Team Arete: Stand Out Performers

<p>The Arete Shoot out was another opportunity for teams and players to hone their skills on the hardwood. While we anticipate anxiously the start of the Texas high school basketball season. We get these glimpses of what’s to come on this year’s hardwood. From the moment I walked in the gym I felt the competitive energy. These were my standout performers.</p> <p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1205206" first="Devin" last="Peters-Teague"] | PG | Crab 5| Carrolton Newman-Smith  </strong></p> <p>Peters-Teague is a true general on the floor. Every possession down Peters-Teague made sure the ball was in his hands orchestrating the offense. He communicated every second of the game, whether it was on offense or defense Peters-Teague was physically or vocally involved. He made sure the ball went where it needed to be, paid attention to time and what was needed within each possession. Peters-Teague showed a lot of poise and the ability to rally his team when needed. As the game got tighter, he made clutch PLAYS on both ends. The best moment I saw of Peters-Teague came towards the closing moments of the game. For three straight possessions he denied the offensive player the ball which disrupted the opposing team’s offense. The third possession he ended with a charge taken to essentially secure the win for his team.</p> <p><strong>2023 Quinton Perkins Jr. | PG | BBSS National | Lake Highlands  </strong></p> <p>Perkins took advantage of his opportunities, showing off an explosive first step and the ability to change directions with the handle. Perkins found himself matched up with UTA signee [player_tooltip player_id="1205159" first="Terrance" last="Ramirez"]. It seemed every time Perkins saw Ramirez he went into attack mode. Getting to the basket with his slick handle and finishing at the rim with an array of floaters, scoop lay ups and pull up jumpers. I’m a stickler for players who give it all on both ends of the floor. Everyone can score but are you willing to defend? Perkins accepted that challenge as well. Picking up full court along with switching to post matchups that seemed to be too much if you saw the size advantage. Many occasions Perkins fronted the post forcing a bad pass that led to a steal for him. Perkins is going to open some eyes this season</p> <p><strong>2022 Autavius Hobbs | PG | Dallas Showtyme | Naaman Forest  </strong></p> <p>Explosive, Strong, Strategic and Lethal are a few words that I would use to describe Hobbs. Hobbs is a point guard extraordinaire. Watching him run the show for Naaman Forest put all the words that I described into perspective. He pushes the ball when needed to distribute to the array of athletes that Naaman Forest possess. He gets to the rim and finishes strong with both hands. He’s strategic in the half-court set, looking to the sidelines for direction or even creating the direction the team will go. Lethal because he has the mid-range and the three-point shot that is efficient and consistent. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him take a bad shot or even have a game riddle with turnovers. That was the case again in the Arete Shoot out. Hobbs displayed why he is one of the best players in the Class of 2022.</p> <p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1151156" first="Raven" last="Ortiz"]  | PG | ProSkills San Antonio | San Angelo Central  </strong></p> <p>Ortiz really impressed me with his ability to shoot the ball. Textbook form, Ortiz was pulling up from three with ease. I loved his ability to be able to create his own shot off the dribble, providing him with enough space to either pull up or attack the rim. He played scrappy defense that led to transition points for San Angelo Central. In a back-and-forth battle Ortiz had a pivotal And one that tied the ball game, he then converted on the free throw that put his team up one. Which would in turn be the go-ahead score to give San Angelo the victory. With the way this young man can shoot the ball he is in for a great senior campaign.</p> <p><strong>2022 Joseph Rowe | PG | Tx Elite | San Angelo Central  </strong></p> <p>As soon as I walked over Rowe caught my eye. A tenacious defender, on back-to-back possessions I watched him get into the opposing player that turned into back-to-back takeaways. In a 2-minute stretch Rowe knocked down two three pointers one from each wing and finished an And 1 on the break converting the free throw. Rowe plays with a lot of energy. What impressed me the most was after going on his 2-minute scoring barrage he didn’t come down and force up a shot. He continued to play within the offense allowing his teammates to stay involved and engaged. Final stat line from Rowe was 17pts, 4 ast,4 reb and 2stls. From my eyes watching it was an efficient 22.</p> <p><strong>2022 Mitch Williams | G | 3D Empire | GrapeVine High School   </strong></p> <p>When is comes to shooting this lefty is one of the best. Out the gate Williams wanted everyone in the gym to know that he either is the best shooter or one of the best shooters in the gym. Williams has a quick, unconscious release. No matter where or how Williams caught the ball you felt every shot was going in. True to the statement "shooters shoot", Williams definitely did that. Though playing with a D1 signee, Williams was not shy at all. There was a stretch within the game I thought Williams wasn’t gonna miss and when he finally did I wasn’t even sure if the rim made the right decision. Every shot was textbook, elbow in, follow through after the shot, Swish! William’s shooting display made him a true joy to watch.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>