Summer Summary: 2023s to Watch
With the summer grassroots season now in the rearview, it’s a good time to take a look back at some of the best prospects that I saw over the past few months. I attended numerous tournaments and showcases this summer…
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Continue ReadingWith the summer grassroots season now in the rearview, it’s a good time to take a look back at some of the best prospects that I saw over the past few months. I attended numerous tournaments and showcases this summer and got to see a ton of talented individuals who are now gearing up for their junior seasons of high school ball.
With that in mind, here are six talented 2023 prospects to be on the lookout for in Texas:
Jalynn Bristow Jalynn Bristow 6'2" | SF Rider | 2023 State TX | 2023 | 6’3” Power Forward | Team Lex Nation | Rider HS – Bristow put together a phenomenal showing at the Gary Blevins Memorial Classic. She drained spot up and off-balanced jumpers from a variety of spots, displaying her marksmanship and shooting versatility. The Rider forward elevated well when shooting jump shots and wasn’t afraid to let it fly over any defender. Moreover, Bristow was crafty about creating looks for herself and looked both mobile and athletic when getting up and down the floor. She is an incredibly skilled three-level scorer at the four spot who can play out on the wing as well.
Sam Basson | 2023 | 5’8” Point Guard | Texas LoneStar Black – 3SSB | Lovejoy HS – I first saw Basson at the PGH Top 250 Expo in 2020, and I was immediately blown away by her feel for the game on offense. Her playmaking is next level. She is a shifty ball handler who navigates the floor beautifully, continuously putting whoever was defending her in a blinder this summer. The junior guard keeps her teammates involved, delivers passes with accuracy, and possesses a high basketball IQ. She is a capable scorer too, utilizing her handle and ability to get opposing defenses out of position to her advantage in order to get to her spots and convert.
Salese Blow Salese Blow 5'10" | SF Vines | 2023 State TX | 2023 | 5’10” Combo Guard | Texas Platinum 16U Walker | Plano Senior HS – Blow possesses freakish athleticism that pairs well with her length and high motor. She showcased her ability to play all three perimeter positions, but seemed to be the most productive at one of the guard spots where she could feast against mismatches. You can tell that she is one of those players who prides herself on her defensive effort, defending the length of the court and causing all sorts of havoc when playing on-ball defense. On offense, her slashing and finishing were outstanding, getting past opponents and regularly finishing through contact in the paint. Blow is a two-way prospect who has a chance to soar up the rankings during her junior campaign.
Idara Udo | 2023 | 6’1” Center | DC Queens (White) | Plano East HS – Udo was one of my favorite players to watch this summer. She was bigger and stronger than the majority of her opponents, and she knew it. She understands how to use her size and physicality, making her virtually unstoppable at times. The Plano East center dominated in the paint at both ends. She consistently boxed out and high-pointed rebounds in addition to working as a rim protector on defense. Moreover, Udo exhibited that she is capable of stretching out to the mid-range and making spot up jump shots, recognizing that there are very few prospects that can impact her release. She is already a really solid all-around big with the potential to get even better.
Madi Lumsden | 2023 | 5’8” Combo Guard | True Texas Hoops 2023 Crabtree | Argyle HS – Lumsden is a brilliant shot-maker off the dribble. Her instincts were terrific. As soon as defenders were even a half step out of position, she was ready to pull up and shoot. Furthermore, she was one of the most consistent three-point shooters I saw this summer. The Argyle guard is a smooth jump shooter who was unfazed by close outs, needing very little room to get her shots off. Beyond that, Lumsden was great when operating in pick-and-roll scenarios and a sneaky good passer. She is poised for a breakout junior season in 2021.
Payton Hull Payton Hull 5'4" | SG Peaster | 2023 State TX | 2023 | 5’11” Shooting Guard | Texas LoneStar Black – 3SSB | Peaster HS – Hull never wasted time getting down to business. The Peaster guard was constantly in attack mode, getting downhill and to the rim on offense by using her twitchy first step and tremendous speed with the ball. She rarely settled, understanding that she at her best when slashing to the hoop for high-percentage looks. Hulls contributions as a rebounder as well as her awareness and vision as a passer were also noteworthy. The Abilene Christian commit simply makes winning plays.