Drafting the Best

Boys Nolan Dennis Richland Junior guard/forward Fantasy forecast: How good is Nolan Dennis? Texas' Rick Barnes and North Carolina's Roy Williams are among the college coaches and scouts who have made the pilgrimage to North Richland Hills to see this chosen one of the basketball court. "Definitely, he will be an asset for any program that recruits him," Richland coach Richard Bacon said. "He can do everything." Dennis is one of the most sought after prospects in the country because of his versatility. The 6-foot-5 junior, who has been in the starting lineup since his freshman year, averaged 17 points per game and made more than 50 percent of his field goals as a sophomore. Bacon said Dennis can play point guard, off guard or small forward equally well. "He really came on his sophomore year," Bacon said. "Now, he's unbelievable." Dennis, an all-region player a year ago, should be even better this season. That's why Bacon expects the Rebels to repeat as District 5-5A champions. He expects even bigger things for Dennis in the not-too-distant future. "He's a pro," Bacon said. "That's the best way to describe it." Neil Duvall Southlake Carroll Senior center/forward Fantasy forecast: Sure, Duvall can park his 6-foot-8 frame in the paint and back his way to the basket, but the Carroll senior isn't some plodding big man. "He's really turned into a fine player," first-year Dragons coach Jon Youngblood said. "He's probably going to play the 4 at the next level because he can face the basket and shoot and pass and do more than just post up." Duvall, who recently committed to Furman, averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior. Youngblood expects Duvall's stats and his impact on the game to increase in 2007-08. "He'll be a big part of it," Youngblood said. "For us to be successful, he's got to get a lot of touches." Darious Jones Fort Worth Dunbar Senior guard Fantasy Forecast: Dunbar's 5-foot-10 point guard doesn't carry a wizard's wand on the basketball court, but Darious Jones does have something in common with Harry Potter. "He's a magician with the ball," coach Robert Hughes Jr. said. "Darious has remarkable speed and quickness...and he can take anyone off the dribble." Jones earned all-state honors as a junior after averaging nearly 17 points and seven assists for the Flying Wildcats, which lost in the Class 4A state semifinals. Dunbar is looking to win state this time around, and Jones has a new trick up his sleeve. "He's been working on his jumper," Hughes said. "People think he can't shoot, but he can shoot. He's just never had to before. But with the double team, he's going to have to shoot the jumper." Chris Babb Arlington Oakridge Senior guard/forward Fantasy Forecast: Chris Babb can score with the best of them. The 6-foot-5 forward/guard averaged 24 points a game last season, but Babb's greatness goes beyond lighting up the scoreboard. He also averaged 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals as a junior. Babb is the best post-up player on the team and can also fill in at point guard for the Owls, which play in the Southwest Preparatory Conference. "He's a very good athlete, has a real good feel for the game and is very unselfish," Oakridge coach Mike Boelkens said of Babb, who is being recruited by TCU, Baylor and Mississippi. Kapron Lewis-Moore Weatherford Senior forward Fantasy Forecast: A double-double is an everyday thing for this 6-foot-4 senior. An all-district selection last season, Kapron Lewis-Moore averaged 14 points and 11 boards in helping Weatherford to a 20-10 record and a playoff berth. He also plays defense. "He's a denier. He just doesn't allow anything in the middle," said Roos basketball coach Terry Ferguson. The most amazing thing about Lewis-Moore is that basketball isn't even his best sport. A standout defensive end on the gridiron, he has already committed to play football at Texas A&M. Other names on the HSSTM draft board: Kendall Timmons Fort Worth Southwest Senior guard Comment: Reigning District 7-4A offensive player of the year averaged 18.2 points and 7.6 rebounds in 2006-07. Recently committed to Tulane. Brad Hubenak Kennedale Senior post Comment: All-region player in 2006-07 averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3.4 blocks. Darren Houliston Euless Trinity Senior forward Comment: Two-time all-district player averaged 18.6 points and 9.5 rebounds as a junior. Girls Destini Hughes Kennedale Senior guard Fantasy Forecast: It seems weird to say about a player who averaged 20 points per game last season, but Kennedale star Destini Hughes doesn't have to score a ton of points to dominate, according to LadyCats coach Vance Hughes. "She can take over a game without having to do a lot of scoring," Hughes said of his daughter. "She's contributing in other ways." Those other ways Hughes makes an impact include averaging seven assists, nine boards and four steals as a junior. One of the top point guard prospects in the nation, Hughes has drawn interest from Florida, LSU, Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and others. "She's a true point guard and she's a big point guard," Hughes said. "She's just a floor general. She knows how to get everybody involved." Brooklyn Pope Dunbar Senior center/forward Fantasy Forecast: One game tells you all you need to know about Dunbar's senior post. She registered a triple double - 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks - in the state championship game in 2007. That huge performance helped the Lady Wildcats to their second Class 4A state title in three years. Pope was named a Parade All-American in April after averaging 19 points and five blocked shots as a junior. Samantha Mahnesmith Kennedale Senior guard Fantasy Forecast: Samantha Mahnesmith is a scorer. She drives, she rains home jumpers from the outside and she piles up points by the dozens. "She knows how to score, but she's not just a shooter," Kennedale coach Vance Hughes said of the senior guard, who averaged 25 points in 2006-07. "She's another one that helps other people get involved." The 5-foot-8 Mahnesmith, who also chipped in six steals a game as a junior, has committed to SMU. Hughes said the Mustangs will get one heck of a player - one that Hughes is glad to be getting another season with. "She's a basketball gym rat that plays hard," Hughes said. Micalyn Slemmons Granbury Senior guard Fantasy Forecast: She isn't a physically imposing figure - standing about 5-foot-3 - but Micalyn Slemmons' presence on the basketball court looms large. "Micalyn is a fighter, a winner and a nice basketball player," said Lady Pirates coach Leta Andrews. Slemmons, a shooting guard who can also bring the ball up the court, averaged 15 points per game and was all-district last season in the ultra-competitive District 4-5A. Not only that, she helped the team advance to the playoffs despite being without talented center Lacey Neu for all but five games in 2006-07. Nikki Terral Mansfield Timberview Senior guard Fantasy Forecast: Timberview's Nikki Terral should improve on the 10 points per game she scored last season as she assumes more of a leadership role for the Lady Wolves, which lost standout Catheryn Redmon to graduation. Terral played a big role in helping lead Timberview to the regional semifinals in 2006-07, the program's first season in Class 5A. Terral, who was all-district as a junior, scored a team-high 18 points in a 63-38 victory against Lubbock Monterey in the area round of the playoffs. Other names Antoinette Thompson O.D. Wyatt Senior guard/forward Comment: Defensive player of the year last season in District 7-4A. Named one of Texas Prep Basketball's Top 50 players in the state. Elie Torres Keller Fossil Ridge Senior guard Comment: District 5-5A most valuable player in 2006-07. Hannah Christian Aledo Junior guard Comment: Offensive player of the year in District 8-4A as a sophomore. Averaged 21 points per game in 2006-07.