What If…? Class of 2023
Marvel has a series called “What If…?”, which explores alternate timelines in the multiverse that show what would happen if major moments from the MCU films occurred differently.
Ball So Hard What If…? Is exploring what things would look like if prospects would’ve never left Greater Houston and stayed here. What if this player would’ve stayed at this particular school and not have transferred to another school.
Westbury Christian started off with a bang in Fall Ball as they featured Tyler Smith and the Milly Boyz (Kemauri Millender (2022) and Marcus Millender), this union didn’t last long but if it would have, sheesh. Could we have seen a possible 4 years in a row as the TAPPS State Champions? That freshman year also included players like Ja’Vier Francis 2021 (Houston), Chris Felix 2021 (Air Force), Kehlin Farooq 2020 (Texas Southern), Aaron Williams 2022 (New Mexico Military Institute), and Braxton Berry 2021.
Fort Bend Bush would’ve had a tough senior core last season if they could’ve kept them all together. Featuring players like Tyler Smith (G-League Ignite), Garwey Paul Dual (Providence), Kairee Murray (Angelina), Ronyo Obou (NE Oklahoma A&M), and Ryan Hill. They could’ve possibly added Marcus “Smurf” MIllender (Southern Alabama) as a transfer last season if Tyler Smith was still here. Ohh-Wee that would’ve been a fun group to watch last season. Would that have been enough to dethrone Beaumont United? Could they have possibly won a state championship? I guess all we can do is speculate.
Bellaire could’ve been scary last year as well. A healthy Jacolb Cole (Oklahoma) with a tough young core around him with emerging prospects like Shelton Henderson 2025, Anthony Andrews 2025, Kholman Dutton 2025, and Noah Neumann 2025. Plus the transfers they had from california who were solid high school role players. I feel that the Cardinals would’ve made it to the Regionals last season.
Fort Bend Elkins still made the playoffs last season, but if Chris Johnson (Texas) would’ve stayed just how far would they have gone? He had been the leading scorer since his sophomore season and a three year varsity starter. His junior season he averaged 20 points and 5 assists per game. While he was there they went 68-22 overall and 32-7 in district play.
Last season 6A District 20 could’ve been a very fun and interesting district featuring a lot of talented prospects. With Hightower jumping up from 5A and playing against Elkins with Chris Johnson (Texas), Bush with Smith and Dual, and other tough teams like Travis and Clements. Would this district rivaled District 21 as far as team depth and talent pool? It could've been the BIG 12 and the SEC of high school basketball.
Here is my possible Top 40 rankings if no one ever left the city from the class of 2023. I am also including the football players in this as well.
Tyler Smith | 6'10" | Fort Bend Bush (OTE) | G-League IGNITE |
Chris Johnson | 6'5" | Fort Bend Elkins (Montverde) | Texas |
Garwey Pual Dual | 6'5" | Fort Bend Bush (SoCal Prep) | Providence |
Wesley Yates III | 6'4" | Beaumont United | Washington |
Joseph Tugler | 6'7" | Cypress Falls | Houston |
Jaland Lowe | 6'2" | Fort Bend Marshall | Pittsburgh |
Jacolb Cole | 6'7" | Bellaire (Link Prep) | Oklahoma |
Jace Posey | 6'4" | Strake Jesuit | Texas Christian |
Jamari McDowell | 6'5" | Manvel | Kansas |
Corey Hadnot II | 6'3" | Cypress Creek | Purdue Fort Wayne |
Keanu Dawes | 6'8" | Stafford | Rice |
Orlando Horton Jr. | 5'10" | Clear Falls | Prairie View A&M |
Tyshawn Archie | 6'1" | Katy Paetow (Spire Academy) | Tulsa |
Devon Pryor | 6'7" | PSAT Academy | Texas |
Fred Payne | 6'1" | Legacy School of Sports Science | Boston College |
Marcus Millender | 6'0" | Legacy School of Sports Science | South Alabama |
Jaylen Benard | 6'3" | Cypress Ranch | Longwood |
Shey Eberwein | 6'6" | The Woodlands | South Dakota |
Kenneth Lewis | 6'6" | Houston Washington | |
Keylon Dorsey | 6'5" | Aldine Eisenhower | New Mexico |
Jaxon Olvera | 6'5" | New Caney (Dynamic Prep) | Golden State Prep [Post Grad] |
Josh Akpovwa | 6'7" | Katy Seven Lakes | Incarnate Word |
Gabriel Alvarez | 6'5" | Houston Heights | South Dakota State |
Bukola Oboyo | 6'11" | Fort Bend Clements | Santa Clara |
Johnathan Ogunfuye | 6'7" | PSAT Academy (Spire Academy) | Mount St. Mary's |
Very great article