UIL Playoffs Regional Rounds Impressive Performances

[player_tooltip player_id="787319" first="Cameron" last="Barnes"] | Forward/Center | Duncanville HS | C/o ’23 If there was an award for effort, hustle, and productivity [player_tooltip player_id="787319" first="Cameron" last="Barnes"] would be the front-runner after the way he affected the game against the DeSoto Eagles. Barnes was the x-factor, he stuffed the stat sheet, producing one of the most impactful 6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 blocks you’ll ever see, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The junior prospect showed off elite versatility on both ends of the floor that was undeniable. He controlled the post with his scary 6-foot-11 frame, massive wingspan, and standing reach that allowed him to swat shots at their peak, alter everything in his path, score, shoot, and rebound over anyone that stood in front of him. Barnes showed potential as a threatening bucket getter due to his vertical leap that made him a lob threat at times and his ability to attack the hoop off the dribble and create his own shot using crisp spin and shoot moves. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id="787319" first="Cameron" last="Barnes"] is one of those rare prospects that can defend every single position whether his opponent is faster, slower, bigger, or stronger. A high ceiling player with all of the tools to be one of the best at his position in the nation, his versatility and very well polished skillset is what sets him apart from most other centers of his class. <hr /> [player_tooltip player_id="889569" first="Zuby" last="Ejiofor"] | Power Forward | Garland HS | C/o ’22 [player_tooltip player_id="889569" first="Zuby" last="Ejiofor"] pushed the Garland Owls into the Semifinals against the Duncanville Panthers after putting up a monster stat line of 33 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, and 4 blocks versus Killeen Ellison. Zuby sucks all of the life out of teams with his relentlessness and competitiveness on the glass. Ejiofor operated extremely well near the cup, using strength, length, touch, and an amazing leaping ability to finish through, around, and over traffic seemingly easy. In this match-up, Ejiofor’s high flying action was on full display, his head was well above the rim on several occasions whether he was catching an alley-oop in transition or standing under the rim springing off the ground with two feet throwing it down. His back-to-the-basket game was impressive as well, not a single defender had an answer for the power and finesse he threw at them, he showed an overpowering drop-step that got guys on their heels and out of position the moment he began to back them down. Throughout the playoffs, [player_tooltip player_id="889569" first="Zuby" last="Ejiofor"] was a man-child that could not be contained in the post. He also displayed flashes of greatness with his offensive versatility, showing the skills to pop out to the perimeter, particularly the corner, and nail spot-up jumpshots even with a defender flying his way. [player_tooltip player_id="889569" first="Zuby" last="Ejiofor"] has continuously expanded his game and mastered his position, I’m excited to see what he adds to his skillset going into his freshman season at Kansas University. <hr /> [player_tooltip player_id="787341" first="Kordelius" last="Jefferson"] | Combo Guard | Arlington Martin HS | C/o ’22 In a win over Lake Highlands, [player_tooltip player_id="787341" first="Kordelius" last="Jefferson"] showed everyone why he’s one of the most college-ready lead guards in the state while displaying great poise and a natural feel for the game. Jefferson has the power to control the flow of play and let everything come to him, picking the defense apart little by little before taking full advantage of it. Jefferson Penetrated the lane with a great explosion in his first step, hit defenders with counter moves they never saw coming using a combination of power and quickness in his between the legs crossover, step-backs, and change of pace dribbles, he constantly seemed one step ahead of the defense. His shot selection was great, he didn’t have to force his scoring each bucket came within the flow of the offense both off the dribble and the catch. When it came to keeping the eyes of the defense on him, Jefferson was a master at it. A high IQ player, with the attention all on him he was able to find cutters and mismatches, although Kordel is known as someone that can create their own shot at will he’s also developed a knack for utilizing his court awareness and creative handles to set up his teammates for easy buckets. Not to mention what he brings in the defensive end, super high motor, very gritty, not afraid to get down and dirty, and often lets his defense lead him into his offense. The kid is a winner, he might have fallen short of a state title but [player_tooltip player_id="787341" first="Kordelius" last="Jefferson"] led the Martin Warriors on a deep playoff run with back-to-back upset victories over two of the top-ranked high schools in the state. <hr /> [player_tooltip player_id="1328097" first="Donovan" last="Oday"] | Shooting Guard | Mansfield Timberview HS | C/o ’22 Mansfield Timberview fought back from a double-digit deficit and rallied their way into the regional semifinals in large part due to [player_tooltip player_id="1328097" first="Donovan" last="Oday"]’s outstanding 27 point showing. Oday impacted the game in a multitude of ways, he displayed remarkable effort as he was all over the court making big-time play after play after play, nailing several crucial spot-up three-pointers, relentlessly attacking the hole finishing tough contested layups, making timely passes off the dribble, ripping ball handlers clean of the ball, and jumping the passing lane creating fastbreak buckets, and even stuffing shots at the rim, [player_tooltip player_id="1328097" first="Donovan" last="Oday"] seemed to always be in the right spot at the right time.