Great American Showcase: Reps being made in Texas

DUNCANVILLE, Texas - Day two of the Great American Shootout was a day for many of Texas' top prospects to build or cement their reputations. Class of 2019 combo guard Grant Sherfield and YGC36 teammate Kyler Edwards along with 2017 Rivals150 big man Kevin Samuel were just a few taking advantage of the GASO stage.

Though he is only in the class of 2019, combo guard Grant Sherfield has already established a bit of a reputation. Already one of the leading scorers at the 17U level of the Adidas Gauntlet, it was expected that he would have a big weekend for the Marcus Smart-sponsored YGC36 squad.

However, nobody could have expected him to be as good as he was on Friday.

A strong candidate to enter our first 2019 Rivals150 as a high end four-star, Sherfield's game is all about feel and skill. He puts defenders in the spin cycle with his numerous hesitation and change of pace dribbles, he gets to the free throw line and he is an outstanding passer. SMU and Texas A&M are the most recent programs to offer joining Texas, Oklahoma State, Baylor, TCU and San Diego. Kansas is expected to offer before the end of the weekend.

Sherfield's 2018 teammate Kyler Edwards emerged as well.

Pushing 6-foot-5, Edwards was game as a compliment to Sherfield on the wing. A tough athlete, Edwards loves to attack off the dribble and either get to the rim or find a teammate. His jumper isn't bad and he plays with intensity on both ends of the floor. New Mexico, USC and Oklahoma State joined Boise State and Incarnate Word in offering him while others, such as Louisiana Tech, Texas A&M, SMU, Iowa State, UT-Arlington, Creighton, Rice and Sam Houston State, are watching closely.

After seeing class of 2017 center Kevin Samuel at venues like the Pangos All-American and NBPA Top 100 Camps, it was clear that he needed to be in the Rivals150. However, we started him off at No. 144 as we wanted to be conservative with his ranking until we could watch him in a role where he had a chance to be more featured.

No. 144 is too low for Samuel and, after watching him for two days with the All for Sports Dream Team, he looks like a four-star prospect.

The southpaw runs the floor hard, protects the rim, rebounds at a high volume and has a frame that will pack on lots of muscle in a college weight room. Houston, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and SMU have all offered and had their head coaches following him on Friday. Other offers include Auburn, Arkansas, Boise State, Virginia Tech, DePaul, Oklahoma State, UCLA, USC, Tulane, Lousiana Tech, Kansas State and Texas. Kansas is expected to offer soon.

As the kids like to say, 2018 point guard Ajare Sanni is about a bucket. A slender and creative offensive player, the three-star prospect got to the rim at will playing for Sanni Hoops. He is a good jump shooter and we were surprised to learn that his only offer to date is Rice. He has been to Utah and plans to see Oklahoma and Oklahoma State after the summer ends.

It was surprising to see class of 2016 small forward Curtis Haywood on the floor for the Oklahoma Storm. A three-star prospect who is an academic qualifier, he could easily help a mid to upper end mid-major team that has room left to add one. A good athlete with 6-foot-6 size, he was hitting shots, crashing the glass and making plays in transition.

Texas Southern head coach Mike Davis' son Antoine Davis is an absolutely lights out shooter. During an evening game with the Texas Bluechips the 6-foot-1 combo guard hit six second-half threes and showed unlimited range. You have to figure his father will be in good shape to pick up his pledge.

Team Rush guards Jamicheal Morgan and Jordan Lathon continue to add interest. A high-flying rising senior with length and a motor, Morgan recently picked up his first offer from Maine and has interest from UMKC, Oral Roberts, Southeast Missouri, Northern Colorado and Murray State. A three-star in the class of 2018, Lathon is a quick and athletic combo guard with good size and a nose for the basket. He's not yet scored an offer but has interest from programs like UMKC, Wichita State, Boise State, Tulsa, Arkansas and Oklahoma State.

San Antonio has developed a reputation for producing sleeper/late blooming prospects with players like Ben Uzoh, Jordan Clarkson and Andre Roberson all making the NBA after being lightly recruited (relatively speaking) coming out of high school. Last summer it was Clevon Brown who blew up late, and this year it could be Josh Pitts of the HD Toros. The 6-foot-8, 240 pounder is built well, plays with toughness and has some offensive touch. Schools are just finding out about him and he's got offers from Incarnate Word, Cal State Fullerton and Sam Houston State. But, they will soon have company as New Mexico sent three coaches to watch and word about Pitts was making its way around the gym.

Class of 2019 combo guard Chris Harris is another of several nice looking backcourt prospects in the Dallas-area in the rising sophomore class. He shoots well from deep, has some toughness and is wired to score it when the ball is in his hands. Baylor and Oklahoma State have already offered.

Three more 2019 guards to watch in the Dallas area all play together on D1 Premier's 16U team. Point guard De'Vion Harmon, combo guard Tyrese Maxey and shooting guard Jalen Wilson all showed excellent flashes. Harmon and Wilson team together at Denton (Texas) Guyer where Harmon's physical, tough and fast point guard play are a nice compliment to Wilson's smooth outside game. Harmon recently scored an offer from LSU and their head coach watched on Friday. A teammate of Chris Harris' at Garland (Texas) South Garland, Maxey has huge upside because of his nose for creating scoring opportunities off the dribble. Maxey has picked up offers from Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Baylor.