Team Motivate 2023 #TexasSpotlightShowcase

One of the many things I am good at is being able to evaluate and predict young talent and whether are not they are on track for the next level and although there will always be sleepers, some just stand out immediately and the first couple of times I saw Team Motivate 2023 this season, a couple of their players , Synia DeWater  and London Harden  made Tip Sheets, ironically I used the search bar on both here and my website and 3 years ago I said I loved DeWater's upside, click on each one of their names to see

Fast forward to Texas Spotlight Showcase and I got a full view of this talented squad with several players that are going to be making plenty of noise. Alaisha Brown got the nod for the Tip Sheet this event. This is a very athletic young squad that gets after it and are under control, the energy from both Jyra Chrsitopher and Jaylen Mills doesn't stop, Mills also attacks and finishes strong, as well and Chloe Mann who had me going "man oh man" with her speed tied into everything and she made a save I haven't seen many high school guards heading to college make. Mann, Harden, Anyha Green McGowan and Jayda Leonard are all playing up while Hailey Townson and Eaira Colbert have been bright spots all season

602 Lady Nation bring West Coast Heat

I stress over and over talent is everywhere and it started when I stressed that about Texas when it was being UNDER evaluated right after the turn of the century and I although I had a vested interest, my daughter, it was tons of other players that simply were not being recognized and as the years have progressed, I noticed that just like talent, that happens everywhere but always remember two things, if you can play, they WON'T always find you and there is NOT something for everyone so you have to apply common sense to a lot of this stuff but it's always good to see what's up in other regions, I've seen it all over the years and this 602 group from Arizona definitely had some standouts, Madison McGee, Kassidy Dixon and Destiny Lunan made my Texas Spotlight Showcase Tip Sheet  but since you all came from Arizona, here are some others

8th Grade

Good strength and size from Janae Byrd, Kamiyah Hurd and Danay Williams, plenty of athletic players who also showed range, Shelby Bales, Syrene Sanders and Olivia Arvallo. Sanders also made some on the money passes and attacked well, Amaya Felix has catlike instincts and creates her own shot well, yall totally missed the play on words and speaking of range, Sienna Cherwinski can shoot it and had the spin of the day in traffic

17U Black

Marie Esteen did some damage on the boards as well as attacking rim, while Sabrino Lado was steady at the one. Watched Hailey Garalczyk get going from long range as well as Alyssa Magee. Aria Taylor also attacked basket well, used her athleticism nicely while Danielle Martinez not only found ways to get to the basket from various angles and finish with contact, she also played the passing lane well

16U Platinum

Amaya Vasque created some issues at 6'2 while Dustee Murrell  has a strong body and can shoot the long ball. Brooke Rodgers finishes strong and saw the floor well while Jamia Clark does a little of everything, she's powerful and attacks the same way, taking the lick with contact and creates off the dribble. Jasmine Singleton also finished strong and Madison Wilson made plays and does so much that doesn't show up on stat sheet. I've been doing this so long that some of these faces resemble players I coached in the past and Zari Watkins definitely reminded me of an ex player. Solid PG that made pass and steal of the day, showed she could run a team

2018 Houstonians Summer Showcase

ASHLYN MASON 

I've mentioned that the Houstonians are one of the oldest and most respected clubs in the area and was around before I even started and their alumni reads like a Who's Who of players like Nina Norman (Texas), the first McDonald's All American from the area who played in the first girl's game and Lindsey Harding (Duke) who starred in the WNBA for years and they are only a tip of the iceberg and I won't waste a lot of time typing information because the sad part is what I'm seeing now is that parents and players are buying into useless BS and erroneous information but what do I know? Well I know talent and talent is definitely everywhere and my first trip to HTX Gym for the Houstonians event let me catch up with some I had already seen and observe their progression as well as a good look at some new up and comers but here are a few I caught on Championship Sunday

MIKAYLA GREEN & TAMILA SINGLETON

Ashlyn Mason (Friendswood) powerful body, runs the floor and is effective scoring on the inside. Nice hands and footwork, rebounded well on both ends

Georgia Smith (Cy Fair Premier Gray) one of several guards on squad that attacked well, she created in traffic and knocked down the midrange

Mikayla Green (Texas Elite Stars Burroughs) strong body, attacks hard and can finish after contact, also can shoot the long ball and that's catch and shoot

