Boys basketball 50 players to watch: Keep an eye on these Fort Worth-area athletes
The Texas high school boys’ basketball season is ramping up, and the second half of district play is underway.
Here are 50 players to watch from the greater Fort Worth-area. The vast majority of players were nominated by coaches.
Editor’s note: Miss your chance to nominate? Touch base with High School Sports Editor Charles Baggarly at cbaggarly@star-telegram.com.
North Crowley
Isaak Hayes, Soph., G — Hayes, arguably the best underclassman in Fort Worth, has been out of action since Dec. 20. Before the injury, he led the Panthers with 21.11 points per game. He shot 45% from three and 74% from the free throw line. He averages a team-high 4.2 assists per game and also 3.58 steals. In 2024, he was the Star-Telegram’s Newcomer of the Year.
Abram Hicks, Sr., G — Hicks, a transfer from Burleson Centennial, plays with intensity and has a 6-foot-2 frame. He is one of the team’s leading rebounders and averaged 6.58 per game ahead of the Panthers’ recent 49-35 victory over Mansfield. He has been averaging a respectable 8.8 points per game and 3.71 steals per game.
Trey Hall, Jr., F — With a 6-foot-7 frame, Hall provides North Crowley with size. He has been averaging over 12 points per game and can stretch the floor with a 34% three-pointer. He leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game and 1.4 blocks per game.
Chris Shelby, Sr., F —Shelby, a three-year letterwinner, brings loads of varsity experience to North Crowley’s roster. He does a bit of everything for the Panthers and ranks in the top three in scoring, rebounding, steals, and charges.
Grapevine Faith
Mason Barnett, Sr., G — Barnett, a transfer from Kingdom Collegiate, scored 2,700 points ahead of his senior season. In 2024, he was named his district’s MVP. Barnett has offers from McNeese State and Cal Berkley.
Brennen Byrd, Sr., G/G — Byrd, with a towering 6-foot-7 frame, has offers from Southwestern, WPI (Boston) and Hesston. In 2024, he was named district Co-MVP and earned First Team All-State honors.
Landon Harlin, Sr., G — Harlin, also a district Co-MVP, earned Second Team All-State honors. He is arguably Grapevine Faith’s best scorer. He has offers from Texas Lutheran University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Sewanee University, Trinity University, LeTourneau University, Southwestern University and College of the Ozarks.
Crowley
Kamden McGilveary, Jr., G — McGilveary, a transfer from Eastern Hills, is one of the best prospects in Fort Worth. He is an On3 three-star and also Top 25 in Texas Hoops and GASO rankings. He has offers from TCU, SMU, LSU, Mississippi State, Cal, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, FIU, UT-Arlington and SC State.
Weatherford
Brendan Ballard, Sr., G/F — Ballard has a 6-foot-7 frame and is also athletic, with an ability to shoot threes and dribble. He is a great shot blocker, rebounder and defender for Weatherford and can also score efficiently in the paint.
Deshaun Lewis, Sr., G — Lewis is an explosive scorer and can score in many facets. In 2024, he earned Newcomer of the Year honors.
Mansfield Summit
Theo Brannan, Jr., G — In 2024, Brannan led Mansfield Summit to a 30-8 record and an undefeated 16-0 district record en route to district MVP and TABC All-Region honors. Mansfield Summit is 19-6 and 5-0 in district play.
Ian Sedah, Sr., F — In 2024, Sedah earned First Team All-District honors and was also voted TABC All-Region.
Northwest Eaton
Aden Kraft, Sr., G — Kraft is a fast guard and a three-year varsity letterwinner.
Wesley Zenon, Soph, G/F — Zenon is athletic and explosive and a great offensive rebounder. Eaton coach Tim Thomas says he shows toughness, hustle and heart.
Caleb Harris, Jr., G/F — Harris, with a 6-foot-4 frame, is a versatile player who can play many positions for Eaton. Thomas says he is strong and active.
