GASO DFW Open Period: Standout Wings

<p>I had the opportunity to see a ton of talented Texas prospects this weekend at the Great American Shootout DFW Open Period in Duncanville. With the grassroots season now in full swing, teams and individuals are really beginning to hit their stride and show what they are capable of.</p> <p>With that in mind, here are five standout wings from the event:</p> <p><strong>Evan Whaling | 2022 | 6’4’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | SA Fire 2022 | O’Connor HS</strong> - Whaling was excellent when slashing his way to the hoop this weekend. He showed good burst when putting his head down and attacking off the dribble, hanging in the air for some fancy finishes at the rim. The O’Connor wing is a good athlete who can finish in traffic, as well as hit some spot up threes when given some space to shoot. </p> <p><strong>Coleson Messer | 2023 | 6’5’’ Small Forward | Triumph 2023 G1 | Highland Park HS</strong> - Messer is a versatile forward who can comfortably operate down low as well as in the post. He was great about exploiting mismatches, posting up and sealing off smaller defenders, and attacking larger guys off the dribble. The Highland Park forward also contributed on the boards at both ends and looked strong when finishing through contact. Furthermore, he made some terrific interior passes and wasn’t afraid to get physical in the paint. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149318" first="Caleb" last="Gaston"] | 2022 | 6’6’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | SABO Gold | San Antonio MacArthur HS</strong> - Gaston possesses a long and wiry frame and is light on his feet. He explodes when driving to the basket and has the athleticism to finish above the rim. The 2022 prospect is tall enough to play down low, but he is capable enough as a three-point shooter and perimeter defender to be a true wing at the next level. His upside is tremendous. </p> <p><strong>Kirk Zuehlke | 2022 | 6’5’’ Small Forward | ProSkills Austin Red | West HS</strong> - Zuehlke continuously made timely cuts to the basket and sacrificed his body when slashing in his Saturday afternoon matchup. This is one of those team-first guys that every coach wants on their roster. He plays hard, defends, crashes the glass, and works his tail off from start to finish. The West forward isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Beyond that, Zuehlke scored through contact and showed that he can knock down a three from the catch. </p> <p><strong>Michael Robertson Jr. | 2022 | 6’3’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | THP Elite - Orange | Akins HS</strong> - Robertson Jr. is a smooth and athletic wing prospect. The soon-to-be senior has a pretty jump shot, displaying good lift and mechanics when letting it fly from deep. His range from the outside is solid too. He also showcased the ability to get all the way to the basket when going one-on-on in isolation. He went up confidently and converted in traffic on several occasions when penetrating off the bounce. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>