Who remembers "The Game" #smclassic

Inn a land far away, well if you're walking, two of the top teams in the state, Plano West and Clear Springs, battled in what was one of the best games and I'm talking male or female, I have personally seen in my life


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Cy Woods hosts Cy Fair at 11:30

It's cold, it's misty and I certainly don't feel like driving however this is an important game because it's part of  "where will I be come February" as far as teams positioning themselves for playoff spots. Here's the deal, I still believe Cy Woods and North Shore are the top two teams in the area and if both win district, they'll be in a battle February 27th aka February Friday, okay I just made that up however I said all that just to fill up space in the story, here are link to both the brackets and alignments


BRACKETS 


ALIGNMENTS

HBU hosts Northwestern State Friday January 2nd

Game time is at 3pm and in case you don't follow @girlzprepreportor @HBUWBB  you you might have missed that @annabananaa23 was Southland Conference Player Of The Week

Trimble Tech and Frisco Liberty only Texas teams left #smclassic

The thing about hearing people say things you've already said years ago still brings a smile to my face and as surprised as I am that Trimble Tech has made it to the Sandra Meadows Classic F-4, am I really surprised, well not so much if you read more

I liked Lakendra Bassett as a freshman and Karrington Brown not long after and the Dynamic Duo along with Jasmine Minter have been on a tear after three games. Here's the deal, they play Conway (AR) today at 10:30 so I'm torn between watching some of their players I'm all too familiar with, Jordan Danberry, Kianna Speight and Alexis Tolefree link to previous stories can be seen by clicking on their names, or heading over to see a district showdown between Cy Woods and Cy Fair

News alert!!!!  I used the title "Tole ain't Free" numerous times, well neither was this $17.95 I dropped on sportsgram.net to watch the #smclassic but I can go back and watch the game archived so yes I will see the district showdown. Frisco Liberty plays McEachern (GA) featuring T'ea "SUPER" Cooper in what could wind up being the first out of state final which would produce only the third non Texas team to win it, where else you can get this info, well here if you look read more


TOURNAMENT BRACKET

Girls & Boy Prep roll with five #smclassic

I've seen some strange things over the years so nothing actually surprises me but after watching Girls and Boys Prep travel to Duncanville to play in the Sandra Meadows Classic with only five players might be toward the top of the list. I'm not saying it was good or bad to do so however the only positives are parents and players won't complain about about playing time and with college coaches in attendance, if you have players, they definitely have a chance to be looked at

GBPA definitely has a couple of legit players, Eamani Brown is one of the most explosive senior guards in the area and Irenisha Johnson is one of the best 2017 players in the state, I wrote about that several times last season when I first spotted her at Bellaire and once I say it, well you know how it usually plays out and in their two games, both accounted for the bulk of their teams offense, Johnson actually scored over 20 in each of their two games

The downside of playing with five, well there are several downsides including fatigue which could lead to injuries among the top,  but these young ladies fought and managed to overcome whatever obstacles that were in front of them including a huge loss in the opening round followed by an OT loss in the second round.

Doing what they did speaks volumes about heart and mental toughness and  when I hear about teams dropping out of club tournaments because they only have six or seven for that weekend, I'll forever think about this squad traveling up 45N in the cold weather and battling with what they had


BOX

Brazosport Holiday Classic offers mix

I glanced at tomorrow's games on chron.com and saw that the Brazosport Holiday Classic was going on however I just wanted to make sure I was on the right path and although it wasn't easy to find the bracket, I actually did

BRAZOSPORT HOLIDAY CLASSIC

Like the Barbers Hill event, this is a boy's and girl's tournament with alternating games going on so if you want to see that type of action, you have a couple of not too far events to choose from

One thing I'm certainly sure of is that will be plenty of next level talent at both events and Brazosport's Jaz Harris is one of the top 2016 players in Texas, no question about that one while Martina Rawls is arguably one of the top unsigned seniors in the state. Harris is simply phenomenal and at 5'9 she can almost dunk while my first impression of Rawls three years ago was a female baby Barkley because she simply gets it done and nothing has changed

Space City Jam continues to show TALENT IS EVERYWHERE

January 29-31 and if this isn't a D1 photo, well you just have to check out these SATCH stars for yourself however trust me, there will be talent all over the place and you want to see it

EVENTS

Gulf Coast Classic featuring Under The Radar stars

When I look at this picture I only think about how time has flied as I remember a five or six year old Kimi Carter dribbling and shooting as she watched her older sisters play and I just wonder where the time has gone. Carter is a unique situation as she is one of the leaders in many categories for Barbers Hill and that is she has a chance to close out her career with a state run, something she opened it up with as a freshman for the Eagles. Barbers Hill has lost only two games, Cy Woods and Westside however both are 6A schools while the Eagles are one of the best in 5A, well the state period. Carter is one of the best finishers with both hands, can shoot the long ball and defend and that's what she'll be doing as they seem to be on a collision course with Katy Taylor in the semi's

