GASO Austin/ Round Rock: Friday Night Guard Standouts
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Check out my analysis on some of the top prospects in attendance at the GASO Austin/ Round Rock this weekend! These guys really popped on night one and are continuing to perform at the highest level. Be sure to get…
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Continue ReadingCheck out my analysis on some of the top prospects in attendance at the GASO Austin/ Round Rock this weekend! These guys really popped on night one and are continuing to perform at the highest level. Be sure to get familiar with these names ASAP!
Jaxson Vandegarde Jaxson Vandegarde 6'1" | PG Johnson (Buda) | 2024 TX 2024 6’1 Johnson (Buda) High School, TX (ATX Force 2023)
Jaxson is a high level scorer off the bounce who does so effortlessly from all three levels of the court. I was very impressed with the amount of attention he has put on the defensive end of the court, coming up with steals in the passing lanes as well as through his active hands stripping the ball from his opponent. He is a relentless attacker of the rim, who really stood out in his ability to not only finish through contact but also stop on a dime and score in the mid-range. He lived at the free throw line with his constant aggression and the ease in which he was able to get two feet into the paint. He took what the defense gave him every-time down the court, and had a masterful performance on the offensive end of the court. He controls the game like a true point guard who can facilitate an offense and also pass his teammates open in the full court. His ability to manipulate the speed of the game when the ball is in their hands. He routinely broke a full court press with his speed, getting the edge on his opponent or by making the right read and a picture perfect over head pass. I was very impressed with his ability to do whatever his team needed to be successful. He boxes out and can play on the glass like a wing. He frustrated his opponent so much through his hard work on the interior. His defender thought he would easily back him down every time, but Vandegarde held his ground and played very well. Vandegarde is one prospect you need to start keeping tabs on with the ease in which he scored off the bounce.
Kingston Flemings Kingston Flemings 6'1" | PG San Antonio Brennan | 2025 State #80 Nation TX 2025 6’2 Brennan High School (SA Future)
Kingston is continuing to develop at a RAPID rate. I am very impressed with the amount of attention he has put on his defensive game, routinely stripping the ball from his opponents and leading the fast break the other way. He has the ability to score off the dribble at will at all three levels but truly makes his mark with his vision and ability to set up his teammates. Whether he was firing full court passes to his teammates for easy looks or attacking the basket and drawing a second defender and finding his open teammates from the backside rotation, Flemmings picked apart almost every defense thrown at him. I was very impressed with his consistency that he had with every pass, even the 3/4 court pass to beat the defense up the court. His ability to control the game and dictate every possession was incredibly impressive.
Camden Cowgill Camden Cowgill 6'3" | SG San Antonio Brennan | 2025 State #382 Nation TX 2025 6’1 Brennan High School (SA Future)
Camden is a skilled and sharp shooting guard who thrives at getting to his spots beyond the arc and in the mid-range. You can tell he thinks about the game at a very high level with his ability to always seem to be in the right spot on both ends of the floor. I was blown away by his confidence and willingness to hunt for his own shot no matter the defense. His consistent aggression and scoring ability really propells his team, and the connection he has with his freshman point guard counter part ( Kingston Flemings Kingston Flemings 6'1" | PG San Antonio Brennan | 2025 State #80 Nation TX 2025) is a clear indication that Brennan will be a force to be reckoned with over the next few years as these two highly skilled guards continue to develop and make each other better.
Ethan Wyatt 2023 6’3 Klein Collins High School, TX (Welcome to 4 Vegas Hot Shots 2023)
Ethan is an athletic monster, not surprising to anyone a dual sport athlete who is already boasting division one offers in football. Wyatt has explosiveness that is off the charts with the ability to hammer home monstrous dunks on the fast break, as well as rising up and finishing over the top of anyone. He has some incredibly impressive tomahawk dunks in his arsenal, many of which sucked the air out of the gym when he finished it. He has the ability to play on both ends of the court, using his active hands to poke the ball free and his basketball IQ to play in the passing lanes. He is not just a slasher however, he calmly knocks down shots off the bounce from 3 point range, and is more than comfortable at taking the pull up 15 footer. I was very impressed with the ease in which the game seemed to come to him, paired with his explosiveness and athleticism, some coach is going to be very lucky to have this young man at the next level, no matter which sport he picks!
Braedon Bigott 2023 6’4 Lake Creek High School (Big Basketball Academy)
Braedon has really come alive during his GASO play over the last few weeks, showing off his ability to consistently score in bunches from beyond the arc. Where his game has shown the most promise is in his ability to go coast to coast, but also finishing at the rim. I was very impressed with his consistency in the paint, even when taking on bigger opponents in the air. I loved watching him work on the interior on both ends of the court, showing a real work ethic to box out his opponents and then lead the fast break charge himself. Bigott routinely got up and down the court with his live dribble and preyed on the last defender, forcing them to foul him. His consistency in the paint forced defenders to use all of their fouls in hopes to contain him. Every time I seemed to look back over at his court he was back on the line. He showed an ability to distribute the ball as well, and has all the tools to potentially become a more combo guard type player over the next year. He loved manipulating the last defender within the half court set, constantly preying on his opponents and finding his big for an easy look down low, or finding his shooters in the corner.
Cooper Heaton 2023 6’0 Round Rock High School (TWE 2023)
Cooper is a complete three level scorer at the combo guard position who lives at the free throw line due to his aggressiveness and his skill attacking the rim. There were plenty of instances where he adjusted the ball in the air to draw contact and put the other team in foul trouble. Heaton was his team’s leading scorer in most games this weekend due to his ability to score off the bounce in the midrange and beyond the arc. Once the defense sat back to cut off his driving angles he calmly shot over the top of them. He drew plenty of attention on the offensive end and was good at stepping through a second defender closing out and making the right read to set up a teammate for an easy look. TWE really is a strong team with their unselfishness and ability to pass the ball to find the best shot possible, and because their leading scorer is so unselfish it makes everyone easy to fit right in. I would like to see him continue to work on operating out of the triple threat and creating space out of the triple threat with jab moves and hesitations.
AaShon Holmes AaShon Holmes 6'1" | PG San Antonio Harlan | 2023 State TX 2023 6’1 San Antonio Harlan High School, TX (San Antonio King Hoops 17U Gold)
Aashon is a complete three level scorer who is a real threat every time he comes into the half court. I was blown away by his shot making ability off the bounce, and he dazzled and danced around his defenders with a live dribble. His creative handle allows him to get anywhere he wants on the court. He can control the tempo of the game like a point guard and is great at changing his speed to keep his defenders off balance. He lives in the paint off of his ability to get around defenders, and is a very consistent finisher in the paint. He knows how to use every inch of the floor to his advantage, he is aware and knows which dribble moves he can use to create space on the baseline or the sideline. He was a show every time he finished on the break as well, he is a beast going coast to coast! Holmes is a real threat to score and manipulate the defense in whatever way he wants.