Byron Nelson
Jackson Beauchamp, Sr., F — Beauchamp is a versatile big with tremendous court vision and an ability to finish at the rim. He earned a District 4-6A honorable mention honor as a junior.
Braydn Alward, Sr., F — Alward is a big that can ballhandle and stretch the floor. In 2024, he was named to the District 4-6A Second Team.
Josh Kaegea, Sr., G — Kaegea is an athletic playmaker with an ability to create shots and shoot from beyond the arc. In 2024, he was named the District 4-6A Newcomer of the Year.
Alvarado
Cardea Collier, Sr., G — Collier thrived on the football field and was recently named the Star-Telegram’s Offensive Player of the Year. He is also a star basketball player. He is a four-year letterwinner with more than 1,000 points. In 2024, he averaged 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals en route to First Team All-District honors.
Desmond Mitchell, Jr., G — Mitchell, a two-year letterwinner, was named the 2024 Newcomer of the Year. He also earned First Team All-District honors with 15 points, seven assists, five steals, and three rebounds per game while shooting 55% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.
Southwest
Kordon Henderson, Sr., G — Henderson is a returning starter who was named the District 6-5A Newcomer of the Year in 2024. He is a versatile, well-rounded player with an ability to score, rebound and pass.
Dakarii Hudson, Sr., G — Hudson entered his senior year with two years of varsity experience. He earned first-team all-district honors as a sophomore and junior.
Chisholm Trail
Kaden Richardson, Sr., G — Richardson is a “coaches dream” according to coach Rodney McFadden. He is a great leader who commands respect from his teammates. He has scored over 1,000 points in his career and can score at all three levels. In 2024, he was named the District 3-6A Offensive Player of the Year and also made the Star-Telegram All-Area First Team.
Jesse Mutombo, Soph., G — Mutombo has potential as a talented underclassman. According to McFadden, he makes his teammates better and has a high IQ. He is a solid defender who can score from inside and out. As a freshman, he started every game for Chisholm Trail en route to second-team all-district honors.
Haltom
Titus Prather, Soph., G — Prather is a rising star with elite potential. According to coach Michael Hatch, he has a chance to be a high-level point guard at the college level. He has a strong basketball IQ and an ability to control the game. He scores at all three levels and is a solid rebounder for a guard.
Joshua
Silas Smith, Sr., G — Smith is an experienced three-year veteran who earned second-team all-district honors as a junior.
Mikey Gerhardt, Sr., G — Gerhardt is a three year letterwinner. He is a threat from behind the arc.
Addison Auvenshine, Jr., F — Auvenshine, a two-year letterwinner, is a “walking double-double,” according to Joshua’s coach Jacob Dawson.
Southlake Carroll
Ari Tumma, Sr., G — With a 6-foot-4 frame, Tumma is a player who can score among the best in North Texas. Tumma, a Truman State commit, reached the 1,000 career points milestone on Dec. 12.
Springtown
Ethan Graham, Sr., G — Graham can shoot, pass and is one of Springtown’s senior leaders and entered the season with varsity experience.
Dylan Crutchfield, Sr., C —Crutchfield, with a 6-foot-4 frame, is one of Springtown’s defensive anchors.
Saginaw Boswell
Evan Bosch, Soph., G/F — Bosch is a rising talent and has already showcased his talents as an underclassman. He earned second-team all-district honors as a freshman and is 6-foot-4.
Kairell Robertson, Sr., G — Robertson runs the Boswell offense and is a versatile player who earned first-team all-district honors as a junior. He has offers from Texas Wesleyan, UNT Dallas, and Texas A&M Texarkana.
Arlington Martin
Aiden Groce, Soph., G — Groce started on varsity as a freshman and is one of Martin’s top scorers. He has a 6-foot-2 frame and is a talented three-point and free-throw shooter. As a freshman, he was named to the District 8-6A All-District Second Team. He has been given a lot of responsibility but has thrived in a key role.
