Week 5 Scouting Report: Standout Seniors

<p>I was treated to a pair of competitive matchups in Week 5. The Plano Senior Wildcats went on the road and earned a 51-46 win over the Little Elm Lobos on Tuesday, and the Prosper Eagles hosted and defeated the Denton Ryan Raiders 42-39 on Friday in a low-scoring slugfest. Let’s take a look at some of the best 2022 prospects from this past week’s action.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1205207" first="Mahki" last="Dorsey"] | 2022 | 6’0’’ Point Guard | Plano Senior HS</strong> - Dorsey is a two-way floor general who plays with emotion. His defensive impact was felt throughout the contest, as he was consistently down in a stance and frustrating opponents with his on-ball pressure, while also making smart gambles to get into passing lanes for deflections. At the other end, the senior guard played with good pace and showed that he can hurt opposing defenses with his shooting, slashing, and playmaking. This guy is a competitor on the hardwood. </p> <p><strong>Xavier Williams | 2022 | 6’1’’ Shooting Guard | Plano Senior HS</strong> - Williams initially impressed me last season with his versatility and ability to play bigger than the height he is listed at, then did so again this summer. He is always around the ball and making positive things happen for his team. The 2022 two-guard is a capable shooter, as well as a strong finisher near the basket. Furthermore, Williams is one of the best rebounding guards that I’ve seen this year, as he was constantly crashing the glass and elevating for boards at both ends of the court on Tuesday. He ended the game with 13 points. </p> <p><strong>Isaac Berry | 2022 | 6’4’’ Shooting Guard | Little Elm HS</strong> - Berry is a skilled guard who possesses good size and athleticism. He can produce while playing on the ball or when operating out on the wing. The Little Elm senior scored 13 points vs. Plano on Tuesday via a pair of triples from the catch and some crafty finishes at the basket. He is a good shooter from deep when spotting up and does not need a ton of room to get his shots off. Beyond that, Berry showcased his capabilities as a passer. He was accurate with his deliveries and exhibited good decision making. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1205198" first="Ibrahima" last="Diallo"] | 2022 | 6’1’’ Combo Guard | Little Elm HS</strong> - Diallo is an excellent ball handler with a quick first step. He made some huge plays for Little Elm in the final quarter of action on Tuesday, continuing to attack the basket and refusing to settle despite trailing in the game. He made some brilliant passes where he had to thread the needle, showing that he can still get the ball to his teammates in crowded spaces. Moreover, the 2022 prospect drilled a catch-and-shoot three and converted a bunch of tough finishes at the basket when penetrating.  </p> <p><strong>Giovanni Fleming | 2022 | 6’2’’ Combo Guard | Little Elm HS</strong> - Fleming is a high-motor guy who defended his tail off vs. Plano Senior. His perimeter defense was fantastic throughout the evening, getting up into his man and consistently keeping them in front of him. The senior guard made a number of hustle plays as well. Beyond that, Fleming showed that he can score at the rim as a slasher. It is also worth mentioning that he recorded 16 points, nine rebounds, and five steals in Little Elm’s victory over Naaman Forest on Friday. </p> <p><strong>Jordan Hall | 2022 | 6’2’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | Prosper HS</strong> - On a night when both teams struggled to knock down the long ball, Hall buried a catch-and-shoot corner three in the final two minutes of action that helped his team earn a narrow win over Denton Ryan. Though he was not particularly productive as a scorer, he did contribute in other areas. His perimeter defense was terrific, and he regularly made the extra pass on offense. Additionally, it is worth noting that Hall hit a trio of threes in a 10-point outing vs. Lake Highlands earlier in the week. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889588" first="Marcette" last="Lawson"] | 2022 | 6’7’’ Power Forward | Denton Ryan HS</strong> - Lawson was an absolute force for Denton Ryan in the paint. He recorded six blocks by my count. He provided superb rim protection throughout the game, challenging anything in his area code and impacting the shots he couldn’t get a piece of. He was disciplined about staying down, didn’t bite on ball fakes, and was quick to elevate. The senior forward showed off his toughness and physicality in this one. He took a beating on offense but continued to battle down low. His ability to finish in a variety of ways in the post was on full display. </p> <p><strong>Christian Lawson | 2022 | 6’5’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | Denton Ryan HS</strong> - Lawson is a long and wiry forward who can contribute at both ends. I saw him defend multiple positions on Friday, doing a good job of holding his own against guards on the perimeter. His length bothered shooters throughout the contest. The Denton Ryan senior also produced on the boards, showing good bounce as a rebounder. That bounce showed up on offense too, evidenced by a two-handed standing-dunk thrown down by Lawson near the end of the first half. </p> <p><strong>Jordan Ware | 2022 | 6’1’’ Point Guard | Denton Ryan HS</strong> - Ware got off to a hot start on Friday by going coast-to-coast early in the game and finishing with a body on him at the rim. He followed that up by knocking down a mid-range jumper off the dribble. This guy has another gear when he gets into the open court. His speedy ball handling immediately caught my attention. That speed combined with his ability to drain pull-ups makes him a dangerous player in transition. </p>