North Houston’s Standouts to Kick Off February – Bigs
Prep Hoops was in attendance for three games in the North Houston area from February 4th to 8th and several players put on impressive performances. On Friday, February 4, the 21-7 Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors played host to the 17-14…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops was in attendance for three games in the North Houston area from February 4th to 8th and several players put on impressive performances. On Friday, February 4, the 21-7 Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors played host to the 17-14 Lutheran South Academy Pioneers, with the Warriors coming away with a convincing 67-46 victory. On Saturday, February 5, the 22-8 College Park Cavaliers visited the 11-18 Conroe Tigers, and while it was a close one in the first half, the Cavaliers pulled away in the 2nd for the win on their opponent’s home court, 65-48. Lastly, on Tuesday, February 8, the 29-4 Cypress Falls Eagles traveled to the 18-12 Bridgeland Bears’ home court and finished with a dominating 68-35 victory. Below we review the standout bigs.
Also check out: Standout Ball Handlers | Standout Wings | Standout Bigs
#4 – Wyatt Boeker – 6’7″ – PF/SF – Junior – The Woodlands Christian Academy vs. Lutheran South Academy
Boeker was an absolute force on the offensive end on Friday night. He was attacking the basket with strength and aggression all game along and dunking nearly every opportunity he had, highlighted by a huge fastbreak dunk and finishing off a beautiful pass from Austin Benigni Austin Benigni 5'10" | PG The Woodlands Christian | 2022 State TX for the alley oop slam, all in the 2nd quarter. His paint attacks came from both his isolation drives from the perimeter and his relentless off-ball movement, finding open seams to cut through ready for his teammates’ passes. He was also energetic on the offensive boards, securing several second chances for his team and getting some of his own putback attempts to fall. Boeker was moving the ball off his cuts, along the perimeter, and out of the post, as well, and he showed great hustle throughout, leaping out of bounds at one point in the 3rd quarter to save the possession.
#20 – Martez James Martez James 6'5" | SF College Park | 2024 State TX – 6’4″ – PF/SF – Sophomore – College Park vs. Conroe
James was a dominating paint presence against Conroe and used his size advantage over the smaller Tigers team extremely well. He extended his arms high and stayed vertical on almost every post attempt or drive by the opposing team and made it as difficult as possible for them to get any kind of inside shot. He even forced a jump ball turnover on Conroe’s Gary Lewis Gary Lewis 6'4" | SG College Park | 2024 State TX when he stayed vertical on Lewis’ inside shot and managed to completely smother him and lock him up. He finished every play where he got the ball in the paint on the offensive end with strength and fought for every rebound on both ends of the floor. He secured several offensive rebounds and took it right back up himself numerous times, getting more than a couple finishes through contact with the foul.
Video credit to Brian Shaw, 8th Grade, Knox Junior High
#15 – Gary Lewis Gary Lewis 6'4" | SG College Park | 2024 State TX – 6’2″ – PF/SF – Sophomore – Conroe vs. College Park
Lewis had his hands full with College Park’s long and athletic bigs. While he lacks the height for a typical big man, Lewis can usually use his strength and aggression to make an impact in the paint. He did come away with a couple nice defensive plays, primarily in the 2nd quarter where he had at least one block and one steal off an errant pass, and he continued to fight for rebounds on both ends of the court, getting a few offensive boards and tip ins to fall. For the most part, though, on the offensive end, he had to find different ways to make his presence felt and leave his imprint on the game. With the length of the opposing team limiting his post up opportunities, Lewis used his mobility and off-ball movement to get open and attack the basket through traffic. He was making constant cuts to keep his matchup moving and he broke free several times for good looks at the rim. Other times, he would take his defender off the dribble and just drive straight towards the paint, getting layups to fall through contact.
Video credit to Brian Shaw, 8th Grade, Knox Junior High
#33 – Kamari Weatherspoon – 6’3″ – PF – Senior – Conroe vs. College Park
Weatherspoon struggled in the 1st quarter in this game. Much like his teammate, Gary Lewis Gary Lewis 6'4" | SG College Park | 2024 State TX , he had a hard time scoring from the paint against the opposing bigs of College Park, and that seemed to affect his outside shooting, as well, as he couldn’t hit his routine long-range shots either. He didn’t give up though. He continued to bang his large body down low, creating space with his hips, and getting several inside shots to fall in the 2nd quarter and throughout the 2nd half. He was also boxing out effectively, getting several offensive rebounds and putbacks through the outstretched arms of the defense. With his inside game coming along, his outside shot started to fall in the 2nd quarter and beyond, as well. He started off with a midrange shot in the 2nd quarter and then quickly followed that up with a 3-pointer in the next few minutes and then hit another 3 later in the 4th. On the defensive end, he was playing smart and patient. He managed to secure a steal off a pass in the 2nd quarter, but the rest of his impact came from defending the paint with good verticality on every drive or post shot from the opposing team. He limited his fouls and simply kept his arms long and up to challenge every shot that came his way.
Video credit to Brian Shaw, 8th Grade, Knox Junior High
#21 – Joseph Tugler – 6’8″ – C/PF – Junior – Cypress Falls vs. Bridgeland
Tugler was a beast against the Bridgeland Bears on Tuesday. He had the clear height advantage against anyone on the opposing team and used it to dominate in the paint on both ends of the court. He started off hot in the 1st quarter, attacking the paint from all directions and banging down low to get several buckets, including a strong and-1 finish through multiple bodies. He was operating beautifully out of the post, not only scoring various ways, but also delivering solid passes to the open man as Bridgeland tried to double team him once he got the ball down low. He had several blocks on the other end, at least 4 that I counted, not only in the paint but on perimeter shots, as well, and he stayed active with his hands throughout the entire game, anchoring the tough defense of Cypress Falls.
Video credit to Brian Shaw, 8th Grade, Knox Junior High