North Houston’s Top Performers of the Last Week – Ball Handlers
Had the pleasure of checking out three different games in the North Houston area during the week of January 16. On Wednesday, January 19, the 14-10 Benjamin Davis Falcons came to the loud and energetic home court of the 19-1…
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Continue ReadingHad the pleasure of checking out three different games in the North Houston area during the week of January 16. On Wednesday, January 19, the 14-10 Benjamin Davis Falcons came to the loud and energetic home court of the 19-1 Westfield Mustangs but were no match for the dominant forces of Westfield, ending in a 66-44 blowout for the home team. On Friday, January 21, the 15-10 Woodlands Highlanders visited the 9-16 Conroe Tigers, and it was the Highlanders that came away with a close 60-55 victory on their opponent’s home court. Lastly, on Saturday, January 22, the 14-11 Nimitz Cougars played host to the 13-12 Dekaney Wildcats in a very close game, with the Cougars taking it, 48-45. There were several impressive contributors on each team in these three games. Below we review the top performing ball handlers.
Also check out: Top Performers: Ball Handlers | Top Performers: Wings | Top Performers: Bigs
#2 – Zion Pipkin Zion Pipkin 6'1" | PG Oak Hill Academy | 2024 VA – 6’1″ – SG/PG – Sophomore – Westfield vs. Ben Davis
Pipkin came into the Mustangs’ game against Ben Davis fairly quiet with only one 3-pointer in the first half, but then the entire game seemed to open up for him and he got much more comfortable in the second half. He was attacking the basket on dribble drives, crashing the offensive glass, and creating for his teammates time and time again all throughout the 3rd and 4th quarters. In the 3rd he delivered a beautiful dime through traffic to his star teammate, Willie Williams Willie Williams 6'7" | PF Westfield | 2022 State TX , setting him up for an easy finish down low. Then in the 4th he delivered a crowd-pleasing alley oop pass to #1 Mario Johnson and he also finished a strong and-1 play himself through traffic, attacking the basket and fighting through contact.
#5 – Teata Bradley – 6’3″ – PG – Junior – Ben Davis vs. Westfield
Bradley was the leading star for Ben Davis in their game against Westfield, doing everything he could to keep them in the game early and get them back into it late. He was hitting several midrange and 3-pointers from all over the court, creating for himself with his smooth handles and footwork, and getting open off the ball for a quick catch-and-release off his teammates’ passes. He used his quickness to relentlessly attack the basket, getting layups over and around defenders through traffic all game and he delivered some nice passes off his drives if the open teammate was available. He showed some impressive on-ball defense, as well, getting his quick hands on the ball several times and coming away with at least one steal in the 3rd quarter.
#2 – Shey Eberwein Shey Eberwein 6'6" | CG The Woodlands | 2023 State #279 Nation TX – 6’5″ – SG – Junior – Woodlands vs. Conroe
Eberwein got off to a cold start in this game against Conroe, missing several shots and even showing a little bit of frustration after missing a layup in the 1st quarter, but he quickly got it together and put on a dominant showing leading the Highlanders to the win. He was extremely confident in his shot even with all the misses in the 1st quarter, and it paid off big time, hitting several throughout the game and coming up clutch whenever his team needed a big shot. While he was busy creating his own shot, he was always aware of where his teammates were and delivered some nice passes creating easy opportunities for others. He was also relentless with his off-ball movement, constantly moving around the court, making the defense work on every play and giving his teammates easy opportunities to get him the ball for the finish. He was extremely active on the defensive end, as well. He had a huge block in the 2nd quarter and several steals throughout the game, turning them into fast breaks each and every time, capping off his night with several fast breaks to seal the win late in the 4th quarter.
#2 – Kentrelle Royston Kentrelle Royston 6'3" | PG Aldine Nimitz | 2023 State TX – 6’1″ – SG/PG – Junior – Nimitz vs. Dekaney
Royston was the leading star for Nimitz on Saturday afternoon getting to the basket consistently with his quick and aggressive handles and scoring numerous ways whenever he wanted to. He attacked the paint with speed and strength, spinning around defenders, hop stepping through traffic, and fighting through contact to get the layup to fall time and time again. There was little Dekaney could do to stop him. He was a fighter on the defensive end, as well, going toe-to-toe with Dekaney’s own star guard, Jayden Jackson Jayden Jackson 6'0" | SG Dekaney | 2022 TX , for most of the game. Jackson had a great game of his own, but Royston did not make it easy on him, fighting to stay in front of Jackson on the perimeter and knocking the ball loose several times.
#12 – Javarius Thompson – 6’0″ – PG/SG – Sophomore – Nimitz vs. Dekaney
Thompson was the leading playmaker for Nimitz and had the tall task of navigating through Dekaney’s tough and relentless full court press for most of the game. As young as he is, he held his own under the pressure and got the ball past half court most of the time with his strong ball handling and speed. He hit a 3-pointer in the 1st quarter, but for most of the game it was his penetration to the paint that opened things up for the rest of his team. Nearly every time he had the ball on the perimeter, he found his way into the paint and then delivered beautiful pass after beautiful pass to his cutting teammates for the easy baskets. He was also aggressive on the defensive side of the ball, getting a steal in the 1st quarter and turning it into an immediate fast break score going the other way.
#2 – Jayden Jackson Jayden Jackson 6'0" | SG Dekaney | 2022 TX – 5’11” – SG/PG – Senior – Dekaney vs. Nimitz
Jackson led the way for Dekaney in a hard-fought battle between him and Nimitz’s Kentrelle Royston Kentrelle Royston 6'3" | PG Aldine Nimitz | 2023 State TX for most of the game. He did it all for Dekaney on both sides of the ball. He set the tone early with constant off-ball movement, making hard cuts all over the court and getting Nimitz to really work on the defensive end. He hit a midrange shot early in the 1st and then followed that up with a couple drives in the 2nd quarter and scored deep in the post surrounded by defenders. He had a beautiful play in the 2nd where he got the steal and then took it all the way himself finishing the layup off a smooth euro step. In the 3rd and 4th quarters, he hit a 3-pointer and started handling the ball a little more, controlling the tempo and setting up his teammates with quick and decisive passes.
#10 – Omar Gayle – 5’8″ – PG – Sophomore – Dekaney vs. Nimitz
Gayle was the primary point guard for Dekaney and had a few nice plays on offense but made his impact specifically on the defensive end. He attacked the paint continuously and set up his teammates as they got open off his dribble drives. He also hit an important midrange shot in the 4th quarter to keep his team close going down to the last shot. On defense, though, he was a menace and a pest. He had extremely active hands all game long, getting a steal in the 4th quarter, disrupting passing lanes, and staying vertical and challenging opponents’ drive attempts.