Best Prospects from TAAPS 5A State Semi Finals (Part 1/2)
Check out my analysis on the top prospects that are left in the TAPPS 5A State Playoffs! In this article, we will check out the players who have been getting it done all season in the TAAPS 5A matchups featuring…
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Continue ReadingCheck out my analysis on the top prospects that are left in the TAPPS 5A State Playoffs! In this article, we will check out the players who have been getting it done all season in the TAAPS 5A matchups featuring McKinney Christian Academy and Dallas Christian High School. In Part Two, I will look at The Woodlands Christian Academy vs TMI Episcopal. Congrats to McKinney Christian Academy for winning the TAAPS 5A State Championship, and TMI Episcopal for being the runners up!
Part 2: https://prephoops.com/2022/03/best-prospects-from-taaps-5a-state-semi-finals-part-2-2/
McKinney Christian Academy (Dallas)
Bobby McWard Bobby McWard 6'3" | CG McKinney Christian Academy | 2023 State TX 2023 6’2 McKinney Christian Academy
Bobby is a high level shooter with an ability to punish you off the dribble, or with his feet set. He is great at quickly setting his feet and rising up, even with a defender in his grill. His ability to handle the ball and get his shot off was very impressive. However, he does not just hunt for his own shot, he can create open looks for his teammates as well. When I saw him play, he whipped some high level cross court passes to his teammates. What I was the most impressed with was how accurate he was whipping a one handed passes after coming of fof his live dribble. His ability to accurately fire passes into the corners makes him a dangerous weapon in the half court. He has a real connection with his big man, Joshua Thrower Joshua Thrower 6'9" | PF McKinney Christian Academy | 2022 TX , and the two of them punish teams in the pick and roll on a nightly basis. He is a high level ball handler who specializes in the Chris Paul game of keeping his defender on his back hip, he slowed up and forced his opponent to take bigger steps to cut him off, or simply give up on the play in the half court after he had them beat. He is an aware playmaker, who is also a dynamic scorer. McWard has all of the tools in his bag to become a real weapon at the point guard position at the next level with his ability to see the floor and create his own looks.
Zeke Long 2023 6’0 McKinney Christian Academy
Zeke is an intelligent combo guard who is great at using opponents’ momentum against them to create space for himself. His ability to punish defenders out of the triple threat allows him to create space with ease in the half court. His awareness of recognizing the over rotation of a help defender always puts pressure on the defense, through his ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim or also spacing the floor. His finishing ability is at a very high level for his size, he is great at contorting his body around a defender and hanging in the air to avoid contact. On defense, he fight hard through screens and always makes his opponent work to create a glimmer of separation. I would like to see him add more arc to his jumper, he seems to have good mechanics and form, but his shot is a bit too flat at times.
Joshua Thrower Joshua Thrower 6'9" | PF McKinney Christian Academy | 2022 TX 6’9 2022 McKinney Christian Academy
Joshua is a paint beast who specializes in doing all of the little things right in the lane. He is great at cleaning glass on both ends of the floor, but his ability to come up with second chance opportunities makes him a real weapon on offense. His size and ability to rebound the ball at a high level creates a plethora of opportunities for his team. He is an aware player with the ball in his hands, and it never seems to “stick” to him, even as he has his back to the basket. On defense, he is a high level post defender who takes pride in shutting down the other team’s big man. His length is something that seems to always make his opponents uncomfortable, but his agility and ability to move his feet is something that strikes fear into smaller guards and wings.
I was most impressed with his ability to get to his own spot with a live dribble. He has a high level handle for his size, and is great at using it to get into the lane. He has a bunch of moves he can get to with a live dribble, and love spinning off his defender for an open look in the paint. I would like to see him work on his willingness to take the 15 foot jumper in the midrange, at times it was an open look for him, but he seemed unwilling to take the look. I would also like to see him work on keeping his head up in the post, especially as he is seeing double teams.
Dallas Christian High School:
Jalil Brown 2022 Dallas Christian High School
Jalil is Dallas Christian’s leading scorer and got it done in a plethora of ways. The TAAPS 5A State Champion in football who had multiple touchdowns as the lead running back for his team also leads his team on the hard wood. He is a high level scorer, who might end up having a career as a dual sport athlete at the next level! Watching him on the court it is not hard to see why he is a dangerous weapon on the field as well, with his lightning quick speed and ability to get away from his defenders. His speed with a live dribble was incredibly impressive and helped him create space at all three levels of the floor on offense. His high level scoring was on display as he worked to get his shot off beyond the arc and in the midrange, depending on what the defense gave him that time down the court. He showed an effortless scoring ability, scoring 21 of the teams 39 points late in the fourth quarter. He attacks the rim with fercoity and has the ability to finish on either side of the rim with both hands. Brown also posseses that clutch gene, as he never gave up and nearly willed his team to a shot at the TAAPS State title on the hardwood as well!
Max Mcada 2022 Dallas Christian High School
Max is a sharp shooting combo guard who has the ability to hit big time shots when his team needs it the most. Mcada hit the game winner to send Dallas Christian to the TAAPS Semi Finals, and watching him play it is not hard to find out why! He is great at darting all around the floor without the basketball, tiring out his defender and working to find the best angle to get his shot off. On the defensive end, he is an aware defender who is great at cutting off his opponent’s angles to the rim or passing out to his teammates. He has active hands that have a knack for poking the ball free as he stays in front of them, coming up with a plethora of turnovers and extra opportunities for his team.