6A Region I District 5: Players to Watch

<p>The high school season is right around the corner in Texas. With games set to tip off as early as this weekend, this is a great time to preview some of the best prospects from District 5 of 6A Region I. I’ve seen a lot of basketball played by the teams in this district, and am looking forward to what they have in store for 2021!</p> <p>McKinney will enter the year as the favorite after going undefeated in conference play a year ago. Aside from that, this should be a very competitive district, with teams like Denton Braswell, Prosper, and Allen looking to challenge the Lions for a district title.</p> <p>With all that in mind, here are some individuals to keep an eye on this season:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="787365" first="Ja’Kobe" last="Walter"] | 2023 | 6’5’’ Shooting Guard | McKinney HS</strong> - Walter is a two-way stud with excellent size and length. He has shown good versatility as a defender and is both consistent and productive as a three-point shooter. The No. 3 ranked prospect in our <a href="https://prephoops.com/texas/rankings/2023-rankings/">2023 rankings</a> should continue to develop and round out his game during his junior campaign.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958893" first="Alex" last="Anamekwe"] | 2022 | 6’6’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | McKinney HS</strong> - Anamekwe possesses terrific athleticism, which lends well to his rebounding and rim protection, as well as to his ability to attack off the dribble and elevate explosively. Furthermore, the SMU commit is a decisive scorer in the paint and a capable shooter from distance when spotting up. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1125966" first="Jaxson" last="Ford"] | 2024 | 6’8’’ Power Forward | Prosper HS</strong> - Ford was a rebounding machine last season. He was so good at boxing out opponents and high-pointing boards, showing discipline and fundamentals. He is light on his feet and quick to get off the floor. His soft touch and ability to score when surrounded by bodies coupled with his activity on the glass will lead to a productive second year of varsity ball for Ford. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="787334" first="Addison" last="Harmon"] | 2023 | 6’2’’ Point Guard | Prosper HS</strong> - Harmon is a smooth operating lead guard who can do it all for the Eagles. The Prosper senior is a reliable shooter from deep, handles the ball comfortably vs. pressure, and works well alongside his teammates as a facilitator. I’m excited to see what his role looks like following the graduations of <strong>Neal Utrup</strong> and <strong>Justin Olaleye</strong>. </p> <p><strong>Jaiden Blaylock | 2022 | 6’1’’ Point Guard | Denton Braswell HS</strong> - Blaylock understands how to read defenses and subsequently make the right play each trip down the court. Don’t let that fool you, because he is willing to overwhelm defenses with tons of attempts from all three levels on offense. Additionally, Blaylock had success in late-game scenarios this summer, exhibiting clutch shooting and good decision making. </p> <p><strong>Dylan Archey | 2023 | 5’8’’ Combo Guard | Allen HS</strong> - Archey started a good portion of Allen’s games as a sophomore, operating mostly as a catch-and-shoot specialist from the outside with good range. His role will grow this season after the departure of <strong>Mason Gibson</strong>. He will likely inherit more responsibilities as a ball handler for the Eagles and should end up as one of the team’s most productive scorers by the end of the year. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1201199" first="Oluwafemi" last="Olaniyan"] | 2023 | 6’3’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | Allen HS</strong> - Olaniyan really impressed me in Allen’s first-round playoff loss last season, relentlessly slashing to the hoop for scores while the rest of his squad struggled to get anything going offensively. The 2023 prospect further impressed me this summer with that same limitless energy and body control at the rim. He could be in position for a breakout year as a junior. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958564" first="KyeRon" last="Lindsay"] | 2022 | 6’8’’ Power Forward | Denton Guyer HS</strong> - Lindsay is a dynamic post player with enough athleticism and twitchiness to score off the dribble from the wing. He possesses a deep package of post moves as well as the ability to stop and pop from mid-range in rhythm. Beyond that, the UNLV commit is an incredibly active rebounder and an impactful rim protector.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1158081" first="Connor" last="Newton"] | 2023 | 5’8’’ Point Guard | Denton Guyer HS</strong> - I got to see Newton a few different times this summer. His speed with the ball in addition to his quick release as a shooter more than make up for the size he gives up on the court. He can knock down the three ball from a variety of spots and is extremely consistent both from the catch and off the dribble. The junior floor general is also a good passer with outstanding decision-making skills. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958607" first="Kendall" last="Alexander"] | 2022 | 6’6’’ Small Forward | McKinney Boyd HS</strong> - Alexander is a strong bodied wing who gets it done at both ends of the court. He plays well in transition and finishes through traffic but can score with jumpers from the perimeter too, either off the bounce or from the catch. Furthermore, he contributes on the glass.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaac-berry-2/">Isaac Berry</a> | 2022 | 6’4’’ Combo Guard | Little Elm HS</strong> - Berry was probably the best "under-the-radar" prospect I saw last season. His offensive versatility was truly remarkable, showing that he can slash, shoot, and pass at a high level. Moreover, he made critical shots during key points in games. He has so many tools at his disposal. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889595" first="Cooper" last="Macaulay"] | 2022 | 6’6’’ Shooting Guard | Little Elm HS</strong> - Macaulay is a knock-down shooter from three with deep range. He is excellent in catch-and-shoot situations, but can also create for himself and drain jumpers off the dribble, including from mid-range. His size benefits him when attacking the basket, allowing him to exploit mismatches down low. </p>