Lady Diamonds 7th Grade Black #AllEyezOnShe Runner-Up

 The Lady Diamonds gave me a good look when they played in the Simmie Colson Classic last season and here we go, I always look for progression and they traveled from the Rio Grande with 6 players who all gave me an even better look this past weekend, here ya go

Evan Ayala- scores off the dribble after attacking the basket from multiple spots and watching her finish after contact was nice, especially when you factor in her body control. Her first step is nice, she creates her shot under pressure and knocks down the mid to long-range jumper with a hand in her face

Jay Berlanga- her court vision is ahead of her years and watching her see the floor from the set as well as in the open court tells me a lot because she can thread the needle and hit teammates going full speed. She also scored off the dribble, also has nice body control plus her timing to block shots was also nice 

Alyssa Ramirez- mixed it up offensively very nicely and her deceptive first step had the defender off balance. She goes baseline and showed the reverse layup but add her court vision as she hit teammates while attacking the basket. Her pull-up jumper was nice and she dropped it from mid to long-range 

Alisela Rangel- just fills up the stat sheet as she understands how to get hers in the flow yet she also does things that don't appear on the stat sheet like forcing players into the trap which leads to turnovers. She attacks with either hand, showed the HEZ to get the defender to lean, and dropped the jumper 

Gena Benavidez- does a good job of playing within herself yet her defensive pressure was nice, both in the set and baseline to baseline and she understands positioning which enabled her to outrebound taller players. Her first step is nice, she got the basket and finished strongly and her body control was solid 

Ragelani Garcia- I wrote BATTLES for a number of reasons and watching her go after loose balls, off the rim as well as on the floor, just had me smiling. She scored on putbacks against taller players yet she attacks the basket strongly and finishes after contact. Her court vision was also nice, as well as her defense 

Phoenix 2028 7th Grade Black #AllEyezOnShe Champions

 I had several conversations with Coach Myers, director and head coach of the Phoenix organization and he told me he had quite a few players on a variety of teams I needed to see because of their potential and guess what, he was "on the money" so let me start with his 2028 squad who won the championship in their division 

Grace Dorr-what I enjoyed over everything else she did was watching her BATTLE for rebounds and loose balls, which is very important, especially at this stage. She also scored off the dribble and has nice body control

Erica Taylor- huge upside for this talented point guard, remember the game starts at the 1 and her understanding of how to run a team and control the tempo puts her ahead of the game. Solid court vision, the deceptive first step, yet watching her slice by defenders to score after contact was nice, and so was her pull-up jumper

Kamryn Fox- I'm going out on a limb, well actually I'm not because this young lady is going to fall into that "nightmare to defend" group I talk about and please remember, I'm never wrong about this stuff. She sees the floor and makes 20-foot passes in traffic but she can also drop it from that spot, well mid to long-range. She attacks strongly and finishes after the lick

Karis Brown- hit the boards hard on both ends and guess what, she ran the floor on both ends. She also set the defender up to attack the basket from the outside, contact wasn't a problem, and her body control played a part in that. She also showed the pull-up jumper yet she did something I love to see and that's "play the passing lane"

Lainey Dixon- long and athletic will always be the base and she stands above "the magic number" which is 6'0  so what are her intangibles. Let me start with her timing on blocking shots, which will keep getting better as her lateral movement to defend outside the paint is solid. She rebounds, and scores around the basket, and her upside is definitely high

Brooke Schilling- stands at "the magic number' plus her timing is on the verge of taking off. She rebounded on both ends, understands positioning and she also used her body around the basket well. Solid defender and very good upside 

Lexi Tutor- showed me the "hands and footwork" is looking good and that will get her some buckets around the basket but watching her use her frame to score was nice, and so was her rebounding

Lily Rich- heady, plays within herself, and understands how to get hers "in the flow". She scored off the dribble, attacked the basket with either hand and she also showed she could create her shot from outside 

Team Tulsa 2025 Shaking It Up

 I can't remember exactly when I met Team Tulsa Coach and Director Samuel Wilson, aka Coach Punchie yet he always brings talented players from Oklahoma proving Oklahoma is still OK. I have caught his squad a few times on the PGH Circuit, in fact, a couple of his 8th graders, Tiana Butler and Aaliyah Simone-Buriss made my Top Performer list while Brianna McIlwee will be on the All-Tournament squad. Butler and Buriss are 2 of the top 8th graders I've seen from Oklahoma, McIlwee leaves me speechless every time I catch her yet 

Calla Fueshko didn't make the tournament and Kamauri Miller was out with an injury yet here are some of the other players that I caught

Abigaile Martin-5'7 G (Charles Page) opened up the PGH Circuit a few weeks ago on FIYA as she dropped threes galore. I asked her if she brought the heat because her hair was red, and she said yes. She added even more as she attacked off the dribble for baskets, and even played the passing lane 

