From Texas-bound Nic Codie to Duncanville's BJ Davis-Ray, who are the 25 most impactful prep hoopers in the Lone Star State?
Author:
Cody Thorn
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While high school football postseason enter pivotal stretches across the country, the 2023-24 Texas high school boys basketball season officially began on Nov. 10.
As the chase for the UIL state championship trophies in March begins, who are the 25 best returning high school boys basketball players in the Lone Star State?
>> High school basketball: When does each state begin the 2023-24 season?
Texas is a consistent hotbed for high school basketball talent, and this year is no exception.
Even though the top prospect set to return in Texas was 5-star combo guard Tre Johnson, who led Lake Highland to a 6A UIL title in March, the Texas commit left the state,transferring to national prep powerhouse Link Academy in Missouri.
There is no shortage of head-turning talent in his wake.
Here are the top 25 Texas high school basketball players entering the season:
TOP 25 TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYERS ENTERING 2023-24
Kuol Atak
High school:Haltom City
Measurables:6-9, 185
Class: 2024
The power forward will head up I-35 to play for Oklahoma, picking the Sooners over offers from Texas, TCU, SMU and Oklahoma State to name a few. The four-star recruit is No. 113 in the nation according to 247Sports. He averaged 22.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last year.
Brooks Bahr
High school:Keller
Measurables:6-4, 180
Class: 2024
The combo guard is a three-star recruit and No. 8 in the state signed to play at BYU. He averaged 21.4 points per game for the Indians and was the District 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year last season. His top five featured USC, Wake Forest, Utah and Saint Mary’s.
Alex Barther
High school:Fort Worth Eastern Hills
Measurables:6-4, 165
Class: 2026
The sophom*ore is the top-ranked player in the state in the 2026 class. He’s a four-star recruit after one year of high school and is the No. 12 shooting guard in the country. He already holds offers from Arizona State, Mississippi State, Missouri, SMU, TCU and Texas A&M.
A.J. Bates
High school:Katy Seven Lakes
Measurables:6-3, 170
Class: 2024
The No. 45-ranked point guard in the country helped the Spartans reach the regional finals last year. He averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He committed to Louisiana State in July and signed in November.
Dillon Battie
High school:Lancaster
Measurables:6-7, 195
Class: 2024
The power forward was the District 14-5A Newcomer of the Year and a Class 5A all-state last year. He held a dozen offers before signing with Temple in November. His dad, Derrick, was a four-year starter from 1992-96 for Temple. His uncle, Tony, played in the NBA from 1997-2012.
Trent Burns
High school:Houston PSAT Academy
Measurables:7-3, 220
Class: 2024
He’s a four-star recruit who made a lot of noise this summer, putting him as one of the top centers in the country — ranked No. 8 by Rivals. He visited Purdue, Nebraska and Missouri before closing to sign with the latter. During the Peach Jam Tournament this summer he hit 8 of 16 3-pointers.
John Clark
High school:Spring Klein Cain
Measurables:6-9, 210
Class: 2025
The center is the No. 42 recruit in the country and No. 3 in Texas in the Class of 2025, according to 247Sports. He holds 11 offers from Houston, Texas, Texas A&M, Kansas, Oklahoma, SMU and Tennessee.
Nic Codie
High school:Carrollton Newman Smith
Measurables:6-9, 200
Class: 2024
He’s the top-ranked recruit in the state for the senior class by 247Sports. He’s No. 45 in the country and the four-star recruit signed with Texas. He averaged 16 points and 9 rebounds per game as a junior.
BJ Davis-Ray
High school:Duncanville
Measurables:6-6, 187
Class: 2025
Duncanville lost four Division I players last year but will add a transfer from Link Academy in Missouri in Davis-Ray. The four-star forward/guard played his freshman year at Richardson Lake Highlands, averaging 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds that season. He holds more than a dozen offers from Big 12, SEC and Big Ten schools.
Kayde Dotson
High school:Beaumont United
Measurables: 6-2, 170
Class: 2024
The combo guard had visits to Stephan F. Austin, SMU, New Mexico and Loyola before signing with New Mexico. He scored 11.9 points, 1.6 steals, 2.4 assists and shot 37% from the 3-point line for the Class 6A finalists. He averaged 18 points per game at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam event in July.
Kingston Flemings
High school:San Antonio Brennan
Measurables:6-3, 165
Class: 2025
247Sports ranks the point guard the No. 10 prospect in the state and No. 73 nationally. Since May, he’s picked up offers from SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Houston and Texas Tech. He averaged 15 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the Bears last year, earning Class 6A all-state honors.
