B.O.S.S. League Notes: A Look at DFW’s Top Preseason Talent
The B.O.S.S. League has become a good early measuring stick for some of the top teams and prospects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The four-week event, held on Tuesdays at the Duncanville Fieldhouse, brings together high-level teams and talented prospects, giving evaluators an early look at what to expect heading into the high school basketball season.
Throughout the four weeks, there was plenty of talent on display, from established prospects to younger players looking to make a name for themselves at the high school level. Here are some of the players and storylines that caught my attention during the B.O.S.S. League.
2030 Tandem DJ Parker and Heir Jackson Show Promise
Two freshmen who enter the high school ranks with plenty of buzz are DJ Parker and Heir Jackson. Both made names for themselves during their middle school years, and their showings at the B.O.S.S. League gave us an early glimpse of what they can bring to the table at the high school level.
DJ Parker | 6’7” Wing/Forward | 2030
Parker is an athletic 6’7” forward who plays with a high motor and has an intriguing physical profile for someone his age. He has broad shoulders and a frame that should allow him to add muscle as he continues to physically mature. What stood out to me was his activity level and ability to impact the game even when his offense wasn’t going.
Parker showed flashes of his drive game, attacking the basket going both left and right. He was a fine help-side shot blocker who used his athleticism and positional size to make plays defensively. The jumper is still up and down, but he has shown that he’s capable of knocking down open catch-and-shoot opportunities when his feet are set.
I thought Parker’s motor, athleticism, and positional size were his biggest strengths throughout the event. Even when he wasn’t making shots, he was finding ways to impact the game defensively. He’s someone with an intriguing long-term ceiling as his offensive skill set continues to develop.
Heir Jackson | 6’2” Combo Guard | 2030
Jackson is another freshman who came into high school with plenty of buzz, and he showed why throughout the B.O.S.S. League. A 6’2” combo guard with long arms, Jackson is a good vertical athlete who can play both on and off the ball. His athleticism and catch-and-shoot ability are two of his biggest strengths at this stage.
In a matchup against Dynamic Prep, Jackson connected on what I believe was six 3-pointers, showing his ability to be a reliable perimeter threat when playing off the ball. His shooting is something that can translate early, especially when he’s getting clean looks with his feet set.
One area where I’ve seen progression over the years is his handle. Jackson is becoming more comfortable with the ball in his hands and is learning how to operate as a lead guard. There are still areas that need improvement, particularly handling pressure and contact, navigating tight spaces, and getting to his spots more efficiently. However, those are normal growing pains for a young guard learning how to play the point guard position.
One thing I’ve always liked about Jackson is his ability to make reads while in the air. While jump passes aren’t necessarily something coaches encourage, Jackson has a knack for elevating, seeing over the defense, and finding the open man. His length and athleticism allow him to make some passes that other guards his size may struggle to complete.
Jackson still has plenty of room to grow as an on-ball creator, but the progression in his handle, combined with his shooting ability and athleticism, makes him an intriguing young guard to follow. Both Jackson and Parker showed flashes of why they were highly regarded coming out of the middle school ranks, and it’ll be interesting to see how their games continue to develop throughout their freshman seasons.
Get to Know 2029 Jachai Horton
Jachai Horton | 6’6” Swingman | 2029 | Cedar Hill
Horton is a skilled 6’6” southpaw swingman who has a chance to develop into a high-end Division I prospect when it’s all said and done. The Cedar Hill sophomore has an intriguing combination of positional size, versatility, and feel for the game that allows him to impact the offense in multiple ways.
Horton is a fine jump shooter who can create separation and get to his pull-up jumper off the bounce. He has a functional handle, can play multiple positions, and has the ability to see over the defense and make quality live-dribble passes with his left hand. His versatility gives Cedar Hill someone who can operate on and off the ball while making plays for himself and others.
Another area that stood out was how Horton utilized his length on both ends. Offensively, he uses his length to finish around defenders, while defensively, he gets his hands on passes, covers ground, and has shown the ability to recover and block shots when beaten off the dribble. He has the physical tools to become a versatile defender as he continues to mature.
What makes Horton intriguing is the foundation of skills he already possesses at this stage. He’s someone who can handle it, pass it, shoot it, and make plays defensively with his length. As his skill set continues to get polished and he adds strength to his frame, I can see high-major programs making him a priority down the road.
Horton has a lot of tools to work with, and his long-term upside is something that should have college programs monitoring his development closely. If you haven’t had the chance to see Jachai Horton play, make it a priority. He’s someone I expect to hear plenty about throughout this scholastic season.
Benji Berrouet Proves Five-Star Status
Benji Berrouet | Power Forward | 2028
There were levels to the talent on display at the B.O.S.S League, and 2028 five-star power forward Benji Berrouet showed that throughout the event. Berrouet was, by far, the best player I saw during the four weeks, using his combination of athleticism, physicality, and developing skill set to impose his will on both ends of the floor.
