2025 HTX Stock Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we move forward to the state high school basketball playoffs this weekend, it is often important to look back and reflect on the regular season as well. I wanted to take a second and give some recognition to some special 2025 athletes from Houston who raised their stock greatly over the course of the season, whether they made the playoffs or not. </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":2369974,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kendall Hilstock","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Port Arthur Memorial ","_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":"Kendall is a versatile guard that knows how to score the ball when his team needs a bucket. He can get to the rim or pull up over the defender in an isolation situation or drive and when the double team comes, kick the ball to an open teammate for an easy look at the rim. I had heard about Hilstock all season and he greatly impressed me with his 2nd round performance this postseason and proceeded to help his team dominate the contest on both ends of the floor. His patience with the ball is also high level, as he doesn't force many shots and waits for the perfect moment to attack his matchup and score the rock. Definitely is one of the highest IQ class of 2025 hoopers in the city of Houston.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":2369977,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2370101' first='Izu' last='Emelife']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Clear Springs ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Izu was one of the biggest sleepers in the entire scene of Houston playoffs this year and this only continued his impressive play from the regular season. Emelife dominated other post matchups left and right throughout district play and showed he can beat a defense in multiple ways. He can shoot the ball efficiently from the mid range as well as knock down his free throws when fouled. He knows how to use his big frame well in traffic and get his shot up and over the defense for a quick two points. Emelife made a big time impact for the Chargers all year and his leadership will definitely be welcomed back next season with the graduation of key player Alec Belter.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":2369982,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2458771' first='Jaylen' last='Fenner']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Atascocita ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2458771' first='Jaylen' last='Fenner'] is a big time player for this Atascocita Eagles team and his impact continues to show through on both ends of the court. Fenner uses his long wingspan to make stops on defense and play the passing lanes as well as rise up for blocks on opposing players at the basket. I love Jaylen's ability to drive to the basket and finish through contact as well as his vocal leadership on both ends. He has proved to me repeatedly that he is one of the most underrated 2025 players in Houston and continues to raise his stock.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":2369989,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2473897' first='Tillman' last='Jaramillo']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Seven Lakes","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Tillman was one of the more impressive guards this season for Seven Lakes. Jaramillo has consistently upped his shooting percentage from beyond the arc and only continues to improve fundamentally on defense. I like how he does not hesitate to play physical with his matchup and this allows him to notch several key steals and usually turn them into easy fastbreak points. Tillman always knows where to be on the offensive end as well, knowing when to cut to the basket and when to spot up as a shooter in the corner/on the wing. Jaramillo is one of the biggest energizers on the court for his team and he definitely is always key to swinging the momentum towards the direction of the Spartans whether that's hitting a big shot to take the lead or getting a clutch defensive stop.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1630445"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Carson was one of the biggest scorers for the JV squad this season after transferring to Kingwood Park from Kingwood. Conner makes plays happen on offense, and he can score from multiple levels of the floor either beating the defense at the basket or hitting a jumper. One of the most impressive attributes to his game that Carson added this season was his ability to come away with rebounds and blocks on the defensive side of the ball. I witnessed multiple games where he came down with double digit rebounds and had around 4-5 blocks. He is also vocal on both ends, setting the pace and tempo of the contest for the Panthers. I look forward to big things from Carson continuing into the summer grassroots season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2494304' first='Legborsi' last='Mato']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Fort Bend Bush ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Mato was one of most efficient playmakers this season that I was able to watch in the class of 2025 point guards. Legborsi knows how to faciliate and run the PG position well on the offensive side for this Bush squad, setting teammates up for easy baskets or showing ability to use his long frame to score the basketball at a high clip from all areas of the court. Bush did not finish the season with the best record, but Mato definitely made his name known with impressive play and will look to continue his big time momentum into AAU season, where last year he played with Texas Takeover. Look for him to definitely gain some exposure this summer wherever he decides to play as a big time facilitator and main ballhandler on the offensive end.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e7c85d7e489"} /-->