Size Don't Matter players one of many highlights at South Texas Classic

I usually hashtag #sizedontmatter and add, when you can play and I also hashtag #talentiseverywhere. I attended the South Texas Classic and wrote an article on Prep Girls Hoops Texas about Cibolo Steele featuring talented Bria McClure picture in above GIF read more

McClure wasn't the only small guard that played big,Mikayla Johnson 's four threes in the second half in a span of a little over two minutes helped ignite Cedar Ridge to come from a double digit deficit, that means they were down by over 10 points, in the second half for the victory

Yeah I know it's pre preseason but I know talent, learned that from a BCS coach when my daughter was a freshman as she said, Mr Colson it only takes me a couple of minutes to know what I'm looking at so acrobatic Dezerae De Le Garza (United South) is only a 2022 with huge upside

2021 Emma Vasquez (Brennan) showed the catch and shoot and I'm talking from deep range. Edison guard Avalon Munoz played with SA Holmes to get more exposure, S/O to Holmes coach for that gesture as well as Munoz who I'm told is one of the tops in cross country, the senior missed an event to be seen and I definitely saw a lot

All of the guards in this article are 5'4 or less, I have something else for JJ coming later but it will be Good Times for the talented freshman. Her Johnson teammate and fellow freshman Angel Tumbarello had already showed the long ball during club season but she creates and hits the midrange. Speaking of freshmen, Judson's Ariana Rodriguez is making the adjustment nicely.

Laredo Lady Longhorns, I have a special story for you all, explosive Sam Houston senior guard Khadija Derry just got added to Top 100 plus and many more will be added to what I'm doing for Prep Girls Hoops because it's an added way to give Texas players more exposure, many parents choose to believe BS, I get it, actually I don't and even though I may have been thrown out of MENSA, unwarranted morality nonsense, I actually know what I'm talking about as far as this

Prep Girls Hoops updated rankings

Samantha Wagner

For those who don't read or speed read or pay attention because I've tweeted, posted and said many times that I'm doing the rankings for Prep Girls Hoops senior and junior classes while the sophomore and freshmen are Watch Lists which basically means watch how that list will change as the season progresses and that also ties into one of my favorite sayings, "talent is everywhere" but I had to throw in an amendment "if you know what you're looking at"

There's an old saying that goes like this " beauty is in the eye of the beholder" because everyone doesn't see things the same way and that could be due to a number of things, the political aspect, relationships, on and off the court, or just view talent differently because at the end of the day, it's just someones opinion but mine is more important to me because if I don't see it......

PREP GIRLS TEXAS

RyLee Grays

Samantha Wagner is arguably the best player in Texas, she's already committed to Baylor so it was a no brainer on her, but after the first group who are just above everyone else, those numbers can be adjusted because the talent level is so close, I know is over 280 characters and many will get bored and turn on a POTcast because much of what is being said, you need to be high to believe it, just keeping it real so always remember, simple math on how many players there in the country and how many colleges and universities there are should let you know there is NOT something for everyone as well as if you can play, they will find you and that falls into the "they who" category"  RyLee Grays made one of the biggest jumps over the past few weeks, size, skill set and strength will keep her up there but I'll adjust and add again for each class after holiday tournaments

Prep Girls Texas 2023 Rankings

2026 and 2027 from Pass Tha Ball's #TheSouth

JOURNEY JEFFERSON & JADA MAPLES

They traveled from Orange and Kountze, from San Antonio and Helotes, even from Donie heading 45N to around Dallas, but they also crossed state lines, from back home in Louisiana as well as Arkansas and Oklahoma just to attend The South. I explain over and over, when I cover an event, I look at everyone as much as possible, that's why you came, that's why you paid and you need to know, so unlike the sleight of hand nonsense that is prevalent, I will always keep it real, always did, my daughter has numerous WNBA highlights on here so I kind of know first hand what talent looks like so here is the deal on some of the players, not even playing middle school ball yet

Journey Jefferson-guard-Earle, Arkansas- defensive stopper, athletic and went through the drills with ease. Already understands the simple things, does a good job of creating her shot and attacking the basket not to mention finish with contact

Jada Maples-guard-Earle, Arkansas- well when you can stutter step, at this stage and change direction going full speed, at this stage, you're on to something big that's coming. Handles the ball well, under pressure and finishes multiple ways

Kaelyn Blanchard-guard-Baytown, Texas- athleticism is always good and when you combine it with long arms at this stage, things will fall into place with her work ethic. I love her upside, she gets "it" already and showed she could score

Kyndall Graham-guard- Shreveport, Louisiana- I have a saying, size don't matter, when you can play and she showed the floater and defense early but when the bright lights of Sunday's All Star game came on, coast to coast, pull-up in transition not to mention handles the ball under pressure

Delaney Arredondo-guard- San Antonio, Texas- she's ready for prime-time right now because some things you can't teach so shall I call her a D1 Lock right now? Yes because the game starts at the one, she hits teammates in traffic, understands how to control tempo and can take over offensively. BTW, I ain't been wrong yet

Faith Idowu-guard- Houston, Texas- handles the ball well under pressure, that's always a good sign because you can build on it and her basketball IQ is ahead of where it should be. Defends well, knows how to get her shot off  as well as when to take it

Nia Phillips-guard-Katy-she already possesses a lot of tools that's ahead of the game. Strong inside, she rebounds and pushes the ball the length of the court. She attacks and finishes strong and plays the passing lane. She's 5'7 now and might reach "the magic number" which is 6'0

2027

Mackenzie Teuton-guard- Richmond, Texas- this camp was open to players that were in the 6th grade  and competitive 5th graders so I was overly happy to see her performing. She was solid during the skill set but on Sunday, the gloves were taken off and to open up it up with back to back jumpers got the crowd going. She understands and absorbs so much that her upside is scary good

I didn't include 2026 Whitney Smith in this segment, she traveled from Tulsa Oklahoma and participated with her three older sisters and I did a special story on them

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Oklahoma's Smith sisters shine in Texas at Pass Tha Ball events

Whitney, Aaliyah, Mariah and Destiny Smith

It seems like I've been watching these young ladies forever but it's probably been four or five years but one thing II know is that the Smith sisters from Oklahoma can play and by that, I mean at some level of the next level so let me break the fantastic foursome down from what I saw over the weekend at both The South Individual Showcase and the I-45 Shootout, both events hosted by PassThaBall as they get their very own Tip Sheet

2020
Mariah Smith-5'8 PG- one of the best SHOOTERS in the STATES of both Oklahoma and Texas and her poise is second to none as well as her ability to catch and shoot. The long ball was dropping from somewhere close to that Oklahoma border and taking defenders off the dribble with ease to finish with contact over and over  is something I've grown accustomed to seeing

2022
Destiny Smith-5'7 G- her game mirrors older sisters so much that I used to get them confused, I'm serious and even during the event, their closeness on and off the court had smiling. Destiny also has range, mid to long and is athletic and finishes acrobatically an d she's nowhere near her upside which is scary

2024
Aaliyah Smith-5'11 F- size and strength will be huge for her when she enters high school for a n umber of reasons because she can score in the paint, good hands and footwork, she rebounds on both ends and runs the floor yet her defense, inside and outside, plus her ability to face the basket and score shows she can play outside the paint as well

2026
Whitney Smith-4'11 PG- what is one of the things I say over and over, size don't matter, when you can play and the heat she showed me when I first saw her, didn't even know she was a "sister" had me glued to her game. She understands things now many seniors don't and basketball IQ is very important at her size but she gets "it", terror on defense, handles ball under pressure and can score