Texas Freshman Showcase: Most Complete Players
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When evaluating talent, one thing I like to look for are players that are just as good on the defensive side of the ball as they are offensively. They don’t take a play off. If they lose the ball, they…
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Continue ReadingWhen evaluating talent, one thing I like to look for are players that are just as good on the defensive side of the ball as they are offensively. They don’t take a play off. If they lose the ball, they hustle back to get a block or rebound. If they airball a shot, they immediately focus on their next task. They don’t hang their head for a second. The handful of players below stood out to me as the most complete overall and would be my starting five from the showcase.
Robert “Tre” Watson III
Robert “Tre” Watson III
If I was starting a team from this showcase, Watson would be my #1 pick. As an elite PG should be – he was involved in every play for his team. His handle is excellent and he can battle his way out of traps with ease. His impressive court vision was complemented well by his passing ability – I saw him throw perfect cross-court dimes numerous times. It was almost like he knew what was coming next from the opposing team. If the offense got stagnant, he could create his own shot and get a bucket. A lot of players would be satisfied with supreme offensive skill, but not Watson. He crashes the glass, dives on the floor, and sticks to his man like glue on defense. You can tell he’s a fierce competitor at heart and he never looked like he wasn’t having fun.
Romejo Waits
Romejo Waits
Parker Bolden
Parker Bolden
Bolden was by far the best ballhandler I saw all day. As I watched him, I discovered his Kyrie-like handle was only the start of his game. He was also one of the most skilled at creating his own shots. His confidence never seemed to waiver on either end of the floor. He always stuck to his man and would steal the ball in a second if he sensed his opponent getting lazy with the rock. He did something that stood out to me as one of the best moments of the showcase – during a timeout, instead of going to get a drink or take a brief seat – he stayed on the floor and stepped up to the free throw line to work on his shot. This showed me that he must be one of those rare players with supreme work ethic, constantly in the gym and always striving to get better and better.
I think Hayes scored the most points that I saw all day. He managed to do this without coming off as a ball hog because his passing and communication with his teammates were just as good. He’s extremely talented on the fast break and I was blown away at how he carved through the defense time and time again – going left, going right, up and under, you name it. You can tell he doesn’t like to lose, and his excellent defensive skills display that. He stays in front of his man, crashes the glass, creates steals, and will win a 50/50 ball every time.
Brayden Williams Brayden Williams 6'2" | SG Boswell | 2027 TX
Brayden Williams Brayden Williams 6'2" | SG Boswell | 2027 TX
Williams had the most graceful game out of the bunch at the showcase. I loved watching him on the fast break because of his ability to adjust his shot and finish based on whatever his defender tried. He’s long and lengthy and utilizes that on both sides of the floor – elevating over defenders at the basket and hustling back to block shots and get boards. He’s an impressive passer – at one point he QB’ed a pass the full length of the court and it landed perfectly in his teammates’ hands on the fast break for an easy, beautiful bucket. The ref couldn’t help but signal touchdown for that one.