Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic: Standout Juniors

<p>I got to see some really talented players go head-to-head this past weekend at the Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic in Frisco, Texas. Over 40 high school teams from all around the state competed in this early season tournament, and although I wasn’t able to see every team play, I was really impressed with every school I did have the opportunity to watch. With that in mind, here are a few 2023 prospects that caught my eye during the Thanksgiving break:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1158399" first="Isaiah" last="Manning"] | 2023 | 6’7’’ Small Forward | Mansfield Legacy HS</strong> - Manning is fluid at 6-feet-7-inches and has no issues playing out on the perimeter. He scored 17 points in Mansfield Legacy’s semifinal game and 12 points in their championship victory over Keller Central on his way to being named the tournament MVP of his division. On offense, the senior wing finished well near the basket and helped out on the offensive glass. At the other end, Manning did a good job of defending a variety of positions, as well as impacting shots with his length. It was an overall productive event for him.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1332712" first="Gabriel" last="Warren"] | 2023 | 6’6’’ Shooting Guard | John Paul II HS</strong> - Warren is a tough-nosed player. He hustles and competes for every inch on defense, defending multiple positions and staying in front of opposing ball handlers. The JPII junior displayed good finishing ability at the rim, showcasing that he can finish with power or finesse. He was also good at absorbing contact on his way to the basket, still getting shots to go despite being bumped around. Additionally, I saw him encouraging some of his younger teammates on the bench after suffering a loss in the championship game, showing excellent leadership qualities. He earned a spot on the all-tournament team as well. </p> <p><strong>Elliott Taite | 2023 | 6’2’’ Combo Guard | Frisco Independence HS</strong> - Taite recorded a 19-point outing in his opening game of the tournament, fueled by five three-pointers. He followed that up with a 13-point performance and a W in his teams’ next matchup.  My favorite part about his game was his ability to consistently make the correct decision on offense. He was aggressive, but only when it was necessary. Beyond that, the junior guard played with good pace on offense, and contributed on defense by getting into passing lanes for steals and deflections. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1158400" first="Parker" last="Hannah"] | 2023 | 6’1’’ Shooting Guard | Keller HS</strong> - Hannah possesses deep range as a three-point shooter. He provides great floor spacing for Keller because of that, impacting possessions without even touching the ball at times. He was good about getting his shots off in rhythm in both games I saw him in, and looked good creating space for himself behind the arc. Defenses had to respect his shot, which opened him up to get all the way to the rim where he was able to convert with some flashy takes to the basket. He is one of the many weapons opposing teams have to prep for when facing Keller. </p> <p><strong>Tyshawn Archie | 2023 | 6’2’’ Combo Guard | C.E. King HS</strong> - Archie was terrific at muscling his way into the paint as a slasher. He finished with some gorgeous finger-rolls at the rim in his Monday night game. He possesses twitchy quickness as well as outstanding speed with the ball, flying down the court on one occasion for a coast-to-coast lay in following a steal. Furthermore, the 2023 guard knocked down a three off the dribble after utilizing a step-back to create a ton of separation between he and the defender, showcasing that he can create his own shot on the perimeter.</p> <p><strong> Nehemiah Weber | 2023 | 5’10’’ Combo Guard | Keller Central HS</strong> - Weber displayed good shooting ability from both mid-range and behind the arc in Keller Central’s championship game on Tuesday. He recorded eight points, four rebounds, and three assists in the contest. The junior guard has a polished jump shot and can get it done from the catch as well as off the dribble. Weber also did a nice job of making the extra pass on the perimeter to turn a good look into a great one. He could prove to be a valuable weapon for Keller Central as his role increase over the course of his final two seasons of high school ball. </p>