Houston Lady Nets #SimmieColsonClassic 6th Grade Division

This squad played only on Sunday and I caught them briefly

Zoe Whitaker continues to impress me by not only being savvy and having a BB-IQ ahead of her years but also her court vision, which continues to create some problems, and her ballhandling under pressure. She understands how to set the defender up multiple ways and watching her add a spin move in traffic to attack and score off the dribble is special

Zoe Alaniz is "long and athletic" which is the base and she appears to be on her way to "the magic number" She rebounds, on both ends, does a good job defensively, and scores off the dribble

Layla Love understands how to use her athleticism on both ends and when she wasn't applying heat on the defensive end, she was hitting the boards but her powerful first step to attack the basket and finishing showing the FLOATA  JUST DID IT  for me

Kingwood Hoops #SimmieColsonClassic 6th Grade Division

 

I had a chance to catch Gracie Gille who plays on the 8th grade team a few months ago at an individual showcase and was so impressed that I saw her speaking with her mom and introduced myself. When the mom told me she used to play for Kingwood High School and told me her maiden name, Hollie Beamon, I went back to another era. Mom graduated in 2005, the deepest class ever from the Houston area where over 100 players wound up playing at the next level, over 40 D1, so that's a fun fact for the novices

More on the older group later as the 6th grade team is filled with some talented players and Emma Lucas, Haven Garland, and Heidi Gille all made my 2031 Super Watch on Prep Girls Hoops see evaluations here

Tenley Barker falls into that #sizedontmatter group that I love to hashtag when they can play and she can. She is a fierce competitor who applies heat on defense but also sees the floor and handles the ball under pressure

Bridget Johnson also falls into that #sizedontmatter group and seeing her dive on the floor for loose balls gets her another hashtag #THROWBACK Her "on the ball" defense was tough, she made good decisions, her court vision was solid and she scored off the dribble

Chloe Martinez was yet another, you guessed it, #sizedontmatter guard who gave me a lot. Yes, she plays tough defense and handled the ball under pressure but her attacking the basket to score using nice body control was nice, and so was her crossover

Texas Thunder #SimmieColsonClassic 6th Grade Division

 

A solid group of 2031s had me smiling starting with Makayla Craig and Raegan Davidson who my Super Watch Tip Sheet of Prep Girls Hoops read more  yet let me say this, upside galore all through this squad

Ariana Raeissi brings so much to the table, but let me start with she's a #sizedontmatter player who did quite a few things that impressed me. Her quick hands got steals, and she also dove on the floor for loose balls but her slight HEZ to get by defenders to score was nice, so was her jumper, catch and shoot included

Tristen Richmond was another #sizedontmatter guard who handled the ball effortlessly under pressure and had a nice first step to blow by defenders and finish off the dribble. Her court vision was also nice, as was the "on the ball" heat she applied baseline to baseline

Melanie Parker is strong and she finishes powerfully off the dribble as well as inside the paint. She hit the boards on both ends and even went coast to coast to score yet her first step in the set was tough as she attacked using solid body control after contact and did a good job defensively 

Abby Mariscal is heady and plays within herself yet her staying under control while being pressured along with getting hers in the flow was nice. She also falls into that #sizedontmatter group and when you can play, it doesn't matter. Her "catch and shoot" from outside also needs to be mentioned 

Brielle James is a "long and athletic" guard as you can see in the first photo, she can elevate on her jumper as well as around the basket first step is solid, as is her body control. She played tough defense, and played the passing lane

K5 Elite #SimmieColsonClassic 6th Grade Division

 

I can always count on getting a heads-up from Omar Sneed about up-and-coming talent from around the Beaumont area. Sneed is a former professional basketball player and now a D1 college coach so he and I go way back and before you say how far? 

How about 2018 when I first saw his daughter Kendall Sneed and  I dropped that #D1Lock on her shortly after, I keep receipts, she's playing for Tulane but not just playing, she was named Freshman Of The Year in her conference

Omar gave me a heads up about K5, Kendall's team and I've already dropped a couple of players from the 2031 class Terraji Johnson and Abblynn Balderas on Prep Girls Hoops as they're already on my 2031 Watchlist but how about some others from that class. Kassidy Sumbler, Elizabeth Amlalo, and Grayson Cooper are all athletic guards who applied "on the ball" heat and showed they could score off the dribble but a couple of 2030's will be on the PGH Watchlist for their class

Kimora West, pictured above, is not only tall but "long and athletic" which is the base. Her timing was nice, she dove on the floor for loose balls but watching her go AFTA everything off the rim and play the passing lane was enough. Then she showed she could score around the basket as well as off the dribble

Jordan Joubert is close to having that #D1Lock dropped on her, peep this, she's vocal on the court, something many guards heading to college don't do, and watching her direct traffic blew me away. Her BB-IQ is off the chart, she saw the floor through a microscope but alas, she's a long and athletic guard and that too is the base. She has the HEZ, the STUTTA, and a variety of other moves to get to the rim but those BIG GIRL PASSES JUST DID IT FOR ME

