Duncanville - the most talented public HS b-ball team ever?

[LA_Mustang]

I knew Duncanville had talent...everyone knows about Williams (Texas commit) and Franklin (Okie St commit) but they also have three kids who have committed to BCS schools (Arizona and (2) Baylor) and one more who is being heavily recruited by LSU. btw, from the sound of things, Baylor got two studs. This is a report from a recruiting guy on Orangebloods. They have to be the pre-season #1 in the country......


The guys played pick-up for the most part on Thursday afternoon. What an array of talent at Duncanville this year in 6-7 wing Shawn Williams (Texas commit), 6-5 combo forward Roger Franklin (Oklahoma State commit), 6-0 point guard Reger Dowell (Arizona commit), 6-9.5 junior Perry Jones (Baylor commit), 6-6 junior wing Julian Washburn and 5-11 junior guard Jamison Sterns (Baylor commit).

Coaches from LSU (Trent Johnson), Baylor (Scott Drew) and Western Kentucky (Ken McDonald) were in the gym on Thursday. LSU is heavily recruiting Julian Washburn.

1.Shawn Williams has continued to grow. He looks to be a legit 6-7 or knocking on the door. Weighs 210-pounds per Shawn. Has really improved off the bounce. More fluid and confident putting the ball on the deck against a smaller defender. As always, is very good in catch and shoot. Underrated rebounder, especially offensive. Just needs to get stronger to finish plays when taking hits after grabbing the board. Has a good left around the basket, but again strength will help him finish at a higher percentage.

Just a terrific hoops IQ. Williams will be a very good fit at Texas. He will be very good in random ball screen game that Coach Barnes runs because he has been well coached and has some versatility. He can play away from the ball, with the ball or as a screen and float type. Good release.

Williams is a kid that will take off under Todd Wright IMO. What Williams needs is what Wright provides ie...improved lateral quickness on defense, strength and working out the kinks with a left ankle that he has sprained a few times (needs to be strengthened).

Will have an interview with Williams Monday or Tuesday, but he was very excited about Avery Bradley and the possibility of Jordan Hamilton.

2.Perry Jones is a future NBA 1st round pick down the line IMO. He is a 6-9.5, long armed fluid athlete that can change ends well, put the ball on the floor in the open court, finish well above the rim, possesses long arms and second jump ability and a nice touch inside of 12-14-feet. Even showed a fluid jump hook working off the right block. Needs to work on full extension on the jump hook as the competition steps up in the future. Moves well laterally and is just blessed with many tools that will show up in time.

Still very raw, but he will be very well coached at Duncanville and will develop quickly IMO.

Not sure where his commit to Baylor is at this point, but haven't heard he is going to re-open his recruitment lately.

3.Roger Franklin will be a good role player for the Cowboys. He has the toughness needed to compete and impact winning as an undersized (6-5, 220'ish) combo forward. Makes mid-range jumpers. Excels off of one or two dribbles in which he works into his jumper. Not really putting the ball on the floor to go by defenders, but get them leaning creating space so he can raise up for a jumper.

Going to be a good help team defender. Makes some plays away from the ball to turn away easy scores or makes the offense make the extra pass giving his teammates time to make the extra rotation.

4.Julian Washburn, son of Chris Washburn, is making progress physically. Easy to see he is beginning to fill out, while still not close to being where he will be in three or four years. Lower body has gotten stronger. Still doesn't play with the attitude, confidence and toughness that he should IMO as he is a talented kid. Makes the majority of his offensive plays in transition. Runs the floor well. He is a legit 6-6. Has to get the inside shoulder low off the bounce to create leverage.

Washburn is being recruited by LSU, Texas, Baylor, A&M, Arizona, NC State, OU and Oklahoma State among others. He is a wing all the way. Will be a top 100 type of talent nationally in the 2010 class, but there are some wings nationally that are at a much higher level at this point. If a program doesn't need him to be a big minute contributor out of the gate and has the luxury of developing him, he will be a very good fit. With that being said, he is just going to be a junior.
This post was edited on 9/21 10:08 AM by Gerry H


Gerry Hamilton
Orangebloods.com
[email protected]

[Billy Joe]

Disturbing SMU got none of them. Meanwhile, Doherty is traveling around the country recruiting when the best players are within a 10 - 15 minute drive from campus. SMU has to recruit locally to be competitive.

[ponyboy]

What an unbelievable collection of players. Wow.

[papawasamustang]

I have seen Robo @ games in the metroplex several times so I know he's taking his cuts. Just hasn't connected yet. The great thing about BB recruiting is it only takes 1 bigtimer to get on board & others will follow. Robo will keep swinging & eventually he will hit a "homerun".
Its just unfortunate that he hasn't been successful @ Duncanville yet.
To me, that's were it all starts in the DFW area.

