Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic: Standout Seniors (Part 2)

Dozens of Texas high school teams gathered in Frisco this weekend for the Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic. Forty-eight schools were in attendance, giving hundreds of players the opportunity to compete in a tournament-like atmosphere early in the season. This event was loaded with talent. Let’s take a look at some of the best 2022 prospects from the weekend. <strong>Jayden Smallwood | 2022 | 5’7’’ Combo Guard | McKinney North HS</strong> - Smallwood put together a terrific all-around performance in McKinney North’s third-place game victory over John Paul II. She was a difference-maker on defense, recording two blocks and three steals by my count, and even took a charge late in the game during a key stretch. The senior guard was so good at getting into passing lanes for steals that turned into easy fast break points. At the other end, Smallwood scored at the rim both in transition and in the half court, showing good shake when getting past defenders. She hit a three from the catch too. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135384" first="Jasmyn" last="Lott"] | 2022 | 5’9’’ Combo Guard | Frisco Memorial HS</strong> - Lott is a twitchy athlete with great short area quickness as well as good straight-line speed with the ball. She was great about turning on the jets in transition, going coast-to-coast on a few occasions in the championship game on Saturday. The 2022 prospect also displayed good ball handling when faced with pressure, while showing off some solid cross over moves in the process. She was most dangerous when handling the lead guard responsibilities, but showed that she can score away from the ball with a timely cut and strong finish at the basket for a three-point play the hard way. Frisco Memorial ended up with a second-place finish and Lott earned herself a spot on the all-tournament team. <strong>Kamen Wong | 2022 | 5’3’’ Point Guard | Frisco Liberty HS</strong> - Wong is a very capable starter for Liberty. I’ve seen her light it up at several grassroots events over the past few years. That said, every time I’ve seen her play with her high school team, it’s been her unselfishness that has stood out. She facilitates to her teammates, never letting the ball stick to her and always looking to get her team the best available shot. The senior floor general understands that she is surrounded by a ton of talent and knows how to keep everybody involved. However, like I said above, Wong is a very capable player in her own right. She knocked down a pair of threes from the catch vs. Memorial, one of which came in the fourth quarter and ended up being critical to their championship win on Saturday. This is an underrated prospect who is an efficient scorer and the ultimate team-first player. <strong>Ashley Anderson | 2022 | 5’7’’ Shooting Guard | Frisco Liberty HS</strong> - Anderson earned all-tournament honors in Liberty’s championship run this weekend. Although she did contribute with a three and is a very capable shooter from both mid-range and behind the arc, her impact was mostly felt in other areas. The senior two-guard was incredibly effective defensively, recording two steals and a block in her final game of the event. She also contributed on the boards with five rebounds. Furthermore, she had a pair of assists, highlighted by a beautiful pass that she zipped to a big down low. Anderson should be a key piece of Liberty’s roster as they look to get back the state title game for a fourth consecutive season. <strong>Ashley Brand | 2022 | 5’7’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | Rockwall HS</strong> - Brand had a good game shooting the ball in the silver division championship on Saturday. She ended the contest with 12 points. The Rockwall senior knocked down catch-and-shoot threes on back-to-back possessions. She also converted a pull up mid-range jumper from the baseline after utilizing a pump fake to free herself up. She dropped some dimes as well in her teams’ opening matchup of the tournament, showing that she is more than just a shooting specialist. Beyond that, Brand was constantly communicating with her teammates on the court and exhibited that she is a vocal leader for the Lady Yellowjackets. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="314165" first="Ainsley" last="Velasquez"] | 2022 | 5’10’’ Small Forward | Randall HS</strong> - Velasquez did a really nice job of moving off the ball and finding soft spots in the zone on Thursday. She was aggressive and decisive whenever she received a touch in the paint, scoring on the block and/or drawing contact. She frequented the foul line in the second half, helping Randall stay in the game after falling behind early. Velasquez displayed good mobility too, which showed up on defense where she was great at intercepting passes, leading to run outs for her and her team. The senior forward ultimately accounted for 12 points, three rebounds, and three steals in her first game of the weekend.