Real Texas Hoopfest: Offensive Prospects To Radar

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last weekend I got the chance to catch the 2nd annual Real Texas Hoopfest in Mesquite, Tx. I was informed before hand that there were some seriously underrated teams and prospects that would be in the building and it was more then true. Here my top 5 offensive guys that I got to see in person.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2290650,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2887063' first='Kayden' last='Johnson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Desoto High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"6'4 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887063' first='Kayden' last='Johnson'] was for sure the highest graded prospect at the event. New to Texas, he's still under alot of radar's but not for long. With Desoto's tough district schedule he'll have a good opportunity to make a case for himself being one of the top 2026's in the state. Super solid build, he physical maturity is way beyond his years and he used a combination of strength and skillset to dominate this weekend. NBA comparison is Donovan Mitchell, super bouncy and love drawing contact on the way to the rim. In addition to being able to carry the load offensively, he also provides some length on the perimeter and is a strong rebounder. He racked up a 21 u0026amp; 18 point game in bracket play and is a no brainer for many coaches at the next level to get a early start on. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6570d18171a9f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2290664,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"JuJu Minor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Garland High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"2027, yes I said 2027 JuJu Minor is having one of the best freshman seasons we've seen in a while in the Dallas area. Juju is the son of former 6'4 Baylor guard Demarcus Minor and might have the edge on his Dad after his final growth spurt. Not sure where to start with Juju he pretty much does it all averaging over 20 points in bracket play including a 37 point game. He was smooth in isolation, over and over....he used smooth handles to create space and knock down shots. His step back is pro like and impossible to actually guard without fouling. His IQ is high as well, once pressed on to much by his defender he went by them with one of the quickest first steps I've ever seen at the high school level and finished a high percentage of shots in traffic around the basket. All popularity and rankings aside, this kid can flat out play and should be on your radar sooner then later as he could one of the top ranked guards in the 2027 class. Coaches should have him on your radar now, it's easy to dissect his game even as a freshman and see where he's headed.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6570d18171b5c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2290668,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2415425' first='Demetris' last='Ballard']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"West Mesquite High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2415425' first='Demetris' last='Ballard'] is for sure the most unique prospect on this list. He's also the starting quarterback for West Mesquite and is quite the athlete in the field and court. At 6'1 he handles the majority of the paint work for West. He was super crafty inside all weekend with jump hops and and 1's even on primary post players much bigger then him. He set the tone late in a big win over Desoto being able to out physical anyone on the court. His IQ is high, he always knows where to be for outlet passes and short shots and makes life easy for his PG. In transition he ran the floor non stop and once he gets going downhill there's not much for you to do besides foul. He finished the weekend averaging 14 ppg and over 10 rebounds and overall is just an amazing athlete that can be super effective at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6570d18171bfe"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2290670,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jaden Pickerill","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Canton High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"6'4 Jaden Pickerill was a fresh face on my radar. His position is a little undefined which is a good thing to most showing versatility on both sides of the ball. He averaged 20 points in bracket play and hit a tourney high 6 triples against a tough West Mesquite squad. He uses a quick accurate release and may be one of the top 3 shooters I've seen all season with 10 triples and a variety of midrange shots. He was also the biggest player on the Canton squad and had no problem finishing around the rim and rebounding as well. Defensively he was also a handful blocking and altering a ton of shots. Overall Jaden was one of the top players from the event and at 6'4 with this type of skillset deserves a look from coaches at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6570d18171c9d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2290672,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Devin Murray","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Rowlett High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"2024 Devin Murray is small guard with a tough physical build that uses his body and football like speed to operate the team. His comparison would be Marcus Smart not as fluent as the 3 point line and doesn't need to be at the moment with the way he got to the basket with ease all weekend. He played with a quick pace up and down the court and is tough to stop in transition. Athletically he is ahead of the game and easily can run a offense at the next level. He averaged 12 points a game with multiple assist but his impact on both sides was priceless. True point guard.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6570d18171d46"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/C0cTxOmu9mw/?img_index=2","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/C0cTxOmu9mw/?img_index=2 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->