Texas Freshman Showcase: Elite Passers

A jaw-dropping assist can be just as entertaining as a vicious slam dunk in some cases, and I saw a lot of that at the recent showcase in Haltom City. Below are a handful of skilled individuals that know how to dish the rock with ease.    Beckham is a skilled, smooth guard that had the prettiest pass I saw in the showcase - a behind-the-back laser thrown nearly cross-court that landed right in his teammate's streaking hands. He's a true floor general - leading the charge for his squad at every opportunity and finding seemingly impossible opportunities out of thin air. A full-court pass he threw with the accuracy of Peyton Manning later in the day caught my attention yet again. His court awareness is special and he's cool under pressure - which he demonstrated by hitting a game-winning shot in overtime. He's effective on defense as well, nabbing steals regularly and creating havoc for his opponents. He's a smart player that makes the right call nearly every time. Hopkins is going to gain plenty of attention quickly in his high school career.     Donovan is a solid, strong guard that has a knack for getting his hands on the ball on both ends of the floor. He forces jump balls with regularity on defense, knowing when and where to pounce without creating contact. He's an excellent decision-maker on the fly and he can pass the ball effectively and set his teammates up for success. He's not afraid to lead the break down the floor for his team and he can finish at the rim when he needs to as well. He's incredibly active defensively and that leads to multiple blocks and plenty of chaos for the opposing squad. He's got a nice floater he falls back on if he finds himself with a little space on his drives. McKinley's going to get better and better and should garner plenty of attention throughout his high school campaign.     Drake is a long, talented forward that has a knack for making impact plays on both sides of the ball. He can pass it the length of the floor with laser-like accuracy and his teammates appreciate him for it. He's got a solid frame that he uses in the paint to create opportunities, gobble rebounds for additional opportunities, and guard his rim with ferocity. He has quick hands that he'll use to snatch the ball in an instant if you're not careful. He enters the lane like a bull and is not afraid of any sort of contact in the least. He's always hustling on he floor, you'll never see him hang his head or take a play off. I expect Chatman to make a ton of noise in his high school career and I'm excited to see it.     Gavin is a talented, lengthy point guard that is simply dangerous offensively, and this makes his passing game that much more effective. He can knock down jumpers with regularity and he's got a solid ballhandling ability, which keeps his defenders on their toes. He's got a good eye for potential passing lanes and can fit the rock in the thinnest of spaces for a flawless delivery and finish at the hoop. He had one of the more impressive passing plays on the day - creating a steal defensively and then dishing it to his streaking teammate for a bucket right at the buzzer. He's one you have to constantly keep your eye on defensively because he always seems to be one step ahead. Gonzales is going to be a force to reckon with in high school.     Westley is a solid, skilled guard with a passing game as silky as Ron Burgundy's pajamas. He's constantly setting his teammates up for success and elevating the games of everyone around him. He's great at finding his spots and knocking down shots consistently and he's a tough player - you won't find him backing down from anyone. He's a great finisher at the rim and he eats boards on both ends of the floor with regularity. He's an active defender and always has hands in his opponents' faces. He's constantly creating steals, pursuing chase-down blocks, and nabbing extra opportunities for his team. Gillum is going to continue to improve and will turn more and more heads as his high school career progresses.

A jaw-dropping assist can be just as entertaining as a vicious slam dunk in some cases, and I saw a lot of that at the recent showcase in Haltom City. Below are a handful of skilled individuals that know how to dish the rock with ease.