Scout's Notebook: Thanksgiving Hoopfest
Scouting takeaways on a premier high school event in Dallas, Texas with notes on Chris Cenac, Andre Iguodala II, Legend Smiley, + More.
This last Friday and Saturday, over 50 games were played featuring dozens of top 100 players across over tens of high school teams. After studying so many of the players across the AAU circuits over the summer, this provides a much more structured context with more dispersed talent and a more clear objective to win.
I attended both days, but given that two or three games are happening at a time, it is impossible to see every game. I prioritized certain games and players, and ended up seeing seven games before having to return to family festivities. Let’s dive into the players I watched.
Jaylon Dean-Vines, Dallas Kimball (Vanderbilt commit, class of 2025)
In a loaded 21-point, nine-rebound, four assist, and three steal performance on 7-15 shooting, Dean-Vines’s athleticism popped off the page against Corona Centennial. He had a eurostep into a dunk that brought the entire building up off their feet, which summarizes his signature trait in his athleticism. JDV will have to prove he can be a reliable outside shooter as a ~6’3 guard, but he has several other traits that high major teams are attracted to. He was the heart and soul for Kimball, and led them to a 13-point victory.
Kingston Flemings, San Antonio Brennan (Houston commit, class of 2025)
Flemings is a great floor general who uses eye deception, incredible floor vision, and an ability to see plays before they happen. His playmaking will translate well up to college at Houston, but his scoring needs to come along. On Saturday, Flemings recorded a double-double with just rebounds and assists, which showcases his ability to crash the boards well and help push the pace. In two games, Flemings averaged 9.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 13.5 APG, and 2.0 SPG on 5/17 shooting. The scoring is lagging behind, and hasn’t improved enough over the last 18 months. His jumper needs to be sped up, and he must find a way to score the ball in order to maximize his playmaking ability.