Tay'ja Butler-5'6 CG (Charles Page) is a long and athletic guard that brings the heat on both ends of the court. She understands how to defend, on the ball, and played the passing lane yet she has good court vision and made tough passes look easy. She also scored off the dribble 

Navaeh Williams-5'7 F (Daniel Webster) understands positioning and does a good job of rebounding on both ends, as well as scoring on the inside. She also showed she could defend in the paint and had good lateral movement to step out and guard her man

Jordyn Gilton-5'10 (Charles Page) is POWERFUL inside the paint and that coupled with her upside tells me a lot. She goes after the ball off the rim and with her strength, it's a battle, even for loose balls yet she scores with players literally hanging on her and her pressure defense was nice 

Skylar Overstreet-5'2 G (Union) understands how to use her athleticism on both ends as her "on the ball" pressure is nice, so is her playing the passing lane yet she can handle the ball under pressure as well and shows good court vision. She scores off the dribble, even dropped it from outside 

Oklahoma Lady Chiefs- 5th/6th Grade Battle On The Plainz II

Watching this team compete is one of the main reasons why I started doing this almost 15 years ago. The Lady Chiefs had one player in the 6th grade and one in the 5th, look at the graduation years yet you would have never known because they went after it and showed no fear playing against the older players so yes, this is my WHY, well one of them, here ya go

 2029

Cheyanna Black-5'6 (El Reno) used her body well in the paint and showed some nice moves inside to score. She rebounded and ran the floor on both ends, but peep this, she keeps the ball high after rebounding and understands how to throw the outlet to get the break going. Good upside

2030

Kiara Harjo-5'0 (Glenpool) showed me a lot of ways she could score and starting with her attacking the basket and finishing after contact. She also created her shot for the jumper and even showed the step back but her handling the ball and seeing the floor  was nice, and so was her "on the ball" defense and playing the passing lane 

2031

Blair Thompson-5'3 (Bearden) also gets it and her understanding of positioning to rebound, on both ends, many times against taller players were nice. She also used her body inside to score but her interior defense also looked good, so does her upside

Danika David-4'8 (Catoosa) plays within herself and did a good job defending both in the full court as well as in the set. She also showed she could handle the ball in the open court and made solid passes

Dayzie Cooper-5'3 (Glenpool) played solid defense "on the ball" and read the switch well. She also understands how to trap and did a good job handling the ball while being defended 

Aaliyah Smith-5'1 (Cowetta) used her body well on the inside, showed good hands while catching the ball, and made good strong moves to the rim. She rebounded and battled on the floor for loose balls

2032

DeAwna Black-4'4 (Sapulpa) falls into the #sizedontmatter category because she can play. She creates her shot and attacks the basket under pressure. She also played solid "on the ball" defense 

Muhayu McIntosh-4'1 (Glenpool) also falls into that #sizedontmatter category because her BB-IQ is ahead of her years. She handled the ball under pressure, saw the floor, and did a good job defending 

2033

Tinleigh Forbes-4'4 (Broken Arrow) another #sizedontmatter player because she understands how to stay with her man, on the ball, baseline to baseline. She handled the ball and made nice passes 

Lady Natives- 5th/6th Grade Battle On The Plainz II

The Lady Natives were competitive and fought hard, this is one of the things I look for when evaluating younger players. I'm a REAL EVALUATOR, no sleight of hand tricks and I know what I see and that's plenty of potential as well as upside for this squad, here ya go

2029

Reyana Robinson-5'1 (Bogue Chitto Elementary) plays within herself and did a good job defending and seeing the floor

La Taysia Hickman-5'1 (Standing Pine Elementary) handled the ball under pressure and scored off the dribble plus her court vision was nice and she played the passing lane 

Chyler Thomas- 5'3 (Conehatta Elementary) handled the ball well in the open court, she even showed a nice crossover going full speed

2030

Kaidence Thompson-5'4 (Tucker Elementary) understands positioning and not only rebounded on both ends but ran the floor. She also defended well

Kazelyn Farmer-5'1 (Pearl River Elementary) plays within herself, understands how and when to switch, and did a good job defending "on the ball" 

Greatone Ben-4'4 (Tucker Elementary) handled the ball well under pressure and also saw the floor under pressure. Also did a good job of staying with her man

Kaylianna McMillan-5'5 (Tucker Elementary) did a good job creating her shot both in the set as well as in transition. She handled the ball in the open court and saw the floor

Tiana Robinson-5'7 (Bogue Chitto Elementary) is tall and her doing things instinctively, like going after the ball off the rim as well as using her body in the paint was nicer 

