Texas Freshman Showcase: Silky Shooters

When a student athlete can develop their jumper to an advanced level early, it really can lead to something special. The handful of sharpshooters below made themselves known in their showcase games this past weekend.    Angel is a talented guard that can shoot lights out from beyond the arc and get on a hot streak that can get his opponents in trouble in a hurry. He's got solid ballhandling skills and can drive and finish with either hand, making him difficult to contain offensively. If you crowd him, he'll likely work his way past you and throw up a pretty floater for an easy bucket. If you give him space, you better have some long arms and quick reaction time because he's going to throw the three-ball down on you with any opportunity. Lara was one of the more pure shooters I saw at the showcase. He has a nice mid-range game and can play effective defense as well. Lara is a winner that will always be needed on winning teams as long as he continues to light it up from the field.     Haynes is a long, talented guard that makes shooting look like an absolute breeze. His form and rotation are some of the best I've seen recently and it's amazing he's shooting the ball this way at this young of an age. He's just starting his high school career, but he looks like a seasoned vet when he puts up his shots. He uses his length to give him an advantage on the defensive end as well, swatting shots consistently and making his opponents alter their attempts where a make is highly unlikely. He has an incredibly quick release and recognizes any amount of space he's given instantly while he's squaring up his defender. His tall frame allows him to elevate to a point where he's rarely blocked or even bothered on his attempts. Brookhart is going to make a ton of noise in his high school campaign and I'm excited to see it.     Sheriff is a strong, smart player that can beat his opponents in a multitude of ways. He's got a beautiful mid-range jumper and can knock it down easily from beyond the arc. He's long for his age and terrorizes his opponents on defense with his reaching ability. He's skilled at swiping the ball without fouling and can create havoc for his opponents quickly. He also completes the chase-down block in textbook fashion, so don't get too comfortable on the fast break if he's trailing anywhere behind you. His size and solid frame give him the ability to bang bodies down low on offense and be effective in the paint as well, making him an extremely versatile player. If there's a loose ball, he's always on the floor after it or the first one to it. He certainly doesn't lack heart or hustle. Kareem will turn plenty of heads in high school with his play and it will be fun to watch.     Favour is a lengthy, talented guard with a lightning-fast release that'll have his jumper swishing on you before you can blink. He's a skilled ballhandler that can finish at the rim, making his offensive game multi-faceted and extremely difficult to contain. Even if you manage to stay in front of him, his floater is pretty and he'll sink it on you more times than not. His step-back is similar to his release, so quick it's hard to counter it at all. His length gives him the ability to create plenty of space for himself and he can elevate over most, if not all, of his opponents. He's aggressive and fearless, showing no hesitation when he sees an opportunity. He hustles on the glass on both ends of the floor and no matter what's going on in the game, he always seems to stay calm and even-keeled. I expect David to be heavily sought after by the time he gets to the latter part of his high school career.     Gavin is a skilled combo guard with a tall frame and impressive wingspan. Throughout his showcase games, he kept doing the right things over and over again and making me go back to my notes and add more about him. He knows where his spots are on the floor and he moves incredibly well without the ball in order to get to them. His specialty is lighting it up from beyond the arc and he can get on a hot streak FAST. He's also an excellent passer and is able to get his teammates great looks consistently. He doesn't slouch on the boards on either end of the court and he makes winning plays that can swing the momentum of the game in his team's favor. I expect Peck to be a very well-known name around the high school gym in no time.

When a student athlete can develop their jumper to an advanced level early, it really can lead to something special. The handful of sharpshooters below made themselves known in their showcase games this past weekend.