Fantastic 40: Thursday’s Best

We are in Las Vegas for the final event of the year, the Fantastic 40.   It was California size and Texas skill that caught our attention on Thursday!

The Size of San Francisco 

The size walking around the Tarkanian Center for the Fantastic 40 was quite impressive and last night it felt like half of it was in a San Francisco Rebels uniform. 

Listed at 7-foot-1, James Agany was the first player to grab our attention.  What you hope for when you see a seven footer is effort and some mobility.  In watching Agany move his feet after switching onto the wings from Hardwork Dedication you saw effort and a bit more lateral agility than I expected.  In terms of running up and down the floor the effort from Agany was also there.  Finally, in getting to his help down rim protection and to his boards in his area and out, Agany put the effort in there as well.  The biggest thing James did was grab eight boards playing less than half the game but he also blocked three shots and changed at least twice that many.  Agany will continue to need time to develop but the foundation is solid.

Next up is 6-foot-11 Juslin Bodo, listed at 6’11.  Bodo had all of the younger SF Rebel players cheering, yelling, standing in front of us old people in the stands, and tapping their heads after each of his five dunks.  Bodo is so long that it don’t take much lift but the great sign from him was that he tried to dunk everything.  It was very simple: gather ball, dunk ball, run back on D.  And Bodo did that for 12 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.  As a 2023 it will be interesting to see this big body develop.  

There are more. Six-foot-7 Chris Sanders, a 2022 from Salesian HS, was off to an awesome start hitting a three, dunking once, and hustling to the rim for a score. He also had three boards in the first two minutes.  Unfortunately Sanders hurt his hand and had to sit out the rest of the night or we could of seen a monster performance.  Finally, 6-foot-7 Ronald Jones from Oakland Tech also had a solid game grabbing eight boards. 

Rene Threes!

When you have Anthony Black Anthony Black 6'7" | PG Duncanville | 2022 State #10 Nation TX and Ryan Agarwal Ryan Agarwal 6'7" | SF Coppell | 2022 State #99 Nation TX on the court it’s easy to forget that 3D Empire has weapons everywhere on the court.  With space available regularly, 5-foot-7 guard Devank Rene from Coppell High School in Texas took advantage in a game changing way.  

Rene opened the game with some active scores.  The quick push allowed Devank an early score at the rim and a bit later we saw him score a one hander on the move.  At this point Team Allen didn’t seem to notice yet, but the barrage was coming.  

Moments alter Devank hit a three on the wing.  Then a three in transition.  Followed by a three on a kickout.  Team Allen took a timeout in frustration and the coach hollered "somebody get a hand on that guy" and the answer from the player yelled at "on who?" The five-foot-7 guard knocking threes out like he’s wearing #30 in gold during the Mountain Dew shootout, that’s who! 

Rene went on to hit four threes and score 16 points for 3D Empire.  Quite honestly though, his biggest play may have been a tap out rebound that Devank chased down.  That board became a three point play and was the score that put 3D Empire up four or more scores for good. 

Jurian Dixon Jurian Dixon 6'4" | SG St. Augustine | 2023 State #247 Nation CA-S = Constant Production

Six-foot-5 2023 Jurian Dixon Jurian Dixon 6'4" | SG St. Augustine | 2023 State #247 Nation CA-S of San Diego averaged 24.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals a game as a freshman (two years ago) in his first full season of high school basketball.  The junior-to-be has offers from San Diego and Loyola Marymount and he’s continued that outstanding all around play every chance he’s had (of course chances were limited at times because of the pandemic). 

Dixon went at one of the best independent programs in the nation with their nationally ranked talent, and put up 15 points, eight boards, and six assists.  The instincts of this young man stand out.  His reads of his defender were often perfect.  Jurian saw his man take a step right to anticipate the screen, Dixon attacked hard to his own right getting to the cup.  On an attack Dixon saw two help defenders start to step his way so he read the space and hit a teammate for a huge triple.  And when players stepped to Dixon fearful of being attacked to the cup, Dixon made them pay for playing him with their hands down (jumper over the top). 

Keep an eye on this talented 2023, he’s an all around talent that has good size and a bright future. 

Fantastic 40 Notes

• Five Star talent Anthony Black Anthony Black 6'7" | PG Duncanville | 2022 State #10 Nation TX was every bit the high ranked star we expected.  That lightning quick release, effort on the glass, control of the ball, and agility at his size were obvious.  I would say the most impressive thing Black did last night was pass the basketball.  His full court outlet passes were incredible.  In addition, Black’s nine boards, three blocks, and several shot contests were every bit as valuable as his playmaking. 
• Another all around standout for the 3D Empire was Ryan Agarwal Ryan Agarwal 6'7" | SF Coppell | 2022 State #99 Nation TX .  Ryan scored four times, boarded five times, and dished out five assists.  3D Empire passes the ball at a very high level and their top guys - Black and Agarwal - are among the most willing passers.
• Liked the aggressive scoring nation of Ray John Spears of SF Rebels. Spears pushed the ball at all turns.
• Loved the energy of 6’6 Zane Hicke Zane Hicke 6'6" | PF Flower Mound Marcus | 2022 State TX , the 6-foot-6 forward of the 3D Empire. A 12 point, 8 rebound high energy effort that Team Allen couldn’t rotate to ever.  Hicke’s agility and constant effort was a key factor in the win.