2024 Next Up Individual Showcase- Elementary Division

 

One of my all-time favorite sayings is that #talentiseverywhere providing you know what you're looking for and since I'm a GENIUS at spotting what's coming, it was great to catch up with several stars of tomorrow. Pictured above is Rori Harmon (Texas) who I dropped #D1Lock on when she was in the 5th grade

Khaila Key (2032) has already had me drop #D1Lock on her and like Harmon, she's heading to the 5th grade. She's heady and under control, but watching her easily set the defender up was nice. She has solid court vision, gave me the crossover in transition and her body control on her finishes is also nice. Her poise under pressure, her doing things instinctively, and how she reacts SIMS it up

Audacity Vaughn (2032) is a long and athletic guard and I can tell she's been watching her older sister because she uses her athleticism on both ends. Her on-the-ball pressure was solid, and she attacks strongly off the dribble yet she gave me the turnaround jumper and THAT is going to create some problems 

Armoni Mitchell (2033) was another long and athletic guard who did a good job applying "on the ball" pressure, both in the set as well as in transition. She did something I absolutely love to see and that's playing the passing lane but she also showed good timing to block shots

Campbell Baldwin (2032) is, you guessed it, a long and athletic guard, and when she showed me the HEZ and crossover, I just shook my head. She blew by defenders to score off the dribble, and she even scored going coast to coast but her court vision was solid as well as her "on the ball" pressure

Zariyah Redd (2032) understands positioning and at this stage, that's huge because it's the little things that will turn out to be big down the road. She rebounded on both ends, ran the floor, on both ends, and did a solid job defensively inside the paint. She also scored around the basket 

Everly Rowell (2032) is heady and lets the game come to her. I was impressed with her decision-making under pressure, she also showed she could score in the flow and play within herself. Her deceptive first step was nice as was her court vision 

Ella Lovett (2032) understands the game and also falls into that "heady" group but watching her create her shot under pressure was nice and this included her first step to attack and score. She also applied solid "on the ball" pressure and her quick hands got her some steals

Glory Noe (2032) had me saying yes as she gave me a variety of offensive skills that are going to come in handy as her "on the court" progression continues. Let me start with she "thinks the game" and her step back with the pull-up was very nice, so were her fakes to attack off the dribble. 

Cassi Pham (2034) has some pretty impressive upside because when you factor in she was the youngest player at the event and wasn't FAZED by pressure whatsoever, that tells me a lot, and with her being a "long and athletic" guard who can already create her shot and apply heat defensively, watch out

Ella Lowe (2032) just got after off the top and in the 1-on-1 drill, she brought so much intensity on the defensive that it doesn't surprise that she kept it going during the 5 on 5 games. She also handled the ball and saw the floor yet she too had a deceptive first step to attack the basket in the set

Rilynn Thomas (2031) didn't mind physicality, either giving or taking and she showed power in the paint a few times. She also gave me a glimpse of the "hands and footwork" I love seeing and that, plus her finishing around the basket was nice. She also rebounded on both ends and played solid defense

Sariyah Dancer (2032) has the right last name because she is showing signs of being able to dance the ball and dazzle. Part of that is because she's "long and athletic" and her first step is very nice yet in transition, she showed an extra gear with the ball and finished strongly using nice body control

Lylah Tucker (2032) has a lot of symbols on her evaluation which is a good sign and partly because of her energy and athleticism, especially on defense. Her pressure helped to create turnovers, she played the passing lane but she also scored off the dribble, had nice body control after contact, and saw the floor well

More Babies Are Coming #TJShowcase

 I saw quite a few "stars of the future" who have not played a game in high school from the #TJShowcase and I dropped a  few already on  Prep Girls Hoops. Well, there was even more, here ya go

Kamira Runnels-5'5 (Fort Worth Lady Hornets) 2028- is an athletic guard who applies heat on both ends. Her on-the-ball defense was solid, and she also did a good job attacking the basket off the dribble to score

Kathy Odokopira-5'1 (Fort Worth Lady Hornets) 2030- her upside is high and so is her BB-IQ as she showed she could control the temp and see the floor but she's a "long and athletic" guard which is also the base. She falls into that #sizedontmatter group and it doesn't because she dropped the jumper, including the "catch and shoot" from deep

Andrea McGriff-5'9 (Fort Worth Lady Hornets) 2028-is "long and athletic" Yep, the base but she's also strong and powerful, and seeing her elevate to score, see above picture, or go AFTA everything off the rim was refreshing but she also scored off the dribble, played solid defense and played the passing lane 

Ja'siah McIntyre-5'5 (SA Lady Hoops Diamond) 2029- handled the ball well under pressure and her showing the crossover both in the set as well as in transition was nice. She scored off the dribble and saw the floor