On the top side of the bracket, the explosive Joyce Kennerson has been on a tear all season averaging close to a triple double for Port Arthur Memorial and after watching her drop five threes in a row in the Aldine Invitational in a matter of minutes, that sort of sums up what I mean by explosiveness. Port Arthur Memorial appears to be headed to semi final match-up against  a very tough Dekaney team, Barbers Hill, Dekaney and Port Arthur Memorial are among the GPR Area Top 15 and Katy Taylor definitely has the mix to pull off an upset so this should be interesting to say the least

Check out the brackets on my EVENTS TAB

Area teams ready to compete up north

This will be the first Sandra Meadows Tournament I've missed since 2006 and Mansfield Rotary since 2008, later today I'll become a father-in-law so I'm totally excited.I'll catch Sandra Meadows online, several teams from the area will be in attendance including my GPR Top 15 Westbury Christian, Atascocita, Manvel, Hightower and Westside. Westside is coming off one of the biggest upsets in the area, a huge victory over Barbers Hill a couple of weeks ago and was the first area team to win Sandra Meadows back in 2006, my daughter's senior year and she was MVP of the event. Hightower won it 2010 and that same season Westbury Christian was the runner-up


Sandra Meadows is offering live streaming of the arena games so I'll be taking a look for sure but here are the links to both tournaments and of course PassThaBall will be on hand for the Metroplex Trifecta which includes the DISD Tournament. Kincaid, Fort Bend Bush and College Park are participating in the Mansfield event


SANDRA MEADOWS

MANSFIELD ROTARY

PASSTHABALL

Unsigned Aeriel not taking Holiday at Bellaire #UnderTheRadar

2015 Bellaire star Ariel Holiday is simply one of those players that automatically catches your eye. At 5'10, she plays bigger than she really is and is also a player that does two things you can't teach, never takes a play off and goes after everything and speaking of play-off, she has been one of the key ingredients to the Cardinals continued success as one off the areas top teams over her career

Holiday can score inside or outside but watching her dive after loose ball or sacrificing her body for a charge tells you even more about the talented young lady but this link to her videos should give you even more about this double-double who's plenty of trouble on the court

Aeriel Holiday videos 

AMG Lady Ballers definitely can ball #HoopAHolicsCamp

The thing I truly love about watching young talent is that I usually can gauge on several factors either by where they are or where I predict they'll be and as I close out another part of the 2014 HoopAHolics Camp, I can certainly say I was not only satisfied with what I saw but even more excited about what I'll be seeing and the AMG Lady Ballers have a group of young ladies that are already making things happen

2020 updated, she's a 2021

Mackenzie Wurm-huge upside, understands the game on both ends of the floor, showed she could create her shot

2021

Autumn Smith-loves to play defense, quick hands enables her to get easy steals, attacks and finishes strong

Aniyaa Buckley- just continues to impress me with her feel for the game, plays within herself but can take over oat a blink

Jada Hollie-very aggressive on both ends, loved the contact and could finish after receiving it

Nya Harmon -did well in skills session and on court, read the floor and made plays

Torrie Tyler-tough young lady that simply gets after it, good ball-handling and a deceptive first step gets her easy baskets

Taylor Smith-huge upside, creates well and knows how to get position

Madison Jones-good size along with desire is always huge at a young age but Jones has aknack for rebounding and put-backs.

2022

Jahcelyn Harfield- although she was one of the youngest campers, you never would have known. Can knock down shots already, good feel for the game

District 17 shows why it's the toughest

When I make a prediction, I usually try and use some logic instead of just saying this team did this last season or whatever because so many factors fall into place especially when it's apparent that this is the most wide opened race for state I've seen in some time. Cy Woods is arguably the best team in the area and the advantage they have is that they play in the toughest district in the area which means they'll be playoff ready before the playoffs start.

 #1 Woods, #7 Cy Falls and #8 Cy Fair all are in District 17 and although Cy Ranch is no longer in the top #15, they still have the artillery to play spoiler in the playoffs. Injuries also play a part in how this plays out and no team has suffered from that over the past two seasons like the Mustangs have

AREA Top 15

Lady Warriors have me smiling #HoopAHolicsCamp

The title might be somewhat misleading however I'm just amazed and continuous improvement I see in many of these young ladies I've been watching for 3- 4 years. Whether it was Louisville, Kentucky at the Adidas Nationals a few years ago or somewhere in the Metroplex either in a camp or club tournament, I have probably seen most of the Lady Warriors more times than just about any group. One of their star players, Jasmine Brown, wan;;t in attendance but there was no shortage of players ready to show what they could do

2019

Mikayla Hutchinson- saw star written all over her before I found out she had a BCS sister. She's long and athletic, sees the floor, is very unselfish and with her handle and ability to score.......

