Season Preview: Impactful Big Men

High school basketball is back in Texas and we are graced with plenty of talent to see in our great state. Below are a handful of forwards and centers that I expect to come out of the gate quickly for their squads and only ascend from there.    [player_tooltip player_id='2382175' first='Xavier' last=''] is a lengthy, hard-working player entering his freshman year at Burleson Centennial. He's the kind of player that eats, sleeps, and breathes basketball and coaches can be assured that he's willing to put in the work to be great. He's a savvy defender - stays ready, stays aware, and always stays in front of his man. He's skilled at creating havoc for his opponent and creating turnovers and extra possessions for his squad. He's got a knack for anticipating where the opposition is going with the ball next and he often picks passing lanes easily for guaranteed dunks on the other end. He never gives up on a play either - he will not stop running on a fast break until that ball is in the hoop for his team. He's got a nice shooting ability from mid-range and beyond the arc and can stretch the floor effectively, opening up plenty of opportunities for his teammates. I expect Duncan's freshman season to be attention-grabbing, and he's the kind of player that will ensure he only continues to get better from here.     Warren is a strong, fast forward that can quickly make an impact in several ways for his team. He's talented in the paint, using his strength to back down defenders and rack up high-percentage shots for his team. He's incredibly determined, always after the ball and putting in the hustle whether he has the rock or not. He moves fantastically without the ball, regularly making impressive cuts to the hoop and making it easy for his teammates to find him streaking toward more points. He can also pull up from three and knock it down consistently, which makes him a multi-faceted threat for any teams game-planning against him. He's got a nice lefty hook that's nearly un-guardable in the key and he's an excellent rim protector on defense as well. I expect Brewer to continue to turn plenty of heads in his upcoming senior season.     Braeden is a long, incredibly quick forward that can score on his opponent in an absolute flash. His release is lightning-fast and his length allows him to easily elevate over most of his defenders. He's a skilled shooter with impressive range that stretches well beyond the arc and he's deadly on the fast break - consistently making the right decisions quickly and setting himself and his teammates up for success. He's smart with how he uses his anticipation to repeatedly get ahead of the pack for easy buckets. He's got a mean crossover and he's graceful in the air - which is fun to watch and allows him to adjust his body mid-flight for the best look at the basket. His frame will continue to fill out and he'll continue to get stronger - which will only make him even more of a threat to his opponents. I expect Dawson to have a stellar second year at Medina Valley and he's one you don't want to miss if you have the opportunity to catch him live.     Jacari is a big, strong forward that can make his opponents pay in a hurry. He's incredibly talented with his hands on defense - consistently creating steals and extra possessions for his squad. He's effective and active on the offensive glass, making himself known quickly to the opposing defense. He's got a solid frame that will only continue filling out and he's impressively powerful for such a young age. He's patient and has nice footwork in the paint - making him an extremely difficult assignment for his opponents. He's got a nasty crossover that can break ankles on command and he uses the backboard very nicely, often sinking the most difficult shots because he knows exactly where to place the ball. Irvin's going to continue to turn heads in his sophomore season and I can't wait to see him ascend as he performs at a high level.     Beau is impressively active in the key and has a nice ability to stretch the floor with a shooting range that extends beyond the three-point line. He towers over most of his opponents and he's incredibly strong, making him nearly impossible to guard in the paint. He's an intelligent player with a nice basketball IQ, never rushing into any bad decisions and taking his time getting the best opportunity available for himself and his teammates. I imagine Patterson turns heads based on his size alone, but there's a lot more to his game than that. He has great footwork and moves well for a big man, making him a threat inside the key and out. He reminds me a bit of the great Arvydas Sabonis and has the potential to develop into something similar. Patterson is going to continue to make a big impact going into his junior season and I recommend taking every opportunity you get to see him play live.

High school basketball is back in Texas and we are graced with plenty of talent to see in our great state. Below are a handful of forwards and centers that I expect to come out of the gate quickly for their squads and only ascend from there.