2021 Winter Jam was a Winter Slam of talent

8th Grade Division Champions Lady Lions 

There was snow in Oklahoma yet the heat from the Winter Jam not only kept the courts on the Premier Sportsplex hot yet it also helped melt the snow. I'll be dropping an abundance of articles including the top players from multiple divisions on my website as well as on my social media accounts, Facebook, Twitter, and of course, The Gram and I dropped over 800 pictures, 80 of them pretty good on my FACEBOOK PAGE

7th Grade Division Champions OYG
               

                                                   

I recall the first time I caught an Oklahoma team, it was 2004, and future Big 12 stars Danielle Gant (Texas A&M) and Earnie Williams (Texas) were going completely off for Air Oklahoma and after that event, I started using the hashtag #talentiseverywhere which I have amended because of the number of those who are novices to "if you know what you're looking at" 

6th Grade Division Champions Lady Lions

I want to thank Michael Carrington (Oklahoma Lady Aces) for not only the invitation to cover the event, I cover events unlike none because there is no me, trust me you'll see, as well as the hospitality so buckle up and be ready for an onslaught of information 

5th Grade Division Champions BTR

4th Grade Division Champions Krush Queens 29/30

3rd Grade Division Champions Salina Lady Warriors 

2027 Kennedy Price showing the Price is still right

Kennedy Price was one of the talented young players I was looking forward to catching at my Next Up 50 Individual Showcase a few weeks ago however she had a conflict and couldn't attend. I had been so impressed with her videos that I had to catch her live and I finally had a chance to see her in person. Let me back things, her dad, Carlos Price is one of my dearest friends, I met him over a decade ago when his older daughter Lauren was starring at Atascocita and since Kennedy only turned 10 years old a few weeks ago, yes she could have fallen into the 2028 group, I actually knew her before she was born

Kennedy impressed me off the top when I walked up and saw her going through some drills with another friend, Chuck McCowan who has coached, worked out, and trained a list of Who's Who from the area and the younger Price was absorbing everything he was telling her. Her ballhandling at this stage, her passing, she's throwing the no-look on the money and she's creating her shot so to the novice, what I'm seeing are things I look for in players, the way she does things instinctively, the way she reacts and she's long and athletic, I speak of that often 

With all of the energy, she puts out, I'm envisioning her on the defensive end, and just watching her mannerisms I'm certain she'll be playing that passing lane and going coast to coast but again, she just turned 10 however what I'm seeing now, I'll be using what I said about her older sister, with a remix,  The Price Is Still Right!

2020 PassThaBall #Next100 2027/28 Tip Sheet

 

If you're fortunate enough to get in front of me early, you'll be in for a treat because I can't tell you how many players I've labeled #D1Locks before they played their first middle school game, this includes my own daughter who slapped the nurse back after she was popped as a newborn and I knew right then she had quick hands, this is a true story and as far basketball, all of my stories are true, many of you will find out quickly about "agendas" "egos" and "politics" however after all of the legitimate votes have been counted, you will find out I am the winner at not associating myself with any of this nonsense, it has been and always will be so here are some talented players from the #Next100 hosted by Pass Tha Ball

2027

Aleigha Zollicoffee-5'11 F (Lady Run GMC) long and athletic is huge as well as her numerous putbacks but she rebounds and finishes well, attacks the rim and with her size and skills right now, her upside is scary

Madisen Campbell-5'1 G (Banshee Cotton) heady guard that makes good decisions, very athletic with a nice first step that enables her to get to the rim whenever she wants, plus she creates her shot under pressure

Kyndal Kaulaity-4'9 (Oklahoma Aces) size don't matter when you can play and it helps when you can handle the ball under control going full speed, attack the rim and see the floor, she does all of that

Mia Hughes-5'0 G- uses athleticism to the max, attacks rim under control, and finishes strongly, showed she could create her jumper which is a nice pull-up that's fluid and accurate while being defended 

Makenlie Campbell-5'1 G (Banshees Cotton) first step sets everything up, she can go coast to coast while handling the ball going full speed, she sees the floor, she attacks the rim, even showed the "float" but her speed and BB-IQ ...

