Tigers

In a crucial conference matchup, tbe Baylor Beats went into Austin and came out with a huge, 68-61 win over the Texas Longhorns. James Akinjo and Adam Flagler led the way with each having 19 points.&nbsp;
The Bears (25-5, 13-4 Big 12) had a huge win against Kansas this weekend and entered this one a half-game back of the No. 1 spot in the conference. Kendall Brown and Jeremy Sochan continue to impress and make cases as potential first-round picks, while the team ranks No. 3 in the nation in Adjusted Efficiency.&nbsp;
The Longhorns (21-9, 10-7 Big 12) are ranked No. 15 in the NET Rankings, No. 14 in Adjusted Efficiency, and projected a five seed in the NCAA Tournament. Timmy Allen continues to lead them with 12.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while Marcus Carr is posting 11.1 points and 3.2 assists.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The first half started with the teams trading buckets before Texas went on an 8-0 run to make it 16-9. The Longhorns took a 30-27 lead into the break behind a strong half from Carr and Christian Bishop.
The first five minutes of period two were back and forth, as Baylor would retake the lead at 40-39. Allen and Baylor&rsquo;s Adam Flagler continued to trade baskets and at the 6:55 mark, the Bears held a 53-51 advantage. Flagler&rsquo;s hot night continued with another triple at the 4:56 mark to extend the lead to 59-54.
Akinjo hit a pair of free throws to make it 63-54 and Baylor would hold on from there, winning 68-61.
Bishop, Carr, and Brown had 13 points each. Flo Thamba added 12 points and 6 rebounds for the Bears.
Along with his 19 points, Akinjo posted 7 assists in the Baylor win. Jase Febres scored 7 points off the bench for the Longhorns.
UPCOMING
Baylor hosts Iowa State on Saturday.
Texas visits No. 5 Kansas on Saturday afternoon.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

In a crucial conference matchup, Baylor went into Austin, Texas, and came out with a huge, 68-61 win.

