2021 |<img class="wp-image-1048563 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3355-132x300.jpg" alt="" width="110" height="250" /> [player_tooltip player_id="887070" first="Marcus" last="Rigsby"] is one of most potent scorers in the city. He’s a high IQ offensive talent that can score in bunches, get extremely hot, and be tough to stop or slow down. When his shot didn’t fall or he didn’t have the ball, he continued to find ways to get buckets by cutting to the basket and finding openings in the defense leading him to multiple easy layups, free throw attempts, and open 3-point shots. Rigsby showed a high level ability to get his own shot off the dribble whether it was a layup or a jumpshot. When creating for himself, Marcus likes to use a variety of hesitation crossover dribble moves to create separation. Smooth but slick ball-handler with a lethal first step, his hesitation and jab steps beat guys and kept defenses honest. He displayed explosiveness at times when driving to the hoop, very impressive focus and body control in the lane which allowed him to make off balance shots through contact. Marcus was most deadly when spotting up or coming off of a screen, he looked much more under control, and his shooting motion seemed a bit more fluid. His mid and deep range game are steadily becoming more efficient, particularly off the bounce, proving that he can shoot off the dribble from inside and beyond the arc. His great length makes it a lot easier for him to shoot over defenders even with a hand in his face. [player_tooltip player_id="887070" first="Marcus" last="Rigsby"] is headed into his senior season at Irving MacArthur High School and it’s already looking like it’s going to be a big one for him. [player_tooltip player_id="787324" first="R.J." last="Chatman"] | Point Guard | BBSS | 2023 |<img class=" wp-image-1048564 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3364-100x300.jpg" alt="" width="95" height="285" /> Well-rounded game at the point guard position, Chatman is a true threat to put points on the board from all over the floor once he crosses halfcourt. R.J. can do it all offensively, not only does he lead the troops with his distributing, but he also proved that he can put the ball in the hole as well, showing the capability to catch and shoot, create for himself off the bounce, and get to his spots in the mid-range where he puts an amazingly soft touch on his jumpers and floaters. He has a phenomenal floater, R.J. can score off this shot with consistency when he’s not able to get all the way to the rack for a layup or pass. A knockdown 3-point shooter that’s developing limitless shooting range, Chatman gets his feet set and shot off quickly, even against contesting defenders in tight spaces. Puts a lot of strain and stress on defenses with his IQ, his facilitating, his scoring, and his quickness, he has a very crafty yet instinctual playing style. R.J. Chatman faced off against the top players and top teams of his class in the city. Texas’s top 30 ranked [player_tooltip player_id="787330" first="Aric" last="Demings"], had the responsibility of guarding R.J. and he put plenty pressure on him the full 94 feet, the entire game, but Chatman handled it fairly well, proving just how good he really is. Consistency is one of [player_tooltip player_id="787324" first="R.J." last="Chatman"]’s best features, there wasn’t a single game all summer that he didn’t show up and play at a high level. [player_tooltip player_id="959055" first="Jacobi" last="Lewis"] | Point Guard | Mudiay Elite | 2021 |<img class="wp-image-1041587 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/IMG_3257-160x300.jpg" alt="" width="131" height="246" /> [player_tooltip player_id="959055" first="Jacobi" last="Lewis"] is often known for his facilitating and his ability to create open shots for others, but he’s not just a passer, he’s a legit bucket getter that can put up numbers on anyone. His handles are on another level, near unguardable, there’s no ripping him or keeping him away from getting to whatever spot he wants. Slow and lousy defenders don’t stand a chance guarding him due to the fact that he likes to make his defenders work. Jacobi is a master at creating space, he’s highly creative with the ball in his hands, has deadly speed and quickness, changes direction at top speed, using spins moves, killer stepbacks, quick crossover moves, and head fakes to shed off defenders, get guys off balance, and keep them guessing; Lewis made double teams and trap defenses look ineffective. Has a good to great know-how for getting to and scoring around the basket, displaying the ability to constantly get deep into the teeth of the defense to score on and over bigger defenders; Great job of using his hangtime and improvisation skills in the air to avoid shot blockers. Jacobi can flat out get a bucket however he likes, he’s a knockdown spot-up shooter, can pull-up from another area code, and can come off a screen for a quick catch and shoot, you must respect his shot at all times or he will light you up. Whatever Lewis lacks in height, he makes up for it with his skills, his jumper off the dribble is tremendous, and his IQ is off the charts, both which will propel him to become an effective guard at the college level. Jacobi has received offers and interest from the likes of Oral Roberts University, Ranger College, Texas Southern University, Panola College, and many more. [player_tooltip player_id="959055" first="Jacobi" last="Lewis"] is going to be a steal at the next level no matter where he lands. Landon Brown | Combo Guard | Texas Tar Heels | 2024 |<img class="alignright wp-image-1048568" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3403-124x300.jpg" alt="" width="111" height="269" /> This dynamic scorer can, and quite possibly will become the top bucket getter of his class. Landon needs absolutely no help when it comes to getting his own shot, he lets the game come to him and it comes very easy. He consistently broke his man down and got to the basket whenever he wanted. Very comfortable when finishing in the lane, Brown has a variety of shots to finish in the paint with, he can stop on a dime for an easy pull-up jumper, a floater, or a reverse layup inside. A good shooter from all over the floor, even with a hand in his face he didn’t need much space to get the shot off. Knockdown 3-point shooter on the wing, Landon hit several contested jumpers from deep, making it look effortless. Showed good mechanics, Landon squares his body up nicely, has good balance, footwork, and elevation on every jumpshot he takes. Landon Brown’s game seemed like he was just on another level from the rest of the pack, his intangibles are remarkable, he has a great demeanor, very poised and under control game, never seems rattled, flustered, or even tired, an extremely high ceiling for this kid. Also a great complementary player alongside his teammate Marlon Linton Jr., there’s no doubt in my mind that those two will become the best backcourt in Texas by 2024. <div> </div> Lejai Jordan | Combo Guard | Dallas Showtyme | 2024 |<img class="wp-image-1048591 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3395-148x300.jpg" alt="" width="134" height="272" /> Lejai Jordan is a true game-changer that brings a lot of productivity to his team on both defense and offense. He’s one of the purest all-around talents of his class, phenomenal instincts, every action he takes and every move he makes seems natural. He’s already scoring on all three levels, a knockdown shooter when unaccounted for, with more consistency he’ll be deadly, has a nice mid-range pull-up jumper, can stop on a dime and put the shot up, his shooting beyond the arc is becoming more and more effective each game, and he also loves to attack the hole. Doesn’t seem to struggle when attempting to get to the rim, his aggression and explosiveness allow him to get inside and to the foul line at a high rate. Lejai is more than an exceptional scorer in one-on-one situations, he’s not somebody you want to be left on an island guarding alone, you must have help-side defense waiting nearby. He kills defenders with an incredibly fluid left-to-right crossover that is just a burst of quickness and speed. His potential as a distributor showed as well, but he’s always at his best when looking to score the ball. This list may be about getting buckets but his effort on defense stands out and is noteworthy, he was never the last guy up the floor and hustled for every loose ball even if it meant diving on the floor. Lejai Jordan has this knack for making big plays and raising his game against top-notch opponents. He’s a complete basketball player, not many limitations to his game especially offensively, when his team needed a bucket, he scored, when the coach needed his teammates to get more involved he made that happen as well. The future for Jordan is extremely bright, he just has to continue to hone his skills and expanded his abilities, the sky is the limit for this young man.