Abbie Endres-5'3 G (Oklahoma U) plays bigger than her size, battles for rebounds, and can finish over taller opponents but she also understands how to put it on the floor and attack or take the jumper

Victoria Walton-5'0 PG (TNBA) way ahead of her years, she already gets it, can run a team, take a game over offensively from mid to long-range as well as attacking the rim, plus she plays the passing lane

Camile Mason-5'2 G (Lady Lions OKC) creates her shot which enables her to attack or take the jumper, plays within herself, understands how to get hers in the flow and she rebounds and defends 

Trinity Boone-5'2 PG (Unity 2027) first step is OMG, she's athletic and blows by defenders for the pull-up jumper or attacking strongly with very good ballhandling but she sees the floor and showed mental toughness after injury\

2028

Aliyah Prestridge-5'1 PG (BTR) she sees the floor, she has an explosive first step and she can create her shot and watching her POISE at this stage, as well as her BB-IQ has already sold me on what's coming

Karsyn Ellison-4'11 PG (Oklahoma Aces) big things come in small packages yet she's already showing me what's coming. She creates her shot yet showed a very nice "change of direction" in the open court

Justice Woods-5'0 PG (lady Lions) very athletic, understands how to take defenders either way with either hand, and can create her shot while being defended which is good, her consistency is even better 

Khloe Smith-5'3 SF(Lady Lions) creates her shot under pressure, good athleticism and ballhandling allow her to attack the rim, where she finishes and her pull-up is ahead of her years, she can nail it

Amira Harrison-does a good job attacking the rim, it helps when you can handle the ball under pressure like she does and it also helps when you can create your shot. Understands the game, nice upside 

2030 Ari Hodge coupled with Charli Collier #ThrowbackThursday

 

This is one of the first pictures I took with Charli Collier and I imagine it's around 2014 when she had solidified herself as one of the top players in the country. I'll never forget seeing her progression and at the first Hoop A Holics Camp, the instructor had her with her age after dominating in the skill set yet, as usual, I had to correct one of the many "know it alls" that know a damn thing yet Collier is projected as the #1 pick in the WNBA when she graduates, I won't even go into the I told you so years ago but peep this

Unlike many I don't click on unsolicited links from people I don't know, that's how you get viruses and this applies to a number of things yet after finally launching my updated website, I was exhausted and reading about 3rd grader Ari Hodge I gave in and oh my my. Somethings you can't teach, I speak about doing things instinctively and how players react in certain situations, that's definitely what I look for in younger players and to say I was overly pleased would be an understatement. 

HODGE

The icing on the cake was to find out Hodge is coached by Collier which made me want to do a story as well and I found out that she was pretty good in soccer too yet that comes as no surprise and after finding out from ancestry.com I'm 1% Spain, all I can say is that in either sport, she can SCOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEE

Pass Tha Ball #Select40 Houston 2026-28 Tip Sheet

 

HOUSTON, Texas-I'll never forget that first Pass Tha Ball event I covered back in 2013, the HoopAHolics and the countless players that graduated  and went on to play at the next level, some MDAA and some will play professionally just makes my head spin, you can use the search bar to verify anything I tell you because I'm not into "tall tales" which is popular nowadays on social media and having daughter playing at the highest of levels for many years takes me back to when I was first out here with her over 20 years ago, so I've seen some talent and I know where the bar has been set so here's what I saw from those in the 5th-7th grade who all are showing next level potential 

2026

Kyndal Graham-5'0 G (Keithsville) Cy Fair Hunt

Graham is poised beyond her years, she handles the ball as well as the pressure with ease and her first step already creates problems for defenders yet she has a crossover, a step back and can create her shot with ease but that mid to long-range is going to be hard to handle

Sophia Rodriguez-5'4 W (Laporte) Houston United

Rodriguez just keeps showing me something big is coming, including a growth spurt yet her skillset and mindset took me away when I first saw her and her creating  her shot while being tightly guarded has just exceeded my early expectations but she also rebounds and defends 

Whitney Smith-5'5 G

Smith is one of those "fast with the ball" type players and her blazing speed coupled with her ability to hit teammates on the money will definitely be something that won't be contained especially since she can finish with contact, that's an option, or hit the stop and pop jumper 

Victoria Gonzalez-5'4 PG (Pearland Jr High) League City Sharks

Gonzalez gave me an even better look at her creating her shot under pressure and hitting the shot but she's athletic, takes defenders off the dribble nicely and her battling for loose balls on the floor or off the glass definitely stood out

Summer Williams -5'7 P (Huffman MS) Lake Houston Angels

Williams made my Tip Sheet when she was 8 I guess because I saw something coming and she made sure I knew I was right as she is so athletic and smooth at this stage, her upside is scary, especially as she plays the passing lane but she can shoot it, well catch and shoot it nicely 

2027

Kamdyn Flora-5'6 G (Hamilton MS) Houston United

Flora is one of those players that I use that #D1Lock hashtag on early because she will grow, even more, she's athletic and she thinks the game but she can score off the dribble, she attacks the rim, and handles the ball under pressure well enough to see the floor 

2028 

Isabella Rodriguez-5'0 G (Laporte) Houston United 

Rodriguez did one thing instinctively that sold me at #AllEyezOnMe and it was a crossover against 8th graders heading to the 9th but her BB-IQ is among the best I've seen at this age, she can handle the ball and create her shot right now and she will get taller, stronger and even better becoming a "nightmare to defend" 

