Inside Look at Plano East : Defending State Champs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>HC Matt Wester spoke about the differences between this team and last year's squad. There is only 1 returner who had a big role last season so the team lacks experience but Coach Wester has been really excited to see their growth already this season. He said guys are picking up on things very quickly. The special thing about this team is they play the same winning style of basketball that the team played last season. Guys are making the right plays, they are moving as a unit , and there's great chemistry. All great signs of a good season. Obviously it's hard to replace multiple seniors but with some shooters, a winning mentality, and one of the best players in the state Plano East is in a good position for another successful season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2554923"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ee14f4b190f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6'7 220 lb SF just committed to Texas State. He's coming off a storybook junior season on an undefeated state championship team where his role almost tripled from the previous season. The special thing about DJ after speaking to Coach Wester, is his ability to grow and get better. Wester told me DJ played minimal minutes his sophomore year , less than 5 on average and by junior year he was awarded TABC High School Player of the Year along with numerous other accolades including being a state champion. The coach spoke with me about DJ's character and leadership. Teachers and staff at school love him, his parents told me that the community embraces him as their own. He's the embodiment of a team caption.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This season DJ will take an even larger role as the offense will run through him. I'm anticipating possibly 20 ppg season where he will truly showcase his skill set. Coach Wester told me DJ's best skill is his passing ability and court vision so teams will have to come correctly or he will make them pay by finding open guys if teams overplay him. Regardless he will be a tough matchup for teams due to his size and skill. He looks tremendously slimmer and more athletic which was probably his weakest area last season. DJ told me he's been focusing on that part of his game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2555316"],"_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":2573018,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ee14f4b19bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Will most likely be the 2nd leading scorer for the team this season. [player_tooltip player_id='2555316' first='Izan' last='Qazi'] is a 6'4 skilled guard with great length and good athleticism. Coach Wester told me he really likes this kid's ability to score the basketball. He can do a lot of things with the ball in his hands and is a fantastic shooter. He told me last season he had a very limited role playing mostly garbage minutes but would regularly score within double digits in just a few minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2509512"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ee14f4b1a1a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">6'6 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2509512' first='Moustafa' last='Abualneel'] is a very good athlete with nice length.  I watched him dunk on somebody effortlessly in practice on a fast break. Although he had a very limited role last season coach is expecting him to have a big part in his system this season. Moustafa is a 4.0 kid and has been guarding DJ Hall for the last year and improving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2558322"],"_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":2573026,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ee27242723b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2558322' first='Alijah' last='Plummer'] is a very skilled guard who can shoot it and guard the ball very well. Coach Wester spoke highly of his skillset and ability to do different things on the floor. He said Alijah possesses a great deal of confidence and competitiveness.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2555641"],"_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":2573019,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ee14f4b1a6c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coach told me he's a tenacious rebounder, something they will need this season with the new squad. He's a lefty who's always in the gym.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2555640"],"_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":2573025,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ee272427300"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DJ Hall's younger brother already possesses some length and size at 6'4 now. He's already athletic and the coach told me his confidence is growing every day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2407014"],"_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":2573031,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ee272427353"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coach told me he has high expectations for this kid. Alex is a skilled guard who makes great decisions with the ball in his hands, especially for his age. He will be the 5th freshman to play varsity in school history his older brother did the same thing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">“He's a good athlete with his character and he works had” - Coach Wester</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->