Weeks 3 and 4 Scouting Report: (Part 1 of 3)
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Weeks 3 and 4 this year in Texas high school basketball was stacked with highly anticipated games and matchups. Two of the nation’s best teams went head-to-head against one another on an NBA court at the American Airlines Centers. Sophomores…
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Continue ReadingWeeks 3 and 4 this year in Texas high school basketball was stacked with highly anticipated games and matchups. Two of the nation’s best teams went head-to-head against one another on an NBA court at the American Airlines Centers. Sophomores are dominating the land all over Texas. Basketball was at its best at the end of November. Here are just a few of the standout performances I witnessed during the last couple of weeks of the month.
YPSI Prep 65 vs Duncanville 79
Ronald Holland Ronald Holland 6'9" | PF Duncanville | 2023 TX – Power Forward – Duncanville – 2023
Ronald Holland Ronald Holland 6'9" | PF Duncanville | 2023 TX is someone you can count on and expect to raise his level of play when facing off against the toughest competition in the country and this game was no different. During the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, Holland and the Duncanville Panthers had the opportunity to play the 4th ranked high school basketball team in the nation who just so happened to have future NBA draft prospect, Prep Hoops, ESPN, and every other major media sites’ top-ranked 2022 recruit in the country, Emoni Bates, and Ron didn’t hold back one bit. Holland was a huge defensive asset, sacrificing his body by taking charges, protecting the rim, and stepping out on the perimeter defending effectively. He even swatted away Bates shot on a 1-on-1 play when Emoni drove the lane on him. The Duncanville forward affected many shots that came his way and grabbed every board that fell in his vicinity. He was in complete control of the glass all game long, even throwing down some nasty putback dunks as he tends to do at least once a game. He may be a big man but he can moves like a guard at times with the way runs the court, puts the ball on the floor, shifts directions, change speeds, and get to his spots. There aren’t many limitations to his game, he’s very well rounded and only keeps getting better. Ron Holland Ron Holland 6'9" | PF Duncanville | 2023 State #7 Nation TX impressed everyone in attendance with his presence on the court, he looked unstoppable when grabbing rebounds and scoring around the basket. He went on to finish the game with 18 points and 16 rebounds, 7 of those coming on the offensive end. Ronald Holland Ronald Holland 6'9" | PF Duncanville | 2023 TX just continues to show the world why he’s the best 2023 prospect in Texas and is on his way to becoming the best in the nation.
Duncanville 84 vs Frisco Memorial 79
Ronald Holland Ronald Holland 6'9" | PF Duncanville | 2023 TX displayed sheer dominance against one of DFWs best up and coming teams in Frisco Memorial, putting up a stat line of 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. His skill set was on full display in this one, hitting stepback 3-pointers, throwing down putback dunks, snagging rebounds out the sky overtop of everyone, protecting the paint and swatting shots away left and right, even making some passes that led to buckets for his teammates. Holland played with great energy, passion, and intensity, as he does week in and week out. His outstanding effort on the court helped lead his team to an undefeated record through the month of November. Ron Holland Ron Holland 6'9" | PF Duncanville | 2023 State #7 Nation TX has the highest potential of any player in his class in the state of Texas and he doesn’t even look like he’s scratched the surface yet.
Duncanville 84 vs Frisco Memorial 79
Drew Steffe Drew Steffe 6'6" | PG Frisco Memorial | 2023 State #122 Nation TX – Shooting Guard – Frisco Memorial – 2023
Drew Steffe Drew Steffe 6'6" | PG Frisco Memorial | 2023 State #122 Nation TX is a pure scoring machine that was in full effect against Texas’s top-ranked basketball squad. Steffe shredded the Panthers defense with his quick high arching release, his ability to stop on a dime, catch and shoot, and get open for a spot-up jumper. This young man was on fire, everything he put up fell, even when driving to the basket he absorbed the contact and scored through it, resulting in multiple and-one foul calls for him. Drew’s shifty handles, ball skills, and footwork were on another level, he used some smooth, beautiful step-through and pivot moves to score in the paint. Steffe was also breaking guys down at the top of the key and pulling up from college range with ease. Drew Steffe Drew Steffe 6'6" | PG Frisco Memorial | 2023 State #122 Nation TX ended the month on a high note by putting up 29 points against Duncanville then following that up by showing another dimension to his game when he dropped 14 assists in a win over Birdville. This electrifying player has been completing out playing and dominating the top competition and top-ranked players in the state as well as the nation throughout the entire month, some even in the same week. Drew Steffe Drew Steffe 6'6" | PG Frisco Memorial | 2023 State #122 Nation TX is balling at an extremely high level and he’s doing it on a consistent basis.
69 Parish Episcopal vs Grapevine Faith 63
Grant Rein – Shooting Guard – Grapevine Faith – 2023
Not only is Grant Rein by far the most improved player of the season thus far, but he’s also one of, if not the youngest player on the team, and he’s leading everyone in scoring. Averaging 21 points per game, and he’s doing so efficiently, shooting over 50% from the field, and 3-point range, and 47% from inside the perimeter. Against Parish Episcopal, Rein snagged 9 boards and scored more than half the team’s points, pouring in 34 points on 14 of 24 shooting from the field, going 5 of 9 beyond the arc, and 9 of 15 from mid-range and closer. Grant was really feeling it, his teammates knew it, and they continued to feed him the ball. He put up points scoring from all three levels. He attacked the lane with a head full of steam and scored through contact, he showed the ability to catch and shoot from well beyond the arc, and also pull-up to shoot over tight defense in the mid-range. Good release point, his shot never changes, the ball always comes out of his hands right above his head. Right now, Grant Rein looks like the purest shooter of his class under 6 feet.
Frisco 65 The Colony 59
Rocco Paul Rocco Paul 6'4" | SG Frisco | 2022 State TX – Shooting Guard – Frisco – 2022
Frisco entered the gym on a 2-game losing streak but left the building with their second victory of the season, while also snapping The Colony’s 2-game win streak, largely due to Rocco’s 18 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field and 4 of 8 from deep. His ability to get open, create his own shot, and score from multiple spots from both the mid-range and the 3-point range was a handful for the defense to handle and account for at all times. This smooth shooter couldn’t be stopped from getting to his spots or getting his shot off. Paul played with a great determination to score, showing off some fantastic footwork, using pivots and stepback moves. Rocco Paul Rocco Paul 6'4" | SG Frisco | 2022 State TX was a knockdown shooter when spotting up from anywhere on the floor. When he was left open from beyond the arc he made sure to make the defense pay for their mistake, even with the slightest bit of space he stayed consistent and shot his shot.