The Lone Star Invitational, Day 3 Sunday, had some really solid games, especially down the stretch of the event where several games came down to the wire, because players were making plays, playing some great basketball together and having fun. Marcus Hill (Texas Impact 4:13 Elite – Open Division) hit just a huge shot to cap the team’s title run, and Matthew Todd of the MN Comets Elite squad and Jalen Shaw of Kessel Heat Black were going back and forth scoring the ball as the game went to OT and came down to the final possession. There were also a few excellent performances from some players trying to boost their recruiting while still playing within their team’s game to help out in any way they could. Read below to catch who played well and who is trending up going into next weekend’s second NY2LA Sports Association event in Minnesota…

DAY 3 TOP PERFORMERS
JACK BRADY – 2018 – G – WI SHOOTERS
Brady had himself a game on Sunday, really lighting it up from the floor with some exceptional shooting. While not a big guard, Brady used his quickness and his basketball smarts to come off screens, pass and relocate, drive with the dribble to get good looks at the hoop and was on fire when he had those opportunities.  Brady was 6-of-7 from three in the game and finished the contest with 24 points to lead his team to a good win.

XAVIER BRYANT – 2018 – PG – TEXAS IMPACT 4:13 ELITE
In their first game Sunday, Bryant was under control and making things happen for his team, getting to the rack for some strong buckets through bigger defenders, hit a three and was just controlling the tempo by playing great defense and pushing the ball up the floor. He finished that game with 18 points and then continued his run into the next game, throwing 3 nice assists in the first 3 possessions of the game with 2 steals in that frame. As the game went on he went to work attacking the rim for some buckets again and making plays on both ends of the floor for his teammates.

GRAYSON CARTER – 2018 – PF – DALLAS SHOWTYME ELITE
Carter had 12 points for DSE in their win over Houston TG, but it was his overall game that really had the impact on the game and puts him as a top performer. At 6’8”, Carter was big inside, using his length and athleticism to grab a number of rebounds, both offensively and defensively, and really played aggressively in the middle. He also was good at the free throw line, going 7-of-10, and was able to showcase an improving three-point shot, hitting one early in the game. Carter was also solid in the Open Division Gold title game.

MARCUS HILL – 2018 – SG – TEXAS IMPACT 4:13 ELITE
Hill had a big role early for Texas Elite in helping them build a solid early lead against a tough Nike Pro Skills squad. Hill was exceptional shooting the ball from the right wing and corner, going three-for-three in the first half, and opened the game with a good run-out fast break basket. In their earlier game he also was hot shooting the ball, hitting 4 clean three-balls, and finishing the win with 14 points. He had 13 in the second game. Hill was outstanding in the Open Division Platinum championship, draining a number of three’s again, including the one that mattered most, a sweet look from three at the top of the key to win it all.

LUKE JOHNSON – 2018 – PG – COLORADO TITANS GOLD
Johnson and Brady were really battling it out on the court Sunday morning, and brought out the best in each other offensively. Johnson was efficient from the floor, shooting the ball really well from both beyond the arc and also pulling up from about 15 feet. He played strong with the ball in his hands too and was able to get to the free throw line a few times, going 6-for-6 there to go with his couple three’s, finishing the game with 18 points.

MYLES NUNEZ – 2018 – PG – TEAM ELITE CA
The day was filled with guards making plays for their teams, and Nunez is another great example of that on Day 3. The 5’11”, quick and tough young guard put pressure on the opponent all game by pushing the ball and then in the half-court, his shooting prowess took over, and he was on fire and efficient from three, hitting an astounding 7 three’s in the game on 9 attempts, and finishing the contest with 30 points.

JORDAN PHILLIPS – 2018 – PG – DALLAS SHOWTYME ELITE
Phillips at the one at 6’6” is imposing for opponent guards and he played that way on Sunday. He was strong, he used his body well to get by defenders on the perimeter and then again to absorb or work straight through contact to make plays at the rim. He finished several tough shots getting fouled in the process and converted a number of those opportunities at the line as Showtyme defeated Houston TopGuns. He had 16 points and also sank 2 three’s in the game.

JALEN SHAW – 2018 – PF – KESSEL HEAT BLACK
Shaw was a monster for Kessel in their hard-fought win in one of the games of the day Sunday. The 6’10” post prospect was active and aggressive on the blocks. He positioned himself inside well and went hard to the basket when he caught the ball from the mid-post or down, finishing several buckets with assertion and otherwise getting himself to the free throw line on several occasions. Defensively he was not to be messed with in the middle, as he swatted 5 shots and pulled down 8 rebounds, finishing with 11 boards and 22 points in a great overtime victory.