Jordan Dotie-good range from long and mid and showed she could create her shot

Sonia Blair-attacks the basket at will, keeps coming at you on both ends, just goes hard at all times

Jordan McGee-definitely caught my eye firing bullets on the money, exceptional speed  and athleticism, definitely ahead of the game

Katera Mays -midrange and finishing with contact are two things that she did with ease

NINA MILLINER

2020

Nina Milliner-impressed from day one simply because of the fight, knows how to run a team and defend plus can score when needed

Alyssa Lafontaine-never takes a play off, loves to and can defend and now she's attacking at every opening and finishing strong

Camryn Hill-anticipated passes, rebounded and showed she could handle the ball under pressure

Jursei Powell- did a good job during skills segment and implemented what she learned in game situation

IYANNA McCOWAN

2021

Vasana Kearney-hustled after everything, loves to defend and created in traffic well

Kendall McGruder-did well in skills, improved on offense, sees floor and can finish with contact

2022

Iyanna McCowan-like Bonecrusher she ain't  "never scared" and although one of the youngest, she definitely left a lasting impression and I'll close with #sizedontmatter and a video clip of her deep three

#HoopAHolicsCamp video pt2

I'm still going over the videos, both highlight and game, and I'll be tweeting bits and pieces after I finish up the stories on the Lady Warriors and AMG Lady Ballers so if you're not following me @girlzprepreport on Twitter, you may miss something but here's the 2nd highlight video on some of the stars of tomorrow you get to hear about today

First look at several from #HoopAHolicsCamp

The great thing about first looks is that I generally have something to go on and look for each time I see young players because I always say, it's about progression. Another great thing about first impressions is when players leave lasting impressions and it was good to see players who are on the right track either by not only what they know but what they absorbed from the HoopAHolics Camp and no matter what you learn from who or where, work on it as much as possible and this goes for not only the players who are just beginning but to those who have arrived

2019

Madison Briscoe-not 100% sure but I'm almost certain I've seen this young lady before after looking at the footage. Loves to bang on both ends and at 5'10 she can knock down 15 footers consistently

Destiny Jackson-loves to play defense, good ball-handler and can take defenders off dribble. She also finishes after contact which makes her an and one waiting to happen

Aliya Beechum-first caught my eye in skills videos, then immediately showed what she learned in game situation. Good BB-IQ, nice form and touch on shot, plenty of upside

Alexis Hawkins- she just keeps coming at you on defense, did a good job handling the ball and seeing the floor plus excelled during skill videos

2020

Destynee Griffin-first caught my eye during the skills video but blew me away in game situation. She does some very athletic things at a young age, plays passing lane well and can elevate on shot

Victoria Hamilton- already knows how to run a team, great decision maker, crisp passes through traffic was huge. Also showed she can score if needed

Sasha Goforth-she's ahead of the game in so many areas that will keep her mailbox full. Hard nosed on both ends, won't be denied when attacking but can also hit the mid.

Alyssa Reed-also knows the importance of getting teammates involved at a young age and can actually do it. If needed, she can score but brought it on both ends

Keraya Beck-never takes a play off on either end and she plays just as hard on offense as she does defense which speaks volumes because she can score

HGEE players continue progression #HoopAHolicsCamp

The Bob Knight Fieldhouse was definitely rockin last weekend with around 80 young ladies participating in @passthaball  HoopAHolics Camp. Higher Goals Elevation Elite is a program I became familiar with around three seasons ago as I watched their older teams in action at numerous events and I haven''t been able to stop watching them ever since. Sean Hardeman @ballhardbball posed a question on which players had received interest from college coaches and Myra Gordon was one of the young ladies that raised their hand.

No surprises on that end, Gordon is one of the states top 2020 prospects and the jumps I watched her make throughout the season tells me she'll be on the short list for many schools because one thing is for certain, she knows how to find ways to put the ball in the basket and she simply won't quit

Here's some more on the talented group of HGEE players in attendance

2019

Payton Oltrogge already knows where the game starts and when you're a point guard that can keep the defense honest, you're ahead of the game. Unlimited range is the best way to sum her shooting


2020

Dasha McMillan has several things going for her right now, one, she's 5'10 with skills and two, she actually knows when to use what she knows. She can face the basket and hit the mid or she can do damage in the paint, plenty of upside

Makenzie Shilmoeller doesn't always look to score but she can however what she already knows how to do is make plays that might not show up in the box score

Claire Reynolds is going to be close to that magic number, six feet, so she can already score inside and outside, two pluses that will go a long way. Did a good job rebounding as well

