Hoop City Pro Week Displays Elite 2021’s

The Hoop City Pro Week began Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday afternoon.  Shortly after 2:00 PM Central, the two star-studded teams scrimmaged. I watched through their Facebook Live feed. Here are my thoughts. GRAY Squad Halftime score: 57-51 Grey  T.J. Madlock TJ MadlockTJMadlock6'2" | PGHouston | 2021StateTN played very well and drew rave reviews.  He scored 19 points in the first half alone. "You can see how TJ MadlockTJMadlock6'2" | PGHouston | 2021StateTN pushes the ball," shared Bob Thornton* at the half.  "Very physical presence." Skyy ClarkSkyyClark6'2" | SGBrentwood Academy | 2022State#16NationTN 20p, 7a. Smooth. Consistent. Creative. Bob Thornton* gave a quick evaluation on Skyy ClarkSkyyClark6'2" | SGBrentwood Academy | 2022State#16NationTN during the halftime show. ’The thing I am very impressed with is his maturity. He really knows the game. He is really physical.  He is a great passer overall.’ Daveonne WarfieldDaveonneWarfield6'3" | CGKirby | 2021StateTN finished with 12 points and 3 steals. Johnathan LawsonJohnathanLawson6'8" | SFHouston | 2021State#112NationTN is a known name.  In fact, he is currently ranked as the top college prospect in our state.  Lawson’s court vision was plus-plus Wednesday.  He moved the basketball quicker than I am used to seeing.  With AAU last year he appeared to be intent to score every possession, which he did often.  But, the team definitely did not maintain an offensive flow because of his ball dominance.  Today, Lawson saw a streaking teammate and instantly fed the pill.  His length will always be a nightmare for attackers.  Blocks, rebounds, deflections are routine contributions from Lawson the defender.  He does need to slide those feet more often.  Most of this afternoon, Lawson was paired with Mason MillerMasonMiller6'9" | SFHouston | 2021State#92NationTN. Defending Mason MillerMasonMiller6'9" | SFHouston | 2021State#92NationTN is difficult, but Miller only went at him ferociously maybe three times in the halfcourt.  Lawson was able to relax most of the defensive possessions.   Zander YatesZanderYates6'8" | SFHouston | 2021StateTN Macerick Miller played but did not score. Dominic BrownDominicBrown6'2" | CGECS | 2021StateTN played but did not score. https://twitter.com/HoopCityBC/status/1280955827898200064?s=20   RED Squad JD Davison (HT stats = 19p, 4a, 4r) is a ball dominant point guard.  At least with this squad, Davison is involved in nearly every possession.  His speed and explosion is elite.  You surely have or can watch highlights of his dunking all over instagram and Twitter. 34p, 10r Reese McMullenReeseMcMullen6'2" | SGChristian Brothers | 2021StateTN (HT stats = 13 points) put on some "good muscle" in the last six months.  Mentally tough always, McMullen now appears appropriately physically tough too. McMullen’s shooting form has been fluid for years, but it looks like he has quickened the release.  He scored 22 points thanks to four three-pointers.  Improved handle for Scifres. His balance serves his game well.  Colin ScifresColinScifres6'3" | SGChristian Brothers | 2021StateTN generally provided support for the scorers.  That is not to say he can’t score, but he clearly was not the go-to guy or the go-to guys’ next option.  Scifres can do more than he was able to show Wednesday afternoon.  Scored 4 points. Mason MillerMasonMiller6'9" | SFHouston | 2021State#92NationTN had a quiet first half. Early in the second half, Miller caught the ball on the break and attacked with purpose.  From the three-point arc, Miller took two assertive strides to the tin and smoothly finished a scooped layup just over the front of the rim. His game, though still somewhat timid, really looks like a run-and-gun pro-style player.  Great change of direction at high height.  His mobility continues to improve steadily. His length is outrageous.  His outside shooting was exceptional at 14 years old.  There are still aspects he needs to address (strength, lateral mobility), but the things he can’t do are fixable, while the things he can do are unique and incredibly transferable to the next level. Faizon FieldsFaizonFields6'7" | PFHouston | 2020StateTN  Final Boxscore https://twitter.com/HoopCityBC/status/1280969374078205952?s=20     Bob Thornton* (born July 10, 1962) is a retired American professional basketball player whose career lasted from 1985 to 1996 and a coach, He was a 6’10" 225 forward. He holds NBA career averages of 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 283 total games. Thornton played college basketball at University of California, Irvine and Saddleback Community College, and was selected by the New York Knicks with the 87th pick of the 1984 NBA draft. Thornton, an eight-year NBA veteran, played for five NBA teams (New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards). He also played three seasons in the Italian A-1 league with Rome, Siena and Pavia. He later held coaching positions with the CBA’s Yakima Sun Kings and Quad City Thunder, the NBDL’s Huntsville Flight,[1] and the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.[2] From 2007 to 2011, he worked as an advance scout for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was hired as an assistant coach by the Memphis Grizzlies on December 5, 2011.[3]