CenTex Roundup: 4A/3A Standouts

In this week’s CenTex Roundup we shift to standout performers from 4A and 3A districts in the Austin-San Antonio Metroplex. Small school prospects don’t get the same attention as players from 6A/5A programs, but there are plenty of hidden gems in the Central Texas area that are making a significant impact on their high school teams in the 4A and 3A divisions this season.   Here are the 4A/3A standouts in Central Texas this season: 4A [player_tooltip player_id="1102679" first="Josh" last="Goings"] | PG | Salado (2022) Goings is having a monster breakout season for Salado leading the team to a 17-5 record (8-0 in district) and a 19-4A District Championship. The junior point guard leads the Eagles in points, averaging over 25 points per game, and also in assists and steals. Goings is an elite scorer who can heat up in a hurry, with the ability to score from all over the half-court and put up a lot of points, as shown by his six games with 30+ points this season. With a high basketball IQ coupled with an attacking style of play, Goings is showing to be one of the top guards in Central Texas for the 2022 class.   Nate Borchardt | PG | Lampasas (2022) A big-time shooter with limitless range, Borchardt has a sweet shot from beyond-the-arc with a quick release. Borchardt is a threat to score each time he touches the ball, and defenders have to respect his range as he can pull-up from anywhere in the half-court. He’s hit clutch shots for Lampasas this season and has led the Badgers to a 17-4 record with a playoff spot on the horizon. Not only can he shoot, but Borchardt is also active on defense creating turnovers on steals and tipped passes.   Ben Phillip | SG | Boerne (2021) Phillip has been crushing opponents all season from beyond-the-arc hitting 47% from three-point range while averaging 16.0 points per game. The 6’5" wing is one of the top deep-range shooters in Texas with 81 makes on the season and 3.9 makes per contest. Phillip has good size and frame for either wing spot and does a terrific job stretching the court as a knockdown artist from deep. He’s taken a significant leap in his senior season from being a secondary scoring option to Boerne’s leading scorer, and in addition to his scoring ability, he’s been able to provide a consistent rebounding presence with 4.1 boards per game.   [player_tooltip player_id="1039565" first="Luke" last="Whidbee"] | SF | Boerne (2021) A versatile wing prospect who can run the offense or play off-ball, Whidbee is a swiss army knife for Boerne who is averaging 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game this season. The 6'6" senior forward is a true playmaker on offense and plays with great effort on defense. Whidbee surpassed the 1,000 career points mark this season in December, and currently holds offers from Southwestern University and UT-Dallas.   RJ Marquez | PG | Pleasanton (2023) Marquez has put up some impressive stats during his sophomore season at Pleasanton averaging 19.5 points, 4.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.5 steals per game for the Eagles. Marquez has good short-area quickness and is constantly on the move, creating plays on offense with his precision passing and deep-range scoring ability. On defense, Marquez has great anticipation and active hands where he's totaled 110 steals on the season.     3A [player_tooltip player_id="795729" first="Trey" last="Blackmore"] | PG | San Antonio Cole (2022) A top 75 player in Texas for the 2022 class, Blackmore has been outstanding this season for Cole and is their leading scorer averaging 20+ points per contest. An athletic 6'3" guard who can play either point or shooting guard, Blackmore brings a lot to the table as a scoring option who can shoot the three-ball really well, as well as getting to the basket and finishing above the rim. One of his top-scoring performances this season came in a 33 point outing against district foe Marion.   Silas Livingston | PG | San Antonio Cole (2022) Livingston brings a ton of energy on the court for Cole and has done a great job scoring the rock this season. A feisty and quick-twitch athlete who has a clutch gene to his game, Livingston has hit two buzzer-beaters this season with three-pointers against Tuloso-Midway and Marion. Not only can he shoot the long ball, but he's a prolific scorer and has already surpassed 1,000 career points as a junior for the Cougars. Livingston is making a statement with his play this season to climb up the San Antonio rankings for the 2022 class.   Ryken Autry | PG | Marion (2022) Autry has continued his scoring prowess from his sophomore season to his junior year averaging 20.2 points per game for Marion while hitting 42% from the three-point range. The junior point guard has scored 30+ points in five games this season, including a four-game stretch in early December where he scored 36 (Canyon Lake), 32 (Comfort), 32 (Hondo), and 31 points against Ingram Moore. Autry is also a major contributor in other areas on the floor, including averaging 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.2 steals per game for the Bulldogs.   Tristan Schlinke | PG | Blanco (2021) Schlinke has led Blanco to an impressive 18-1 record (7-0 in district) this season while filling the stat sheet with an average of 15.5 points, 6.9 assists, 3.3 steals, and 3.4 rebounds per game. The senior point guard is one of the top passers in Texas dishing out 125 dimes so far, including three games of 10+ assists. Schlinke is a true playmaker for the Panthers who has great court awareness and vision and can also light up defenses with his savvy scoring ability.   Zack Wisdom | SG | Blanco (2022) The leading scorer for Blanco this season at 16.6 points per game, Wisdom has been a consistent scoring option for the Panthers and is heating up in district play. The 6'4" junior wing is shooting 36% from three-point range with 44 makes on the year. Wisdom's top-scoring outings have come in 28 points versus KIPP Austin, 26 points against Canyon Lake, and 24 points in a win over Lago Vista earlier in January.     Honorable Mention List PG [player_tooltip player_id="1027621" first="Luke" last="Kiser"] - Burnet (2021) PG Joaquin Gonzales - Boerne (2021) PG Braedon Denson - La Vernia (2021) PG Julian Smith - Austin LBJ (2022) PG Justus Edwards - Manor New Tech (2022) SG Elijah Thomas - Austin LBJ (2021) SG Easton Allen - Marion (2021) SG Joesph Rios - Luling (2021) SG Ethan Schleder - Wimberley (2021) SF Dillon Rabon - Fredericksburg (2021)