Westside moves into area Top 10

I don't know which phrase works better, "Wolves on the prowl" or "Wolves on the hunt" but whichever fits at that particular time seems to be how it is. Westside's lone loss this season has been to Cy Falls in the Spring Branch ISD Tournament however their 20 point victory over Barbers Hill might just be the upset of the season so far. Barbers Hill has beaten #2 North Shore and lost a close one to #1 Cy Woods however Westside evidently was running on all cylinders. The Wolves, known for their aggressive defense, could find themselves as one of the teams that may just get out of here and that time will be here before you know it


AREA RANKINGS

#HoopAHolicsCamp gives me a great 2nd impression on many

Lot's of times I see players that catch my initially however I may not who they are which is why I always ask for rosters with correct information on them. Some of the players I see in pictures from the 2014 HoopAHolics Camp look familiar and it often makes me wonder if I'd seen them before. The good news is that when you're young, chances are I will eventually find out but for many that I've written about before, I wanted to just take a peek at what I'm noticing in their games


2019

Cassidy Salyer -saw her last season, noticed she saw the floor, could hit the short jumper and finish with contact. She's even more aggressive on both ends and is handling the ball well under pressure

Sydney Foster-initial take was she showed lots of potential and I see she's been working. Nice midrange and showed she could put it on the floor from the wing. Battles for everything

2020

Destini Smith- one thing you can't teach is speed and that first step comes in mighty handy when you can score from outside. Over her career, she will be a force to defend


2021

Isabelle Earle- already shows a knack for the game, anticipates extremely well, makes good decisions and can score multiple ways. Didn't mind contact which is definitely a plus

Kayla Glover -she already has some things you can't teach and the fight that she shows on the floor speaks volumes. Glover actually loves to apply pressure, which is huge at her age plus she can score

Bria McClure-when you can catch my attention in street clothes in between games with your ball-handling that says a lot. At the camp I saw her handle the ball with ease with multiple defenders coming at her plus already understands how to get teammates involved. Nice touch from outside

Carolynn Washington-two things I said about her last season, fearless along with #sizedontmatter. Handled the ball and defended extremely well plus finished with contact

More breakdowns from #HoopAHolicsCamp and guess what

Even more are coming and as I continue to watch PassThaBall's footage, I'll continue to tweet what I saw, like Jordan McGee throwing bullets on target, you got to follow me @girlzprepreport folks.

PassThaBall has added even more

Jaedyn Dunn Crossover 20′ good ball handling skills, tough, not afraid to get physical. Knocked down a nice step back jump shot. Held her own against the older players and showed initiative by guarding players bigger than her.

Sarah Gwin Hoyas Had a good showing, she has improved since last year knocked down the mid-range and out side shot. Made some nice passes at the PG position, was unselfish. Needs to continue to work on handling the ball under pressure.

Ta’Niya Jackson Hoyas 19′ Her defense matches her offense, she was everywhere. Your hustle player that gets on the floor for a loose ball. She was lot more hungry and aggressive this time around and definitely got her points.

Aja Holmes SA Finest 20′ another improved player, not as shy this time around, made some very nice tough shots. Has good size and length and played the PG/G position well, made some nice passes. Took it inside and outside.

Payton Oltrogge HGEE 19′ Nice PG, she see’s the floor very well, she can definitely pass the ball. Has a nice outside and midrange shot, handled the ball well. A good I.Q for the game, impressed with how she played.

Brooke Habeck Central Texas 19′ Strong when taking it inside and has a soft touch for knocking down the outside shot, definitely impressive. Very aggressive when attacking the basket, physical player, she played very well this time around.

Mackenzie Schilmoeller Higher Goals 20′ Great size, nice touch with the ball, finished at the rim. Impressed with her mid-range game.

Kyndall Hunter Skyrise 21′ Definitely got going in the 2nd session. To be a 6th grader she definitely stood out against the older players. Has nice handles, shot the pull up, outside, shot, was unselfish with the ball and made some nice passes. She can definitely attack the basket need to continue to work on finishing the layup.

Kayleigh Truong Imperial Ice 19′ Has improved since last year a lot more aggressive on the offensive end, her mid-range game is nice, good outside shooting, got the ball to the open player, uses the floater very well. Definitely impressed with her  level of play this year, a standout player for sure.

Kaylynne Truong Imperial Ice 19′ Made some very impressive difficulty shots. Her game was ON! Commanded the PG position and easily found the open player. Scored in many ways from outside and inside. Fun to watch!

Peyton Willey Central Texas 19′ Did very well this year, ran the floor well, knocked down contested shots. Active on both ends of the floor, wasn’t afraid to get physical. Didn’t force anything if the shot was open she took it.

Myra Gordon Higher Goals 20′ was very impressive this year, she has definitely improved. Has great length, long strides and uses her size to get the basket. Was on the boards tough, went up strong and finished strong, even brought the ball up the court to show off the versatility. Fun to watch!

