Top Players to Watch Before End of Season (Central TX Part 1/2)
![Top Players to Watch Before End of Season (Central TX Part 1/2)](https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/Players-To-Watch.jpg?w=864)
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Here is my list at some of the top prospects you cannot miss seeing for yourself before we start playoff matchups here in Texas! It will be interesting to see who steps their game up in the playoffs….
Antwone Gonzalez 2022 6’2 Shoemaker High School
Antwone is an impressive athlete with an ability to dominate at all three levels. He is an aggressive finisher in the paint and is very quick when getting downhill. He scores with ease off the dribble and displayed some very impressive difficult shot making. He scored at an impressive clip when changing his shot angles and fading away from defenders from the mid-range and beyond the arc. I would like to see him look to get the best shot every time down the court more consistently. He has the ability to score in nearly every spot on the floor, he will become an elite weapon as he continues to learn when to get to those spots.
Trap Johnson
Trap
Johnson
6'5" | SG
Belton | 2024
State
TX
2024 6’5 Belton High School
Trap is an athletic wing who can get it done at all three levels of the floor. In the paint, he is patient and willing to utilize his post moves to get defenders out of his way. He has great size for his age, and knows hot to utilize it when beating defenders off the dribble. His ability to create space for himself that way really stood out. He showed off a reliable set shot from beyond the arc when given time to set his feet, however I would like to see him create more shots for himself in the midrange and beyond off the dribble. It was fun watching him and his older brother (
TJ Johnson
TJ
Johnson
6'6" | SF
Belton | 2022
State
TX
, 2022) play alongside each other and make some highlights together!
Taylan Johnson 2023 6’3 Bryan High School
Taylan is a complete three level athlete with the ability to take over any game. I was most impressed with his ability to get to his spots at all three levels of the floor, especially in the midrange. He is a weapon on the fast break with the ability to make you pay at the rim or beyond the arc if the defense is not set in time. I was most impressed with his hangtime in the air. His athleticism allows him to make fancy double clutch layups, use the extra time he has in the air to make a play defensively, or pick apart defenses with his passing. Johnson was very impressive in his most recent performance scoring fourteen points to go along with his three steals. I would like to see him be more patient with the ball and look to create more off the pick and roll.
Samuel Esan 2022 6’7 Bryan High School
Samuel is a massive forward with great mobility for his size. He is strong on the block and has a decent amount of post moves. He scores over the top of guards and wings with ease and is always looking to finish some tip in dunks. He cleans the glass very well on the offensive side, but I would like to see him work on boxing out harder on the defensive end of the floor. He has great length paired with good foot speed as well, allowing him to be a strong help defender. He is not afraid to pick up guards on the perimeter and uses his size well to force them into bad looks.
Luke Spozio 2023 6’1 Dripping Springs High School
Luke is a silky smooth guard who knows how to contort his body to get around his opponents in the paint. I loved watching his ability to consistently finish at the rim, especially after some tough moves to find space. He has some sneaky athleticism and showed off an ability to throw down a few dunks in warmups. He is a tenacious on-ball defender with an ability to defend in the full court. I would like to see him work on getting to his shot in the midrange and incorporate a more consistent floater to get over taller defenders.