UIL State Championship Team Preview

3A Dallas Madison The Madison Trojans have been dominating for a while now with 22 straight victories, this team hasn’t lost a game since last year in December and once playoffs began they proceeded to crush whoever they faced en route to the state finals. All of these wins came due to an all-out team effort, particularly in one of their most recent victories over Dallas Jefferson where three Trojans scored in the double-figures, four guys pulled down over 5 rebounds, multiple players had at least 4 assist, and their 5-foot-10-inch sophomore point guard even accomplished the rare quadruple-double. Kardae Turner produced an unreal stat line of 17 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, and 11 steals. As of right now, Dallas Madison should be the favorites to win yet another state title, they have been a force to be reckoned with, firing from all cylinders at the right time. Their chemistry is at its best, they’re playing with a fire in their belly like they have something to prove. and most of all they have everything they need to succeed from great coaching all the way down to a supportive fanbase. <hr /> <blockquote> 4A Oak Cliff Faith Family Eagles </blockquote> Oak Cliff Faith Family is a heavy favorite to win it all after reaching their 4th straight state tournament final. The Eagles are made up of several high-level competitors from the center position all the way down to the point guards. Starting at down low is 6-foot-10 sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id="1125855" first="Doryan" last="Onwuchekwa"], a true big man with a prototypical body, length, skills, and athleticism for today’s game. Doryan has proven to be a combination of the traditional and modern-day center, someone that loves to use their size advantage to dominate opponents under the basket and above the rim. Not only can he score in the paint but he can also beat you from outside off the dribble as well as with his jumpshot which has continuously improved alongside his IQ. Very impressive passing skills, Doryan has a knack for seeing for the floor over the defense and hitting cutters and shooters with timely passes that often lead to easier or open shots. Expect his presence to be felt down low early on, especially on the glass where he led the Eagles all season long. Forwards [player_tooltip player_id="1297677" first="Brandon" last="Walker"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1332840" first="Jadyn" last="Toppin"] bring the energy, the physicality, and a team-first mentality. 6-foot-6, Walker is phenomenal on the left block, very patient and skilled, his footwork allows him to generate points on a consistent basis. Toppin has been one the most reliable scorers on the squad, putting up over 15 points per game on 68% shooting from the field. He’s always in the right spot at the most opportune times, the junior prospect is always finding an open area on the court by relocating himself around the perimeter and making timely cuts to the basket. This man can shoot the lights out, watch out for him to make a huge impact. [player_tooltip player_id="1150772" first="Isaiah" last="Jones"] does it all, very little limitations to his game, he’s a bucket from all three levels of the floor, an awesome ball handler that seems impossible to rip, a dime dropper in stride, a competitive defender, and someone that will dunk on you without warning, Jones will come out of nowhere and put a man on a poster, very exciting player to behold. And they’re all led by high flying senior superstar, future Ole Miss Rebel, [player_tooltip player_id="889570" first="T.J." last="Caldwell"], one of, if not the hungriest ballers in the state. Over the years, Caldwell has transformed from a two-guard into an elite point guard that can scorch a team in a multitude of ways. Every time [player_tooltip player_id="889570" first="T.J." last="Caldwell"] steps on the floor he becomes a walking highlight reel. Look for T.J. to run the show, lockdown on defense, and put pressure on the defense as well as the rim. Whoever has the responsibility of guarding him will have their hands full. Caldwell returned to Faith Family Academy this season determined to finish what he started and he’s currently on the verge to complete that mission. <hr /> 5A Beaumont United Timberwolves The Beaumont United Timberwolves are just a game away from taking home back-to-back state championships. The Timberwolves have a team full of outstanding ballers, the most notable being [player_tooltip player_id="1216533" first="Clarence" last="Payia"], [player_tooltip player_id="787356" first="Trealyn" last="Porchia"], [player_tooltip player_id="1217802" first="Kayde" last="Dotson"], and dynamic duo [player_tooltip player_id="889568" first="Terrance" last="Arceneaux"] and [player_tooltip player_id="787367" first="Wesley" last="Yates"], one of the best guard-forward combinations in the nation who together averaged 35 points and 5 steals per game this season. But Payia, Dotson, and Porchia are what really makes this team such a championship favorite, they’re ultra-competitive, always rise to the occasion, bring a consistent level of scoring, is constantly causing turnovers in the passing lanes, and they believe every rebound is there’s, outrebounding and out hustling each team they’ve faced thus far. Beaumont United’s previous championship experience is glowing throughout the playoffs, this squad has shown the ability to play with poise, defend until the final buzzer, play from behind, finish tight games, and put points on the boards with the best of them. Mansfield Timberview could be in for a long day trying to keep up with the scoring pace Beaumont United is bringing. <hr /> 6A McKinney Lions McKinney is a team that should be feared, they play with a refuses to lose mentality and they rise to the occasion when the lights are the brightest. The Lions have a bunch of pieces that can go off at any given moment. [player_tooltip player_id="1205197" first="Thatcher" last="McClure"] can be the x-factor at times, not only can he quickly get hot from beyond the perimeter but McClure can also beat his defender to hole off the dribble, he’ll even get above the rim and throw one down, energizing his teammates and getting the fans on their feet. [player_tooltip player_id="892132" first="Ja’Kobe" last="Walter"] is an automatic bucket but he really makes his impact felt with his defensive prowess, Walter relentlessly puts the clamps on opposing guards the full length of the floor with no help, slowing down some of the highest-ranked guards in the nation, making them extremely uncomfortable, forcing them to give up the ball sooner than usual, and oftentimes making them a non-factor. [player_tooltip player_id="958893" first="Alex" last="Anamekwe"] adds another dimension to the game with his amazing shot rejections under the rim as well as in the mid-range where his quickness and leaping allow him to swat shots out of his vicinity, he always shows a marvelous effort every time he steps on the court. With the way the playoffs have gone for the McKinney Lions a state title would be the perfect ending.