Aiken Semones League City 21′ a tough fearless player, she plays like she’s the biggest player there. She definitely stood out made some outside shots and took it inside on 1 on 1’s. Held her own against the older players didn’t back down by any means. She has improved since last year, her ball handling good and she’s more active on the floor.

Taylor Thomas Imperial Ice 19′ Another improved player from last year, she was a lot more physical and attacked the basket. Definitely on the boards tough made some nice put backs and moves to the basket. More aggressive on the offensive end, if she knows she can take you, she will.

Rori Harmon Katy Rebels 21′ what a surprise this player was. She has speed, a good I.Q for the game, she’s a baller. Being a 6th grader she was looking to go at the older players, plays with total confidence and has nice game. She is one to keep an eye out for because she did her thing.

Brielle Hampton NTX Lights Out 19′ Great size good hands, went up strong, very physical player on the boards. Played both ends of the floor very well. Also knew when to score, she played with confidence so she was going to score regardless. Fun to watch!

Katelyn Levings OK Swarm 20′ talk about great length and size that can play the 1-5 at her age. Showed more of the mid-range shot and post game, and brought the ball up the court with ease. Her I. Q for the game is above average at her grade level. She was definitely a standout player that was tough to guard, Fun to watch!

London Scott Texas Express 19′ Was a force in the paint. Has great size and hands, keeps the ball high. Very physical player went up strong, you don’t see many post players get on the floor for a loose ball but she did. A player to watch!

Charlene Mass DFW 19′ also improved from last year. Her ball handling is very good, loved watching her attack the basket and throw a cross court pass on the move. Showed very good PG skills in distributing the ball, very aggressive on both ends of the floor, played physical. I would only say be a little more patient and know where your at on offense, missed a few easy buckets.

Ceyenne Mass DFW 20′ Made some impressive shots, very physical on those boards, went up strong. Played with a lot more confidence compared to last year. Put some pressure on the offensive player. Can’t wait to see more from the Mass sisters.

Mia Topping GT Frogz 21′ really impressed with her at the PG position. Very good I.Q reads the floor well, made some nice passes. I really liked how she didn’t get frustrated or lose confidence when she was guarded by older players, she kept her composure stayed the same and kept at it. Fundamentally sound as she moves well without the ball, she would pass and cut with her hand up ready to get it back. You rarely see that coming from a 6th grader. Great qualities in the one!

Jordan McGee Lady Warriors 19′ very quick and fast, is really sharp on both ends of the floor. Really love her ability to pass, she knows how to find the open teammate. She was physical, hustled on the floor for the ball, she can definitely play.

Bria McCLure SA Finest 21′ really love the moves she put on to get to the basket and has very good ball handling. She is able to create space whenever she wants. Very active on both ends of the floor enjoyed watching her play.

Mikayla Hutchinson Lady Warriors 19′ Great size on this kid, can play 1-4 positions. Good ball handling, great court vision, made some nice passes. Physical in the paint grabbed rebounds and posted up. She did it all. Will continue to see how she develops as she has the skills to be a big time player.

Sasha Goforth Arkansas Mav/Panthers 20′ was a nice surprise to see.  She’s a smart player, good I.Q for the game, loved her penetration game. Could also shoot from outside, played with confidence. A player to watch.

Kayla Demus NTX Lights Out 19′ was always around the ball or wanted the ball, that’s because she knew what to do with it. She made some tough shots in traffic, all over the boards. Physical player on both ends of the floor. Very fun to watch.

Aniya Buckley AMG Ballers 21′ another tough player that played with confidence. She liked to attack that baseline when it was open, did not force it if it wasn’t open. Displayed some good ball handling. Was definitely not afraid to score.

Destiny Jackson Panthers 19′ Strong powerful player, knows how to use her body very well. Very aggressive player, attacks the basket when its open. Active player on both offense and defense.

Jillian Sowell GT Frogz 20′ ran the floor very well, has good hands, the paint area is her bread and butter. The ball always seemed to find her. Has great size for her age.

Camryn Hill Lady Warriors 20′another young player with size that could play 2-4 positions. Brought the ball up the court and made some nice passes. Active on both ends of the floor, did a good job on the boards.

Jordyn Sowell GT Frogz 21′  also active on the boards and had some strong put backs in the paint. She also has great size for her age.

Madison Jones Lady Ballers 21′ was definitely around the ball and always seemed to grab a rebound. She did a good job in the paint. A young talent that just needs to continue to work on the footwork at the post position.

Macie Lynch Hurst MS 19′ has good size showed nice footwork in the paint, ran the floor well. Would like to see more commanding for the ball.

Sonia Blair Lady Warriors 19′ loved her passion and her motor she plays with a lot of energy, she seemed to always find an opening and attacked the basket strong. Played fearless.

