Heart of America: Houston Hoops 14U

The future is bright in Oklahoma, where a group of talented young kids resides. They represent Houston Hoops, an organization that I saw do well with their 16U and 17U squads a year ago. This 14U squad is no different, as they display tremendous raw talent and game IQ. I can definitely see 5 of these guys on the must-see watchlist in Oklahoma in the coming years, if not already. The interesting thing about them is that they already seem to know their roles and what they are good at. Even more so, they seem to have a strong overall awareness of the game, which shows me that they truly love the game and know the sport. The skill sets for some are undeniable, and for others, you can see the joy that they have for playing. This group of guys for the Houston Hoops 14U squad, I believe, will carry the torch in future AAU tournaments and make huge waves in school league play during the fall.      Super High IQ Point Guard who passes first and controls the tempo of a game very well. I see him with the highest growth potential because he is comfortable with posting up at times near the FT line or mid-post, and he can create his own shot with ease when he wants to, but at the same time, never dominates the ball. He understands that too much dribbling can cost you, and he always keeps his head up on a swivel on both ends to survey his surroundings, which makes him a natural PG to me.     5'9 guard with the frame and arm length of a 6'3 guard with one of the best scoring abilities I've seen from anyone in the 14U class in Oklahoma or Kansas so far. This kid is an automatic bucket, and what makes him legit is that he starts it off on the defensive end. He has a strong instinct for the game on both ends and uses it to his advantage quite often.     Has explosive athleticism and a solid frame that allows him to be a strong finisher on the break and even a good rim protector. Even at his shorter stature currently, he already led the team in blocks at least on one occasion during the Heart of America Hoopfest, but more importantly, he has the gift of timing blocks when he contests shots, which tells me he leads the team in it often. He reminds me of Gary Payton II. He has the lateral quickness to be a devastating on-ball defender as well.     Has a true joy for the game, along with good handles and quickness that could put him at point guard later down the line, if not already.     6'0" Versatile forward who shows signs of being able to defend and fill in the gaps in the front court at both ends. He could have one of those summers next year, where he and his game grow significantly with more size and experience.

The future is bright in Oklahoma, where a group of talented young kids resides. They represent Houston Hoops, an organization that I saw do well with their 16U and 17U squads a year ago. This 14U squad is no different, as they display tremendous raw talent and game IQ. I can definitely see 5 of these guys on the must-see watchlist in Oklahoma in the coming years, if not already. The interesting thing about them is that they already seem to know their roles and what they are good at. Even more so, they seem to have a strong overall awareness of the game, which shows me that they truly love the game and know the sport. The skill sets for some are undeniable, and for others, you can see the joy that they have for playing. This group of guys for the Houston Hoops 14U squad, I believe, will carry the torch in future AAU tournaments and make huge waves in school league play during the fall.