East Texas Seniors Playing at a High Level

East Texas has several prospects that have begun separating themselves through consistent production, physical play, and a clear understanding of how to impact winning. Whether it was scoring in bunches, defending at a high level, or making timely plays in key moments, these East Texas standouts delivered performances that warrant attention moving forward.    [player_tooltip player_id='2854586' first='Austin' last=''] Brown's noticeable burst and pop separated him from the rest, allowing him to not only see the game ahead of time but also play at his own speed and pace, especially when countering secondary defenders. He sliced through traffic like a hot knife through butter, using elite footwork and hops to make dunks, Eurosteps, and crafty finishes look easy. Brown showed good shot selection, understanding when to pull it, when to penetrate, and when to make the extra pass.     The 6'3” small forward played with toughness across multiple facets of the game. Mbonu set hard, solid screens that consistently opened him up in roll actions. He was scrappy in the trenches, showing a willingness to battle for rebounds and even ripping the ball away when necessary. Mbonu displayed good hands not only on contested boards but also on entry passes, securing the ball before the defense could react in post-up and fronting situations, whether the pass came high, low, or on a line.     Jacob Gatlin was a relentless slashing guard who attacked the basket with full force, using his powerful frame and low center of gravity to get downhill in straight lines. Defensively, Gatlin's hands were active, his stance disciplined, and he consistently made opposing guards uncomfortable.     Jataivius Malone proved to be an unselfish guard who controlled the tempo and flow of the offense. He probed the defense patiently, making the right reads and consistently spotting cutters. Malone's athleticism jumped off the floor, highlighted by a transition dunk where he built speed and power before taking flight and finishing through three defenders. Defensively, Malone read long passes like a hawk, jumping overhead throws and advance passes while securing the ball at its peak with explosive timing and leaping ability.     [player_tooltip player_id='2555902' first='Jakevion' last='Sanders'] found his niche by shooting the gaps and jumping passing lanes, consistently turning defense into offense. Sanders exploded down the court for fastbreak finishes, elevating with finesse for powerful one or two-handed tomahawk slam dunks. Sanders covered ground effortlessly in the open floor, gathered in stride, and elevated off one foot with elite pop, cocking the ball back and flushing it through with authority.     Seth Gundlach wreaked havoc on the defensive end, consistently sitting in gaps one pass away where he could deny, deflect, or jump steals, something he did multiple times against North Lamar. Gundlach showcased quick, reactive hands and cat-like reflexes, swiping, stabbing, or undercutting passing lanes before opponents even realized what had happened.

East Texas has several prospects that have begun separating themselves through consistent production, physical play, and a clear understanding of how to impact winning. Whether it was scoring in bunches, defending at a high level, or making timely plays in key moments, these East Texas standouts delivered performances that warrant attention moving forward.