No. 3 Baylor holds off No. 20 Texas in a 68-61 win

ATLANTA (September 2, 2021) - Overtime Elite (OTE) announced today that highly-rated forward Dominick Barlow has signed with the transformative new league and will be part of its inaugural season this fall.&nbsp;
(Editor's Note: Read our Spencer Davies' exclusive interview with Aaron Ryan and Brandon Williams, and an extensive profile on Overtime Elite <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/high-school-basketball-former-nba-execs-aaron-ryan-brandon-williams-kevin-ollie-overtime-elite-seek-to-revolutionize-amateur-to-pro-preparation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.)
Dominick Barlow is a 6-9 forward from Dumont, N.J., who played for Dumont High School. He can guard anyone on the floor, is an active rebounder on defense, and can score from multiple positions on offense. Playing with the NY Rens, Barlow had a breakout performance at the Peach Jam this summer and saw his recruitment start to take off.
&ldquo;Dominick is an exciting prospect that brings an unusual versatility on and off the ball, and on both ends of the court. He&rsquo;s long, athletic, and brings that New Jersey toughness that&rsquo;s driven his growth in recent years,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, Head of OTE Basketball Operations. &ldquo;Among amateurs and pros, Dominick has demonstrated an ability to elevate his game, guarding multiple positions, and aggressive playmaking. This is a strong addition to the OTE environment.&rdquo;
Barlow becomes the 21st player to sign with OTE. He joins Jalen Lewis from California, Jazian Gortman from South Carolina, Bryson Warren from Arkansas, Amen and Ausar Thompson from Florida, Matt Bewley and Ryan Bewley from Florida, Tyler Smith and Bryce Griggs from Texas, Jai Smith from North Carolina, Malik Bowman from Maryland, Kok Yat from Alaska and De&rsquo;Vontes Cobbs from Wisconsin.
Bryson Warren's press release:
Overtime Elite (OTE) announced today that highly-rated point guard Bryson Warren has signed with the transformative new league and will be part of its inaugural season this fall.&nbsp;
Bryson Warren is a 6-2 point guard from North Little Rock, Arkansas. This past season at Little Rock Central, the 2021 Arkansas Player of the Year averaged 24.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game as a sophomore. Warren also led the Tigers to their best record (23-5) since 2001, while shooting 57.5% from the field and 43.6% from the 3-point line.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Bryson shows the foundational tools of an elite lead guard - vision, speed, craftiness, athleticism, shooting and leadership abilities beyond his years," said Brandon Williams, Head of OTE Basketball Operations. &ldquo;In his cerebral and competitive approach to the game, you can sense his desire to be the best at his position in the country. He&rsquo;ll get the chance to show and prove that day in and day out at OTE, as he sharpens his game against the best players across 3 classes in the country.&rdquo;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to imagine a player as developed as Bryson at such a young age. But in addition to his natural talent, the young man puts in the work and leads by example,&rdquo; said Kevin Ollie, OTE Head Coach and Head of Player Development. &nbsp;&ldquo;That&rsquo;s exactly what you want and need in a point guard - level 5 energy all the time. I can't wait to coach the total person.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Malik Bowman, De'Vontes Cobbs, Kok Yat release:
Overtime Elite (OTE), the transformative new basketball league starting this fall, announced the signing of three additional players. Malik Bowman, De&rsquo;Vontes Cobbs and Kok Yat finalized agreements with OTE marking 19 players signed for the league&rsquo;s inaugural season.
Malik Bowman
Malik Bowman is a 6-8 forward from Cumberland, Maryland and played at Bishop Walsh High School. Bowman is a highly-ranked prospect with offers from major collegiate basketball programs all over the country. He has a smooth feel, and controlled game with the ability to ball handle and has the size and athleticism to defend up and down a line up. Bowman has a strong frame and can shoot with range while also having a solid mid-range game while guarding 1-4 on the defensive end.
&ldquo;Malik is an extremely talented and versatile wing who has demonstrated the character, drive and commitment to separate himself on and off the court,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, Head of OTE &nbsp;Basketball Operations. &ldquo;With his skill level, maturity and understanding, he is going to make an immediate impact in the OTE environment. I am excited to see his continued growth, and his game flourish under Coach Ollie and his staff.&rdquo;
De&rsquo;Vontes Cobbs
De&rsquo;Vontes Cobbs is a 6-3 shooting guard, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who last played at Eduprize in Gilbert, Arizona. A highly-rated 2-way player, Cobbs previously played at Hillcrest Prep and Shadow Mountain, coached by former NBA player Mike Bibby, winning a state championship with Shadow Mountain as a freshman.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Coaches and teammates praise De&rsquo;Vontes not only for his talent, but his work ethic, and coachability,&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, Head of OTE &nbsp;Basketball Operations. &ldquo;With his competitive spirit, De&rsquo;Vontes will thrive playing with and against an elite peer group, and it will bring out the best in him.&rdquo;
Kok Yat
Kok Yat is a 6-8 forward, originally from Anchorage, Alaska, who last played for Norcross High School outside of Atlanta. Yat has received significant interest from top-rated college basketball programs. The athletic forward has the ability to handle the basketball and has developed into a reliable outside shooter. Yat&rsquo;s cousin is JT Thor, who was recently drafted 37th by the Charlotte Hornets.
&ldquo;Kok will bring a high level shooting skill to the league environment, while adding wing versatility and depth.&rdquo; said Brandon Williams, Head of OTE Basketball Operations. &ldquo;As this young man continues to round out and polish his perimeter skill set, he will emerge as a valued prospect for the next level.&rdquo;
Every OTE player will earn a six-figure salary, with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime. In addition, players will participate in revenue from use of their name, image and likeness, including through sales of custom jerseys, trading cards, video games and NFTs.

Overtime Elite has added five more players to its inaugural roster, including Bryson Warren and Dominick Barlow.