Torrye Tyler Lady Ballers 21′ a tough one that played fearless, she didn’t shy away from the contact, and was not afraid of the older players, she attacked and played her game. She played hard on both ends.

Keraya Beck Panther 20′ Had nice size and god hands, could shoot the outside and finish strong. Was constantly around the rim to grab rebounds and tip backs. She has a solid game.

Alyssa Reed Keller MS 20′ very unselfish player, looked to pass but was active around the ball on the defensive end. Also  on the boards.

Chandler Browning GT Frogz 21′ Aggressive player just seems to be around that ball at the right time plus her range has extended  which will create problems for defenders.

Briley Perkins Crossover 19′ did some acrobatic things on the floor and watching her hitting off balance shots while receiving contact is major at this age. She did a good job creating and setting up the defense.

Kaley Perkins Crossover 21′ midrange was on the mark or around it but what really got me going was the fact that both were on the floor after loose ball and playing tough perimeter defense and showing good ball handling and decision making under pressure.

Dasha Macmillian Higher Goals 20′ played inside and out very versatile player with good size. She played physical wasn’t afraid of contact. Liked her outside shooting.

Kayla Glover DC Queens 21′ made it count when she got the ball, handled herself against the older players, played her game even if she didn’t get the ball she was actively moving to get open.

Jessica Cornelius NTX Lights Out 19′ was impressive to watch, a physical and strong player, attacked the basket with ease. She looked to score when it was open and could also knock it down from outside.

Destynee Griffin Coble MS 20′ is very athletic and can jump, loved her ability to shoot and get in the paint area and grab rebounds. Active on both ends of the floor, she played very well.

Victoria Hamilton Argyle MS 20′ is a really good PG in the making, she has great court vision throws nice no look passes. She can direct a team. Can also handle the ball as well, has a good I.Q for the game.

Destini Smith D1 Shooters 20′ could shoot it from outside to the mid-range she took advantage when the opportunity was there. Played good against the older players she held her own.

Claire Reynolds Higher Goals 20′ another long player with great size, has great hands and made some nice passes. Finished at the rim strong and attacked the basket. Has a great skill set.

Iyanna McCowan Lady Warriors 22′ a tough player that held her own, was not afraid of playing with the big girls, she guarded whoever. Liked how she steps into her shot ready to shoot, she gets the ball of quick.

Isabella Earle Crownover MS 21′ was very active on both ends of the floor she was always around the ball, played with confidence, she has a nice shot, she looked to score when it was there.

Madison Briscoe TX Lone Star 19′ has great size, ran the floor well, has a nice touch with the ball as she can knock down the outside shot. Physical and strong in the paint when grabbing rebounds.

Autumn Smith AMG Ballers 21′ played well, she showed off some nice ball handling, grabbed steals, active player around the ball. Impressed with her skill set as well, she played aggressive and attacked the rim strong.

Nina Milliner Lady Warriors 20′ plays older than her grade, very impressed with her defensive skills, knows when to score, if you give her the open lane she is attacking the basket. Was very aggressive on both ends of the floor. Fun to watch.

Carolynne Washington Lady Hoopville 21′ was tough had some steals against the older players, did not back down from a challenge, she attacked the rim and went up strong when it was open. Did not hesitate to score she played aggressive.

Allyssa Lafontaine Lady Warriors 20′ passionate player wanting to do good. Really liked her size and speed. Was not afraid to go up strong and attack the basket, active on defense, loved her hustle.

Jada Hollie AMG Ballers 21′ a nice young active player especially on defense. She could shoot it did not hesitate at all. Attacked the basket and finished strong against a bigger opponent. Very impressed with this one.

Brittney Flexer GT Frogz 21′ so impressed with her game she was fearless. Shot the pull up and a floater, she fit rite in against the older players. Aggressive young player that wants the ball.

Jahcelyn Hartfield AMG Ballers 22′ has a nice outside shot, when she was open she took advantage of it. She also played well and played her game.

Mackenzie Wurm Lady Ballers 20′ has good size and length, a little shy needs to be more aggressive and physical but did a good job.

J

Lights Out trio do just that #HoopAHolicsCamp

I made a special trip to see NTX Lights Out 2019 and I enjoyed what I saw so much, they were one of the main reasons I decided to implement Field House Friday for Prime Time Nationals last season. Three of their talented players were on hand at PassThaBall's HoopAHolics Camp, Jessica Cornelius, Kayla Demus and Brielle Hampton and all made the highlight video and PassThaBall's Tip Sheet

Jessica Cornelius NTX Lights Out 19′ was impressive to watch, a physical and strong player, attacked the basket with ease. She looked to score when it was open and could also knock it down from outside.

