GASO DFW Fall Classic: Morning Standouts (Part 1)

<p>Now that the grassroots season has come to a conclusion, many have turned their attention towards the upcoming high school season. Numerous Texas high school teams journeyed to Duncanville Fieldhouse to compete in the GASO DFW Fall Classic, and I was able to catch the morning slate of games on Saturday. So, here are some standout prospects from the event:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1147421" first="Kyron" last="Walton"] | 2022 | 6’6’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | Richland HS</strong> - Walton played with emotion and energy from start to finish in his opening game of the day. The Richland Forward displayed tremendous two-way versatility as well. He scored down low on the block and finished above the rim when opportunities presented themselves, while also showing that he is capable of knocking down a three when spotting up from deep. On defense, he did a great job of defending multiple positions, using his athleticism and physicality to handle bigs with a size advantage and his length to bother perimeter players. </p> <p><strong>Kyle Moran | 2022 | 6’1’’ Shooting Guard | Lake Highlands HS</strong> - I got to see Moran play with Lake Highlands a few times last year and was always impressed with his grit and determination to make an impact whenever he stepped on the court. The senior guard appears to have transitioned from his teams’ sixth man into a starting role, yet he still plays like he is fighting for every second of playing time. His high motor sets the tone for the Wildcats. He was fantastic when it came to turning defense into offense, coming up with steals and finishing well through traffic in transition on Saturday. This is one of those guys who leaves it all on the floor. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="892163" first="Drew" last="Steffe"] | 2023 | 6’5’’ Combo Guard | Frisco Memorial HS</strong> - Steffe is such a complete player on offense. He can truly do a bit of everything at that end. His slashing was excellent in his matchup against Waxahachie. He had success attacking off the dribble and regularly finished with ease whenever he got to the rim. The junior guard was responsible for some brilliant assists and timely rebounds too. Additionally, Steffe was alert on defense and helped his team create several turnovers that subsequently led to fast break scores. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1158081" first="Connor" last="Newton"] | 2023 | 5’8’’ Point Guard | Denton Guyer HS</strong> - Newton will once again lead the Guyer backcourt this season and he is positioned to have an increased role on offense. His decision making and shooting ability in addition to his varsity experience should serve him well. The junior floor general made some difficult three-point attempts on Saturday, showing that he is still a reliable shot maker from the outside. His ball handling vs. pressure also stood out. He has a sudden quickness to his game that keeps opposing defenders on their toes. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1125969" first="Tre" last="Johnson"] | 2024 | 6’4’’ Shooting Guard | Lake Highlands HS</strong> - It’s no secret that Johnson is an exceptionally talented individual on the basketball court. The 5-star prospect and No. 1 ranked player in our Prep Hoops Texas <a href="https://prephoops.com/texas/rankings/2024-rankings/">2024 rankings</a> got off to a bit of a rocky start on offense, but once he stopped settling for contested fadeaways, he found a variety of ways to contribute, making some spectacular passes and eventually getting some of his shots to fall. He exhibited great toughness, made good cuts to the basket, and even chipped in as a rebounder. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1225568" first="Parker" last="Jefferson"] | 2025 | 6’9’’ Power Forward/Center | Waxahachie HS</strong> - Jefferson possesses the necessary size to dominate in the paint. He rebounded the ball well on Saturday and rarely looked out of place as a freshman playing big minutes at the varsity level. The Waxahachie big man was able to play above the rim and moved incredibly well for someone his height. His fluidness really caught my eye. Furthermore, he is skilled enough to stretch out to the three-point line and drill shots from deep. Although he is still somewhat raw, he has a lot of upside and should only continue to improve with time. </p>