[PonyDoh]

Its a fine public school team, no doubt. Most talented ever, no way. Also, w/Findlay Prep reclassified to a high school, and runner up in the prep school championships last year, they have to be #1 or close. They are 11 deep in D1 players, most high majors.

[mustangbill67]

Disturbing SMU got none of them. Meanwhile, Doherty is traveling around the country recruiting when the best players are within a 10 - 15 minute drive from campus. SMU has to recruit locally to be competitive.

It is unfortunate that we have been unable to recruit a big time Dallas area player but from DOH's blogs it sounds like he has been trying. If he can get his team to improve every year and continue to recruit well nationally, at some point we will get in on the local pipeline. Based on our history, this will take time.

[SMU2007]

Its a fine public school team, no doubt. Most talented ever, no way. Also, w/Findlay Prep reclassified to a high school, and runner up in the prep school championships last year, they have to be #1 or close. They are 11 deep in D1 players, most high majors.

yea i don't think findlay prep is a public high school

[apisarna]

It's gonna take sometimes before we can attract top recruits. We have little to sell to these recruits. Recruiting HS kids will take more than just a coach (though it helps to have good coach). It'll be about school tradition, conference, media exposure opportunity, winning records, good practice facilities, and great fans. We need to improve in all these aspects.

[PonyDoh]

Its a fine public school team, no doubt. Most talented ever, no way. Also, w/Findlay Prep reclassified to a high school, and runner up in the prep school championships last year, they have to be #1 or close. They are 11 deep in D1 players, most high majors.

yea i don't think findlay prep is a public high school

Findlay is a private. I was referring to Duncanville being #1 in the country, not about being the best public school team of all time, which they aren't.

[MustangIcon]

I will say the best public high school hoops squad I have ever seen was Fort Bend Willowridge. 1999 to 2001 they went something like 70+wins and 1 loss with two Texas 5A State Titles.

In 2000 that team started:

Ivan Mcfarland, Sr.- who played at OSU and is in the NBA
Andre Watson, Jr.- one of the most amazing athletes I've ever seen but dumber than a box of rocks
Kenny Taylor, Jr. - Baylor then Texas after the scandal in Waco
Daniel Ewing, Jr.- Duke and NBA player
TJ Ford, Jr.- Texas, National player of the year, and NBA

In 2001 both Daniel Ewing and TJ Ford were McDonalds All Americans. I'm not sure I can recall any other public school having two McDonalds guys in one season before.

Best I have ever seen.

[LA_Mustang]

I didn't see the Willowridge team with Ford and Ewing, but the 2001 Lincoln team ranks right up there....Bosh, Hop and Eaton

This year's D-ville team may not be the best public ever, but I have never seen one with a Texas, Arizona, Okie St, Baylor (2) and likely LSU commits on the same team at the same time. That is serious talent.

Doh, what public school has had more major commits than that?

[PonyDoh]

I didn't see the Willowridge team with Ford and Ewing, but the 2001 Lincoln team ranks right up there....Bosh, Hop and Eaton

This year's D-ville team may not be the best public ever, but I have never seen one with a Texas, Arizona, Okie St, Baylor (2) and likely LSU commits on the same team at the same time. That is serious talent.

Doh, what public school has had more major commits than that?

First off, most of the East Coast isn't about publics. Any quality players immediately go to the catholic leagues or preps. It's a different environment. You would never see a team like Duncanville, they would all transfer out. This is true for DC, Baltimore, Philly, NYC, Chicago etc.

As for publics, just off the top of my head, the old Dunbar(Baltimore) teams were loaded. Mugsy Bogues, Reggie Williams, David Wingate, Reggie Lewis, the Prue brothers, just off the top of my head.

[Billy Joe]

Again, it is a shame SMU was not in on one of those kids.....right in our own backyard and not even a look. SMU has some serious inroads to make....this is sad.....meanwhile, our coach is several states away recruiting. This needs to change but how?

[bball4tc]

I remember reading on Rivals that SMU offered both Roger Franklin and Reger Dowell. I believe we offered even before many of the bigger schools. I am guessing that this is a case of them not having much interest in us, rather than SMU not recruiting locally. The coaching staff has also offered two local point guards as well. Sounds like Coach Doh is recruiting locally, but is just having more success nationally.

[MustangIcon]

I remember reading on Rivals that SMU offered both Roger Franklin and Reger Dowell. I believe we offered even before many of the bigger schools. I am guessing that this is a case of them not having much interest in us, rather than SMU not recruiting locally. The coaching staff has also offered two local point guards as well. Sounds like Coach Doh is recruiting locally, but is just having more success nationally.

That is exactly right. Doherty would love to pull some DFW blue chippers I am sure, but they simply aren't interested in coming here. Unfortunately, SMU basketball has been mediorce or worse by the time these kids even entered middle school. We will have to change the perception of our program some, which starts with putting some wins together, before we make good progress in local recruiting. Until then, Doherty and staff will keep trying but probably have more success from kids in other places of the country that don't know the extent of our recent suckitude.