Texas Expo: Breakout Players

The hunt for players I've yet to see play is always fun and I love that tournaments give me the opportunity to see a big group of talented student athletes at once. The players below caught my attention in a great way with their stellar play this past weekend.    Andrew is a speedy, talented combo guard that caught my eye quickly with his impressive playmaking ability. He's incredibly quick and he stays low to the ground, making it a huge challenge for larger players to keep pace with him. He's got an awesome passing ability - consistently finding his guys with wide open looks and delivering with pinpoint accuracy. He can go on a streak from beyond the arc quickly and he's not afraid to bang bodies with bigger opponents on his drives. James is a courageous player and is skilled at reading opposing plays and exploiting his opponent. At one point, he threw a full court pass that landed perfectly in the hands of his streaking teammate and it resembled more of a beautiful touchdown pass than anything else. He's got a pretty floater he likes to lean on in the lane and he uses it effectively to get his shots up and over taller defenders. James is a force to be reckoned with and that will continue in his Senior campaign.     Dante is a skilled, communicative combo guard that always stays ready for his team. He can light it up from beyond the three-point line and he can do it in bunches, which often leaves the opposing team on the ropes. He makes great cuts when moving without the ball and puts himself in positions to be effective at all times. He's got a nice reverse lay-in he likes to go to when his opponent rises too quick and he's an excellent passer off his drives - consistently setting his teammates up for success. He can create his own shot off the dribble if needed and he's incredibly active on both ends of the floor. I expect Dyer to make a ton of waves in his Senior season and I can't wait to see all the attention he attracts.     Aidan is a calm, talented point guard that knows how to lead the charge down the floor for his squad. He never panics under pressure and works his way out of any jams he encounters one thought-through step at a time. His court awareness is off the charts and he never seems like he doesn't know what's going on down the floor. He's a skilled passer and regularly sets his guys up with open opportunities and he's a great finisher at the rim. He's got elite ballhandling skills, which also help in jams and allow him to create space for himself when elevating off the dribble. He knows how to get to his spots effectively and he moves fantastically without the ball. Barberena is set to make a big impact in his Senior season and I can easily see why.     Jamal is a solid, physical combo guard that knows how to be an effective leader. He's vocal on the floor and excellent at running the break for his team and making great decisions throughout the ballgame. He's fearless - never shying from contact and actually using it to his advantage in most cases. He's a talented passer and can set his teammates up with wide open looks in multiple ways. He uses his body to create separation on the drive and he does this often, leaving his defenders frustrated and frazzled. He can stop on a dime and pullup with a solid shooting ability, sinking it from mid-range and beyond the three-point line. He's got quick hands on defense and regularly picks passes and causes disruptions for his opponent. Davis is going to turn a ton of heads in his Junior season and I can't wait to see what comes of it.     Trey is a talented, versatile guard that can make a positive impact for his squad in a plethora of ways throughout the game. He's a great ballhandler and can create off the dribble, he pairs this with solid decision-making and becomes a double-edged sword for his opponent - either sinking the bucket himself or quickly dishing to a teammate with a better look at the hoop. He has the ability to drive coast to coast if needed and he's an excellent shooter from mid-range and beyond the arc. He's a well-rounded player, which shows through his lockdown defense. He has the energy and stamina to guard his opponent's top talent in a full court press for significant periods of time. He also has the ability to create contact and follow through on his shots, setting up multiple and-1 opportunities for himself throughout his games. Trey's not showing any signs of slowing down for his Senior campaign and he's one to catch live every opportunity you get.

The hunt for players I've yet to see play is always fun and I love that tournaments give me the opportunity to see a big group of talented student athletes at once. The players below caught my attention in a great way with their stellar play this past weekend.