Great American Shootout: 2020 Standouts
The Great American Shootout had plenty of talent to various courts in Duncanville and Cedar Hill. Coaches got a chance to see players from across the Southwest and Southeast display their game. While there was an abundance of players from the class of 2019, some of the best players were from the 2020 class. Here on Prep Hoops Louisiana, we will highlight some of the 2020 players who were standouts during the GASO.
Herman Key / Louisiana Select Team Millsap / 5’9″ / PG
Key is a pass first point guard. He is very good at facilitating the offense for his team and making sure that players get the ball in the right area. Key also has adequate range to the high school three point line. So he is not a hindrance to the offense when the ball is reversed to him. He will make the other team pay for leaving him open. On defense, Herman has learned to close the space between him and who he is guarding. This allows him to force the offensive player to make decisions quicker and to force turnovers. Even though he is only 5’9″, Key was definitely one of the standouts during the GASO by showing how the point can be played.
Kalep Crane / Louisiana Select Team Millsap / 6’0″ / CG
Crane leaves everything he has on the floor. On offense, he puts pressure on the defense by constantly going to the cup. When he drives to the goal, Crane has the unique ability to draw fouls or finish despite contact. Kalep also has an infectious spirit that permeates through his team. He carries that attitude on the defensive end as well. Crane leads by example on the floor with his effort. He is a player that gives his team scoring when they need it. Kalep plays defense hard all of the time.
Ricky Crawford, Jr. / Houston Cowboys / 6’3″ / PG
Crawford is a point guard with a combo guard’s game. He keeps defenders off balance on the defensive end with a complete offensive game. One possession he might facilitate the offense. The next possession he may come down and take his man off the dribble. He takes long strides so if he gets that first step by someone, they are in trouble. He can knockdown three pointers or open jumpers as well. On the defensive end, Crawford uses his reach to disrupt offenses. He is basically a terror in passing lanes. He has a great awareness of how to help on defense as well. When he , R retrieves the ball after a turnover, he pushes it with great speed. During the GASO, this part of his game probably stood out the most. Crawford constantly found teammates ahead of him or running the wing. With another year of growth, Crawford will become a true offensive standout because of his heady guard play.
Brayden Thompson / Louisiana Select Team Millsap / 6’4″ / F
Thompson is a forward who does the dirty work for his team. He is a deft rebounder on the offensive and defensive boards. Brayden has the knack for gathering offensive boards to start new possessions for his team. This summer, Brayden has also added point forward-type skills to his game. On several occasions during GASO game play, he gathered the defensive rebound and broke out down the floor with the dribble. With his long strides and improved handle, Thompson was able to finish some of these instances with and 1s. Brayden also showed an improved mid-range touch as well. With these improvements in his overall game on display, it is clear why Brayden Thompson was one of the 2020 standouts during the GASO.
Hobert Grayson IV / All 4 Sports Dream Team Elite / 6’4″ / Wing
Grayson’s game has continued to expand since the spring grassroots season. During the shootout he displayed this growth. It just so happened to be on the defensive end. Grayson has now become a better defender who takes on the challenge of guarding the opposition’s best scorer. During pool play and bracket play, Grayson took on these challenges and fared quite well. His lateral movement and quickness growth have allowed him to become a top notch defender. Hobert has increased his three point range to 22 feet. His consistency from that range has grown as well. With Grayson’s growth from the April GASO to this past one, Hobert has shown why he has standout talent. Look for his game to continue to grow.
Cody Dean / Nike Pro Skills – Dallas / 5’9″ / CG
Dean’s stature might be small but his game spoke volumes during the GASO. He killed defenses from either guard position during game play. When he played off the ball, he showed marksmanship from outside. Time and time again he drain three and three. Dean knows how to use screens to his advantage by fading to the right spot. When there is penetration by another person, he knows how to slide to the open areas for jumpers. As a point guard, Dean can penetrate to finish or kick with the best of them. He make smart plays 90 percent of the time. Basically, his basketball IQ is superior to most guards he plays against. Dean plays with a savvy that does not allow him to get rattled at either guard position. As far as standouts go, his guard play is exceptional. Look for Dean’s play to continue to grow as this live period continues.
These 2020 athletes showed a lot of promise during the Great American Shootout. As guards, wings, and forwards, they are some of most improved players I have seen during the live period. Hopefully with the success from the GASO, they will continue to improve and solidify why they were standouts during this tournament.