West Texas Prospects Showing Stock Riser Potential

The talent pipeline out in West Texas continues to surge. After strong offseason showings, added physical development, and expanded roles within their programs, several rising seniors are trending toward true breakout seasons.    Elijah Paez made the game look easy due to his high basketball IQ, elite instincts, feel for the game, and advanced court awareness. He played with a sharp understanding of spacing and gaps, cutting at the most opportune times for easy layups. Defensively he showed real discipline, using his length and active hands to constantly make his presence felt. Paez flowed off pindowns and staggers ready to play-make, drawing attention as if he was going to score, only to set up teammates for kick-outs. His strong competitive motor is something that will translate immediately to the next level as he dove for loose balls, guarded the ball with toughness, and dug in to shrink space with perfect timing. His knack for changing the game showed up when it mattered most in the fourth quarter, where his defense and rebounding were huge, capped off by his one-handed putback dunk that sealed the game versus Aledo. Everything Elijah Paez did was conducive to winning, always looking to make the right basketball play.     [player_tooltip player_id='2835272' first='Jacob' last='Garcia'] played with calculated precision and change-of-pace manipulation that consistently caught defenders off guard in one-on-one situations. As a true floor general, he had a natural command of the offense. His timing and spacing reads were deliberate, never forcing penetration, always probing, retreat-dribbling, and re-engaging until an advantage appeared. The moment he touched the paint he became a quick decision maker, finishing with crafty layups or spraying wraparound kick-outs to the corner. As a finisher, Garcia leaned his body with control, using off-leg footwork and angle deception to score against length.     [player_tooltip player_id='2700042' first='Sebastian' last='Gutierrez'] scored efficiently through poise and precision, getting to his spots consistently for high percentage shot. He ran the floor with calculated rim-to-rim sprints, consistently beating his opponent down the floor and establishing early-post or wing position. At 6'5” his ability to finish through physicality and generate repeated paint touches made him a matchup nightmare within the flow of things. He also stretched the floor, showing a smooth pop out and spot up jumper, rising into a compact release.     A raw run-and-jump forward who thrives off pure energy, vertical pop, and straight-line speed. Gutierrez's game is powered by his physical tools, giving him legitimate two-way upside. In the open floor he covered ground effortlessly, turning defensive stops and rebounds into instant transition threats.     A pick-pocket on-ball defender whose hands were incredibly active and timely, almost as if he anticipated dribble moves two steps ahead. His defensive engine never turned off, shadowing dribbles, mirroring footwork, and shrinking space until the ball-handler felt completely smothered.     A floor general who looks to pass first and score second. Miranda shows a strong ability to read the floor in real time, dissecting defenses with cross-court throws and laser-like dimes through tight windows as he drew help.     A two-way difference maker whose hustle on both ends was instantly felt as he sprinted everywhere for the ball with aggressiveness and speed that was tough to contain. Defensively he was a pest, active hands ripping the ball away or poking it loose the moment a ball-handler got stagnant. Offensively he played with a real understanding of what should happen next, spacing, cutting, and moving the ball on time. Ruelas found the next open man instantly as the defense shifted, dropping off no-look dimes to backdoor cuts with pinpoint accuracy. He consistently looked to make the right pass and the winning play.

The talent pipeline out in West Texas continues to surge. After strong offseason showings, added physical development, and expanded roles within their programs, several rising seniors are trending toward true breakout seasons.