Underclassmen Making Noise

I've been thinking a lot about the future lately, and the future is BRIGHT for Texas basketball. There is a plethora of incoming young talent and it doesn't appear to be stopping anytime soon. Below are a handful of underclassmen that you don't want to miss.    Preston is a skilled combo-guard that can shoot lights out from behind the arc. He moves incredibly well without the ball and creates space and open opportunities for his teammates when he aggressively drives to the paint. He's got great awareness, and he can quickly identify thin openings or streaking teammates for easy buckets. He seems to always be in the right place at the right time and he's never caught off guard by a quick pass or sudden development. Samuels has impressive length for his age, and he uses it to clean the glass on both ends effectively and block and alter his opponents' shots defensively. He has quick hands and can rack up steals in a hurry. Preston stays calm under pressure throughout his games and I have a feeling he's going to be getting plenty of attention going forward.     Seth is a fearless shooting guard that has one of the prettiest floaters I've seen in recent memory. No matter who his defender is, you can often find him bellowing toward the key and swishing rainbows over his opponents. Hancock's height is already progressing nicely and the majority of his opponents give up at least a few inches on him, which he uses to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He's an unselfish player, constantly finding his teammates with open looks and seeking the best shot available for his squad. He can be a menace on defense with his length and speed - full court chase-down blocks and constant disruption of his defenders are common to see at his contests. Hancock is already incredibly skilled at such a young age, I can't wait to see all the waves he makes next season and beyond.     Montarvo is a speedy point guard that seeks out challenges throughout his games. He's fantastic under pressure and at figuring out situational advantages on the fly. He's got a Euro step that is nearly unstoppable and he's skilled at creating his own offense if his team needs it. He's a great ballhandler and an even better passer - overhead, one-handed, cross-court, full court, he can pull all of them off with style and accuracy. Robinson is a ton of FUN to watch with the way he hypes up the crowd, shows his passion throughout the game, and finishes through contact to grab extra points for his squad. He's got a quick release that is nearly unblock-able combined with the burst to blow by his defender if he's given any opportunity. Montarvo is a true floor general - reminds me a bit of Kyrie - and he's only going to get better from here.     Memphis is a talented combo-guard that is an absolute sharpshooter from outside. He's excellent at getting to his spots and knowing where he can knock it down with ease more times than not. He's got active hands on defense, constantly disrupting his opponents and creating turnovers for extra possessions for his team. He's got impressive court vision and can pass the ball crosscourt like a lightning rod if he sees an open opportunity for a teammate. DaRosa is also great at sticking with and staying in front of his man on defense. You won't get any easy buckets on him. He can get hot quickly from the three-point line and he's a gamechanger in that way that can alter the momentum of a contest incredibly quickly. I expect DaRosa to turn plenty of heads this upcoming season and going forward.     Caleb is an excellent shooting guard that puts in the work behind the scenes and it shows on the court. He can absolutely light his opponents up from beyond the arc and he's an effective defender as well. You won't ever see him get out of the way, if anything, he jumps toward contact in order to get the steal or charge. He's FAST and can leave his defenders in the dust in an instant as he easily finishes at the rim. He's fantastic on the fast break, often taking it all the way himself or happily giving it up if his teammate has a better look. He's a heads-up playmaker and he affects the game in so many positive ways - you'll see those on and off the stat sheet, he's not afraid to do the dirty work while dominating. Lopez is a pleasure to watch on the court and he comes off as a future championship player to me - reminds me a bit of Jrue Holiday. I know he'll keep putting in the work and I can't wait to see him reap the rewards.

I've been thinking a lot about the future lately, and the future is BRIGHT for Texas basketball. There is a plethora of incoming young talent and it doesn't appear to be stopping anytime soon. Below are a handful of underclassmen that you don't want to miss.