The high school boys’ basketball 2025-2026 regular season is officially underway. Here’s 20 players to watch that will make a major impact in the Texas Panhandle that include Lubbock Estacado’s Shakure Wilbon, Palo Duro’s Cuda Clayton, and Gruver’s Mason Lankford.
Shakure Wilbon, Lubbock Estacado, 6-2, guard, Jr.
Wilbon returns as not only a leader for the Matadors but a rising star in the entire city of Lubbock. As a junior, Wilbon had a tremendous year, pouring in 19.4 points a game for a very good Estacado team, and was deadly from beyond the arc totaling 81 3-pointers.
Mason Lankford, Gruver, 6-4, guard, Soph.
Lankford blasted on the scene with a phenomenal freshman season and will have every opponents attention as a sophomore. The 6-foot-4 swingman and THSCA All-State selection led the Greyhounds by scoring 14.5 points a game while showing his excellent vision handing out 3.2 assists and played great defense getting 4.5 rebounds along averaging 3.2 steals.
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Cuda Clayton, Palo Duro, 5-9, guard, Sr.
Clayton fills the role left by Victor Juarez as the Palo Duro Dons offensive threat. Last season, the first-team All-District selection was a great compliment on the offensive side of the ball, averaging 13.5 points a night with 4.7 rebounds. Clayton also dished out 3.7 assists and tallied three steals a game.
Kaden Hooker, West Plains, 6-0, guard, Sr.
The veteran savvy guard returns for a loaded West Plains team expected to make noise come February and March. Hooker not only is helping lead a salty football squad, but does his thing on the hardwood, posting 15.1 points a game last season with 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steal. Hooker is also the reigning District 4-4A Defensive MVP.
Ayden Larra, West Plains, 6-1, guard, Sr.
Despite going down with an injury at the first of January, Larra had an abbreviated strong junior year. Larra is now healthy and ready to lead his West Plains team like he has since the school opened four years ago. The TABC All-Region selection did average 18.3 points a game with 3.3 assists before going down with his injury.
Jenner King, Bushland, 5-11, guard, Sr.
King soared last season leading the Bushland Falcons to a District title and was named the league MVP for his effort. The dynamic guard and TABC All-State selection was stellar on the floor at all times, registering 18 points a game with five boards and four steals.
Tookie Johnson, Lubbock-Cooper-Liberty, 6-1, guard, Sr.
Johnson was the spark plug for a Liberty team that made quite the transition under head coach Parker Hicks in year two of the program. The playmaker led his squad with 14.5 points a night and recorded 48 steals on the year.
Elijah Smothers, Lubbock Monterey, 6-3, forward, Sr.
Smothers returns for a Plainsman team that is looking to reload. The 6-foot-3 forward blossomed as a junior putting up superb numbers, scoring 20.8 points a game and shot 40 percent from beyond the arc. Smothers also shot 75 percent from the field.
Caden Armes, Panhandle, 5-10, guard, Sr.
Following in his family legacy, Armes is the real deal at the guard position. Behind Armes, the Panthers won a district champion last year and Armes earned District Offensive MVP honors. The 5-foot-10 sharpshooter averaged 16 points a game to go with an impressive six assists while pulling down five boards a night.
Cayde Winters, West Texas High, 5-9, guard, Sr.
Winters is just as explosive on the basketball court as he is on the gridiron. The Comanches leader commands respect from anyone he plays as the District 1-2A Offensive MVP was also a first-team All-Region selection thanks to pouring in 18.4 points a contest with 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
Jaxson Richards, Amarillo High, 6-5, guard, Jr.
From a leader at Ascension Academy his freshman year, to a role player at Amarillo High last year, and now back to a leadership position as a junior. Look out for Richards and a new-look Sandies team. The lefty is a smooth player that fans will enjoy. Making the transition to the Class 5A scene last year, Richards averaged eight points a game with three boards a night.
Dominic Fulton, Plainview, 6-3, guard, Sr.
Fulton is a player that has flown under the radar and that’s easy to do when you play in a loaded District 3-5A. Night in and night out last year, Fulton delivered, averaging a team-high 19 points a game while cleaning the glass for 6.4 rebounds.
Caleb Moore, Childress, 6-0, guard, Sr.
Moore is a definite name to keep an eye on and is one of the top Class 3A players in not only West Texas, but the entire state of Texas. The point guard loves to facilitate, averaging six assists a night, but he can also score, posting 12 points a game, and get boards when asked averaging six.
Jordan Webber, Canyon, 6-4, forward, Sr.
