Team Arete: Outstanding Performers Part III

<p>The Team Arete Showcase was one for the books. So much talent all in one place all under one roof. Competitive games going on from the moment you open the door to the exits at the other end. With that much talent no way it could stop at a Part II. Part III I will reveal to you more of my Outstanding Performers from the Team Arete Showcase.</p> <p><strong><em><u> </u></em></strong></p> <p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1295886" first="Aidan" last="Partee"] | G | Team Esby | McKinney North HS    </strong></p> <p>Partee dominated his competition with his energy and effort. He completed multiple finishes around the rim using both hands. Partee attacked the basket strong off the dribble finishing through contact and converting on multiple And 1’s. He really impressed me with his ability to step out and make the 15-footer. Partee ran the floor like a deer. He made sure his team got out on the break for easy points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2025 Jet McCasland | PG | 3D Empire | Argyle    </strong></p> <p>Only a freshman McCasland played with no fear. He shot the ball with extreme confidence and defended at a high level. Every time I looked up McCasland was hitting a three. On a team full of shooters and multiple play makers, this freshman earned his way on the court. You can tell through his play that his minutes on the floor was earned not given. Loved watching him play and perform at a high level the whole day.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>2022 Jaiden Blaylock | G | Braswell HS</strong></p> <p>Blaylock can flat out play. Loved his overall game and ability to be able to always be a threat for his team. Blaylock got hot for a good stretch during one of his games where he just dominated from the midrange all the way to the three-point line. His pull up jumper is a thing of beauty. You can tell he works on it with how he sets it up, bumping his defender with his upper body that helps him elevate above his defender. Blaylock mixed it up a lot on offense and played scrappy, physical defense. He was determined to put on an offensive display. Turnaround jumpers (over both shoulders), Three pointers, strong finishes to the basket finishing through lots of contact. Blaylock was making his claim as one of the best players in the gym.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2022 Joseph Rowe | PG | TX Elite | San Angelo Central    </strong></p> <p>Rowe came with his mind made up that he meant business. Rowe started the game on automatic, connecting on multiple three pointers to start the game. After each made three pointer Rowe immediately turned around and picked up full court each time, which impressed me the most. Rowed showed off how tenacious he can be on both ends of the floor. His defensive presence and ability to lock on the teams best offensive perimeter player is a thing of beauty. Players who can play tough, aggressive defense without fouling is Elite. Everyone these days can score but can you stop your opponent from scoring. Rowe takes that challenge, and he excels at it more than not.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2022 Avery Brekke | F | Wylie HS    </strong></p> <p>Big fellas was working and dominating down low. I loved his physicality on the low block and his ability to seal his defender for great position for easy layups. Brekke really impressed me with how he showed off his tremendous foot work and skill around the basket. In an era where the big man wants to stand on the perimeter and shoot threes. Brekke wanted to prove and show that the big man position is still prevalent and existent. He reminded me of how the big diesel (Shaq) would dominate and how off the court he is one of the most joyous and funniest people walking around. That was the same for Brekke, the way he played looked so mean and powerful and as soon as I walked up to him, I was greeted with a smile.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2023 Hunch Burns | PG | Argyle HS    </strong></p> <p>Burns played the point guard position to perfection. He pushed the ball up the court in transition creating early offense for his team. Many of those early pushes lead to knock down threes for his shooters. Burns when he was able to create the early offense got his team into their sets where they executed at a high level. When the offense broke down he grabbed for the ball and got his team into another set until he saw what he wanted and was looking for. Burns impressed me with his down hill scoring. He had an explosiveness that I don’t think any of his opponents knew he had which led to easy layups for Burns. The tough layups he showed off his strength and ran through the contact finishing with acrobatic layups.</p>