RCS Sports Spring Icebreaker Saturday Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last weekend officially was a big start to the 2025 grassroots season in Houston. The annual Spring Icebreaker tournament was held at various venues around the Greater Houston area and was a hot ticket for fans, coaches, and teams alike. Several new prospects emerged at this event and several under the radar players made themselves known to everyone in attendance. Let's closer examine the games of some of these prospects who are new and some those of us in Texas are already familiar with...<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2419916,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2556062' first='Shia' last='Francis']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Second Baptist ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Texas Takeover UA Rise ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e08949c018c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shia was a dominant wrecking force in Texas Takeover's close Saturday primetime loss against Fam Elite. Francis attacked the rim aggressively, putting his body on the line each and every possession either drawing a foul or finishing through multiple defenders. He is calm under pressure and plays with the kind of infectious energy that every coach should demand from his players. The part of Mr. Francis' game that had me the most impressed was his drive and dish ability out of the post. He had the awareness to know when he had a one-on-one mismatch to drive to the rim or kick out to an open teammate for a better look. Shia plays very aggressive, nonstop defense due to a muscular frame and is often able to bully opposing ballhandlers into being uncomfortable in a halfcourt setting. He is on my list of top prospects to watch for not only Greater Houston in 2026, but also the state of Texas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"DaTerrick Buckner","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Humble ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Fam Elite 2026 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e08949c02b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Buckner was one of the lead guards for Fam Elite 2026 in their buzzer beater win over Tx Takeover UA Rise in a battle between two of the top teams in Greater Houston. DaTerrick controls the pace of the game well with the ball in his hands and has the vision and court IQ to know where his teammates are at all times. He has eyes in the back of his head on defense and uses this to gain steals that he can easily turn into fastbreak points as well as being a good break starter for his Fam Elite squad. Buckner also knows how to be smart with his shot selection and is a good vocal leader for his teammates on offense and defense. He had a very productive year at Humble High School this year and I can't wait to see how it translates into AAU during this grassroots summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ron Locke ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westside ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"HABC Bulldogs NY2LA 16u ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e08949c039a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ron was a double-double machine for HABC this past weekend in two tough matchups against TMA NxtPro 2027 and [program_tooltip program_id='2075435' first='Dallas' last='Showtyme'] UA Rise. Locke had 21 points and 15 rebounds his first game of the season against TMA and 18 points and 12 rebounds his second outing against Showtyme. Playing an undersized big man at 6'3, he has the physicality and grit to beat his opponents to the rim using bully ball and muscling up tough shots through contact. He is also effective in the pick and roll scenario as well as, cutting to the basket at opportune times for an easy layup/dunk. Watch out for Locke to be an underrated 2027 prospect, especially in Houston this summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ja'Torius Blair ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Texas Rebels 17u","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e08949c0492"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ja'Torius Blair was probably my most underrated standout of the day on Saturday as the first time I was able to watch him play was against the HABC Bulldogs NY2LA during the early afternoon session. Blair is a dynamic player who is a great 3 level scorer who knows how to get to his spots and knock down open shots as well as play his role on offense. He has underrated defensive prowess under the basket as well as using his wingspan and lateral quickness on the perimeter to intimidate ballhandlers and notch several takeaways for the Rebels. Playing up in the "Super Varsity Showcase" as a 2027, Ja'Torius has a consistent shooting touch from anywhere on the court and helped his team stay in the game on more than one occasion during this contest. I will be keeping him on my radar as the summer progresses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->