Mayhem in the Plex: Top Two-Way Players

<p>The Prep Hoops Circuit rolled on this past weekend at the Mayhem in the Plex event in Fort Worth, Texas. Dozens of teams showed up to compete in the tournament, and I was able to see a bunch of them in action at the Game On Sports Complex. I will be highlighting standout prospects throughout the week.</p> <p>Offensive production is undoubtedly important, but it is paramount for prospects to be able to provide value at both ends of the court. Individuals who can operate at a high level both offensively and defensively are assets to any team at any level.</p> <p>With that in mind, here are some of the best two-way players from the 16U and 17U divisions:</p> <p><strong>Elijah Brown | 2022 | 6’3’’ Shooting Guard | Top Achievers Elite 2021 | Plano Senior HS</strong> - Brown showed that he is a capable spot-up three-point shooter who can also score at the rim in transition. He frequently got to the foul line too. His perimeter defense was the best part of his game during the event. The Plano Senior guard sits down in a stance and was fantastic when defending on or away from the ball. He was very fundamentally sound at both ends.</p> <p><strong>Zay Henderson | 2023 | 5’11’’ Point Guard | Oklahoma Intensity 2022 | Ardmore HS</strong> - Henderson had the deepest package of floaters and runners out of any player I saw this weekend. His ball handling was outstanding as well. On defense, the Ardmore floor general was consistently in the right place at the right time, getting into passing lanes for several takeaways. This is an under-the-radar guy to keep an eye on moving forward. </p> <p><strong>Mario Johnson | 2022 | 6’3’’ Small Forward | North Houston Bandits 2022 | Westfield HS</strong> - Johnson’s offensive and defensive rebounding was terrific on the opening night of the tournament. He aggressively went after the rock and snatched it at its highest point. His passing was good too, especially when pushing the ball up court, likely due to his background as his high school’s quarterback. On Defense, the 2022 forward displayed great ball denial while defending the opposing team’s best scoring option.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1164864" first="Zach" last="Hidalgo"] | 2022 | 6’7’’ Power Forward | Oklahoma Eagles Elite 2022 | Hooker HS</strong> - Hidalgo has a soft touch around the rim, hustled up and down the court, and cleaned the glass at both ends in Fort Worth. There were also a couple instances when he scored off the dribble. He sacrificed his body to make plays for his team, really showing off his toughness in the interior. Additionally, the Hooker power forward did a serviceable job when tasked with defending perimeter players.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1190445" first="Jayden" last="Jackson"] | 2022 | 6’0’’ Combo Guard | Texas Takeover 2022 Elite Greg | Dekaney HS</strong> - Jackson’s athleticism is off the charts. The 6-foot guard has no issue elevating and finishing above the rim in transition, throwing down several powerful dunks throughout the event. His speed with the ball was evident as well, flying down the court for numerous coast-to-coast buckets following steals or defensive rebounds. Beyond that, he showed scoring ability from multiple levels, and the on-ball pressure he displayed on defense was tremendous.  </p> <p><strong>Makhi Dorsey | 2022 | 6’0’’ Point Guard | Top Achievers Elite 2021 | Plano Senior HS</strong> - Dorsey is a high IQ player who makes great decisions and takes care of the ball. He was solid as a scorer, and his performance on defense was critical to the success of his team. The 2022 guard is scrappy but under control when defending on and away from the ball and makes smart gambles. He possessed quick hands and constantly found ways to turn defense into instant offense. </p>