2024 and 2025 show up and out #713Showcase

 

GWENDLYN MCGREW

It's all about "seizing the opportunity" and that sort of worked both ways this past weekend as several new faces had a chance to put themselves in front of a REAL EVALUATOR while I also had a chance to get a jump on what's coming up in the not so distant future but the #713Showcase was well put together and ran like clockwork and here's a group of some of that next wave of talent that many will be household names, I already see that however I also saw some players with plenty of upside and the main thing I'll be looking for is the progression from all of the players and here are some of the standouts from the 2024 and 2025 classes

2024

Gwendlyn McGrew-5'11(Reps Up) one of the countries top prospects in her class, she has D1 offers on the table and her ability to score multiple ways will make her an impact player immediately in high school, yes I said IMMEDIATELY 

Laniah Thornton-5'8 (Reps Up)keeps getting better every time I catch her play, her power combined with her body makes her hard to handle as she can score from midrange as well as off the dribble and is an "and one" waiting to happen 

Allie Sebert-5'0 (Houston Its On-Showtyme) first sighting but caught my eye almost immediately by her consistency showing she plays within herself and won't back down, good upside and she showed "sizedontmatter 

Shunteria Davis-5'9 (D1 Dragons) strong and polished on the attack, mindset of "you won't stop me" is ahead of her years but was one of the best at finishing with contact, also showed mid to long-range as well as poise beyond her years

Hailyn Obregon- 5'7 (Cy Fair Premier) solid in skills session translated over nicely to games as she showed she could create off the dribble as well as attack the rim, under control and confident and plays within herself and finishes after contact

Jacoria Taylor-5'9 (Houston Its On Showtyme) when I mark "ath" numerous times that speaks volumes but so did her showing as she attacks and defends, plays the passing lane and has scary upside because she already has very good  body control

Kaia Carter-5'9 (Houston Its On Showtyme) she's long and athletic, that's the base but when you add she also takes defenders off the dribble and finishes after contact, she creates her shot and showed she could drop the long ball

Madison Bob-5'8 (Rytes Warriors) that long and athletic fits her as well but she continues to turn her game up with each event. Good timing of defense enables her to block, deflect, alter shots yet she elevates with ease on the jumper as well as to the basket

Mariyah Brown-5'9 (IJU Basketball) yet another long and athletic player but she simply grabbed my attention with her aggressiveness attacking the rim from various angles or right down the middle and on top of that, she also defends and rebounds

Nya Wold-5'10 (Rytes Warriors) plenty of offensive tools to work with to go with her size as she showed the mid to long, she attacks the basket strong and under control but she also creates her shot under pressure. Very good upside 

Jade Williams-5'8 (Cy Fair Elite Bush) all I can say is wow because she turned it up elevating over older players for rebounds and baskets as well as playing with poise and confidence. She made my Tip Sheet in the 5th or 6th grade, she's proving me right as her upside is untapped 

SHUNTERIA DAVIS

2025

Sarah Gregory-5'4 (Houston Its On Showtyme) she's on her way to following three older sisters to the next level, she understands how to run a team, control the tempo and is vocal but her BB-IQ is ahead of her years and so is her creating off the dribble to score multiple ways as she can take over when she wants

Alaysia Cook-5'5- Cook was smoking almost immediately and since I hadn't paid attention to the roster, I wasn't aware of how young she is. She already gets it, went right at the older girls, and showed she could score attacking or hitting the midrange. Upside is unreal 

Jasmine Timmons-6'0 (Houston Its On Showtyme) she's already at "the magic number" of 6'0 and understands two very important things at this stage, how to use her size and body and how to finish, well that's three things but she can also rebound and run the floor, remember her name 

Player Spotlight 2022 Xoe Rosalez

 

 I caught Xoe Rosalez (Seminole HS) last month at the Cy Fair Individual Showcase and I was so impressed with the young lady that I placed her on my Tip Sheet with Prep Girls Hoops Texas. Her ballhandling and keen eye definitely grabbed my attention almost immediately but what also stood out was her heady play as well as playing within herself

I love seeing players in different settings and in this particular setting Rosalez just showed an abundance of offensive skills like taking defenders off the dribble with ease and finishing with contact the same way but it didn't stop there as she did a great job at creating her shot, under pressure, and showed the mid to long-range

All of that sounds fine and dandy but remember I just said I love seeing players in different settings and watching her not only shoot with an even deeper range in high school, she also showed that ever so hopeful "catch and shoot" so this along with making passes that don't appear to be there for assists or playing hard defense, keep your eyes and ears open because more is definitely coming 

VIDEO

2020 TJ Showcase Day 2 Tip Sheet

 