Kayla Demus NTX Lights Out 19′ was always around the ball or wanted the ball, that’s because she knew what to do with it. She made some tough shots in traffic, all over the boards. Physical player on both ends of the floor. Very fun to watch.

Brielle Hampton NTX Lights Out 19′ Great size good hands, went up strong, very physical player on the boards. Played both ends of the floor very well. Also knew when to score, she played with confidence so she was going to score regardless. Fun to watch!

Let me also add that Cornelius simply found ways to score which is going to be a huge asset down the road but what I really liked was her ability to create her shot multiple ways. I liked it so much that I'll take a look at her middle school team in a few hours. 

Dumas simply battled on every video and highlight footage I looked at, that's also the way she plays the game and when you find players at this age that go after everything, you've got a plus

What impressed me most about Hampton was not the fact that she finished but she did it with either hand ,with contact. Plenty of athleticism is going to make her very hard to handle 

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Few surprises as Friday before break closes

I guess this is the perfect picture as #AutoAwesome captures area #2 North Shore with three of their leading scorers . The Mustangs have been awesome in the first part of the season and started off the second part with commanding victories in their first two district games, last night a huge win over the second best team in the district Port Arthur Memorial. Once again their #sizedontmatter duo of Chasity Patterson and Adriiana Jackson combined for over 35 but the Mustangs got offense from everywhere and if I'm not mistaken, 4 or 5 players dropped threes. North Shore's only losses have been against Barbers Hill and Cy Woods, area #1, who they also split with however the biggest surprise on the night was Westside's impressive victory over Barbers Hill, the areas #3 team

SCHEDULE

Hoyas duo show more improvement #HoopAHolicsCamp

Two South Texas Hoyas were on hand for the HoopAHolics Camp, Ta'Niya Jackson and Sarah Gwin, both from the 2019 class. I think the best way for me to describe Jackson is that she's a highlight waiting to happen. She's blessed with speed and I'm talking speed with the ball and the scary part is that she's nowhere near her peak. She has taken her offensive game to another level and the defense is just consistent pressure waiting to come at you.

I said at the start of the club season if I had to pick a Most Improved team, Gwin would definitely be on it and if I had to do one player, after watching the HoopAHolics video, she would definitely be on the short list. She was always skilled but the speed and aggressiveness, coupled with her confidence let's her know she's in the mix. Great finishes and baskets in the highlight video for both yet neither are anywhere near finished



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Big game in District 21 tonight

Rain, sleet, sun or snow, no matter what I have got to go.  Before you respond and ask me why, it's a sizedontmatter match-up and that ain't no lie. Port Arthur Memorial's unsigned point guard Joyce Kennerson has been on a tear averaging close to a triple double, this includes almost 20 ppg over the past month. They travel to North Shore where the duo of Adriiana Jackson and Chastity Patterson have combined for 30 ppg this past month and are one of the states top teams. I might tweet something out @girlzprepreport but then again I may forget if I get caught up in the action, either way, I'll have recap on the game and the weather

Centex Elite stars make highlight video #HoopAHolicsCamp

'19 Brooke Habeck was going to be on my tweener list but I decided to go another route. She's 5'10 and has a good frame, can bang underneath on both ends and finish. I knew she could shoot but her range has extended out to the NBA line.

She and Centex Elite club teammate '19 Peyton Wiley both made one of the highlight videos and the thing about Wiley is she knocks the midrange down with ease and can put it on the floor and finish a variety ways, while being knocked around

Check out the highlights on these and many others from PassThaBall

Area talent makes noise #HoopAHolicsCamp

What's that old saying about first impressions, well I simply enjoy watching young talent especially when their attentive and get after it because hard work will definitely pay off in the long run. I caught Deja Brown and Marchelle Willis, both from the 2020 class, a couple of times last season with the Fort Bend Stars and put them on the GPR Watchlist immediately. Both simply comprehend the little things and their ability to already know how to create their shot will take them a long way.

 This years HoopAHolics Camp gave me a chance to see several other players for the first time including Crossover's Jaedyn Dunn, another 2020, whose explosiveness and ability to get to the rim and finish was among the best at the camp. This was also my initial look at '21 Genelle Greene, also from Crossover and although I've had a chance to chat basketball with her, she showed me that she actually does more than talk the game. Her BB-IQ is way up there and as a point she already understands how to run a team and with her ball-handling and ability to see the floor, she's ahead of the game

'21 Aiken Semones simply gets it at an early age and already tagged #sizedontmatter after watching her numerous times, she doing an excellent job at getting her shot off quicker and accurate. Being able to catch and shoot is a plus and when you can have defenders on their toes waiting for the shot, it's good to be able to put it on the floor and attack which she does quite well. Check out links below on other area talent

Perkins sisters recap

Imperial Ice Trio recap

Skyrise's '21 Kyndall Hunter has added even more to her game since I caught her at Prime Time Nationals and her first step is a killa. Mix that in with a blinding crossover and you've got some issues on defense. She also shot the long ball extremely well and will be a force in this area.

