Each fall, some of the top young high school players in the nation are recognized with their selection to the Pangos Frosh/Soph camps. Ethan Sheats of Denton High School (TX) and ASAK Elite (TX) was recognized in the fall of 2023 for the promise he’s shown early in his career with a selection to the All-South Frosh-Soph camp. He went on to perform well enough to be chosen for the Top-30 Cream of the Crop Game. Sheats then propelled himself from this point to step into a much greater role for Denton this season, earning an early offer from Oklahoma State as well as some additional high-level interest.
In this interview with Pro Insight’s Zach Welch, Sheats discussed some of his greatest basketball influences, the mentality that allowed him to be ready to step into a greater role this past season, his goals for self improvement this summer, and more.
For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present 2026 prospect Ethan Sheats, from Denton, Texas:
Pro Insight: Can you just start us off by kind of introducing us to yourself and walking us through your basketball journey up to this point in time?
Ethan Sheats: Yes, sir. So my name is Ethan Sheats and I go to Denson High School and I'm class of 2026. My progression throughout my whole basketball journey has just been about becoming a better player over the years and growing as a player.
PI: I know your mother played, as well. What would you say that you have learned most from her career?
ES: Just don't take anything for granted. She was a D1 player and she got unfortunately hurt through her years. So just don't take anything for granted.
PI: Are there any other athletes in your family, and if so, what would you say you've learned from them?
ES: No, it's just really my mom. Like she really has been big for me with basketball. She taught me how to shoot it, everything. Like, yeah, she's just my role model.
PI: In general, are there any pro or college players that you look up to on or off the court? What are you trying to take away from them?
ES: Probably the person that I look at as an athlete is Ace Bailey — like I've been seeing Ace Bailey, how his year’s been coming and looking at his game and how he's a great player.
PI: Before we dive into your game more, did you try any other sports growing up? And if so, do you feel like you took anything from those sports and applied it to basketball?
ES: Probably football. With football, probably the athleticism, and the workouts that we did – I feel like that transferred over to basketball.
PI: What position did you play in football?
ES: I was a wide receiver.
PI: As for your basketball game, for those who aren't familiar with it, how would you describe your greatest strengths and what is your style of play?
ES: Well, I can shoot the ball. I'm still working on my handles, but like, I can dribble up the court and I can play the one spot and I can rebound really well. I have a motor.
PI: I know you mentioned Ace [Bailey]. Are there any other players that you kind of look to study or play like? And what do you try to take away from them?
ES: When Anthony Edwards was in college, I liked watching his game and how he would just kill them [on the court]. And he had, of course, a motor — and I watched his games a lot when he was in college.
PI: And you've touched on that motor twice now. Where do you feel like you got that from? Because a lot of players don't have that, especially at a young age.
ES: My mom. She had that motor. So, yeah, that's where I learned it from.
PI: What would you say is the most underrated aspect of your game?
ES: My finishing.
PI: And it might be hard to pick, but what do you think the number one way that you impact winning is?
ES: Probably just my scoring ability.
PI: What are the main things in your game that you're looking to improve on going into the summer and just in general?
ES: Being able to be over 50-percent from three. That’s what I want to work on.
PI: Looking back at this past high school season, can you walk us through what that looked like for you and your team as a whole? And what was your favorite memory from it?
ES: Probably the last game, because we won it — so that was probably my favorite memory. But, overall — how the season went — it was a little rocky. We lost a little bit, but yeah, just being with my team, just building with them — those were great memories.
PI: What do you think is your biggest takeaway or the biggest way that you grew this season?
ES: Just as an overall player…just becoming an overall better player throughout the season. Like, my freshman year, I barely touched the floor, [and then] this season I made a big impact for my team.
PI: What was your mindset like going from not playing as much to being this key piece? What made you ready for that and what was that transition like?
ES: I had to get used to it because I wasn't used to being like the key piece — I was just a role player. And so me becoming a big piece in my team, just being a better player, yeah. It was an adjustment.
PI: And heading into AAU play, I know you mentioned the 50-percent from three, but are there any other goals that you have your eyes set on?
ES: I really want to make the USA team and I want to go to a minicamp for USA and just want to continue to become as good of a player as possible.
PI: Can you speak to what that would mean to you to get that opportunity and the legacy of getting that honor?
ES: Man it would be a dream because of how [many] people went to the USA team and how [many] good players went to the USA team. And so yeah, it'll mean a lot to me and all my family, everything.
PI: As far as AAU goes, what are you most looking forward to this spring/summer?
ES: I want to become a five-star. That's what I really want. I want to become a five-star and be on the radars of college coaches and everything. So yeah, that's one. That's why that's my main goal.
PI: It's early on, but you already have an offer. First of all, congratulations! But in general, how has recruitment been looking for you?
ES: Great, because of all the opportunities I've been getting, like to be able to go on visits and stuff. So yeah, it's been, it's been good.
PI: What are some schools that you've been hearing from or visiting or getting that interest from so far?
ES: Oklahoma and TCU.
PI: What would you say are some programs that you'd be particularly excited to hear from?
ES: My dream school is Texas. Yeah, that's like — I would be really, really excited to get that offer.
PI: What makes them your dream school?
ES: I really like the culture there. If they offered, that would be great.
PI: Beyond that, what are some things that you think you'll be looking for in a college?
ES: Man, just fit into a system and just be a good player in the system [for] whatever college I go to; I just want to be a good player in their type of system.
PI: Do you have any hobbies outside of basketball?
ES: Nope, not really. I like playing video games.
PI: What's your favorite game?
ES: 2K.
PI: Who are some of your favorite music artists?
ES: I like Rod Wave and Morgan Wallen.
PI: What would you say your favorite snack is?
ES: I've been liking gusher candies.
PI: If you were stuck forever on a deserted island, but you had all the food, water, and shelter you needed, what three personal items would you bring with you?
ES: Man, my mom… I'll probably bring my game system and my phone.
PI: What would you say is a dream NIL deal for you and why?
ES: [I saw] OSU [players] get their own Cadillac from NIL. And I don't care about the money that we're getting, but yeah, that's like my dream [deal].
PI: Name a couple words that best describe you.
ES: Unique. Outgoing.
PI: What's one thing that not many people know about you, but you want to make sure that they know going forward?
ES: That I'm a nice guy — a really nice guy.
PI: If you were to give yourself a personal hashtag, what would it be?
ES: Hashtag 'Different.'
PI: Why is that?
ES: Cause I'm just, I'm just different. I'm not everybody else.