2023 City Rankings: San Antonio (5-1)

Check out my analysis on some of the top 2023 prospects in the San Antonio area! Some of these guys are division one prospects, with little to no offers. So coaches make sure you check them out when you can!   #5 [player_tooltip player_id='1211673' first='Matthew' last='Gonzalez'] 2023 6'0 Marshall High School (DC Kings SA 17U)    Matthew is one of the best scorers in Texas with his ability to flat out dominate from all levels of the floor, yet what sets him apart from other scorers is his natural point guard instincts and incredibly tight handle. You can tell he has spent countless hours working on tightening up his handle, using it to routinely get around his opponents and force a second defender to come up and react. I was very impressed with his ability to make good decisions while still going top speed hurling into the paint. When he gets downhill, defense do not know what to do with him as he scores so easily from the mid-range and as he attacks the rim. However his best plays for his teammates are often made with him getting to the rack, and finding an open teammate on the back side of the play. His scoring prowess is going to make him a household name in the San Antonio area with how easily he gets it done beyond the arc. He is a complete four level scorer with the ability to threaten the defense from beyond the three point line. His aggressiveness lets him hunt for his shot, yet his consistency is such a difference maker. Gonzalez is a name you cannot soon forget, and if you are in the San Antonio area, be sure to get out to a game of his next season, you will not be disappointed!    #4 [player_tooltip player_id='1159093' first='Braden' last='Baum'] 2023 6'6 Boerne – Champion High School    Braden was voted to the second team due to his ability to put the team on his back and carry all of the offensive load of the team. He is a knock down shooter when given a glimmer of space. He is deadly off the catch but also can pull up beyond the arc or the midrange when the defense closes out hard. When his shot did not consistently fall from the outside, he put the ball on the floor and could get to the mid range, attack the basket and move off the ball. He was willing to be the decoy on offense and allow his teammates to work on the back side. He is willing to run off screens and wear out his opponent with constant off ball motion. Baum is a highly skilled scorer with all of the tools to become a dynamic shooting guard at the next level due to his ability to defend on the perimeter and play off of a ball dominant guard. His length is a real weapon on the defensive end of the floor and allows him to reject jump shots but also harass ball handlers.    #3 [player_tooltip player_id='1039603' first='Zayden' last='High'] 2023 6'9 Smithson Valley    Zayden is an impressive force in the paint who really made a name for himself this summer at the NIKE EYBL Circuit for John Lucas's elite team. He showed off his versatility and ability to handle the ball and score off the bounce, calmly scoring over anyone in his face. He displayed an elite ability to punish defenses out of the pick and roll or pop depending on the situation. His basketball IQ has really improved playing with some high level point guards this summer who constantly put him in the right position to easily finish plays. High is a prospect you really cannot miss out on, with his versatility on the offensive end, paired with his length and dominance on the interior.   Defensively, he is great at rejecting shots and timing up his opponents to send shots into the third row. He is an elite rim protector who is not afraid of anyone coming down the court full speed. I loved watching him work and dominate on the defensive end of the court, calmly making good decisions as a help defender and using his length to cut off passing lanes. I would like to see him work on his handle and ability to move laterally. He is going to be getting some elite training out at Arizona Compass Prep School and I am excited to see how he develops.   #2 Jaylen Crocker Johnson 2023 6'7 Warren High School    Jaylen is an impressive player who knows how to use his size and strength to his advantage. He dominates in the paint on both ends of the floor and has an impressive amount of agility for his size. I was blown away by his ability to run the floor as a rim runner or as the primary ball handler. He dominates getting downhill and can seemingly bully his way through any contact. He has an ability to play with another skilled big man due to his ability to dominate at all three levels. He consistently made the right reads every time down the floor. He scored at a consistent rate in the mid-range and beyond the arc which allowed the paint to be that much more open for him to dominate later in the game.   #1 [player_tooltip player_id='892136' first='Kendrick' last='De Luna'] 2023 6'10 TMI Episcopal    Kendrick is a lanky forward with all of the ball skills to make him a complete player and prospect. He has a truly soft touch on his runners and floaters in the paint, and finishes with consistency right at the rim over other forwards. He is very polished with his back to the basket, and can get to his spot by bullying his defender deep into the paint and finishing over him. He is one of the most polished players in Texas with his back to the basket, calmly dominating and spinning around his opponents to get to his spots. Defensively, he blocks shots and wreaks havoc with his ability to strike fear into his opponents hearts. Many players thought twice about attacking the rim against him, as he forced him to change shot angles time after time.   What really stood out was his willingness to do all of the little things on the court. He is a high level rebounder, who is good at high pointing the ball and keeping it away from his opponents as he lands and begins to make outlet passes. His ability to box out his opponents and then immediately sky for the board allows no one to ever compete with him for boards. De Luna has a very high motor and loves to get on the floor after loose balls too, his aggressiveness and motor truly never seems to stop. That was on full display this summer on the Nike EYBL Circuit. De Luna got a lot of recognition online through is dominant play in the paint.

Check out my analysis on some of the top 2023 prospects in the San Antonio area! Some of these guys are division one prospects, with little to no offers. So coaches make sure you check them out when you can!