Persevering with our pre-season hoops protection, I made the journey to Dallas to absorb the GASO JUCO/Prep Showcase. Held on the attractive Duncanville Fieldhouse, the JUCO/Prep Showcase blended over 50 JUCOs and prep faculties from all through the nation below one roof, with courts that made issues simply accessible to look at a number of video games directly. Blue Zertuche, Michael Timmons, and the remainder of the GASO employees made issues seamless.
The sector was led by defending NJCAA D1 champion Trinity Valley Group School (Tex.). Numerous different junior faculties from throughout the area made the journey to Duncanville, culminating with a loaded two day occasion. Area V and Area XIV function among the strongest junior faculties within the nation, with family JUCO names similar to Odessa, Tyler, Paris, Navarro, Angelina, and extra, all becoming a member of the ranks for what really proved to be probably the most thrilling and aggressive hoops of the weekend.
Having already taken a take a look at the highest highschool seniors, the highest juniors, and the highest underclassmen, listed here are among the prime junior faculty gamers who will see their inventory rise with their play on the 2025 GASO JUCO Showcase:
Armani Henderson, 6’2, PG, Trinity Valley CC (Tex.)
The catalyst to the defending nationwide champions, Armani Henderson, brings a stage of power to the ground that’s completely infectious. “Mani” was an absolute blur pushing the rock up the ground, and is likely one of the greatest on-ball defenders that you just’ll discover on the JUCO stage. The nation’s JUCO chief in steals final season has no scarcity of D1 applications recruiting, with loads extra to comply with because the season goes on, with the success that Trinity Valley ought to have.
Ahmere Carson, 6’3, PG/SG, Odessa CC (Tex.)
An electrical scorer, Ahmere Carson, has rapidly cemented himself as probably the greatest guards on the junior faculty ranks and confirmed that on the GASO JUCO Showcase. The lefty is a bodily lockdown defender, able to enjoying both guard spot for spurts, and is in fixed assault mode when he has the ball in his arms. The Chicago product has no scarcity of elite expertise operating with the EYBL after which enjoying at Kansas Metropolis final 12 months, so he’ll undoubtedly have the ability to contribute instantly to whichever of the 15 or so D1 applications which have already supplied him.
Zati Loubaki, 6’9, PF, Trinity Valley CC (Tex.)
The MVP of final season’s NJCAA Nationwide Championship has continued constructing on what was an impressive freshman marketing campaign together with his play on the GASO JUCO Showcase. The face-up ahead is automated together with his mid-range jumper, brings positional versatility, and has the power to take advantage of mismatches. Loubaki is a local of France and has performed with Additional time Elite previous to arriving at Trinity Valley, giving him a wealth of expertise at totally different ranges that can make him an instantaneous influence participant on the D1 stage.
Jaquarious Patterson, 6’6, SF, Navarro School (Tex.)
A participant whom I used to be not accustomed to main into the occasion, Jaquarious Patterson, stood out inside 5 minutes of watching him. The athletic swingman modified the sport together with his stage of exercise on each ends, was an impressive cutter, and put fixed stress on protection with an explosive first step. Toss in the truth that the South Carolina product shot 42 p.c from 3-point vary final 12 months, and also you see why Patterson has all of the makings of a mid-major prospect.
Braylon Wagner, 6’5, SG/SF, Trinity Valley CC (Tex.)
The epitome of a plug and play man, Braylon Wagner slot in completely with the defending nationwide champions together with his skill to shoot the ball from deep. He was excellent flashing to open areas versus zones, shot the lights out when he had his ft set, and continually occupied defenders as a capturing menace from past the arc. The Ohio native is the kind of man that you just don’t need to run any performs for and already holds provides from Bradley, Grambling, Japanese Michigan, Louisiana Tech, and numerous others.
Clarence Payia, 6’6, SG/SF, Angelina CC (Tex.)
One other participant producing buzz coming into the occasion was Clarence Payia, a swingman out of Beaumont. With good dimension for a swingman, he’s an efficient straight-line driver, jumps the passing lanes very well defensively, and confirmed the power to knock down deep threes. Already holding D1 provides for subsequent 12 months, Payia brings D1 expertise (he performed at Louisiana Tech) to an Angelina squad that will probably be anticipating him to place factors on the board this season.
Derelle Want, 6’10, C, Trinity Valley CC (Tex.)
Probably the most intriguing bodily prospect that the GASO JUCO Showcase delivered to the desk was Derelle Want, a product of London. The tremendous proficient lefty has an impressive body, could be very comfy capturing the ball from mid-range, and appears to dunk something that he touches within the paint. Proudly owning all the instruments and expertise of a excessive main huge man, Want’s manufacturing this session will in the end depict what D1 stage he lands at—large body.