2031

Zeta Ben-5'3 (Tucker Elementary) her "getting after it" had me smiling. She understands how to "man-up" and she also dove on the floor for loose balls

 

AZ Newest- 5th/6th Grade Battle On The Plainz II

 I have said previously that I really enjoy catching the youngstas because I love the energy and enthusiasm plus I always find hidden talent and rest assured, my saying talent is everywhere isn't just something I attached a hashtag to. It's real so here are ya go on this talented group from Arizona 

2029

Tianna Eddison-5'3 (Tsehootsooi Middle School) is showing signs of being a force to be reckoned with. She rebounds, on both ends, and she plays the passing lane yet she scores well around the paint with nice moves, as well as off the dribble. She also created her shot and dropped the jumper but her crossover in the open court JUST DID IT for me

Cambree Thompson-5'2 (Tsehootsooi Middle School) understands how to apply baseline to baseline pressure and her "on the ball" defense helped create turnovers. She also attacked the basket and showed the pull-up in transition 

Morgan Upshaw-5'0 (Tsehootsooi Middle School) gets the #sizedontamtter hashtag because she can play and her comprehension of reading the floor as well as her on-the-ball pressure was very nice. She made good passes and has good upside 

2030

Peyton Moore-5'2 (Tsehootsooi Middle School) already understands the importance of using her first step to attack the basket. She's long and athletic, which is still the base, and she battles for loose balls and also plays the passing lane. Nice upside because she also sees the floor and rebounds and one of her highlights was "banking a 3" 

Rayea Edison-4'11 (Catherine Miller Elementary School) dove for loose balls on the floor, and battled for loose balls off the rim, she just understands the importance of getting after it but she also did what I love seeing and that's "played the passing lane"

Chanoah Charley-4'5 (Tsehootsooi Middle School) has me dropping another #sizedontmatter hashtag because she too can play. Her deceptive first step enabled her to get to the basket, well that and her ballhandling. She also saw the floor and played solid defense 

Shandin Bia-5'1 (Tsehootsooi Middle School) used her body well and already understands positioning. She did a good job defending around the basket, even stepped outside the paint but she also plays within herself which is always a great sign and has nice upside 

Oklahoma Lady Warriors 5th/6th Grade Battle On The Plainz II Runner-Up

 What I loved about this division is that the teams fought hard, and the Lady Warriors gave everything they had. You see some sad faces in the photo but it's all about competing and these young  ladies left a lasting impression, and when you factor in youth and upside, well I can't wait to follow their progression and revisit my evaluations, and here you go

2029

Abigail Taylor-5'0 (Sasakwa) caught my eye early with her defense yet as the tournament progressed, she showed me more. She pushes the ball and sees the floor, scored off the dribble, and has a nice pull-up jumper, as well as a step back

Mya Wilson-5'2 (Shawnee) is long and athletic, which will always be the base, and watching her play the passing lane as well as attacking off the dribble was nice. She also did a good job rebounding, on both ends and defended well

Lacee Thomas-5'0 (Chickasaw) does a good job of playing within herself and understanding the little things that will be big like battling for loose balls off the rim as well as diving on the floor were nice, so was her defending and playing the passing lane

2030

Sage Wildcat-4'8 (Justice) mixed up her offense nicely by attacking off the dribble, body control is nice, as well as showing the pull-up jumper. She did a good job defending "on the ball" as well as playing the passing lane

Aziza Pebworth- 5'3 (Konawa) also did something I love to see and that's play the passing lane. She reacts well on defense, and she understands when to switch but she also does things instinctively which is always a good sign, nice upside 

Olivia Riley-5'3 (Jefferson Elementary-Shawnee) I guess I should have just written that everyone plays the passing lane but she came out of nowhere a few times to get steals. She also attacked the basket from the wing yet she's long and athletic with nice upside 

2031

Alivia Zavala-5'1 (Justice) just gets after it on both ends and when you factor in her age and playing up, I just smiled because I know what's coming. Guess what, she plays the passing lane too but she also ended and handled the ball well

Oklahoma Lady Runners 5th/6th Grade Battle On The Plainz II Champions

 I opened up with this talented group and they helped close out the event by winning the Championship in the 5th/6th Grade Division in the Battle On The Plainz II Tournament. This group of 6th graders, all from the Class Of 2030, have tons of potential in fact some are already showing they will play at some level of the next level so here you go

Madelyn McGrit-5'7 (Okamah) is long and athletic, I call that the base because it's a definite next-level attraction. She does things instinctively, like playing the passing lane as well as reacting quickly defensively but her timing was also nice, and so was her attacking the basket off the dribble

Lala White-5'6 (Calumet) defended well all through the event, both and outside the paint yet her rebounding on both ends was also a plus. She finished around the basket and even showed she could drop the midrange 