BUDA, TEXAS- Day 2 of the 2020 Tyrone Johnson Showcase, #TJShowcase, was dedicated to the younger teams because always remember, #talentiseverywhere and over the years, I’ve had a chance to see countless players who showed they were going to not only play at the next level, but at the highest level of the next level. As an added bonus, I’m coming back and drop something on each team that I saw, thanks for providing me rosters, on my blog and let me also add that I dropped the ball and missed the 6^th graders, that’s on me and I apologize but I’ll catch you on the remix. Also, this is why I request having rosters emailed in case there is a discrepancy, like something as simple an incorrect number

2024

Iyanna Billups (Competitive Edge Elite Black)

Billups falls into that #sizedontmatter hashtag I see a lot because she can play. She’s fearless, she attacks the basket and she handles the ball well under pressure but she also does a good job of seeing the floor

Karvi  Madyastha (Competitive Edge White)

Madyashta does a good job at getting to the rim, under pressure and one way she does it is with a nice crossover but attacking is one thing, she also finishes strongly after contact and showed she could create her shot

 

2025

Kayla King (San Antonio Lady Hoops)

King is very athletic and attacks the basket relentlessly yet she also sees the floor and her first step sets up everything because she can also hit teammates going full speed either in the open court or from a half-court set

McKenzie Bernard (Journey 13U)

Bernard has size, she’s athletic and long, no matter how I word it, that’s the base but she can take defenders going baseline or finish strongly after contact. Wen you combine that with a nice pull-up jumper…

Sedelia Wilson (Hays Country Hornets)

Wilson is long and athletic, she’s over the magic number of 6’0 and has scary upside because of her age and how fluid she is as well as her agility. She finishes, rebounds runs the floor and defends plus she has good timing which enables her to block shots

Endia Stigall (Stats Elite)

Stigall has a very nice pull-up jumper in traffic, she’s athletic and attacks the basket strongly but she also understands how to run a team and control the tempo. She sees the floor and even showed the “floata”

Savannah Salinas (AD Elite)

Salinas put on a shooting exhibition from mid to long-range and she did it effortlessly. She’s one of the best young “catch and shoot” players I’ve caught this club season, she creates her shot and can handle the ball

Alaysia Guide (Waco United 2025)

Guide is an athletic point guard that can take defenders anytime she wants, she has a nice first step and can mix it up with a pull-up jumper or just attacking the rim where she also finishes after contact. She creates her shot and defends

Houston United 2026 #NBC20

I had a chance to catch up with Houston United 2026 squad, well I actually I had a chance to catch them in action at Prime Time Nationals and many again at the #AllEyezOnMe Individual Showcase, I'll drop that later on my website but this is what I saw at #NBC20

SOPHIA RODRIGUEZ

Sophia Rodriguez was overly impressive on the defensive end as she understood the importance of being around the ball and manning up. She also finished strong

Natalia Reyna comprehends the game so well, she makes good decisions and has great upside because she plays within herself

Ava Ford is so athletic and has an abundance of raw talent that is just overwhelming and I see her turning the corner in a big way soon

Amber Mead sees the floor well and attacks the basket strongly, she can apply heat full court on the defensive end

KAMDEN FLORA

Kamden Flora is athletic and has several tools already that definitely will help her be in the mix. Good size, BB-IQ, and a nice first step, plus she finishes with contact 

Devyn Turner was a guest player and boy did she play because she too applied a lot of heat on defense and attacked strong and physical 

Kaly Randle falls into that #sizedontmatter because she brought it and she also delivered and when you have a solid first step at this stage...

Isabelle Rodriguez is playing a grade and from what I'm seeing she'll be up, up and away in the future because she too falls into the #sizedontmatter but peep this, she creates her shot, she can shoot it and she attacks off the dribble 

Player Spotlight 2021 Ashlyn Ryall

I remember the first time I caught Ashlyn Ryall before she was even attending Friendswood HS, I said, "this kid has some definite tools" but even beyond the skill set, I was overly impressed with her knowledge of the game because one more time, "if you comprehend the simple things at a young age, you're way ahead of the game" and the game is one she loves to play and after being named to the All-District squad multiple times, Chronicle Player Of The week as well as Galveston County All-County HM in high school

After leading her Friendswood team in points, three-pointers as well as assists, she has helped her BDA club team compete against some of the states elite tournaments including Big State Flava Jam but what's even more impressive about the 5'9 guard with NBA range is that she can play the one and a two and while we're dancing and a three and a four but the dance is only beginning as she even did some damage playing the five this past weekend, this ties into my opening statement "if you comprehend the simple things at a young age, you're way ahead of the game" because she THINKS the game, understands positioning when to switch and always important, she's vocal and a leader on the court