King Grace
High school:Waxahachie
Measurables: 6-4, 165
Class:2025
The shooting guard is the No. 2-ranked player in the state and 34th in the country in the 2025 class. He holds more than a dozen offers from Big 12, SEC and Big Ten schools. Houston, Kansas State and Cincinnati have all offered since July. Grace averaged 16.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists in his first year with the Indians after transferring from Dallas Hillcrest.
Hudson Greer
High school:Austin Lake Travis
Measurables:6-6, 190
Class: 2024
The four-star recruit holds 18 offers heading into November. Based on 247Sports composite, he is the No. 1 recruit in the junior class in the state. Nationally, he is a top-60 recruit. His dad, Josh, played at Saint Mary’s College.
Jared Harris
High school:Silsbee
Measurables:6-3, 160
Class: 2024
The Class 4A all-stater had more than 20 offers to play in college and cut his list down to 10. He ultimately chose to sign with Penny Hardaway and Memphis. Harris was the District 19-4A Most Valuable Player last year after scoring 18.6 points per game.
Chris McDermott
High school:Houston Booker T. Washington
Measurables:6-7, 215
Class: 2024
He helped the Eagles reach the UIL Class 4A finals last year. He averaged a double-double last year with 19 points and 11.9 rebounds as a junior. Georgetown, North Texas, Ole Miss, SMU and Texas A&M have offered the three-star recruit.
Robert Miller
High school:Pasadena Memorial
Measurables:Robert Miller
Class: 2024
The power forward averaged a double-double last year for the Mavericks with 19.7 points and 13.1 rebounds, while adding 5.4 blocks per game. He had 14 offers and committed to LSU in September.
Josiah Moseley
High school: Round Rock Stony Point
Measurables:6-6, 205
Class: 2024
The power forward had 17 offers and visited USC, Georgia Tech, Texas and Villanova before picking Big East power Villanova. He was one of only a handful of returning Class 6A all-staters last year. He averaged 21.5 points, 9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.4 blocks per game for the Tigers last year.
Doryan Onwuchekwa
High school:Dallas Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy
Measurables:6-10, 245
Class: 2024
The four-star recruit took visits to TCU, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Xavier and Colorado before signing with the Buffaloes. In the UIL Class 4A finals last year he had 15 points and 15 rebounds. He averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game as a junior.
Patton Pinkins
High school:Wolfforth Frenship
Measurables:6-5, 170
Class: 2025
The four-star recruit is the No. 12-ranked recruit in the 2025 class. He held 13 offers but committed to Chris Beard and Ole Miss on Nov. 1. His dad, Al, is an assistant coach for Beard. The guard helped the Tigers go 30-5 last season.
Zion Pipkins
High school:Spring Legacy School of Sports Sciences
Measurables:6-1, 175
Class: 2024
The combo guard is the No. 10 recruit in the state this season and is a three-star recruit. He signed with Wichita State, picking the Shockers over TCU, Houston and Colorado to name a few. Pipkin is back in Texas this year after playing for Oak Hill Academy (Va.) last year but played for Spring Westfield as a sophom*ore.
David Punch
High school:Harker Heights
Measurables:6-7, 205
Class: 2024
The three-star recruit is ranked No. 5 in the Class of 2024 in the Lone Star State. The power forward signed with TCU, picking the Horned Frogs over North Carolina State and Penn State — his final three in a list of 19 teams.
Dakari Spear
High school:The Colony
Measurables:6-3, 165
Class: 2026
The combo guard is No. 3 in his position, No. 2 in the state and No. 45 nationally and has picked up offers from Tennessee, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. His sister, Jewel, plays basketball for Tennessee and his brother, Kahliel, played for Robert Morris.
KJ Thomas
High school:Canyon Randall
Measurables:6-1, 165
Class: 2024
The No. 4-ranked guard and No. 40 nationally, he is a three-star recruit. He averaged 22.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game and earned Class 4A all-state honors. The Amarillo Globe News’ Player of the Year last year has signed to play at UTEP.
Nigel Walls
High school:Houston St. Francis Episcopal School
Measurables:6-10, 195
Class: 2025
The No. 49-ranked recruit in the country and No. 6 in the state in the 2025 class. He’s a four-star recruit that averaged 14.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. He was a TAPPS Class 3A all-state pick last year and holds 14 offers. TCU, USC, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Auburn and Arkansas are on the list.
Sebastian Williams-Adams
High school:Houston St. John’s
Measurables:6-7, 221
Class: 2025
He’s the top-ranked junior in the state and 21st in the nation. He’s uncommitted and holds 13 offers, which include Houston, Kansas, LSU, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. The four-star recruit had 22.2 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Mavericks as a sophom*ore.
-- Cody Thorn |@sblivetx
