Austin Varsity Summer League 2025 Stock Risers

The [player_tooltip player_id='2854586' first='Austin' last=''] Varsity Summer League was a jammed pack event that brought plenty of competition to the forefront that may not see each other again during the high school season. Throughout the month-long event I evaluated many prospects from the twelve teams that participated. In this article I will be going over five prospects that stood out from the bunch!    When [player_tooltip player_id='2415815' first='Desmond' last='Etienne'] has the ball, he consistently makes the right passes, even when he doesn't have a clear opportunity to score. He's particularly effective at finding the open man going downhill to the basket, making good reads in those situations. Throughout the month, I witnessed Desmond have both impressive scoring and passing performances. When scoring, he can consistently get on streaks, making shots from different areas of the floor. Defensively, Desmond played exceptionally well, with his on-ball presence and off-ball coverage. I saw him strip ball handlers, deflect passes, and maintain an aggressive play on the defensive end of the floor. The effort he showed to make up for his mistakes was exceptional. Off turnovers, he kept his attitude sharp and made effort plays to follow up on his mistakes.     [player_tooltip player_id='2621937' first='Jermaine' last='Thomas'] is a pure shooter who consistently hits multiple standing threes throughout the games I watched him play. Once he gets into a rhythm, he can maintain high accuracy in his shots. In my opinion, he was one of the best shooters in the [player_tooltip player_id='2854586' first='Austin' last=''] Summer League. On the other side of the ball, I was impressed with his hustle, as he put pressure on the ball and in passing lanes at times.     Iowa Colony's Jaylen Brown is a formidable offensive threat. In transition, he excels at running the floor, showcasing his ability to play above the rim in every game I've watched. His athleticism sets him apart as he transitions from defense to offense, effortlessly beating opponents down the floor at times. Additionally, Jaylen has the remarkable ability to get into rhythm from the three-point line, sinking shots from various spots on the court. Defensively, he covers a significant amount of ground to effectively defend his assignments while also being able to generate deflections due to his impressive length.     [player_tooltip player_id='2241518' first='Jaylen' last='Singleton'] is an instant scoring threat when he's on the court. His ability to create his own shot with his exceptional ball-handling skills complements his quickness, which allows him to blow by his defenders. He operates in the mid-range and can knock down perimeter shots on and off the dribble. With his drive to always get a bucket, Jaylen has the potential to be Iowa Colony's leading scorer. While he's impressive on the offensive end, he also plays hard on defense.     Josh Smith, a prospect I've been following since his recent high school season at Elsik High School, having an outstanding season. He was named 20-6A First Team All-District, Offensive Player of the Year, and MVP. His impressive season included scoring 460 points. Josh's offensive rhythm is impressive, especially when he goes downhill. He has developed in various ways to create open for layups for himself, extending his rhythm from the inside out. Playing the point guard, he takes on a significant responsibility to set up his teammates for success. He effectively sets them up in half-court and transition situations. Josh has shown improvement in handling aggressive defenders on offense. He remains composed and in control of the ball, even under pressure.

The Austin Austin 6'2" | CG Covenant Classical | 2027 TX Varsity Summer League was a jammed pack event that brought plenty of competition to the forefront that may not see each other again during the high school season. Throughout the month-long event I evaluated many prospects from the twelve teams that participated. In this article I will be going over five prospects that stood out from the bunch!