Overtime Elite adds Bryson Warren, Dominick Barlow, 3 more prospects

ATLANTA (July 9, 2021) &ndash; OTE (Overtime Elite) announced today that versatile big Jalen Lewis has signed with the transformative new league and will be part of its inaugural season this September.&nbsp;
(Editor's Note: Read our Spencer Davies' exclusive interview with Aaron Ryan and Brandon Williams, and an extensive profile on Overtime Elite <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/high-school-basketball-former-nba-execs-aaron-ryan-brandon-williams-kevin-ollie-overtime-elite-seek-to-revolutionize-amateur-to-pro-preparation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.)
Lewis is a 6-foot-10-inch, 220-pound forward/center who played for Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, California). A consensus 5-star recruit, Lewis averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game last season as a sophomore. Lewis also developed through travel basketball with the Oakland Rebels, Team Lillard and Team WhyNot. This past spring, he was a stand out at USA Basketball Men&rsquo;s Junior National Team minicamp in Houston, TX and will look to make the roster for the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in August.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Jalen is one of the most exciting young talents in the country, and we are humbled that he has chosen Overtime Elite to elevate his professional development on the court and academically, while building his brand internationally,&rdquo; &nbsp;said Brandon Williams, OTE EVP, Head of Basketball Operations. &ldquo;This is a foundational signing for our league and another acknowledgment of the need and desire for our program.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d describe Jalen as an absolute difference maker, a rare talent, with a combination of size, athleticism, good hands and ball skills that impact plays on both ends of the court,&rdquo; said Kevin Ollie, OTE&rsquo;s Head Coach and Director of Player Development. &ldquo;There are no limitations to what he&rsquo;ll be able to do in his career and through Overtime Elite, he&rsquo;ll have the resources in place to help him reach his dreams.&rdquo;
Lewis is the 10th player to join OTE. The league signed top-rated guards Amen and Ausar Thompson and forwards Matt Bewley and Ryan Bewley. OTE has signed international players, Dominican point guard Jean Montero, French forward Alexandre Sarr, and Belgian wing Nathan Missia-Dio. Emmanuel Maldonado from Puerto Rico and Jai Smith from North Carolina have also signed with OTE. The league expects to make additional player announcements in the coming weeks.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/ote-jalen-lewis-op3_lg.jpg" alt="" width="499" height="499" />
OTE provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players&rsquo; professional careers. The league, a division of next-generation sports brand Overtime, offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities, and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete&rsquo;s journey.&nbsp;
Every OTE player will earn a six-figure salary, with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime. In addition, players will participate in revenue from use of their name, image and likeness, including through sales of custom jerseys, trading cards, video games and NFTs.&nbsp;
About OTE
OTE (Overtime Elite) is a transformative new sports league that offers the world&rsquo;s most talented young basketball players a better pathway to becoming professional athletes, while engaging and inspiring a new community of digitally native fans.
OTE (pronounced Oh-Tee-E) provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players&rsquo; professional careers. The league offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities, and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete&rsquo;s journey from proficiency to pro.

Jalen Lewis is a 6-foot-10-inch, 220-pound big who played for Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, California) and is a consensus 5-star recruit.