Tamila Singleton (Houston Lady Dominators) one of those "never takes a play off" types of player, tons of energy, attacks from everywhere and defends baseline to baseline

Niyah Johnson  (HTX Fire 2022) long and athletic, shows me something new every time I see her, battles for everything off the glass and finishes

Jailyn Brackens (DFW Jeff) one of many athletic players on squad, she attacks strong from the wing and finishes strong after contact. Plays hard defense

GWENDLYN MCGREW

Gwendlyn McGew (B4D1) strong body, size, doesn't mind physicality, either giving or taking, very active on the court, rebounds and has good upside

Alynna Garcia (Houstonians) creates shot and that's either the mid or long range, athletic, handles ball in traffic, plays defense well

Arkysia Garrett (Houston Elite Black) shows signs of explosiveness, nice first step and get not only get to the basket with ease, she also defends

Kendal Valois(BDA 15U) heady guard that makes plays, creates for herself and teammates, nice mid to long range shooter, handles ball under pressure

Keeley Cummings (Skyrise Mike) don't know who has the Tip Sheet record but the way KC is playing, the Sunshine is definitely bright and many probably didn't catch the play on words but Cummings play on the court sometimes leaves me at a loss for words as her upside is pretty high. She understands the game and can score in bunches if needed

Sydney Colson aka Grandma Pearl

Nothing my daughter does amazes me anymore, she is very well rounded and talented in so many ways however this just blew me away

2018 Generation Next All Americans

One thing I overly stress and that's "talent is everywhere" well that's provided you know what you're looking at and I stopped by the Generation Next event hosted by DC Queens and the talented players I saw from middle school on down was mind boggling to say the least because I already know that quite a few have "next level" stamped, they only need to be ,mailed and this young lady pictured above, Aaliyah Chavez, simply left me speechless but there were others and I'll have a Tip Sheet on the talented players I caught Saturday coming up on my Girlz Prep Report website no later than tomorrow evening  but here are those who were named All Americans

GENERATION NEXT 2018 GRASSROOTS ALL AMERICANS

Generation Next 3rd Grade Grassroots All Americans
1.       Kiylah Jones #10	DC Queens 2027 (Orange)	3rd Grade
2.       Olivia Isbell #21	FW Outlaws	3rd Grade
3.       Loghan Hamilton  #30	EBA 27’	3rd Grade
4.       Brooke Donovan #12	Cheetahs	3rd Grade
5.       Jamyla #20	DC Queens 2027 White	3rd Grade
Generation Next 4th Grade Grassroots All Americans
1.       Kamora Carroll #0	DC Queens 26’ (Houston)	4th Grade
2.       Jillian Topping #4	Lady Drive Nation 26’	4th Grade
3.       Sydney Murphy #44	Lady Drive Nation 26’	4th Grade
4.       J. Rogers #24	Hustle Fit	4th Grade
5.       Dawn Jones #1	DC Queens 26’ Silver	4th Grade
Generation Next 5th Grade Grassroots All Americans
1.       Maya T.  #2	Lady Vols	5th Grade
2.       Keiristein Russell #2	NTX Elite (Tarheels)	5th Grade
3.       M. Coleman #14	Waco United/Impact	5th Grade
4.       Olivia Willis #12	DC Queens 25’ Silver	5th Grade
5.       Kendall Bogely  #12	Lady Drive Nation	5th Grade
Generation Next 6th/7th Grade Grassroots All Americans
1.       J. McIntosh #4	EBA	6th Grade
2.       Ri’Azia Smith #21	Waco United/Impact	7th Grade
3.       M. Willis #15	DC Queens Platinum	6th Grade
4.       Cheyenne Wooten #0	NTX Lady Elite	6th Grade
5.       C. Harris #21	NTX Lady Elite	6th Grade
Generation Next 8th Grade Grassroots All Americans
1.       Asha McSwain #55	Lady Jets (McSwain)	8th Grade
2.       Aaliyah Chavez #2	Lubbock Nitro	5th Grade
3.       Kelley Mora #30	Lubbock Nitro	8th Grade
4.       Jaelyn Morrison #33	El Paso Infiniti	8th Grade
5.       Mary Doyle #00	DC Queens 22’ Denton	8th Grade