Thursday, June 8, 2023

Middle School Standouts #HoustonSummerSlam


Stars Of The Future has always been something that just grabbed me and one thing I love is watching progression on the court. I've had a chance to catch glimpses of some players yet for many, this was my initial sighting but I was moving around and 

Kennedy Price-5'9 G (Houston United 2028) 2029

Price had another growth spurt to go with her being long and athletic. I was impressed earlier this season with her ballhandling in the open court, the crossover was smooth yet her jumper, pictured above, both in the set as well as in transition will create issues

Liana Calderon-5'5 G (Houston United 2028) 2028

Calderon already understands how to anticipate the pass, aka playing the passing lane and she handled the ball in the open court after the steal. also did a good job attacking and finishing

Carly Burgoyne-5'3 G (Houston United 2028) 2028

Burgoyne saw the floor very well and when you factor in she made good decisions on who to get the ball to, that's huge at this stage. She also attacked off the dribble and showed solid body control on her finishes

Addi Sanford-5'6 G (Houston United 2027) 2027

Sanford gave me an excellent first look at THE BABY yet he's far from a baby. Her poise in the court immediately stood as she played good defense and played the passing lane yet her deceptive first step coupled with nice body control on her finishes had me smiling

Rayn Frazier-5'8 G (Houston United 2027) 2027

Frazier had me thinking "Up comes Frazier" as she understands how to use her athleticism on both ends of the court. She rebounded, on both ends and scored on putbacks as well as around the basket and also off the dribble

Kayla Cortez-5'8 W (Houston United 2027) 2027

Cortez has some impressive upside when you factor in she understands how to create her shot under pressure as well as knock it down while being defended but she also dropped the long ball and when she showed me the "catch and shoot" well ...

Kylie Mohammed (Houston Lady Nets 13U)

Mohammed also played the passing lane and that is something I love to see yet she went #THROWBACK for me and dived on the floor for loose balls several times, I also love things you can't teach. She attacks and finishes after contact

Lundyn Bush (Houston Lady Nets 13U)

Bush is not beating around the bush, she's showing signs early and her on-the-ball defense caught my eye back in March, I still see that yet she has quick hands and came away with steals. She also attacked the basket strongly from multiple angles and finished

Justice Long (Houston Lady Nets 13U)

Long was another player that understands the importance of playing the passing lane. I can't emphasize how important that is yet her baseline-to-baseline pressure is equally important. She handled the ball and has nice court vision

Whitney Wilson (Houston Lady Nets 14U)

Wilson is a long and athletic guard, that works too and her first step was very impressive as she left the defender standing several times. It's also nice in the open court as she can blow by the defender to score off the dribble yet her pull-up jumper both in the set and transition was effective 

D'Aijha Lawrence (Houston Lady Nets 14U)

Lawrence is also a long and athletic guard, see above and watching her not only create her shot to blow by defenders and score off the dribble, but she also used that same creativity to drop the jumper as she elevated over the outstretched hand of whoever was guarding her 

#2 (Houston Lady Nets 14U)

New additions are always nice, especially when they bring something to the table yet her first showing helped set the table as her "on the ball" defense was smothering at times, and her playing the passing lane was also solid. She's athletic and strong, finished after contact off the dribble, nice upside