Levi Moore, Fr., G — Moore made an immediate impact with the Warriors. According to coach Nana Ankamah, he is a special talent who puts a lot of time into his craft. He is skilled; Moore is one of Martin’s best free-throw shooters. With his strong work ethic, his potential is high.
Jeremiah Ellis, Jr., G — Ellis is Martin’s best three-point shooter. As a sophomore, he hit seven three-pointers vs. Grand Prairie. According to Ankamah, he is a calming figure for the team.
Jeremy Nyakundi, Jr., F — With a towering 6-foot-9 frame, Nyakundi entered his junior year with a season of varsity experience. He has the ability to stretch the floor and will likely play at the next level. With his frame and skill, his potential is high.
Nolan Catholic
Cayden Villescas, Sr., G — Villescas is a four-year varsity player with loads of experience and is a vital part of the Viking’s program. He is a solid scorer and rebounder and is a consistent double-double threat. He holds and offer from Southwestern University and has maintained a 3.5 GPA.
John Fiornoi, Jr., G — When it comes to leadership, Fiornoi sets the tone, according to coach Hayden Blessing. He is an elite scorer for the Vikings and can shoot 40% from three and 85% from the free-throw line.
Birdville
Sawyer Dotson, Jr., F — Dawson, with a 6-foot-7 frame, is an elite threat for the Hawks. As a sophomore, he was Birdville’s leading scorer and rebounder. In late November, he was named the Coppell Tournament MVP.
Keller
Steven Ramirez, Sr., G — Ramirez, a Northern Colorado commit, is the No. 35 ranked player in the GASO 2025 Player Rankings. In 2024, he earned All-Region honors and was named the Star-Telegram’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Ramirez, with a 6-foot-5 frame, averaged 20 points per game as a junior, leading Keller to four playoff victories before the Indians fell to Plano East, the eventual undefeated state champion.
Luke Fabian, Sr., G — Fabian has an increased role in 2025 and is averaging just under 10 points per game with a 6-foot-2 frame. In 2024, he was an honorable mention All-District player.
Fort Worth Carter-Riverside
Robert Rodriguez, Sr., G — Rodriguez is the “life and blood” of the team, according to coach Andrew Endsley. Rodriguez leads Carter-Riverside in every aspect of the game and leads by example while showing younger players the ropes. Keep an eye out for him to have an impactful senior season.
Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis
Anthony Elizondo, Jr., G — As a Sophomore, Elizondo averaged 21 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and three assists to earn unanimous First Team All-District honors. He scored 1,097 points in his first two varsity seasons. Elizondo is now leading the Eagles as a junior and is a “top defender and competitor,” according to coach Anthony Elizondo. He averaged over 20 points heading into winter break while carrying a 4.85 GPA.
Argyle Liberty Christian
Easton Hupp, Sr., G — With a 6-foot-4 frame, Hupp entered the season as a 1,000-point scorer. He is leading Liberty Christian as a top scorer and has several college offers at the Division III level.
Max Hinds, Sr., G — Hinds earned First Team All-District honors in his sophomore and junior campaigns. With a 6-foot-3 frame, he is set to be a force for Liberty Christian and has a reputation as a three-point specialist.
Weatherford Christian School
Wesley Otey, Sr., G — Otey is a three-year varsity starter and has the ability to shoot from a distance. He is the offensive leader of the team and has a veteran presence, according to coach Kyle Fields.
Noah McKamey, Sr., F — McKamey is a two-year varsity starter and is the defensive standout of the team. McKamey, a double-double machine, is the vocal leader of the team, according to Fields.
Trinity Christian Academy
Sam Carson, Sr., G — According to coach Jeff Peterson, Carson is a team captain and a senior leader who provides pace in transition and ball security. He is the key to the team’s offensive efficiency who can beat defenders off the dribble, attack the rim and create space with a respectable three-point shot.
Cole Massey, Sr., G/F — Massey is also a captain and brings energy as one of the team’s top defenders, according to Peterson. He is an elite three-point shooter and can also attack the basketball.
.jpg)