Lonestar State Showdown: 17U Breakout Performers
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Bridge Barrett HEIGHT 6'0" POS N/A CLASS 2026 View Profile Bridge Barrett Twitter State: Oklahoma School: Sulphur High School Bridge Barrett was an automatic bucket off the bounce. Barrett can combine all type of moves to get where he wants…
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Continue ReadingBridge Barrett was an automatic bucket off the bounce. Barrett can combine all type of moves to get where he wants on the court. His between the legs crossover into a hesi blow-by led him into the middle of the floor on a number occasions where he was adept to shooting off the dribble while contested. Good shiftiness, will also surprise you with his quickness as he changes pace and directions well with his between the legs or hang dribble setups. Crafty at the rack, a true ambidextrous finisher with remarkable touch that made him equally proficient with both hands making it difficult for defenders to predict which way he would lay the ball up. His outstanding body control made it capable for him to adjust himself mid-air and contort his body to avoid traffic, using acrobatic layups from various angles, even when heavily contested.
Cael Jones Cael Jones 6’1″ | PG Southaven | 2025 TN played with tons of energy and competitiveness. This kid was a bonafide playmaker as a facilitator and scorer. Great run and jump athlete who can leap with the best of them, a point guard with elite speed and quickness, as well as explosive leaping ability. Good first step, very quick when shifting his weight and pushing off his back foot to get downhill, putting tons of pressure on opponents with his quickness off the dribble. Jones was fearless when attacking the rim and showed the ability to finish through traffic. He’s wasn’t afraid to absorb contact from bigger defenders and still find a way to score. While not his primary strength, Jones lit it up showing a respectable shooting ability, both from mid-range and beyond the arc, proving to be capable of knocking down pull-up jumpers and three-pointers when given space, making him a well-rounded scoring threat.
Highlights
Nick Herrera Nick Herrera 6’3″ John Jay | 2025 TX was one of biggest catch-and-shoot threats in the building. This sharpshooter had the green light to shoot the corner three at will, and he hit it efficiently, making the most out of his opportunities. His game wasn’t one dimensional or limited to just a shooter role, even when he was ran off the perimeter with hard closeouts he showed the ability to get to the rim and score with reverse layups.
Ethan Nguyen Ethan Nguyen 5’11” | CG Wylie | 2025 TX proved to be a two-way asset that can be the most liable player on the floor. He played with great feel for the game, a high basketball IQ, and crafty dribbling instincts. Nguyen always had a counter move ready, even if his first step was stopped or a help defender stepped up he utilized deceptive quickness with smooth movements to get into the teeth of the defense. Defensively, Nguyen excelled at keeping track of his man and the ball, always attached to his man full court and never giving up anything easy or uncontested whether it was a catch, a rebound, or a shot attempt.
Demetris Ballard Demetris Ballard 6’1″ | SG West Mesquite | 2025 TX changed the game with his dynamic interior scoring presence. A straight downhill bucket getter with the body control and body strength to finish through anything and anybody at the rim. Despite his explosiveness, Ballard often utilized brute strength to overpower defenders showing tremendous force at the hoop. He uses his body to shield defenders and create better space for shooting opportunities forcing defenders into tough positions, often resulting in fouls that led that free-throws where Ballard was sure to capitalizes on his attempts. He consistently found himself in the paint with the ball due to his natural sense for face and back cutting. Fantastic scorer anywhere within the lane who doesn’t shy away from physicality, he handled contact well, absorbing while still elevating to get off a clean and accurate shot, showing a rare combination of power and finesse.