Pass Tha Ball #Select40 Houston 2026-28 Tip Sheet

 

HOUSTON, Texas-I'll never forget that first Pass Tha Ball event I covered back in 2013, the HoopAHolics and the countless players that graduated  and went on to play at the next level, some MDAA and some will play professionally just makes my head spin, you can use the search bar to verify anything I tell you because I'm not into "tall tales" which is popular nowadays on social media and having daughter playing at the highest of levels for many years takes me back to when I was first out here with her over 20 years ago, so I've seen some talent and I know where the bar has been set so here's what I saw from those in the 5th-7th grade who all are showing next level potential 

2026

Kyndal Graham-5'0 G (Keithsville) Cy Fair Hunt

Graham is poised beyond her years, she handles the ball as well as the pressure with ease and her first step already creates problems for defenders yet she has a crossover, a step back and can create her shot with ease but that mid to long-range is going to be hard to handle

Sophia Rodriguez-5'4 W (Laporte) Houston United

Rodriguez just keeps showing me something big is coming, including a growth spurt yet her skillset and mindset took me away when I first saw her and her creating  her shot while being tightly guarded has just exceeded my early expectations but she also rebounds and defends 

Whitney Smith-5'5 G

Smith is one of those "fast with the ball" type players and her blazing speed coupled with her ability to hit teammates on the money will definitely be something that won't be contained especially since she can finish with contact, that's an option, or hit the stop and pop jumper 

Victoria Gonzalez-5'4 PG (Pearland Jr High) League City Sharks

Gonzalez gave me an even better look at her creating her shot under pressure and hitting the shot but she's athletic, takes defenders off the dribble nicely and her battling for loose balls on the floor or off the glass definitely stood out

Summer Williams -5'7 P (Huffman MS) Lake Houston Angels

Williams made my Tip Sheet when she was 8 I guess because I saw something coming and she made sure I knew I was right as she is so athletic and smooth at this stage, her upside is scary, especially as she plays the passing lane but she can shoot it, well catch and shoot it nicely 

2027

Kamdyn Flora-5'6 G (Hamilton MS) Houston United

Flora is one of those players that I use that #D1Lock hashtag on early because she will grow, even more, she's athletic and she thinks the game but she can score off the dribble, she attacks the rim, and handles the ball under pressure well enough to see the floor 

2028 

Isabella Rodriguez-5'0 G (Laporte) Houston United 

Rodriguez did one thing instinctively that sold me at #AllEyezOnMe and it was a crossover against 8th graders heading to the 9th but her BB-IQ is among the best I've seen at this age, she can handle the ball and create her shot right now and she will get taller, stronger and even better becoming a "nightmare to defend" 

2024 and 2025 show up and out #713Showcase

 

GWENDLYN MCGREW

It's all about "seizing the opportunity" and that sort of worked both ways this past weekend as several new faces had a chance to put themselves in front of a REAL EVALUATOR while I also had a chance to get a jump on what's coming up in the not so distant future but the #713Showcase was well put together and ran like clockwork and here's a group of some of that next wave of talent that many will be household names, I already see that however I also saw some players with plenty of upside and the main thing I'll be looking for is the progression from all of the players and here are some of the standouts from the 2024 and 2025 classes

2024

Gwendlyn McGrew-5'11(Reps Up) one of the countries top prospects in her class, she has D1 offers on the table and her ability to score multiple ways will make her an impact player immediately in high school, yes I said IMMEDIATELY 

Laniah Thornton-5'8 (Reps Up)keeps getting better every time I catch her play, her power combined with her body makes her hard to handle as she can score from midrange as well as off the dribble and is an "and one" waiting to happen 

Allie Sebert-5'0 (Houston Its On-Showtyme) first sighting but caught my eye almost immediately by her consistency showing she plays within herself and won't back down, good upside and she showed "sizedontmatter 

Shunteria Davis-5'9 (D1 Dragons) strong and polished on the attack, mindset of "you won't stop me" is ahead of her years but was one of the best at finishing with contact, also showed mid to long-range as well as poise beyond her years

Hailyn Obregon- 5'7 (Cy Fair Premier) solid in skills session translated over nicely to games as she showed she could create off the dribble as well as attack the rim, under control and confident and plays within herself and finishes after contact

Jacoria Taylor-5'9 (Houston Its On Showtyme) when I mark "ath" numerous times that speaks volumes but so did her showing as she attacks and defends, plays the passing lane and has scary upside because she already has very good  body control

Kaia Carter-5'9 (Houston Its On Showtyme) she's long and athletic, that's the base but when you add she also takes defenders off the dribble and finishes after contact, she creates her shot and showed she could drop the long ball

Madison Bob-5'8 (Rytes Warriors) that long and athletic fits her as well but she continues to turn her game up with each event. Good timing of defense enables her to block, deflect, alter shots yet she elevates with ease on the jumper as well as to the basket

Mariyah Brown-5'9 (IJU Basketball) yet another long and athletic player but she simply grabbed my attention with her aggressiveness attacking the rim from various angles or right down the middle and on top of that, she also defends and rebounds

Nya Wold-5'10 (Rytes Warriors) plenty of offensive tools to work with to go with her size as she showed the mid to long, she attacks the basket strong and under control but she also creates her shot under pressure. Very good upside 

Jade Williams-5'8 (Cy Fair Elite Bush) all I can say is wow because she turned it up elevating over older players for rebounds and baskets as well as playing with poise and confidence. She made my Tip Sheet in the 5th or 6th grade, she's proving me right as her upside is untapped 

SHUNTERIA DAVIS

2025

Sarah Gregory-5'4 (Houston Its On Showtyme) she's on her way to following three older sisters to the next level, she understands how to run a team, control the tempo and is vocal but her BB-IQ is ahead of her years and so is her creating off the dribble to score multiple ways as she can take over when she wants

Alaysia Cook-5'5- Cook was smoking almost immediately and since I hadn't paid attention to the roster, I wasn't aware of how young she is. She already gets it, went right at the older girls, and showed she could score attacking or hitting the midrange. Upside is unreal 

Jasmine Timmons-6'0 (Houston Its On Showtyme) she's already at "the magic number" of 6'0 and understands two very important things at this stage, how to use her size and body and how to finish, well that's three things but she can also rebound and run the floor, remember her name