Lonestar State Showdown 17U Forwards/Centers That Came to Play

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 Lonestar State Showdown kicked off Saturday with every team participating touching the hardwood floor. Throughout the day I was able to scout five forwards and centers that stood out to me during their games. I'm looking forward to another impressive day from these five tomorrow as well! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2407848"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fb18fb03abf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2407848' first='Aaron' last='Lacy'] is an enforcer in paint on both ends of the floor. Being vocal, he calls out screens defensively for his teammates which I don't see much from high school basketball players. He protects the rim forcing opposing players into bad decisions and shots on a regular basis. In the interior, he boxes out well on both ends using his frame to grab rebounds. Offensively he has good touch around the rim finishing through contact as he got plenty of and-one opportunities. At times he puts the ball on the floor to drive to the rim resulting in kick outs or him finishing plays at the rim. Aaron doesn't force too many plays as he plays very well within the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2555429"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fb18fb03b16"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2555429' first='Nicholas' last='Waki'] is a speed demon in transition off a defensive stop once he gets the ball in his hands, he was beating Cenla Hoops 2026 before they got their defense setup turning those opportunities into easy layups. Has a good finesse to his game offensively using a package of different moves to get his points inside the paint. Nicholas hustles on defensive and offensive rebounds at a high level. Defensively he has a long wingspan that he uses well to deflect passes and cover ground against his assignments on that end of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2837084"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2838168,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fb18fb03b78"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ralphael has a knack for knowing which way to go with the ball in hands when driving to the rim finding different ways of doing it in multiple offensive situations. Did a good job of dissecting the San Antonio ProSkills 2-3 defense at times making jumpers from the free throw line and driving to the basket. At times he cuts well off the ball which resulted in him getting easy layups.</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":2838157,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Rickey Smith","_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":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Forney High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Pro Skills Dallas 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":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fb18fb03c0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rickey Smith&nbsp;is a lengthy prospect that caught my eye with his ability to be a reliable slasher throughout his game against the [program_tooltip program_id='2824016' first='210' last='Titans'] 17U. He couldn't be stopped in transition driving to his right almost every single time converting those opportunities at a high rate. Rickey Smith is very versatile for his size being able to be an all-around player offensively. Defensively he rebounds the ball well as he uses his combined length and athleticism to grab them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2398266"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fb18fb03c5a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2398266' first='Elijah' last='York'] is standing at 6'4 and the team's tallest player as he impacts MMB Elite on both ends of the floor at a high level. Elijah can dribble down the floor with no problem creating mismatches against opposing big players that don't really have the foot speed to keep up with him. Spotting up on the perimeter he can convert opportunities from range when open as he made multiple in the two games he played today. Defensively he jumps really high to get rebounds grabbing them at a high-level securing possession for his team. If a shot goes up from the opposing team and it misses Elijah is most likely the one grabbing it off the glass. Elijah can impact the game being able to keep up with perimeter players defensively by sliding his feet and altering shots on all three levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->