I finally saw Katy Rebels '21 Rori Harmon in action at Prime Time Nationals and after two minutes I was sold. She's poised beyond her years and simply lets nothing faze or fluster her. The stop and pop, the long ball, the finsh with contact are already there plus she can see the floor and defend

Sisters Briley and Kaley help PERK up #HoopAHolicsCamp

I saw Briley and Kaley Perkins a few months ago and let me say that both have been putting in some major work based on what I saw on the footage from this seasons HoopAHolics Camp. Briley, who is in the 2019 class, is doing some acrobatic things on the floor and watching her hitting off balance shots while receiving contact is major at this age. She did a good job creating and setting up the defense, well so did Kaley who is from the 2021 class. Kaley's midrange was on the mark or around it but what really got me going was the fact that both were on the floor after loose ball and playing tough perimeter defense and showing good ballhandling and decision making under pressure. I've said numerous times when you comprehend the little things early, everything will fall into place and it's definitely doing that for these two sisters

Ice trio show heat at #HoopAHolicsCamp

Three names that you'll be definitely be hearing about over and over and over from the 2019 class out of the Houston area is Kayleigh Truong, Taylor Thomas and Kaylynne Truong . I said these three were more than just next level players a ,long time ago after watching them numerous times first with the Pearland Hawks and more recently with Imperial Ice. I love two things in young players, understanding the simple things and never quitting however these young ladies have taken that to another level as their comprehension of the game is as good as many high school seniors right now.

I already know the positives each one brings so when I say I look for improvement in players,I can always count on these three to give it to me, keep in mind I get to see them multiple times and I actually know what to look for.

Both Truong sisters finish extremely well with either hand and can create off the dribble. I love Kayleigh's midrange which I envision will be among the states top once it's all said and done while Kaylynne is going to set three point records even beyond high school. Her ability to catch and shoot is second to none, plus it goes in the hoop which is even more important. Thomas' first step is a killer and as I watch her slice between defenders numerous times in the video for baskets, that along with her pull-up is going to make her even harder to handle as she gets older

GT FROGZ continue hopping forward #HoopAHolicsCamp

I get a kick out of watching these young players progress and although some may start out way ahead, this stuff usually evens out as time moves forward so I said all that to say this, I really loved the improvement I'm seeing from last seasons campers. I chose this picture for a reason and you better not turn your back on these young ladies because I already saw the work ethic the many times I've seen them no matter what the score was  yet when you're able to comprehend what's being taught and apply that, you're already ahead of the game

'21 Brittney Flexer isn't in the above picture however all I can see is her ability to create and knock down shots which is replaying in my head after watching video.'21 Mia Topping continues to show she's a coaches daughter, I'm watching her direct traffic with poise each time I see her play but she's also reading plays before they happen on both ends and always remember the game starts at the one. '21 Chanfler Browning has made strides since I saw her last and she just seems to be around that ball at the right time plus her range has extended  which will create problems for defenders.

Let's also call this Sister/Sister day as the Sowells have added more skills with an abundance of athleticism. '21 Jordyn is a terror in the paint already, she goes after everything but I watched her make numerous turnaround shots down low with ease. '20 Jillian understands the concept of outrunning everyone on the fast break but her ability to finish coupled with her body control is impressive at this age, not to mention great hands. Both sisters are aggressive and with their strength and mindset, they play taller than they are

Mass sisters explode at #HoopAHolicsCamp

Okay I'm changing this up on my HoopAHolics Camp coverage to try and make sure I get as many players I can and after watching the video, cross referencing and wondering did I really see that, I'm just working my way back from session two. My first glimpse of the Mass sisters came at last seasons HAH Camp and what really caught my eye back then was their energy and athleticism. I did see bits and pieces of the young ladies over the summer however looking at them in game situation from the camp shows what hard work will do if you apply yourself

Both are explosive, can finish and have speed but what I'm also seeing is '20 Ceyenne creating more and with everything else she has going, this young lady will be hard to handle. '19 Charlene is just overpowering on both ends, she punishes on defense and let me say this, when you understand the concept of playing the passing lanes at this age, couple with her speed, that spells buckets galore on the other end. I also liked the way the young ladies saw the open floor as they joined an enormous cast of campers with a high basketball IQ

TSU @ HBU tonight at 6pm

The perfect pick me up will come tonight as the Huskies host the Tigers. Shanice Steenholdt is averaging a double-double (21.7 ppg) (12 rpg)  followed by Rachel Arthur (10.7 ppg) . Brianna Sydney leads the Tigers with a little over 12 ppg so I'll be ready for some action