First-year head coach Kyle Lovorn is extremely excited to have the consistency that Webber possesses. The Eagles will be dangerous in District 4-4A, and Webber is a big reason why. As a junior last year, the first-team All-District selection shot 50 percent from the field on top of averaging 17 points a game with six rebounds.
Kade Franklin, Ropes, 6-3, post, Sr.
The Ropes Eagles are ready for a repeat of last year’s deep postseason run and have the pieces to do it. Led by Canadian graduate Cameron Copley at head coach, Copley couldn’t be happier to be taking over a program with a player the caliber of Franklin. The versatile 6-foot-3 post averaged over 15 points a game last year and earned every accolade possible.
Logan Winn, Shallowater, 5-10, guard, Jr.
The Shallowater Mustangs are always a contender at the Class 3A level and this season isn’t any different. Winn is a very talented player for Shallowater and a versatile asset for head coach Jay Lusk. Winn will want to capitalize on a junior campaign that saw him post 12 points a contest with three assists.
Collin Alston, McLean, 6-1, guard, Sr.
Alston made a name for himself and led the McLean Tigers on a very nice playoff push. Alston can score, grab rebounds, and dish the ball when needed. A year ago, the All-District and All-Region selection tallied nine points a game to go with three assists a night.
Hadley Crisp, Texline, 6-6, forward, Sr.
Head coach Coby Beckner has him another swingman that can do some damage for traditional power Texline. Crisp is the next one to watch in a long list of great players in the program. As a junior, Crisp came into his own, registering 12 points a game with eight rebounds a contest.
Darion Duvall, Abernathy, 6-0, guard, Jr.
Behind Duvall, look for the Antelopes to be a contender at the Class 2A level on the South Plains. The first-team All-District selection as well as All-Region selection, had a big-time sophomore year by posting 17 points a night for Abernathy.
Hayden Wilson, Frenship, 5-10, guard, Sr.
Wilson is back for a Frenship team that has lost quite a bit. Wilson is a defensive stopper, who put together 39 steals with 58 deflections last year. He also has an offensive role, scoring 4.7 points a game with 3.1 assists.
BEST OF REST
(Alphabetical order)
Landen Andrews, Panhandle, 5-8, guard, Jr.
Zack Armes, New Home, 5-10, guard, Sr.
Sam Arrington, Lubbock Monterey, 6-2, guard, Sr.
Maddix Blanco, Dalhart, 5-10, guard, Sr.
Dalton Booth, Pampa, 5-9, guard, Sr.
Bo Bradley, Texline, 6-0, guard. Soph.
Kyron Brown, Palo Duro, 6-2, guard, Jr.
Collin Bryant, West Texas High, 6-6, post, Sr.
Brock Butler, Gruver, 6-0, guard, Sr.
Colby Cook, New Home, 6-0, guard, Sr.
Jackson Funk, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty, 6-4, Jr.
Cash Fulton, West Texas High, 6-2, guard, Sr.
Talon Garcia, Dalhart, 6-2, guard, Sr.
Ethan Gilliam, West Plains, 6-5, post, Jr.
Ladarius Godbolt, Tascosa, 6-2, guard, Sr.
Camden Hardy, Randall, 6-10, post, Jr.
Ty Hornecker, Amarillo High, 6-6, post, Sr.
Ben Kenney, Tascosa, 6-6, post, Sr.
Chase Lantelme, Stratford, 6-1, guard, Jr.
Cooper Martin, Shallowater, 6-0, guard, Sr.
Jacob Mora, Childress, 6-2, forward, Sr.
Koko Omer, Tascosa, 6-1, Tascosa, guard, Jr.
Obi OSuji, Lubbock-Cooper, 6-0, guard, Sr.
Riggs Pennington, Canadian, 6-6, post, Sr.
Jordan Porter, Plainview, 5-11, guard, Sr.
Rex Reiner, Amarillo High, 6-2, guard, Sr.
Julian Reese II, Palo Duro, 6-3, forward, Jr.
Luke Schmucker, Panhandle, guard, Jr.
Zane Schulte, Nazareth, 5-11, guard, Jr.
Branson Simental, Ropes, 5-9, guard, Jr.
Blaise Snead, Nazareth, 6-1, guard, Jr.
Cutter Stumbo, Ropes, 6-3, guard, Sr.
Hunter Trusler, Dalhart, 6-2, guard, Sr.
Ian Urrutia, Lubbock-Cooper, 5-10, guard, Jr.
Rett Wann, Texline, 6-4, guard, Sr.