Tayza Peavy-5'8  (SA Lady Hoops Diamond) 2029- is "long and athletic" with some scary upside and seeing her rebound and go coast to coast to score or dish was nice. She scored around the basket, putbacks included, off the dribble and after contact plus she played the passing lane and played solid defense 

Heaven McDonald Lyles-5'9  (SA Lady Hoops Diamond) 2028- is also "long and athletic" and the heat she applied defensively, in the halfcourt, as well as baseline to baseline, was impressive but she also played the passing lane and handled the ball afterward. She's strong and attacked the basket off the dribble and finished after contact

Maya Clark-5'4  (SA Lady Hoops Diamond) 2030- is a "long and athletic" guard who sets the defender up nicely to attack the basket. Her FLOATA off the dribble was smooth, she also showed the pull-up jumper and saw the floor. Her defense was also solid and she played the passing lane

Kayleene Sanchez-5'6  (SA Lady Hoops Diamond) 2029- is an athletic guard who uses her athleticism on both ends starting with "on the ball" heat coupled with quick hands to help create turnovers. She also used a deceptive first step to attack the basket off the dribble

#11  (SA Lady Hoops Diamond) is also an athletic guard who did a good job creating her shot under pressure and dropping the midrange while being defended. She also played the passing lane

Just Play Elite 15U

 

Talented players throughout the organization and the 15U squad has some up-and-coming ones. I missed the 15U Katy team but here ya go

Hollis McConn (St Agnes) 2027 does a good job defending on the ball and played the passing lane well  

Elizabeth Brantley (Episcopal) 2027 scored off the dribble and rebounded on both ends of the court

Mabry Reef (Tomball Memorial) 2027 set the defender up using a deceptive first step to attack the rim

Riley O'Connor (Stratford) 2027 used a slight HEZ to get the defender off balance to attack the basket and her court vision was nice

Houston Lady Nets Babies #HoustonSummerSlam

 I hate I didn't get a chance to catch the Houston Lady Nets younger squad at the Houston Summer Slam however I do know they have several exciting players who are going to do some serious damage down the road. Zoe Whitaker (2032) and Arianne Petty (2033) are already showing signs but so are many others on this squad

Not sure if I'll be around but just remember #IToldYouSo but no one remembers lol

Just Play 14U #HoustonSummerSlam

 All I can say is WOW as I close out the 8th grade Division because there are definitely some heavy hitters coming up but just as important, countless players with next-level potential. In case you missed a loaded San Antonio Minez squad, you can read about them on Prep Girls Hoops but here ya go

Kate Earnest (2030) I was speaking with a parent before the game and he told me how well she could shoot the long ball. She dropped her first 2 and he just smiled at me. I don't know how many she hit but I know she will probably set some records she also scored off the dribble and saw the floor, her upside is very good

Ella Clark (2030) showed she could score around the basket multiple ways as well as off the dribble after contact but she saw the floor not only in the set but in transition too. Her defense was solid and she played  the passing lane

Reese Nguyen (2028) rebounded strongly on both ends but seeing her handle the ball afterward to start the break was nice. So was her seeing the floor or just keeping it to score by attacking the basket. She does a good job of creating her shot and drops it from mid to long-range

Maddie Bennett (2029) scored off the dribble from multiple angles using a deceptive first step but she also did a good job inside the paint by scoring around the basket or rebounding on both ends

Ahnoe Campbell (2028) showed me some progression since I first saw her a year ago and her interior defense has gotten better but so has her lateral movement to guard her man outside the paint. She scored inside the paint, rebounded strongly on both ends, and even battled for loose balls on the floor 

Houston Lady Roadrunners 2029 #HoustonSummerSlam

 I get tickled watching these young ladies grow up right before my eyes so Tasharion Robinson reminded me that her younger sister Tia was playing. I'll never forget watching big sister for the first time in the 5th grade and knew big things were waiting, she starred at Clear Sprigs and then SFA but guess what, the BABY IS COMING as well

Tia Robinson (2029) is a "long and athletic" guard who left me speechless showing her pull-up jumper from very deep. She's going to be hard to handle because she's explosive off the dribble, has nice body control on her finishes, and has good court vision. Her defense was also solid plus she played the passing lane

Rhianna Washington (2029) uses her athleticism well on both ends and her pressure defense helped to create turnovers while her scoring off the dribble after contact was also nice, but so was her playing the passing lane yet with her being "long and athletic" with a jumper, oh my

Alexis Mars (2029) gave me a little bit of everything quickly as she showed she could do damage in the paint, on both ends starting with rebounding. She also scored around the basket, putbacks included, and gave me a nice turnaround jumper. She even stepped outside and dropped it

Abigail Flores (2030) proved #sizedontmatter when you can play and first of all, she's heady and stays under control but she also applied pressure defensively as well as attacked strongly off the dribble. Another big thing was her being able to drop the jumper from deep