Austin Elite show that A's and E's are still top grades

When you get a couple of basketball geniuses like Fonzelle Martin and Tommy Gregg, two of my oldest and dearest friends in this basketball stuff, and I'm talking about friends before the turn of the century when our daughters were babies playing with the "big girls", well we got a little bit of history together.

Speaking of history, they also have the "whoever shows up" mentality and have continued to be successful in rolling with what they got. I've had a chance to see both of their teams a couple of times, Austin Elite RFW and Austin Elite Black, first in Dallas and the March Fest and over the weekend in the Insiders Hoopfest, and they are both potent.

After RFW won the WNBA Division at the Insiders Hoopfest, there will be plenty to talk about regarding both teams but of course, that's coming up real soon

Powers helps keep Pearland Hawks flying high

Mueller,Otto and Powers were the names that stayed in my head prior to last season's Insiders Basketball Classic and it wasn't because of the acronym even though they did put in some spotless work throughout the event for the Pearland Hawks. On visual Monday, I look at the improvement I saw in Maddie Powers and Melanie Otto, Jessi Mueler separated her shoulder and isn't playing right now but I can tell when work has been put in. Powers team placed 2nd in the Varsity Division of the Insiders Hoopfest

The younger group came in second in a tight final against DFW Elite Houston in the Silver Division.I'm sure there will be several Routt's before it's all said and done and of course, more to come

Shock's Williams no Angel on the court

As I go through over 900 pictures I took during the Insiders Hoopfest, certain things pop into my head and this is where I get a lot of me stories from because it's in the flow. The same can be said for Angel Williams scoring over the weekend as she put up numbers, in the flow.

Guess what, I'll get a chance to see her and several other Shock players this coming weekend again at the Cy Fair Invitational which includes the the Texas Nike Showdown part 2 between DFW T-Jack and Cy Fair Nike Elite

Two of the three Cy Fair squads placed in the Hoopfest and you already know, more is coming as I'm going visual on Monday before I hit my notes

McCowan all smiles for DFW Peoples

I try to catch Taylor McCowan smiling every chance I get because this is one of the most serious players on the court each time she steps on it. Like I figured a couple of years ago, her game is becoming rather serious as she put up numbers galore throughout the Insiders Hoopfest this weekend. With several talented players on the local DFW teams, three of whch placed in the Hoopfest, that too will be a story coming

Already PREPPED for Texas Preps Elite

I spoke with Texas Preps Elite Coach Kevin Brown at the BigTyme March Fest a couple of weeks ago and he told me about some talented kids he was bringing to the Insiders Hoopfest and boy was he on the money. I already knew about Angela Harris and Jae Branch however they proved to be only the tips of the iceberg as they brought the heat with three separate teams.Wasn't that was smooth how I interacted cold and hot?

Nevertheless the big story is coming, stay tuned

Livingston Ladies worth the wait

I hear things about teams and players all of the time however logistics and time constraints sometimes fall into place so when I heard that the Livingston Ladies from Baton Rouge, LA was playing in the Insiders Hoopfest, I knew I had to get an early look and a feel about their squad.

Episcopal High's Varsity Assistant Coach Mike Kuhn informed he was rolling in with only seven players, four had a little something called "the prom" that were attending so the team had their backs against the wall off the top. No problem because one of the the things I admire in players is heart and fight, two things you really can't teach and these young ladies showed they had exactly that and it didn't hurt that they had talent to go with it

Coach Kuhn has coached several outstanding players over the years, in fact you might remember reading about Mary Melissa Hoover, a young lady I saw three years ago at the Ganon Baker Camp in College Station that actually launched Girlz Prep Report, Hoover btw will be picking up where she left off at Episcopal High for Appalachian State



Here are the Super Seven that made the trip, one also made the "Tip Sheet" that's coming, along with a little bit more on the Ladies

Melissa Crowe    2014              5’8          F                              Bowling Green Aca.           

Played on MPSAA state champs

Ariane Addison    2014             6’            F/C                         Baker High                         

played for 3A state runner up

Terriel Ross          2014              5’9”          G/F                      University Lab                    

Played on 2A state runner ups

Taylin Underwood  2014         5’7          pg/sg                     Doyle High                             

Taylin has scored over 2500 points in high school career. 

