Boys Basketball Preview: Players to Watch

EAST TEXAS BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH

KRIS ANDERSON, WHITE OAK
Position: Point guard
Class: Senior
Height: 5-foot-7
2011-12 stats: 11.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.7 spg; two-time TABC all-region selection
Quoteworthy: "Our whole game is fast and we play off our defense, and I think I'm the catalyst for the defense. I'm (making the opponent start) turning the ball over and getting us to speed everything up. Defense first. Defense wins championships.." -- Anderson on what he believes is the most important part of his game.

PRESTON ANDERSON, CAYUGA
Position: Point guard
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-7
2011-12 Stats: 25.0 ppg
Quoteworthy: "Two years in a row it's been not good. Pretty much tragic two years in a row. So this year it's nothing less than winning state." -- Anderson on Cayuga's back-to-back regional tournament losses to Tenaha the last two seasons and how that drives the Wildcats entering 2012-13.

TYUS BOWSER, JOHN TYLER
Position: Forward
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-3
2011-12 Stats: 16.9 ppg, 10.0 rpg
Quoteworthy: "He's a good person, he does things right, he's very respectful. He's a very athletic person and he's able to play multiple sports. Just a high achiever." -- Bowser on how he hopes people remember him at John Tyler High School.

DaVONTE GIVENS, BROWNSBORO
Position: Guard
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-3
2011-12 Stats: 17.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.2 spg

PATRICK MAHOMES, WHITEHOUSE
Position: Point guard
Class: Junior
Height: 6-foot-3
Quoteworthy: "I'm in the football zone, but basketball, I'm ready for the season just as much as I was ready for football." -- Mahomes, who starts at quarterback for Whitehouse's football team and shortstop for its baseball team.

ROBBIE ROCKWELL, TATUM
Position: Shooting guard
Class: Junior
Height: 5-foot-11
2011-12 Stats: 77 of 192 three-point shooting (40.1 percent)
Quoteworthy: "This year it's a little more serious being my junior year. Hopefully I can separate myself." -- Rockwell on his approach to the 2012-13 season.

ANTHONY SANDERS, ATHENS
Position: Guard/forward
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-0
2011-12 Stats: 16.0 ppg; all-region selection

DOMINIQUE SHAW, LUFKIN
Position: Guard/forward
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-2
2011-12 Stats: 18.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg
Quoteworthy: "Shaw is a go-to player who can score when everything breaks down." -- Lufkin coach J.T. McManus.

PATRICK WALKER, GRAPELAND
Position: Guard
Class: Junior
Height: 6-foot-1
2011-12 Stats: 21.0 ppg

LEVI YANCY, WHITE OAK
Position: Forward/center
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-7
2011-12 Stats: 14.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg; all-state and all-region selection
Quoteworthy: "Kris (Anderson), Levi, and Skylar (Sutton) will take the leadership role just like our seniors do every year. It's their turn to lead and they'll take their turn." -- White Oak coach Ron Boyett on his three returning starters from last year's Class 2A state championship team.