Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic: Standout Underclassmen

<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 2024 and 2025 prospects that caught my eye during the Thanksgiving break:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1126004" first="Brooks" last="Bahr"] | 2024 | 6’4’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | Keller HS</strong> - Bahr was outstanding earlier this year at one of our Prep Hoops Circuit events. He was equally impressive this time around. His game is so polished as a sophomore. The Keller wing was so good at getting to his spots and converting during this tournament. He shoots the three efficiently, can hit in the in-between area, and possesses the strength to finish through contact on the drive. On defense, he can defend multiple positions and even held his own when forced to defend bigs with a huge size advantage over him. This kid is the real deal and is getting better every time I see him. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1125967" first="Micah" last="Robinson"] | 2024 | 6’7’’ Small Forward | Greenhill School</strong> - Robinson was an effective paint scorer for Greenhill on Tuesday night. He was also smart about exploiting mismatches and using his size to overpower smaller defenders inside. His touch and patience down low stood out too. Additionally, he was a sneaky good passer in this matchup, finding teammates in scoring position from the perimeter. His combination of size and finishing ability will prove valuable at the next level. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1126061" first="Nathan" last="Macadory"] | 2024 | 6’1’’ Combo Guard | Faith Family Academy</strong> - Macadory came off the bench for Faith Family and was very productive in his reserve role Monday night. He accounted for 12 points via four threes, as well as five steals. He showcased deep range in addition to beautiful mechanics and a quick release on his jump shot. He was always ready to fire and never waisted any time getting into his shooting motion. The sophomore played the passing lanes well for takeaways at the other end as well. His reliable shooting could prove to be a huge factor in how successful Faith Family is this season. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1220338" first="Amir" last="McMillian"] | 2024 | 5’10’’ Point Guard | Mansfield Legacy HS</strong> - McMillian showcased a great feel for the game in his championship outing on Tuesday. He possesses a good feel for the game and operated well as the ball handler in pick-and-roll scenarios. The 2024 floor general consistently got his team the best possible look on each offensive trip down the court, playing with maturity and poise. Moreover, he displayed good control and touch on his driving attempts. McMillian was named to the all-tournament team and helped Mansfield Legacy secure a first-place finish in their division. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1125933" first="Liam" last="McNeeley"] | 2024 | 6’7’’ Small Forward | John Paul II HS</strong> - While McNeeley didn’t have his best game in JPII’s championship matchup against Faith Family by his standards, he did still show flashes of why he is such a highly touted prospect. He recorded some difficult finishes at the rim and smartly went after mismatches in the post once his team feel behind. He finished over multiple defenders too, showing some relentlessness that I hadn’t seen from him before. He and the Cardinals will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming tournament, but I think it’s safe to say McNeeley will be just fine moving forward. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1225568" first="Parker" last="Jefferson"] | 2025 | 6’8’’ Power Forward | Waxahachie HS</strong> - Jefferson is a stretch four with a good jumper from behind the three-point line. He has good length that he utilizes well on defense, protecting the rim and turning back shots, as well as impacting the ones he can’t get too. He can operate as the screener in pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop plays, and provides spacing with his shooting. Beyond that, Jefferson rebounded well on defense, doing a good job of high-pointing the ball and at times even snatching it way from opponents.</p>