Five-star, top California prospect Jalen Lewis signs with Overtime Elite

Midwest Mania, a high-school tournament that's held in Indianapolis, features a wide age group and players in a variety of situations. Many of the participants are decent high-school players who are looking for an opportunity to get national exposure for the first time. They're hoping this event, which was put together by Chad Babel and MADE Hoops, can serve as their coming-out party.&nbsp;
However, one player in attendance has had a completely different path thus far: high-school sensation Emoni Bates.
At this point, Bates probably doesn&rsquo;t need much of an introduction. He&rsquo;s the youngest player ever to win the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year award, doing it as a sophomore. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was 15 years old. He has been labeled a &ldquo;prodigy&rdquo; and a &ldquo;once-in-a-generation talent.&rdquo; He has already been mentioned as the next in line to follow NBA greats like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James and Kevin Durant. He is currently the No. 1 ranked player in the class of 2022, and although he&rsquo;s committed to Michigan State, many have said they doubt he&rsquo;ll ever step foot on a college campus.&nbsp;
The expectations for Emoni Bates are lofty, to say the least.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zFrhmJZnxlo" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Recently, Bates has had some struggles on the floor. I watched him at Flyin&rsquo; to the Hoop in Dayton, Ohio, a little over a month ago and although he showed flashes of greatness, he did not have a good showing overall. On the second day of that event, TyTy Washington and AZ Compass Prep blew out Emoni&rsquo;s team (Ypsi Prep). Following that game, Washington gained quite a bit of national attention and decommitted from Creighton, and he has been one of the hottest names in the country ever since.
For Midwest Mania, Emoni suited up for his father&rsquo;s team, Bates Fundamentals. In their first game, they faced E1T1, which featured two players from Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Tampa, Florida: Dillon Mitchell and Emanuel Sharp. Like TyTy Washington in Dayton, the boys from BMCHS took advantage of this match-up against Bates, using this big stage and national-media audience to gain more recognition. Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 athletic wing, went head-to-head with Bates and was terrific. He went from hardly being on the map to being smack dab in the middle of it. Sharp was impressive as well; he&rsquo;s a tough, assertive scorer, and a good overall player. His father, Derrick Sharp, was a great player for Maccabi Tel Aviv. E1T1 beat Bates Fundamentals with ease, and Mitchell and Sharp walked off the floor as victors in more ways than one.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Despite a somewhat disappointing performance, Bates and Bates Fundamentals had a chance to redeem themselves in their second game of the day, which was perhaps the main event of Midwest Mania. They faced Team Final, which was a showdown between the top-two players in the class of 2022: Bates and Jalen Duren. Team Final also consisted of other high-level prospects such as Dereck Lively II and Justice Williams.
Bates&rsquo; struggles continued in that game too. His shot selection was questionable and there seemed to be several missed shots between each dramatic shot that he made. He tried to do a little too much (probably because of all the cameras and attention), and he resorted to playing &ldquo;hero ball.&rdquo; Team Final beat Bates Fundamentals, and Duren and his teammates celebrated on the floor.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Twitter was buzzing with critiques of Emoni.
There&rsquo;s no denying that Bates has some things he needs to work on. Personally, I&rsquo;d like to see him pick and choose his spots more, take better shots, move without the ball and become a little more composed.&nbsp;
He has a lot of room for growth, but keep in mind that Emoni is only 17 years old. He&rsquo;s a young guy and, of course, he&rsquo;s still developing.
Considering the cloud of negativity surrounding Emoni at the moment, Bates is still a special talent, in my mind (even though he's had a few games that haven&rsquo;t lived up to everyone&rsquo;s expectations).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
At nearly 6-foot-9, Bates has incredible range with a quick-and-smooth release. He has good handles and is a high-level passer. Many people have compared Bates to Kevin Durant. It&rsquo;s often unfair to compare young prospects to NBA greats, but the similarities between Bates and Durant are undeniable. There have not been many players with their body type and such a unique and high skill level.
Do I think Emoni Bates is a surefire NBA superstar and future Hall of Famer? No, I don&rsquo;t. I think that&rsquo;s a ridiculous expectation to put on any kid. However, I think Bates has as good a chance as any player I&rsquo;ve seen in recent memory due to his natural talent.
Any athlete who has found the ultimate level of success has God-given talent. However, the only way for them to maximize their potential is by continuing to develop. Nobody is done growing at 17 years old. Also, every great athlete faces criticism and adversity at some point. Perhaps this small bump in the road triggers Emoni&rsquo;s inner greatness and allows him to take the next big strides in his development.&nbsp;
If that happens, it&rsquo;s very likely that we&rsquo;ll see a star emerge before our very eyes.

Emoni Bates has struggled as of late, but Matt Babcock still believes in the high-school phenom and his incredible talent.

Despite recent criticism, Emoni Bates remains a special talent

Chris Webber told our Etan Thomas that he believes a Fab Five reunion will happen at some point and he seems excited about it.