Final All Star game @ #I45Shootout had a little of everything

Sometimes I get lucky on pictures so to capture three of the four incoming freshmen that played in the PassThaBall I-45 Shootout finale was great, at least for me. Aiken Semones and Raven Adams have both impressed me sine I guess 4th grade when I first saw them play, Semones was dangerous from long range early and a growth spurt has truly added more to her game as she's adjusting to the one. Adams was explosive even back then, ball handling and scoring were in her repertoire but her mindset was always years ahead and the progression from both of these two has been something  to see as they keep adding to their games. Hadn't seen Jermia Green, well actually I had, but she left a lasting impression with her play on both ends and when I saw Jasmine Shavers score about 10 points in 2 minutes earlier in the season, playing up against a tough team, I was sold however I had already seen her a couple of years ago with another squad yet she had a huge growth spurt and is definitely going to be hard to handle

Never could get a roster from some of these teams, for whatever reasons yet when my daughter tells me to check out a player, I jump on that and Laila Blair is simply amazing. Her ability to catch and shoot, explosive first step and just one of those players that finds various ways to put the ball in the basket has her a definite mid to BCS lock. Club teammates Elyssa Coleman and Chanielyn Galloway both have size and athleticism, I used the search bar and saw I had written about them with a previous team  a while back but even I forget faces I see once or twice but with their performances, as well as '21 Green, I see why they made noise on the circuit. Salem Diaz was a bright spot from the HoopAHolics Camp that also played in the All Star game, love her upside and Arianna Sturdivant was another pleasant surprise

Been watching Dasha McMillan for a minute and she definitely keeps adding to her game M'Kayla Malone and Mikayla Green both showed they could put up numbers quickly and efficiently. Zaria Johnson has so many tools to go along with her size and athletic ability, watched her make jumps from last season to this season and throughout the club ball scene and another threesome that played club ball together, Kirsten Beasley, Brianna Cloud and Kayla Cobb all showed up. Beasley left me speechless at times at the Tyrone Johnson Showcase, Cloud just brings it every play but I love progression and over the years, she definitely adds more which has me closing with someone I've been watching what seems like forever. Cobb was one of those players that could shoot the long ball early but watching her add multiple ways to score, ball-handling under pressure and poise were all impressive but what has truly impressed me even more is the heat she's bring on defense and that is how I'll close this out

Opening game at #I45Shootout sets the stage

One thing I've always enjoyed is watching the up and coming talented players and I definitely have a knack for noticing the "can't misses" and those who have next level potential and contrary to rumor, I haven't been wrong yet so if I say it, I usually print it and with a 2nd grade education, the use of the search bars on here or my website sort of solidifies what I've said and how it's played out. The opening All Star game at PassThaBall's I-45 Shootout definitely had an abundance of college players, most of which still have middle school eligibility left. The Pro Skills trio pictured above from the Metroplex area, Madison Cockrell , Jazzy Owens and Bre Davis certainly caught my eye a few months ago and the progression they continue to make has me sold. My first good look at another young lady from up north, Jerzie Bryant was definitely a good one and the growth from yet another young star from the Dallas area, both height and game, Nyah Wilson left me speechless at times

San Antonio area was also represented with both Sammie Wagner and Gabby Nunez who were a couple of the standouts at the HoopersRUs Camp the day before so I already knew what to expect and to say I was more than pleased would be an understatement. Ja'Shelle Johnson, also from San Antonio, dazzled me with spin moves and step backs as well as an array of ways to score but the talent from Houston was alive and kicking. Aarianna Masters continues to elevate her game, defense sold me early but she's showing more while A'Leah Franklin and Nyahh Threatt have also added even more to their impressive repertoire of finding ways to score but this game definitely was loaded with next level players galore and set the stage for the rest of the day and more time, if I say it, it will happen and the hunger I've seen in these young ladies tell me "una vez mas" #RightAgain

I called Ashlon Jackson one of the top players nationally in the class of 2022 two years ago, that's a done deal folks and she just does so many things at this age you can't teach and with her having another growth spurt and showing she can play multiple positions make her hard to handle. Amani Bartlett was a pleasant surprise when I saw her earlier this season, she's over the magic number of 6'0 and is now showing signs of being able to dominate inside. R'Mani Taylor sold me as a 5th grader, her range is unlimited, great BB-IQ and something else that can't be taught, poise definitely has her "in the mix" nationally. Janae Tucker put on an impressive performance playing up, she's an explosive scorer that understands how to put the ball in the basket multiple ways and what can I say about Dalanna Carter that I haven't said. After seeing what she did over the weekend, in this setting, against this type of competition and being one of the youngest players there, her ceiling is unlimited 

Flashback on #I45Shootout stars

Elizabeth Scott, Mackenzie Green, Jasmine Smith and Amanda Ferry

There is nothing more refreshing than watching talented players, especially at an early age and when you have the ability to recognize the ones who will be among the top players down the road like I do, well that certainly gives me pleasure and enjoyment and when you look at the names over the years starting with my own daughter, common sense should kick in but the girl's game has definitely changed, both on and off the court

The Truong twins 

Seeing these six young ladies, all from 2019 with the exception of 2018 Jasmine Smith definitely gave me a boost as I saw many in the 5th and 6th grade and just knew they were not only headed to the next level but were legitimate #D1Locks and as usual I was on point so I was certainly pleased at the hard work and progression these young ladies have put in. For the novice, usually you can enter a players name in te search bar and providing I spelled it correctly, voila, magically things appear but I'll drop a Tip Sheet on PassThaBall's #I45Shootout soon

Taylor Thomas 

NCAA Certified Diamond In The Rough September 23rd

This is an individual showcase that will be held during the viewing period on September 23rd, Saturday night, from 6:30-9:30 and of course it will be off the chain as several heavy hitters are on board and you can be too by registering

REGISTER 

2018 Kayla White makes her decision #GPRUnderTheRadar

So many times I see players at an early age that just have “it” and you know something special will develop through the process and Kayla White was definitely one of those players. I don’t remember exactly what grade she was in, I could use the search bar on either of my sites but I’m thinking it was between her sixth  and seventh grade years. This young lady had poise and talent even then and her ability to simply take over a game, against older talented players at that age, sold me. White’s progression over the years continued where she has stars at Desoto High School and the GPR Under The Radar phenom simply took her game to a different level with DFW Elite EYBL over this season, after scaring defenders at “BOO” Williams, she continued her torrid scoring and defending at Nike Tournament of Champions and Nike Nationals where several of the top BCS programs had a chance to witness what I’ve been saying for years, this young lady is LEGIT.

Not only is White a talented basketball player, she’s also a high academic student and a member of the National Honor Society so I knew she made her decision on where she’d play college ball on a number of things and when asked what chose her to stay close to home, she said “I chose SMU because I fell in love with the coaching staff, the campus, academics, and players. I loved the enthusiasm in Coach Travis Mayes' voice when he talked about his vision for SMU women's basketball. I felt his passion and wanted to be a part of the reemergence of SMU women's basketball.”

White also wants to be part of something big that’s coming  and told me “ They are on the rise, and he and his staff are constructing something very special with the 2017 and 2018 incoming recruiting classes. I just felt a connection and felt like this was the perfect time and place for me to come in to a program and start my own legacy, here in my own hometown. PONY UP! “ There you have it !!!!!!