Haylee Menedenall  2013      6’            F                              West Feliciana                       

4.0 gpa, 28 ACT

Adrianna Willaims   2013         5’6          pg/sg                     Woodlawn High (BR)              

Belle Rayner       2015                6’1”       C                             Doyle High                         

Insiders Hoopfest filled with everything

I didn't get a chance to see the Houston Lady Roadrunners' Tasharian Robinson play due to a minor injury which was one of my low points of the 11th Annual Insiders Hoopfest because when I first saw her two years ago, I knew this young lady was going to special but the good news is she'll be back and I'm sure she'll be ready.


Being an innovator, I just had something pop in my head so over the next few days, I'll break down player info from the Hoopfest including special "Tip Sheets" and mini stories so please be patient as I catch my breath. Until then, her are your top three finishers from each division

WNBA

Austin Elite RFW

Houston Insiders-Blue

Cy Fair Platinum 16u

NCAA

Houston Lady Roadrunners

Houston Choice

Lady Houston Dominators

Varsity

Cy Fair Platinum 15u

Pearland Hawks

Houston Insiders-Black

Gold

DFW Elite-Capra

Crossover 14u Elite

DFW-Miller

Silver

DFW Elite Houston 2019

Pearland Hawks

Hybrid Hoops

Young talent at Insiders Hoopfest ready to explode

Watching Angela Harris as a sixth grader is still in my memory bank and I knew this young lady was going to do some special things. I was sure that she was the youngest ever recipient of a GPR Rising Star award and that star continues to rise as she capped a very successful freshman season at Cy Fair with a bang

Harris, along with another special freshman, Jae Branch (Lutheran North), are ready to go with Texas Preps Elite as the 11th Annual Insiders Hoopfest begins today. Several other outstanding freshmen who made their presence felt will also be playing and they include Sentreal Gregory (HIO) and Eryka Sidney (Insiders) and I expect many stars of the future will be getting a lot of EXPOSURE over the next few days along with the older and more established players.

Stay tuned for the take off, it will land when I let it

HOOPFEST

Ekiyah Gray ready to show magic at Insiders Hoopfest

I heard about this kid dropping over 50 in a middle school game and it didn't phase me one bit because over the years, I've seen numerous players make over 25 layups against teams that couldn't beat a press in middle school but nevertheless I had an open mind before watching Ekiyah Gray play that very first time.

She didn't score over 50, probably not even 40 but she was close and she did it in a variety of ways and all in the flow of the game while getting her teammates involved. It doesn't matter that her mom and dad were high school stars for two of the top programs during their time. It doesn't matter that her grandfather in not only an Olympian but also played in the league, aka NBA,several years

What does matter is that this young lady can play and even more important is the fact that I've been saying it before she stepped on the court at Klein Forest for her very first varsity game. Since then, I've seen nothing but improvement and working on whatever weaknesses she had. Gray is one of the top players in this heavy hitting 2014 Texas class loaded with not just next level, but D1 players and again she is among the top.

Standing over 6'0 and with an even more impressive wingspan, be prepared to see this young lady do her magic and I'll have a first hand report after the Insiders Hoopfest this weekend on not only her but several other players you may or may not know about because that's how I roll!

DFW 2017 group is no joke

Whatever name this talented group of middle school ball players in DFW Elite's organization goes by, if you don't know their names, you will after you see them play. It's always refreshing to see talented players that are ahead of the game but when you that group continue to work on their skills, agility, endurance, whatever, you have something special

So many times, I've seen middle school "stars" settle and become stars of yesteryear in a flash but that won't be happening to these young ladies. Although it's April 1st and Monday Morning, there will be no Room 311 although some will be calling 911 to call off this heat, you have to watch the show to get it

Arianna Whitfield-5'6 guard, Houston TX

Whitfield get's the blog all to herself and I know several of these young ladies have scored 20, 30 and even 40 or more points in middle school games, Whitfield can score multiple ways as well and in bunches. She plays hard every play, doesn't take plays off and it doesn't stop there. She's also a very unselfish player who knows and understands the game. There is no challenge she won't welcome and no fight she won't finish and that mental toughness is something you just can't teach

Here's a special "Tip Sheet" on a group that isn't joking around

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