You might not know him yet, but Gerald Liddell is Texas’ next great high school basketball star. After a stellar sophomore season at Byron P. Steele II High School (Cibolo, TX), Liddell placed himself amongst the nation’s best. Now, after breezing past the first three stages of the Under Armour circuit, he is ready to cement his status as the top small forward in the 2018 class. “I just go out there and play my game. I let my game show for itself.” explained the 6’8” forward.

 

He may only be 16 years old, but Liddell has already captured the attention of some of the most elite basketball schools in the nation including Kansas, Arizona, Baylor, Texas, Creighton, Houston, Tennessee, among others. “Everyone wants to be a Division 1 athlete,” says Liddell. “The recruiting process has a little bit of everything, but it’s been great.”

When coaches became authorized to reach out to incoming juniors on the morning of June 15, Liddell says that Baylor was the first school to reach out. However, Liddell says that, as of now, he has no frontrunners. “I’m just gonna keep my options open until the time comes.”

Don’t expect that time to come anytime soon. As Liddell enters his junior year, he is remaining patient with the process, saying, “ I’m just looking for a good relationship with coaches, good teammates, and the education.” he continued. “I just want to see which school fits me best. So, I’m gonna take my time with it. “

 

Although he is taking his time with the recruiting process, he is doing no such thing with his basketball game. Liddell continues to develop his game this summer with his AAU team, Texas Hardwork. Playing 16U, Liddell and Texas Hardwork enter the UAA Finals with a record of 9-3. “We just want to win the finals.” explained Liddell.

After averaging 17.2 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game through the first three circuits, Liddell ranks in the top ten in both points and rebounds. Standing at 6’8”, Liddell has the versatility to play small forward, while also being the primary ball handler for Texas Hardwork. The UAA circuit has given him the opportunity to showcase these talents. “ I just want to be a versatile player that can do everything on the court, so I just want to be an all-around player.” explained the Texas Hardwork Forward.

 

Drawing comparisons to Kevin Durant, Liddell has a lot to live up to, but it’s nothing that he’s not prepared to face. Liddell first started playing basketball in the third grade, influenced by his father who played Division 2 basketball college. “I’ve always been shooting around with my dad, so I’ve always been around the game.”

With the help of his father, Liddell has been able to elevate his game to new heights and cement his status as a top player in the 2018 class. Entering his junior year, Liddell hopes to avenge his semi-final loss in the Texas State tournament and win a state championship. “My goal is to win a state championship.” stated the Byron P. Steele Forward. “This year, we got close, but we lost in the semi-finals to a great DeSoto team with Marques Bolden. I just want to get closer and closer, and eventually, win it.”

 

As Gerald Liddell continues to improve, colleges will continue to take notice. Already a coveted recruit, Liddell is looking to prove himself as an elite 2018 recruit. There is no doubt that Gerald Liddell is a player to keep an eye on in the Class of 2018, as he says, “My mom always tells me that she doesn’t want to work and that motivates me to do the best I can.”