What stood out was his vertical pop, high motor, and the physicality he played with. Berrouet is an explosive leaper who gets off the floor quickly, finishes through contact, and plays above the rim with authority. He’s a mismatch offensively because of his ability to overpower defenders around the basket while also showing the ability to stretch the floor and knock down an open three. Defensively, his quick leaping ability allows him to get off the ground and block shots, making his presence felt around the rim.
A few standouts I caught at the B.O.S.S. League (Duncanville,TX) Wk 1
Amarion Hunter
Devontre Sword
Jordan Vasquez
Landen Higgs
Johnavon Warren
Johnathan Rodriguez
Kenan Dikamba
Jayben Gray
Jessie DeJesus
Theo Brennan
Kaleb Jackson
KJ Bradford
Felix Okam
Steven McLeod
@theplayerstribe— DG (@davidghoops) September 10, 2025
One of the more encouraging developments with Berrouet has been the noticeable uptick in his overall skill level over the past 12 months. His handle, decision-making, and perimeter shooting have all shown progression. There are still areas to polish, particularly tightening his handle, improving his reads, and becoming a more consistent perimeter shooter, but the growth in his game has been evident.
Berrouet has the physical tools, motor, and developing offensive skill set that make him a difficult matchup at this level. When you combine his ability to dominate around the basket with the flashes of perimeter skill he’s shown, it’s easy to see why he’s regarded as one of the premier prospects nationally in the 2028 class.
Berrouet was the best prospect I evaluated at the B.O.S.S. League, and his performance was another reminder of why he carries five-star status and is considered one of the best players in the country.
Highland Park: Pieces Intact for UIL 5A State Title Run
Highland Park has always been known for its shooting, high-level decision-making, and ability to execute offensively. However, this year’s team may arguably be the best Highland Park squad I’ve seen during my time living in Dallas. What separates this group from previous teams is the combination of frontcourt size and point guard play, two areas that I believe give them a legitimate chance to compete for a UIL 5A state championship. They are also a prime candidate to earn a spot in the preseason FAB 50 National Team Rankings, which will be released in a 3-part series beginning Nov. 1.
William Beckett | 6’7” Forward | 2030
Beckett is a strong, physical freshman who rebounds the basketball at a high level for someone his age. At approximately 6’7”, he brings a physical presence to the paint that Highland Park hasn’t always had. His strength allows him to establish position, box out, and move defenders underneath the rim to create offensive rebounding opportunities. He’s someone who can impact the game with his physicality and willingness to do the dirty work inside.
Drew Fisher | 6’7” Forward | 2028
Fisher gives Highland Park another frontcourt presence with legitimate size. At approximately 6’7”, he’s capable of finishing around the basket while also showing flashes of stepping away from the rim and knocking down shots. Defensively, his size makes a difference when opponents attack the paint. Fisher does a good job of walling up, staying vertical, and making finishes difficult without having to leave his feet. The combination of Fisher and Beckett gives Highland Park size and physicality that can make a difference against high-level competition.
Chris Martinez | 5’7” Point Guard | 2029
To me, Martinez is the most important piece to this Highland Park team. The undersized 2029 point guard has the quickness, toughness, and feel for the game that allows him to be impactful despite his lack of size. Martinez is quick off the bounce, gets to his spots, makes shots, and has the ability to make players around him better.
What I like most about Martinez is his ability to handle pressure. When opposing teams try to speed Highland Park up or apply full-court pressure, Martinez doesn’t get rattled. He plays with poise, gets the team into its offense, and makes quality decisions with the basketball. He has that grittiness you want from an undersized guard, and his ability to control the tempo is a big part of what makes Highland Park dangerous.
I’ve seen this team play without Martinez, and the difference is noticeable. Things can fall apart offensively when he’s not on the floor, which speaks to his importance as their lead guard. His ability to handle pressure and keep everyone organized is something that could be the difference in Highland Park making a deep postseason run.
Kellen Cantrell | 6’3” Shooting Guard | Radford Commit
Cantrell is a 2027 who can really make shots, particularly from deep. The Radford commit gives Highland Park a reliable perimeter scoring threat who can stretch defenses with his shooting range. He’s also capable of helping bring the ball up the floor and handling some of the ball-handling responsibilities, although I believe he’s at his best as a secondary ball handler.
Cantrell has toughness to his game and can make deep threes, which makes him a difficult cover when defenders give him space. His shooting, experience, and ability to play alongside Martinez give Highland Park a dependable backcourt combination.
What makes this Highland Park team dangerous is how well they play together. They have the shooting and decision-making that have traditionally been strengths of the program, but now they have the frontcourt size, point guard play, versatility, and depth to complement it. This is arguably the best Highland Park team I’ve seen since moving to Dallas, and I believe they have the pieces necessary to make a serious run at a UIL 5A state championship and crack the FAB 50.
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