Texas Freshman Showcase: Vocal Leaders

One thing that can be hard to find with younger players is the confidence to speak out and clearly communicate with their teammates and coaches on a consistent basis. The student athletes below showed no problems in that area and displayed leadership on both ends of the court throughout the showcase.    Xavier is a smart, skilled guard that isn't afraid to make his presence known on both ends of the floor. He's consistently directing traffic and encouraging teammates, which is something you absolutely want to see with your guard play. He's a fantastic passer that see the court and developing opportunities for his teammates extremely well. He can lead the fast break effectively and finish consistently at the bucket with the hesitation his passing skills cause.     Daniel is a clever, shifty combo guard that moves incredibly well without the ball and knows how to get to his spots where he can be most effective. He's a consistent communicator on both ends, letting his teammates know where he is, setting picks, and directing traffic. He's patient and he doesn't take bad shots, always passing on a decent attempt for a great one and letting the play develop on the offensive end. He's an excellent ballhandler with quick reactions and sound decision-making.     Ezekiel is a high-flying, impressive combo guard that never shorts his squad on effort or motivation. I love the way he plays the defensive glass, elevating with force and intention and snagging rebounds as if his contentment depends on it. He maneuvers effectively through traffic on the offensive end and draws plenty of attention to kick it to open teammates for open opportunities. He's a leader on the fast break and makes quick decisions effectively.     Coda is a physical, determined guard that plays with intention and purpose on both ends. He has great hands on defense and the ability to consistently frustrate his assignments by causing turnovers and general chaos. He has a nice pullup jumper and a keen sense to identify when to take them and when to pass them up in order to work his way into a better opportunity for his team. He battles through screens effectively and rarely allows his opponents a worry-free path in the lane.     Jax is a communicative, sharpshooting player that can change the momentum of a game for his team with his playmaking alone on both ends. He's a floor general offensively - directing traffic and seeing plays and opportunities develop in real-time with solid decision-making and leadership. He can shoot the ball incredibly well with extended range and go on hot streaks multiple times a game. His IQ is advanced for his age and it shows both offensively and defensively.

One thing that can be hard to find with younger players is the confidence to speak out and clearly communicate with their teammates and coaches on a consistent basis. The student athletes below showed no problems in that area and displayed leadership on both ends of the court throughout the showcase.