New Balance Prelude League: Lone Star State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NCAA Live Period starts back up today for one last go around this July for several players. Prep Hoops recently took in the action down in Augusta, GA and North Augusta, SC at the New Balance Prelude League. Let's take a look at some of the teams that we saw in action from the event right here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[program_tooltip program_id='2078788' first='Houston' last='Defenders'] 17U: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2496891,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_19-07-2024_04-48-21-3310AM-crop-2500x1641-1721379462.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_19-07-2024_04-48-21-3310AM-crop-2500x1641-1721379462.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2496891" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The [program_tooltip program_id='2078788' first='Houston' last='Defenders'] 17U will be the 9th seeded team headed into the weekend. Prep Hoops was able to watch the [program_tooltip program_id='2078788' first='Houston' last='Defenders'] earlier this week.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2028633' first='Trae' last='Lewis']</strong> provided strong play from the backcourt. Lewis a point guard was able to keep defenders on their toes with his ability to change gears and speeds on the floor. Trae is crafty with the ball in his hands. He was able to drop some three-pointers along the way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matthew Bingham</strong> was the biggest player listed on the roster. Bingham a undersized post really looked to work down low inside the paint. He was able to set screens and utilize a nice jump hook to score the rock. Bingham had the ability to score over bigger defenders while constantly playing 2-4 feet away from the cup. Matthew showed to have quick feet and the ability to make hustle plays on both ends of the court. Bingham attends Hargave HS in Huffman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2496888,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_19-07-2024_04-48-05-7300AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_19-07-2024_04-48-05-7300AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2496888" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2494304' first='Legborsi' last='Mato'] </strong>a shooting guard from George Bush HS in Fort Bend showed a good nose for the ball at all times. Mato an off guard would leak out from time to time for a cheapie in transition. Mato was able to connect on some open jumpers here today. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Max Levels Elite P32 Top Seed:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Max Levels Elite P32 will be the top seed headed into the weekend at the New Balance Prelude Final down in Augusta, GA. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1358752' first='Bryceson' last='Melvin']</strong> didn't play during the week in League Play as he went back home to the Lone Star State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1515345' first='Jayden' last='Ramnanan']</strong> surely had the hot hand when Prep Hoops was in the building watching the Texas based team play. Jayden came on fire knocking down several bombs from downtown. He plays with a great deal of confidence and shows to be a player who makes and takes tough shots at times. Jayden sacrificed his body on the defensive end of the court to take a handful of charges. He was so efficient scoring the ball today in his team's victory. Jayden plays at Marcus HS in Flower Mound. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2496883,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_17-07-2024_12-14-18-5300AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_17-07-2024_12-14-18-5300AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2496883" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2222528' first='Mario' last='Wooden Jr.']</strong> is playing up an age group and a member of the 2026 Class will be at the ISchool of Lewisville this coming year. Wooden Jr previously played at Panther Creek HS in Frisco. Mario was able to stalk the baseline and finish at the rim today. He picked up several deflections with his quick set of hands in the passing lanes. Mario really looks to work on the defensive end of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2496885,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_19-07-2024_04-47-26-3100AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_19-07-2024_04-47-26-3100AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2496885" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2164324' first='Dorian' last='Johnson']</strong> provided some muscle at times down in the paint area. Johnson who attends Eastern Hills HS in Fort Worth has a knack to defend the rim with his ability to alter and challenge shots. Dorian was able to block some shots here today for his squad. Johnson collected plenty of rebounds on both ends of the court through traffic here today. He will look to work for position down on the block and showed to have soft hands to catch anything thrown in his direction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2496882,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_18-07-2024_05-51-36-9340AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_18-07-2024_05-51-36-9340AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2496882" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2494126' first='Cedric' last='Jones']</strong> played last season at Conway HS in Arkansas. Jones this season will play at Maumelle HS. Cedric a shifty point guard really understands to find the open man with using the old school bounce pass. The pass first Jones finishes plays at the bucket. He can play fast or slow it down in the half-court at times. Cedric does a nice job of getting the ball into the gaps and touching the paint. He keeps the ball low to the floor and rarely turns it over at all. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2496887,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_19-07-2024_04-47-43-0440AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/eZy-Watermark_19-07-2024_04-47-43-0440AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2496887" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nicholas Babacar</strong> told Prep Hoops he will playing a postgraduate year somewhere in the Sunshine State of Florida this coming fall. Babacar has a great set of hands and a very good skill set for a big man. Nicholas moves very well around the floor and has the ability to put the ball on deck and create from the wing. Babacar will set screens and prefer to play face-up out on the perimeter. He's very agile on his feet and does a great job of keeping the ball up high when claiming it off the glass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will either of these teams be standing on Sunday evening as the champion of New Balance Prelude League? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->