Lonestar State Showdown: 17U Driving Forces

There are players that stand out in a way that instantly tells you how important they are to their teams. The student athletes below did just that this past weekend by quickly demonstrating multiple areas of excellence.    Harold has a solid, strong frame and he's always aware of his surroundings on the floor. He's a smart player that makes great decisions in real-time; at one point I saw him toss a pass to himself off the backboard for an easy score because it was the best option available - not all players think that way. He's a lockdown defender and he's great at anticipating opposing passes and creating turnovers with chaos in passing lanes. He has a nice ballhandling ability with great footwork to match and he's not afraid to get physical in the paint. He's a fantastic communicator on both ends and he always knows the clock.     Wyatt is everywhere on the floor in the best ways on both ends. He has active hands and he's a great distributor off the drive with the ample space he creates. He can throw pinpoint deliveries to streaking teammates all the way up the floor for easy fast break scores. His IQ is through the roof and he's constantly communicating and leading with his teammates throughout the game. At one point, I even saw him coaching a teammate from the bench, which shows how passionate he is about winning and the game itself. He's an excellent defender with the length for impressive blocks and the skill to steal without fouling. He can create off the dribble and score virtually any time and he's a great finisher at the rim.     Khaelyb is a physical, tough player that can get downhill quick and easily finish through contact at the rim. He's a maniacal defender that thrives off creating havoc and frustration for his opponents. He gets to the line consistently, which keeps him in a nice rhythm offensively. He can create his own shots and does a nice job of creating space with his physicality and ballhandling. He's excellent at creating turnovers off the dribble for his opponent, whether that be by crowding him and making him uncomfortable or taking advantage of a vulnerable dribble.     Bradly is an excellent finisher on the fast break with no fear for any defender thrown at him. He shows calm as he faces full court coverage nearly every possession and courageously brings the ball up the floor for his team. He's a talented passer and makes great, quick decisions on the fly. He's a nice shooter that can sink shots with consistency from mid-range and beyond the arc. He's not afraid to get physical if needed and he has no quit in him whatsoever. No matter what happened on the floor, his mentality was always to make the next play regardless.     Charles is an efficient, high-motor player that is constantly making plays on both ends of the floor. He's an absolute force on the glass and he uses his large, solid frame to overpower his opponents when getting to the ball. He has the skill to go coast to coast whenever needed and he has a good eye for finding open teammates on the break. He has a powerful first step that he pairs with excellent footwork to make his way to the rim, often finishing through contact for a chance at extra points. He has a nice shooting touch and a fantastic floater in the lane that he likes to utilize.

There are players that stand out in a way that instantly tells you how important they are to their teams. The student athletes below did just that this past weekend by quickly demonstrating multiple areas of excellence.