The D1 Nation Live-Houston Event was an outstanding event . In addition to the great Texas talent on hand, we were also priveleged to host the Australian Institute of Sport in an exhibition game vs the Texas D1 Ambassadors or a "friendly" as the soccer folks like to call it. There was lots of outstanding young talent on display during the weekend and I had to mull over quite a few ballers before making my final cut for the D1 Nation Live-Houston's 12 brightest prospects & performers. The following are the guys who made this weekend's cut.
2013 G Adonte Jones Garland Naaman Forest Dallas Bad Boyz
Jones lit up the scoreboard like a Christmas tree, whether from the wing shooting threes or penetrating to the rim. Well built guard looks like he will grow a bit. He showed great body control going up for his shot off the bounce. Scored 29 in one contest.
2012 G Devon Turk Houston St. Pius Texas D1 Ambassadors
Jones lit up the scoreboard like a Christmas tree, whether from the wing shooting threes or penetrating to the rim. Well built guard looks like he will grow a bit. He showed great body control going up for his shot off the bounce. Scored 29 in one contest.
Turk was “en fuego”, as one Texas’ purest shooters gave Australian Sports Institute the business putting up 18 points with his ultra quick release and assassin’s mentality. Once he improves his handles he moves his stock to a high major lock.
2012 G Devon Turk can light up the scoreboard in a hurry
2012 G Clifton Allen Garland Namaan Forest North Texas Bulls
Cat quick PG is part of the deep pool in talent rich Garland, TX. Played varsity on a tough Naaman Forest team this year, I look for him to have a strong senior varsity campaign. Was the single quickest player off the bounce all weekend, getting into the lane at will. He needs to improve shot selection which will up his stock as a guy who can run a team.
2013 F 6’8” Brandon Williams Stafford Texas Pro
Long, lanky player has all the tools to be a high major. Very athletic, he runs the floor extremely well for a youngster. Lacks strength but will be a handful when he matures.
2012 G 6’5” Alex Caruso A&M Consolidated Texas D1 Ambassadors
“The Truth” was the best player in the gym hands down for the second consecutive week. An unselfish player, he’s comfortable on the wing or with the ball in his hands. Outstanding court vision and superior bounce will make him one of the breakout high majors of the summer. He’s already got 10 dunks in the young season including a pair over a couple of 6’9” opponents. Yesterday he went baseline on some unsuspecting Aussie lad and gave him a facial. Caruso may be in the “nobody knows” category at the moment but high majors better get in on him now. His Pops, Mike is the Associate AD at Aggieland, but he’s keeping an open mind as to where he hoops at the next level.
2011 G 6’6” Hugh Greenwood Australian Sports Institute
Greenwood was the most polished player I saw all weekend. Committed to the New Mexico Lobos and also a member of the Australian National team he scored 22 against Texas D1, and had close to double digit rebounds and assists. Everything ran through him offensively. Defensive foot speed was so so but he made up for it with physical play and court savvy. “Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi”!
2012 G Chase Brogna Houston St. Thomas Texas D1 Ambassadors
All State G is making the transition from playing the primary role of spot up shooter on his high school team, Brogna took care of the ball against pressure and also hit his trademark timely shots which makes him dangerous.
2013 P 6’6” Trayvon Teal Spring Westfield Houston Northside Shakaz
Well built soph, stands his ground defensively and blocks shots. He finished at the rim and also stroked it from 15 feet out. Teal also has a nice motor and court demeanor.
2013 W Xavier Dupree Alief Taylor Texas Pro
Devastatingly long on the front of the press, Dupree ran the floor effortlessly hitting the three pointer off the catch. He also shows advanced footwork as well as nice touch in the low post for a pup.
2012 P 6’4” Albert Coleman Rowlett North Texas Bulls
Undersized down low, but has a big heart. Has a knack of finishing around the rim in traffic against longer players. Coleman uses his thick body to his advantage around the goal.
2012 F 6’7” Maurice Letcher-Ellis Houston Yates Texas D1 Ambassadors
After sitting out this season because of transfer rules, “Moe” is a little bit rusty BUT he is super bouncy and regularly rejects shots down low from much bigger players. He’s a wing in the making as he increases his skill set but that hasn’t kept schools like Wichita State and Houston from offering him already based on his tremendous upside. (picture to follow)
2012 F 6‘3” Stanley Ede Fort Bend Marshall Houston Dream Team
Ede battled around the rim against bigger players all weekend. Easily recorded double doubles with points and rebounds based on sheer effort.
2013 PG Shawndre Jones Fort Bend Bush Texas Pro
Jones had all the assets a PG could want on his team filled with shooters, and long WF’s who played above the rim. His job was to run the team and get them their touches at the right time and place. He did that effortlessly all weekend. He took care of the ball, hit some shots and led his team to the 'ship.