MaKya Muskett-5'0 (Calumet) falls into a hashtag I love to use and that's #sizedontmatter because she can play. She applied solid on-the-ball pressure and players the passing lane. She also created her shot and attacked off the dribble

Khloe Bass-5'2 (Mustang) also gets the #sizedontmatter hashtag because she too can play. She understands the game and more importantly, she plays within herself meaning she doesn't force anything. Well she forced turnovers because she did a good job defensively 

Jordyn Littlebird-5'4 (Darlington) scored off the dribble as well as from mid to long-range but her court vision was also nice, as well as handling the ball "coast to coast" after rebounding. She has quick hands, came away with steals, and played the passing lane but her diving for loose balls was also nice 

Aashari Hollins-5'5 (Darlington) rebounded on both ends and scored around the basket, putbacks included, and after contact. She also showed she could attack the basket off the dribble and did a good job seeing the floor and making nice passes

Michelle Hoffman-5'5 (Darlington) also played within herself and did a good job of getting hers in the flow. Her defense stood out in each game I caught them but her seeing the floor as well as attacking the basket off the dribble was also nice 

Houston United 2028 #simmiecolsonclassic

 I always give useful information, not just NONSENSE many believe on social media but this is sort of funny. Jada Malone had been selling me Girl Scout Cookies for years as I watched her watching her older sister Micarah put in work over the years. I guess in the 6th or 7th grade, Jada said "Mr. Simmie, I have bad news for you, I'm going to start playing and I won't be selling the cookies anymore" and she was right, it was bad news because I thought this would help me lose weight, it didn't

Fast forward to now, after a state championship as well as runner-up with The Village, the good news for her is that she's putting in work for Texas A&M now, and also the good news for me is that Jayda Hart is now my go-to for the lemon cookies as she is showing signs with Houston United as are her teammates 

Kennedy Price has grown both on and off the court and her being "long and athletic" which is THE BASE has her on the path around all 4 for a home run. I used to drop "the PRICE is RIGHT" when her older sister Lauren played and I'm sure I'll be using it again. Her ballhandling in traffic, her court vision  as well as creating her shot under pressure to attack or drop the jumper was impressive, so is her upside as she's playing up, class of 2029

Addison Little is heady and understands how to set the defender up with a deceptive first step. I think I enjoyed her understanding of how to get hers "in the flow" more than anything yet she saw the floor well and made good decisions which is always a plus. She defended as well as understood how and when to trap

Jayda Hart is also "long and athletic" and watching her rebound and handle the ball in the open court tells me a lot. I remember watching her older sister Tymberlin Criswell who also starred with Malone at The Village and is not putting in work with SMU and I see similarities like the explosiveness off the dribble as well as playing the passing lane but she has scary upside as well 

Others I'll be watching closely are these young ladies because they already GET IT and GET AFTER IT and I'll enjoy all of their progression on the court 

Brianna Kelly

Liana Calderon

Naomi Rodriguez

Autumn Randle 2029

Houston Lady Roadrunners 29/30 #SimmieColsonClassic

Let me say this, I was overly impressed with this talented young squad because of their intensity, skillset, and BB-IQ, and when you factor in they are  5th and 6th graders, well that speaks volumes. They played all of their games on opening day and they left a lasting impression

Here are the PLAYERS 

2029

Tia Robinson is a long and athletic guard, that is showing signs of dazzling with the ball. She scores off the dribble yet creates her shot and drains the jumper, this includes "in transition" and she defends

Legacy Gill created her shot and got it off, with a hand in her face yet she plays within herself and understands how to get hers "in the flow" but she also showed she could handle the ball under pressure

Parker Reed is long and athletic, forgot to mention that is the base, and observing her use a deceptive first step to attack the basket was nice, and so was her playing the passing lane 

Rihanna Washington is also long and athletic yet she can rebound and go to coast effortlessly with the ball under pressure. She also does a good job of not only scoring but seeing the floor

Dakari Hunter handled the ball under pressure, and even split defenders a few times but she can attack using either hand and finish along with making tough passes on the money under pressure 

Meghan Davis has some scary upside because she's tall, athletic, and goes after the ball off the rim, you can't teach that but she also scored around the rim and did a good job defending inside the paint

McKinley Peterson shows me she has the potential to control the inside. She too is long and athletic, and also goes after everything yet her TIMING to block shots, as well as score around the rim, is nice

Lamoni Davis showed some rugged defense around the basket and her going lateral had me smiling because she could defend outside the paint as well. Good upside, and her shot is fluid around the basket

2030

Abigail Flores falls into that #sizedontmatter category I hashtag because she can play. I enjoyed her "on the ball" defense as well as diving for loose balls yet her court vision is ahead of her years