Texas Top 250 Expo: 2021 Standouts (Part 1)
There were a ton of talented prospects in attendance this past Sunday at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo in Irving, Texas. This event was loaded. I had the chance to see a bunch of players for the first time,…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere were a ton of talented prospects in attendance this past Sunday at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo in Irving, Texas. This event was loaded. I had the chance to see a bunch of players for the first time, as well as a few familiar faces.
As expected, the class of 2021 was well represented. With the high school season quickly approaching, this was one of the last opportunities for these seniors to make an impression, and many of them did exactly that. Let’s take a look at a few standout 2021 prospects from Sunday:
Zineddine Bedri | 2021 | 6’10’’ Power Forward | Spring Creek Academy – Bedri was impressive a few months back at the PH Circuit Southwest Slam, and that continued on Sunday. His offensive versatility makes him difficult to defend. He utilizes a good combination of back-to-the-basket and face-up moves inside the three-point line and can also stretch out and hit threes from the catch or off the dribble. Additionally, he knocked down some pretty turnaround jumpers in the high post. On defense, Bedri is a solid rim protector in the paint. He turned back numerous shots over the course of the event. He aggressively went after rebounds too, rounding out an outstanding overall performance.
James Hussey James Hussey 6'4" | SG Liberty | 2021 State TX | 2021 | 6’5’’ Combo Guard | Frisco Liberty HS – Hussey is another prospect I got to cover at both the Southwest Slam and the Texas Top 250 Expo. He further proved that he is an athletic specimen who can absolutely fill up the scoring column. His three-point shooting is still solid, and he showed that he can knock it down from deep off the bounce as well as in catch-and-shoot scenarios. That said, I like him best when he gets downhill and attacks the basket. Furthermore, Hussey is a tall guard who dominates the defensive glass. The senior combo guard elevates and rebounds like a wing. This is an already skilled prospect who still has a lot of upside.
Mike Prather | 2021 | 6’0’’ Point Guard | Little Elm HS – Prather was one of the first prospects I ever covered when I began writing for Prep Hoops last summer. I thought he was underrated back then, and after seeing him in person again I still believe that is the case. The senior floor general is incredibly dynamic with the ball in his hands. He has one of the best crossover dribbles I’ve seen. His ball handling and ability to create space is phenomenal, and his mid-range jumper is pure. Prather can operate as a playmaker too, delivering accurate passes on a regular basis that often lead to points. He needs to be on your radar if he isn’t already.
Amine Bensalah | 2021 | 6’7’’ Small Forward | Spring Creek Academy – Bensalah showed that he can be productive out on the wing and in the interior on offense. He looked very comfortable handling the ball on the perimeter and had success attacking defenders off the dribble. The SCA forward was also solid shooting the three ball. He finishes above the rim in transition and contributes on the glass too. Bensalah is equally versatile at the other end. He defends multiple positions and challenges shots. His combination of size, strength, and skill is special, and it makes him someone to be on the lookout for this season.
Jordan Sanders | 2021 | 6’3’’ Shooting Guard | Jubilee San Antonio HS – Sanders is a sharpshooting two-guard who thrives from the catch. He consistently drained catch-and-shoot triples and was particularly efficient when shooting from the corners. His off-ball movement was great, something that a lot of prospects don’t attempt to show off in a showcase setting such as this. He has a nice little floater in his arsenal as well that he can go to when attacking closeouts. The 2021 guard got his shots off within the flow of the offense and made smart decisions with the ball throughout the event.
Donovan Stafford | 2021 | 6’4’’ Shooting Guard | DeSoto HS – Stafford is long, athletic, and fluid. He is extremely smooth on the court and glides inside with ease thanks to his long strides. He got to the basket at will on Sunday. The 2021 DeSoto guard displayed some beautiful euro step moves on his way to the hoop and showed that he can finish with power or finesse at the rim. I loved his shot selection during this event, almost exclusively taking high-percentage shots. He can hit from mid-range, but he rarely settled for jumpers. Stafford also chipped in on the boards. He could be poised for a big year playing alongside some D1 locks on a talented DeSoto Roster.