MATTHEW TODD – 2018 – PG – MN COMETS ELITE
Todd was the driving force of the Comets team in a tough game Sunday. The 6’1” point guard was great off the dribble, and finding ways to get shots up, which he hit several of, including 4 three’s in the game. One of those three’s came at the end of regulation to tie up the game with a defender’s outstretched hand in his face. He made some big plays all game long and also got his teammates involved, shelling out 5 assists to go with his 22-point effort.

JT WARREN – 2019 – G – NIKE PRO SKILLS 16U
Warren put together a well-rounded game against a stout Texas Elite team in the semi-final, making shots from every level of the floor. He was excellent from the perimeter with 3 treys, he sank a mid-range jumper and was able to get to the basket aggressively to get to the free throw line, finishing both free throws. He ended the game with 15 points and was active on the boards from the guard spot as well.

STOCK BOOSTERS
TYDAN ARCHIBALD – 2018 – PG – TEAM STACKZ ELITE
Archibald had a sneaky quickness and really good control with the ball in his hands which he was able to create and get good looks for his teammates. Shooting-wise, the 6’0” point was sharp, firing up the nets with 4 three’s in the game, and also was able to get to middle for a short pull-up. He finished the game against Lone Star with 14 points.

BAILEY DEE – 2018 – G – IL IRISH ELITE
Dee made a number of plays in the Irish win early in the day Sunday, fighting his way to the hoop on occasion with good control and shooting it with confidence. That confidence was also evident in his shot extended away from the hoop where he hit a few shots, scoring a team-high 16 points.

UCHE DIBIAMAKA – 2018 – G – TEAM STACKZ ELITE
Uche had a solid game in a couple areas for Stackz, as he did a nice job attacking the middle and using his strong frame to create a better shot attempt in traffic. He was able to sink a couple shots and had some strong finishes at the hoop including an impressive rise-up slam in the offense. He also sank a couple free throws and finished their final game of the weekend with 12 points and 5 rebounds.

JYDONN GRIFFITH – 2019 – F – LONE STAR ELITE
In Lone Star Elite’s first game Sunday, the 6’9”Griffith played his role really well, using his length defensively to really disrupt the opponent inside, and rebounded the ball well. He came down with 8 rebounds in the game, and also blocked 2 shots. On top of that, he finished pretty well around the hoop on offense, playing a bit of clean-up crew on the offensive glass and putting up 10 points in the game.

MATTHEW MIMS – 2018 – G – MARTIN BROTHERS
Mims had a really solid game overall for MB early in the day Sunday. The young 2018 combo guard was able to get some nice looks off the dribble, and played really well getting up the floor in transition and making plays. He doled the ball out well, but also finished plays off well shooting it, and finished the game with a nice 15-point effort.

BEIJAN NEWBERN – 2018 – SG – MINNESOTA SELECT
Newbern displayed a really good first step off the catch which he used to get by defenders a couple times and get himself some good looks at the hoop. From there he was able to shoot it pretty well from the mid-range area and also showed he can finish going to the hoop where he scored a few buckets as well.

NICOLAS RENE – 2018 – PG – TEXAS IMPACT 4:13 ELITE
The 6’1 guard had a solid couple games for his team on Day 3, getting to the cup for a couple nice baskets in each game and then also showing a nice jumper from 15 feet and out as well. He buried a couple three’s in the first game and was 6-of-6 from the free throw line, and then in the second game he really got going in the second half, scoring all 12 of his points in the period, including another three-pointer.

STOCK WATCH
AUNDRAE WILLIAMS – 2017 – PG – IL IRISH ELITE
Williams got up and down the floor with speed for the Irish in their first game Sunday. His ability to push the tempo put the defense on its heels often and he was able to finish lay-ups often. He also displayed a good jumper and knocked down a couple tough shots throughout the game, finishing the contest with a game-high 23 points.

MAREK NELSON – 2017 – SF – LONE STAR ELITE
Nelson was awesome on Sunday for Lone Star, as he used his 6’7” frame and athleticism to score in a multitude of ways. He was catching it on the perimeter and taking guys to the rack strong for finishes, he showed a good pull-up game, he caught on the block at times and made a couple nice short-range shots from there, and he also displayed an ability to shoot the three some too. He had a couple big games including a solid 19-point effort in one game.