2024 Player Rankings Update: Newcomers

<a href="https://prephoops.com/texas/rankings/2024-rankings/">CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 TEXAS PROSPECT RANKINGS</a> #23 [player_tooltip player_id="1487473" first="Aaron" last="Perez"] | SG | Klein Collins HS | Grassroots: Houston Defenders UAA Top ten ranked shooting guard, [player_tooltip player_id="1487473" first="Aaron" last="Perez"] is coming off of a terrific year where he was awarded 6A First Team All-District honors after averaging 7 points per game for the Klein Collins Tigers. Throughout the school year and this summer, Perez has put his dynamic scoring capabilities on full display, showing a true prowess for shooting the rock, especially off the dribble where he’s more than capable of getting to his spots within the arc and creating separation with his body, his use of angles, spin moves, and side steps before going up with the shot. Perez instinctually utilizes quick and power dribbles to go along with his creativity when looking to get his own shot. In transition, Aaron is a constant threat with and without the ball in his hands, his open-court speed makes it easy for him to get to the rack where Perez is a proven crafty finisher on either side of the rim. Perez’s outstanding play has already begun attracting high major Division 1 attention, recently receiving a scholarship offer from Texas Christian University. <hr /> #28 [player_tooltip player_id="1479805" first="Dilen" last="Miller"] | PG | Christ Academy HS There’s a lot to like about the 6-foot-3 guard, [player_tooltip player_id="1479805" first="Dilen" last="Miller"]. This kid produced an outstanding sophomore campaign averaging over 27 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals per game while leading the Christ Academy Warriors to their first-ever TAPPS 1A State Championship appearance and title win. Along the way, Miller also earned himself a number of accolades from the 1A First Team All-District honor, to First Team All-State, to the District MVP, to the State Tournament MVP. [player_tooltip player_id="1479805" first="Dilen" last="Miller"] flat out annihilated the competition he faced and put up jaw-dropping stats all season long and it translated perfectly during tournament time, upping his play to a ridiculous 34 points and nearly 14 rebounds per game, with a season-high of 43 points to lead Christ Academy to the Semi-Finals round of play. Offensively, Dilen makes everything look smooth and easy. Miller’s handle is tight and well-controlled with zero wasted dribbles, he keeps separation, shows creativity, and good unpredictability. When it comes to getting to his hot spots, Miller can do so in one or two dribbles and fluidly go into his shooting motion showing range that extends out to college distance. Defensively, he’s a ball hawk who has a great sense of where his opponent will pass the ball next and the ability to cause turnovers at an unbelievably high rate. Dilen Miller has proven to be an efficient scoring guard with an alpha mentality, the killer instinct he plays with is going to take him far in this game. <hr /> #66 [player_tooltip player_id="1126056" first="Tyran" last="Mason"] | SG | Plano HS | Grassroots: BeastUp Basketball [player_tooltip player_id="1126056" first="Tyran" last="Mason"] has taken his game to a new level and is having an impressive breakout summer with the dynamic performances he has displayed as of yet, putting points on the board in a multitude of ways, dribble penetration, pull-up jumpers in the mid-range, and lights out shooting from deep. This shot-creator comes well equipped with a dangerous bag full of combo and counter dribbles. Mason contains a remarkable knack for creating his own shot off the dribble often without the help of ball screens or drawn-up plays. Tyran is on his way to becoming a master of generating driving angles while sizing his defender up and freezing them with his gather and hang dribbles before attacking the lane or to a spot in the mid-range with his first step. His footwork, change of direction, speed, and pace are a marvel to behold, Mason is a tricky player to guard who really understands how to deceive his opponent while getting his own shot. Mason, also has good size, he appears as a very long and tall 6-foot-4 and the use of that length plays a huge role in him consistently being able to get a clean shot off and over contesting defense. It’s quite possible that this 2024 prospect will be looked at as one of the purest three-level bucket getters in North Texas as he is quickly becoming known as a crucial scorer thus far this summer, dropping over 20 points per game in each tournament on a regular basis and he’s just beginning to scratch the surface of his talents, Tyran’s confidence and scoring prowess will serve him well going into his junior season. <hr /> #72 [player_tooltip player_id="787346" first="Darkaun" last="King"] | PF | Texas Alliance of Christian Athletes (TACA) | Grassroots: Houston Hoops EYBL 8th-ranked power forward, [player_tooltip player_id="787346" first="Darkaun" last="King"] is a two-way stretch big with a solid basketball IQ and an intimidating toughness on both sides of the ball. King is as consistent of a contributor across the board as they come, but it’s his capability to produce offense at an astonishing level out of the high post that stands out the most. [player_tooltip player_id="787346" first="Darkaun" last="King"] has the ball skills to put the rock on the floor to blow by his opponent or initiate the offense. He displays good footwork with his back to the basket using spin moves and powerful drop steps to force his way inside or with his sweet stepback mid-range jumper that he can bury over the top of a defender. This forward can spread the court beyond the perimeter and drill spot-up catch-and-shoot three-pointers as well using his nice shooting stroke and very fluid and soft-touch off his fingertips. High potential and effectiveness as a threatening pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop guy due to his natural ability to stretch the floor. Good to great court vision as a distributor along with the decision-making and accuracy to throw timely cross-court passes to his shooters in the corners. Recently, King excelled on the defensive end while playing on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging over 3 steals per game, beating teams with his anticipation in the passing lanes, ability to attack the ball in the air, and strong unwavering motor. His 6-foot-8-inch size, frame, and strength combined with his great mobility, endurance, and agility are what set Darkaun apart from other prospects at his position and make him such a terror to defend in the paint and while coming down the lane whether he has a full ahead of steam or not. King is a very intriguing prospect who is showing a lot of promise and all of the makings of a college-level postman, his stock has steadily been on the rise this summer and he looks more than ready to have a breakout junior season for TACA Storm. <hr /> #81 [player_tooltip player_id="1487550" first="Chris" last="Tippins"] | SG/SF | Cypress Ranch HS | Grassroots: Texas TakeOver Elite Christopher Tippins is a name to take note of as it is steadily becoming more and more prominent. The 6-foot-5-inch prospect is a tremendous athlete that plays with great strength and power as he initiates, absorbs, and scores through contact effortlessly. Very exciting high flyer that is oozing potential as a slam dunk specialist who can explode off the ground among anyone and all types of traffic. Awesome finisher going left, Tippins shows an explosive first step, the ability to take the baseline, attack the basket, and pull up on a dime. However, Chris is more than just a relentless slasher, he’s someone that can also burn a team from beyond the perimeter, his’ jumpshot has good lift, form, and rhythm, and Tippins steps into each shot whether it’s off the catch or dribble with good poise and fluidity. This prospect is a high-ceiling player to keep watch of this summer and keep track of throughout the high school year going forward, Tippins will likely be one of, if not the top scorers and players at Cypress Ranch this upcoming season with statistical numbers that are expected to shoot up across the board. <hr />