2024 City Rankings: Austin (#5-#1)

Check out my analysis on some of the top 2024 prospects in the Greater Austin 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 Jaxson Vandegrande 2024 6'1 (Buda) Johnson High School    Vandegrande has quickly been rising in the rankings after the dominance and ease in which he scored this summer in a multitude of tournaments across the state. I had the pleasure of watching him compete multiple times, and every time I saw him he added a new wrinkle to his game. He is a complete offensive weapon who scores effortlessly from all three levels of the court off the bounce, and is beginning to threaten that coveted fourth level of the defense. He is a relentless attacker of the rim, who really stood out in his ability to not only finish through contact but also stop on a dime and score in the mid-range. He lived at the free throw line with his constant aggression and the ease in which he was able to get two feet into the paint.   I was very impressed with the amount of attention he has put on the defensive end of the court, coming up with steals in the passing lanes as well as through his active hands stripping the ball from his opponent. He controls the game like a true point guard who can facilitate an offense and also pass his teammates open in the full court. His ability to manipulate the speed of the game when the ball is in their hands. He routinely broke a full court press with his speed, getting the edge on his opponent or by making the right read and a picture perfect over head pass.   My favorite aspect of his game had to be his ability to do whatever his team needed to be successful. He has good size for a guard, and is likely not done growing with long arms. But more importantly is how hard he plays; boxing out and playing on the glass like a wing. He frustrated his opponent so much through his hard work on the interior. Opponents thought they would easily back him down because of the size disparity, but Vandegarde held his ground and used his strength to not get bumped off of his spots.   #4 [player_tooltip player_id='1203719' first='Sam' last='McKinney'] 2024 6'6 (Buda) Johnson High School, TX (ATX Force 2023)    Sam is a high level forward who has quickly blossomed into one of the top prospects in Austin. His skill around the basket paired with his growing handle and ability to get downhill, this is a kid college coaches need to have their eyes on. He finishes at a very high level underneath the basket. He displayed great consistency at the rim, and finished well on either side of the basket. He is beginning to knock down the three ball from the outside with more consistency, allowing him to blow by the defense and be a true 3 and D threat.   I was impressed by his handle out of the triple threat, he was great at getting into the teeth of the defense with an explosive and purposeful two-three dribbles. I was also very impressed by his body control when getting downhill, he knows how to contort his body to get out of the way of his opponents and getting around his defenders.   On the defensive side of the ball he has shown a lot of growth over the summer. He is becoming more aware of cutting defenders behind him, and has increased his production on the glass. He actively boxes out his opponents, clearing the way for him to grab uncontested rebounds. I was blown away by his development and how much attention he has began to pay on this end of the floor. As he continues to fill out and grow I would like to see him continue to develop his handle and ability to make plays with the ball. At the next level he will likely be playing the two or three but could play small ball four in a pinch if he continues to fill out!   #3 [player_tooltip player_id='1354611' first='Josiah' last='Moseley'] 2024 6'7 Stony Point High School (OneTime Legends)    Josiah is an athletic freak with his ability to handle the ball and go coast to coast, but also naturally dominate on the interior. He showed an ability to move his opponents off of their spot when operating with his back to the basket as well. He is listed at two hundred pounds and he uses all of that frame to bully his opponents and get to his spots with a live dribble or out of the post. Moseley is great at using his length to keep the ball high and out of the reach of his opponents as he gets downhill. He threw down emphatic dunks on the fast break when given time, but is not afraid to put one on your head within the half court. His explosive first step allows him to attack the rim with even more success and often leaves bigger defenders in the dust.   The most intriguing aspect to his game has to be his handle and the way he moves. He routinely got up and down the court with a live dribble, and got deep into the paint and made his opponents helpless down low. He has impressive guard skills for his size, and has a very reliable jumper as well at this stage in the game. He has a high release point and the confidence to get to his shot off the bounce. Moseley is fearless and knows he can shoot over almost anyone at this level and loves to do so.   His rim protection allows him to anchor his team's defense and allows his teammates to defend the perimeter and close out even harder knowing Moseley is back there to clean it up. He destroyed opponents spirits with his ability to tip away shots and collect rebounds.He has a tremendous motor, and attacks his opponents relentlessly every-time down the court. Moseley has all the tools to become an effective wing/ forward prospect at the next level. He has just began to receive some division one attention, and I fully expect it to continue with even more abundance.   #2 [player_tooltip player_id='1354479' first='Jamie' last='Vinson'] 2024 6'10 St. Michael's Catholic Academy    Jame is a high level forward who dominates with his handle and ability to get downhill, but also cleaning up his teammates misses and finishing tip dunks. He is a very aware player who is good at timing up rebounds, running the floor and staying in his lane to promote the best spacing possible. I was very impressed by his dominance in the open court, using his frame and waiting for timely passes to go up strong off of one foot for easy dunks down low. He has impressive leaping ability and a rare blend of athleticism at his size, allowing him to dominate on the interior on both ends of the court.   He is not just a punisher on the interior, he will threaten the defense from the outside and can have catch and shoot opportunities drawn up for him on the wings. He showed an ability to come off of pin downs and quickly spot up from the outside. He has a high release point and consistent shooting mechanics for his size. I was very impressed by how well he was able to threaten the defense from all three levels of the floor. He knows how dominant he is on the interior, and uses his ability to stretch the floor sparingly.   This summer, he played for Southern Assault in the 3SSB Circuit, Adidas premier basketball circuit. He shot the ball well from the perimeter, averaging just over 31%, but had difficulty holding onto the ball averaging a few too many turnovers than you would like to see. I would like to see him continue to develop not only his handle but his ability to pass with both hands. Teams will try to quickly take away his dominant hand, especially as he sees double teams and more intense defensive pressure.   #1 [player_tooltip player_id='1140529' first='Cameron' last='Jackson'] 6'9 Pflugerville Weiss High School (Nike ProSkills EYBL)    Cameron has made waves through his dominant play in the EYBL this summer for the prominent Nike ProSkills Program. He averaged 15.5 points and 9 rebounds this summer and showed off his versatility and ability to have an offense run through him. He is an incredibly consistent big man who can play on the block or out of the high post. He played next to other bigs, or anchored the floor with guards and wings and showed success in every role he was put on the floor. Jackson looks to have all of the physical tools a college coach can want, and with his strength down low, he could be a force to be reckoned with....   Jackson is a consistent finisher with his back to the basket, dominating his opponents with bunny hooks and soft touches over the top of his opponent's outstretched arms. What made him the most dominant had to be his ability to seal off his opponents from ever having a chance of contesting him. He bullied them into deep position underneath the rim, allowing him to easily go up knowing his defender is underneath the cylinder.   I was very impressed with the touch he displayed from the mid-range and more importantly the free throw line. He shot nearly 75% from the line this summer, which impressed college coaches to another degree for sure! He made pinpoint passes over the top of the defense when operating out of the high post, finding cutting teammates on time. The wizardry he displayed with his ability to create opportunities for his teammates with his back to the basket or out of the high post was very impressive.

Check out my analysis on some of the top 2024 prospects in the Greater Austin 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!