Week 2 Scouting Report: Sophomore Standouts
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Week 2 of Texas high school basketball was jammed packed with action and thrilling games that went all the way down to the wire. Here are some of the top performing Sophomores that stood out and caught my eye during…
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Continue ReadingWeek 2 of Texas high school basketball was jammed packed with action and thrilling games that went all the way down to the wire. Here are some of the top performing Sophomores that stood out and caught my eye during the second week of this season.
Leander Rouse 53 vs Dripping Springs 58
Cole Andrews-Heitz
Cole
Andrews-Heitz
6'1" | PG
Leander Rouse | 2023
State
TX
– Shooting Guard – Leander Rouse
Cole doesn’t go a game without making his scoring presences felt, in the first game of the season he produced 15 points all from 3-pointers and fast break layups. When playing against Dripping Springs, Andrews-Heitz put up 9 points and knocked down two 3-pointers one from each wing. He’s always efficient and excellent at getting out and scoring in transition. This shooting guard is proving to be a great addition to have as the second-leading scorer on his team behind his sophomore teammate Nazar Mahmoud Nazar Mahmoud 6'3" | SG Rouse | 2023 State #256 Nation TX . Cole Andrews-Heitz is a noteworthy name, he’s a rising star, and he’s starting to put it all together.
Boswell 33 vs Flower Mound 39
Caiden Punt Caiden Punt 6'8" | SF Fort Worth Boswell | 2023 State TX – Forward – Boswell
Starting 6’5 Sophomore forward for Boswell got off to a hot start by making his first two shots, one from under the basket and the other coming from the corner three. Caiden played with a great feel for the court, he did a terrific job of spacing and spreading the floor, he was always on the move looking for openings and filling empty spaces. His chemistry with his teammates was highly impressive, Caiden really knows his guys’ tendencies, he knew when and where to move whenever they drove the lane, and he knew exactly when to pass it as they cut to the basket. Punt is a very efficient scorer, he can turnaround and shoot it with either hand near the basket, and he makes sure to consistently finish with a sweet soft touch on his shots. When it came to competing on the boards, Punt got in a good position for rebounds, his man usually didn’t have a chance once he boxed them out or got in front of them. In just his second season, Caiden Punt Caiden Punt 6'8" | SF Fort Worth Boswell | 2023 State TX already seems to be the most talented and skilled player on the team. He has an all-around skillset and is very basketball savvy, his on-court IQ is really going to take him far in this game.
Frisco Wakeland 63 vs JJ Pearce 44
Dean Balo Dean Balo 6'3" | SG J.J. Pearce | 2023 State TX – Shooting Guard – JJ Pearce
Texas ranked, star shooting guard, Dean Balo Dean Balo 6'3" | SG J.J. Pearce | 2023 State TX looked a few steps quicker out there, showing elite quickness and footwork with the ball. He’s shown improvements from last year, his game has definitely expanded, he seems to have taken on more of a combo guard role where Dean can be more of a playmaker with the rock. His ability to create offense for himself as well as others off the dribble stood out in a major way. Down 17 points in the third quarter, Balo continued to fight back, scoring from all levels, stopping on a dime and pulling up from deep, breaking guys down off the dribble and getting to the basket, and making accurate passes through traffic to cutting teammates, proving to be a dynamic player both on the drive and from beyond the arc. Dean Balo Dean Balo 6'3" | SG J.J. Pearce | 2023 State TX ’s stock just continues to rise, he’s an incredibly consistent player who always shows up and never disappears in a game even on an off night.
Grace Prep 77 vs Grapevine Faith 67
Grant Rein
Grant
Rein
6'0" | SG
Grapevine Faith Christian | 2023
State
TX
– Shooting Guard – Grapevine Faith
6’0, starting Sophomore guard, Grant Rein Grant Rein 6'0" | SG Grapevine Faith Christian | 2023 State TX has been on a tear and near unstoppable since the season began. This game started a bit slow for Grant, he didn’t hit his first shot until 3 minutes into the second quarter, but after that, he started to make it rain from deep. He’s an incredibly pure shooter, tight defense, a hand in his face, and contesting defenders didn’t phase him one bit, Rein showed great concentration when shooting his shot. This sharpshooter is already gaining a lot of attention from colleges, he’s even received interest from Texas Tech University. Grant Rein Grant Rein 6'0" | SG Grapevine Faith Christian | 2023 State TX is off to an incredibly hot start, he looks like one of the most improved players in the city. Grant is returning from a season where he averaged only 2 points per game shooting at a 40% clip and now he’s leading his team in scoring, averaging 18 points a game while shooting over 50% from the field.