The Tune Up: Texas Prospects Setting The Tone Thursday

The Tune Up: Texas kicked off the event with an impressive level of competition across multiple courts on the first day. In this article, I'll highlight five standout performers who showcased their skills and delivered awesome performances on Thursday afternoon.    [player_tooltip player_id='3686093' first='Eli' last='Espinoza'] is a forward for Texan Elite that gave a big boost to his team with his perimeter shooting. Along the perimeter, he was able to knock down multiple open looks against the Texoma Heat 17U. Within the offensive flow, Eli's teammates found him often as the opposing defense collapsed when they penetrated the basket. In this game, he was a vital piece of the point total as the Texan Elite were able to win 68-44 in their Thursday night game.     6'7 [player_tooltip player_id='2507371' first='Brady' last='Williams'] is a big man for Texan Elite that has a nice touch around the rim, scoring with his back to the basket and when found in open space. As the center, he crashes the glass for offensive rebounds, which reward him with extra opportunities for the Texan Elite often. Brady plays with physicality in the interior, using his frame to gain advantages over his matchups.     Texoma Heat 17U's Dallas Williams was the main scorer in the game against Texan Elite. Offensively, he created a good amount of his shots off the dribble, getting into pull-ups in the mid-range and getting to the basket. When he had opportunities to shoot from the perimeter, he got his shot off quickly, converting a few throughout the game. In situations where the defense collapsed on his drives, at times he would pass it out to his teammates.     [player_tooltip player_id='2758537' first='Natayvious' last='Allen'] is a name that continues to make his stock rise with his performance on the court this summer. I've been able to see Natayvious's game for about 2 years now and there hasn't been a time I came away disappointed in his performances. Offensively, he attacks the rim with full force when a driving lane is open for him, using his long strides to gain an advantage in blowing past his on-ball defenders. In transition, he actively runs the floor, filling his lanes for fast break opportunities, finishing above the rim often. Defensively, he uses his wingspan to intercept passing lanes and defend at the basket. I would love to see more development on his on-ball defense. He could be even more effective if he develops that in his game.     Pro Skills Dallas 17U's [player_tooltip player_id='2557213' first='Tripp' last=''] Robinson was a vital contributor to [program_tooltip program_id='2955919' first='Team' last='Mentality'] 17U during their late game Thursday night. [player_tooltip player_id='2557213' first='Tripp' last=''] got to the basket multiple times, trying to cut into the lead throughout the game. Most of his drives were finished on the left side of the basket successfully, even with contact at times. The opposing defense couldn't really find an answer to his drives for a good amount of the game. The determination to stay aggressive despite being down caught my eye. With the ball in his hands, he generated passes that created more ball movement and finished plays from teammates.

The Tune Up: Texas kicked off the event with an impressive level of competition across multiple courts on the first day. In this article, I'll highlight five standout performers who showcased their skills and delivered awesome performances on Thursday afternoon.