2021's To Look For: High School Season Preview

Finally!!! The start of the high school season is here and EVERYONE is excited. However, this year will be different by every meaning of the word. We are still in the midst of COVID-19 and to the credit of the school districts in the Houston area, rules have been implemented to keep everyone safe. With that being said, people will not be able to fully enjoy high school basketball in the same manner that the have in years past. Regardless, there are still things to look for and plenty of 2021 prospects that remain available for college programs. This past summer, what in ways, was a separation summer due to the fact that it was easy for players to just sit at home and be lazy. So one of the intriguing things to look for is whether these players were serious enough to still find ways to put in the work and continue to get better. Here are some of the 2021 prospects, that you may have not seen, to keep an eye on, along with some highlights.   Ori Limbrick - 6'0 PG | George Ranch High School [embed]https://youtu.be/xHDmsmm95w0[/embed] Ori epitomizes the phrase Floor General. He dictates tempo, gets his team in sets and makes good reads. Offensively, he can score on all three levels, however he does not force the issue. He is patient and picks his spots to effect the game with his scoring. Currently, he is listed at 6’0 and he has great size and strength for his position. This allows him to be able to absorb contact on offense and be physical on the defensive end.   Ethan Shiflet - 6’5 Wing | Morton Ranch High School   [embed]https://youtu.be/R6LfFYAZvHM[/embed] Ethan is a long guard that can either lead his team in scoring, or provide a team with the "other" aspects of the game. His vision is great for his size and he is a willing passer. A team can play him as a guard but also move him down to the forward position, so he poses as a mismatch threat every game. He can knock down the three, rebound, play with his back to the basket and finish above the rim.   Elijah Bernstein - 6’0 PG | Houston Christian High School [embed]https://youtu.be/k1MnYMiAeOA[/embed] A high energy point guard is always coveted and that is exactly what Elijah can provide. He plays with extremely active hands which leads to steals and also plays the passing lanes well. Elijah has a knack for getting into the teeth of the defense and making plays for himself and others. He is also a consistent shooter for beyond the arc, averaging 40% from deep last year for the Mustangs.   Kevin Boone - 6’7 F/G | LaMarque High School   [embed]https://youtu.be/bga6oP8bjRI[/embed] Long. Athletic. Active. Kevin "KJ" plays with a smoothness that could lead you to believe he is not playing very hard, but the contrary is true about him. He crashes the boards, runs the floor well, blocks shots, all of the things one would expect from someone considered to be a high motor guy. In addition, he has the ability to stretch the floor and make threes, with a high release point which is difficult to defend.   Luke St. Julien - 5’11 PG | Katy Taylor High School   [embed]https://youtu.be/Nw3dx53cgA4[/embed] "Cool Hand Luke." St. Julien is as cool on the court as his name. He is always poised, never rattled and makes clutch shots. His biggest improvement has been on the defensive end, particularly in help defense and with understanding defensive rotations. As a result, Luke creates turnover, and on the other end of the floor takes care of the ball. He is a pass-first PG but can definitely score when he needs to.   Jaylon Jackson - 6’8 Wing | Dobie High School   [embed]https://youtu.be/Fo8162pfUgw[/embed] Jaylon really impressed over the course of the summer. A 6'8 guy that can do multiple things on the floor, including finishing above the rim. His slight build is not an indication of his strength. He has no issue guarding bigger players on the post because he really knows how to use his length on that end of the floor. He is a three level scorer that knows how to get to his spots.   [player_tooltip player_id="887090" first="Drew" last="Lutcher"] - 6’6 G | Travis High School [embed]https://youtu.be/FRsWaJRE5Eo[/embed] Drew is relatively new to the Houston scene, moving to the city over the course of the summer. First impression: he is a southpaw that can shoot the ball and finish with both hands. It doesn’t matter the scenario, when he releases the ball it always has a chance to go in. He moves well without the ball but with the ball in his hands, his movements and handles are good enough for him to create separation and his jumper does the rest.   AJ Richard - 6’5 G | Pearland Dawson High School [embed]https://youtu.be/s4BbirU_zUU[/embed] AJ is a shooting guard with great size and feel for the game. When he is aggressive on the offensive end, he is a difficult match up for opposing teams. Because of his size, contact rarely effects him which allows him to create space. He has the ability to get to the rim and finish through traffic but is more effective in the mid-range to point area. In addition, he is a great passer, keeping everyone involved.   Stephen Smith Jr - 6’8 F | St Thomas High School [embed]https://youtu.be/ZLs5s_e8cNQ[/embed] Stephen is more a traditional big. He is a great rebounder who affords his team multiple possessions several times throughout the game. If need be, Stephen can step out and make a three with his soft touch, but rarely does he drift to the perimeter. He is also good at blocking / altering shots, using his length inside to impact the game. And as previously mentioned, he has a soft touch so he is solid from the stripe which is good because he draws a lot of fouls.   Marion Williams - 6’0 G | Klein Forest High School   [embed]https://youtu.be/ZbA6WGgsVQY[/embed] It has been fun watching this young man grow. He started out as a shooting guard who was only known for his stroke on the perimeter, to a combo guard that can play a bulk of the point guard minutes. He sees the floor well, controls the game on both ends, gets his teammates in advantageous positions, and oh yeah, he can still shoot the ball at a high clip. Defensively, he is a good perimeter defender that is not afraid to mix it up with the bigs down low and come out of there with a steal.   Tyler Thomas - 5’10 PG | St Thomas Episcopal [embed]https://youtu.be/FO9uXNs36CM[/embed] Tyler is the type of player that every coach loves. He prides himself on defense, his work ethic and his will to play harder than anyone on the court. An absolute energizer bunny, Tyler’s hyper style of play is contagious to teammates and results in winning plays, particularly on defense. He is not afraid to put his body on the line and he is so accustomed to this type of play that he is able to absorb contact and still finish. Also, able to consistently knock down perimeter shots.