UIL State Tournament: Day 1 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state tournament kicked off at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio and with some of the states best teams from every region. This is a stage where some of the biggest players cement their legacy and others who aren't seen as often get to make a splash on the scene. Here are some of my top standouts from day 1 that deserve some recognition for helping their team advance to the state championship.</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":2372334,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sean Stanaland","_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":"6'1u0022","_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":"Jayton 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":"6'1 2026 Sean Stanaland from Jayton HS may have been the best performer of the day. He recorded 32 total but had 20 in the first half alone outscoring the whole Fayetteville team (19) himself. From the start he seemed to have his mind made up on attacking the basket and through out the game was just to good finishing for anyone to slow him down. He shifty with the ball, quick handle and goes up to shoot unpredictably which usually catches the defender off guard. He finished through contact as well but what really made him dangerous was being able to find his shooters on the perimeter after penetration. He's a magical type scorer off the dribble and only being a 2026, he should be a guy on your radar. Sean will go for the gold on Saturday in the 1A state championship.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5cd7d4d02"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1527106"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2372026,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"6'4 2025 PG Jojo Mciver was u0022that dudeu0022 in Ellison's big win over SA Veteran's Memorial. To start, his speed and ball handling are super elite and that seems to put him ahead of the competition controlling the pace from start to finish. He was aggressive to the rim in transition finishing with 23 total but showed some true point guard skills with his passing ability to shooters once he caught 2 defenders attention. He finishing was elite as well able to hang in the air buy extra time on his shot. He also finished with 5 rebounds and 5 assist which makes him a day 1 top performer. Ellison will match up with Lancaster for the 5A title on Saturday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5cd7d4d8a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1226682"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"2025 2 sport standout and [player_tooltip player_id='1226682' first='Grayson' last='Rigdon'] is the most unique prospect on this list for 1A Benjamin HS. Believe it or not he is averaging almost 50 ppg and is considered the nations leading scorer. At only he'6's easily one of the most creative scorers in the state able the finish in a variety of ways at the rim and most of it is pure muscle. He finished with 32 which is impressive because the game plan was obviously to slow him down, he was also able to find his teammates which did a good job knocking down shots as well. This kid is absolutely tough going down hill and I'd hate to be on the other side of him this Saturday where he'll look to add a Basketball state championship ring to match his recent football state championship ring. He should be strong on your radar heading into the summer.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5cd7d4de9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1295841"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"6'3 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1295841' first='Carter' last='Eddy'] was more then effective in a big win over Holiday to send Ponder the 3A state championship. He used a high IQ and patience to figure out Holiday's zone and where to attack it. Once Ponder got going he was able to knock down some big shots for them including 4 triples and when he wasn't able to get his shot he assisted 4 times. He has nice size and can move the floor quickly including being a solid defender, he finished with 18 on the night.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5cd7d4e39"} /--> <!-- 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":2372024,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Elijah Sherwood","_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":"6'6u0022","_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":"Hitchcock 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":"6'6 2025 was the most dominant big we seen on day 1 and he has some serious potential. At 6'6 his footwork is elite and he can actually stretch out and play the 2/3 if needed which will be his actual position at the next level. He was a nightmare matchup wise for San Antonio Cole and even had a streak of strait bully ball finishing with 20 points and 8 rebounds on the night. He's been explosive during this year's run catching oops, windmilling dunks, and reminds me of a 2000's mixtape at times. This kid is big time leading Hitchcock to their 3rd strait 3A title game and I'll be front with the popcorn. Make sure he's at the top of your radar heading into the summer.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5cd7d4ec7"} /-->