2016 Prime Time Summer Hoops Tour
Makenzie Durnford
HOUSTON, Texas- There’s an old saying that’s been floating around for years and it applies to so many things and it’s “you never know who’s watching you” and in this case, it applies to girls’ basketball. I decided to show up unannounced at Texas Tornadoes facility to catch Prime Time Sports Championship Sunday and there were several standouts floating around the gym. A couple of teams, HTX Fire 2023 and 360 Elite played a couple of years up so I’m giving them a double each as far as players on the Tip Sheet so let’s get it on
2017
Alyssa Williams (Cajun Express) if you come across the state line and then play hurt, well that will grab attention. Rugged and physical rebounder on both ends, good hands
2018
Gabby Acosta (LR3 Comets) Acosta was solid in both games, saw the floor well and hit big shots, played with poise
2019
Melanie Wenkebach (Skyrise) to be honest with you I didn’t know who she was until she smiled, game has taken a jump and I mean a big jump. She’s fearless and over six feet, rebounded with ease and scored at will
Deziree Walker (Brazoria Panthers) gets to the rim effortlessly and can finish, nice first step, creates her shot in traffic, reads floor well and has huge upside on top of everything else
2020
Jordyn Beatty (SETX Power Elite) showed signs of becoming an absolute BEAST. She controlled the paint “old school” and finished strong with contact. To top that off, she played the passing lane and went C2C for a basket. If she grows a couple of more inches…,..
Hannah Matthews (360 Elite) she’s 6’2 with an almost college ready body and hasn’t entered high school. Good hands and footwork, can finish but I love the fact is that she runs the floor and can catch it on the run and finish
Tori Vezza (Houston Premier Blue) poised point guard that set teammates up for baskets, controlled tempo and turned it up on offense, her own, when needed. Solid ball handler that can get to the rim and nail the jumper
2021
Maddie Henderson (Houston Premier) last time I saw her she was draining deep ones and this weekend nothing has changed. Good court sense, knows how to create her shot and nail it
Makenzie Durnford (3220 Elite) poised for her age, doesn’t shy from contact, good hands and can finish. Showed she can defend in paint and on perimeter, huge upside and also rebounded well
Lauren Szot (360 Elite) game is ahead of her years, can get wherever she wants when she wants. Already dropping the floater and everything in between of the 3 point line and her ceiling is very high as she played 3 years up
2022
Jolie Ponflick (SETX Power Elite) I was impressed with her being a 7th grader so just imagine what I think about her a grade lower. Huge upside for this young lady, plays under control and scores under pressure
Keely Cummings & Janae Tucker
2023
Keely Cummings (HTX) very high BB-IQ for age knows how to create for herself as well as sets her teammates up for gimmes. Her mid and long range have improved since last time I saw her and her poise under pressure speaks volumes
Janae Tucker (HTX) great athleticism and on top of that it’s under control at this age. I love the fact that she tries an abundance of things on the offensive end, she actually has the mindset of not being stopped and if she keeps progressing, she won’t be
Charleigh Rose-Thomas (Texas Elite) long and athletic, gets to the rim with ease and is mastering the floater. Her court presence makes those around her better, very unselfish yet has potential to be big time player
2024
Raniyah Lewis (Skyrise) I’m definitely amazed at the fact that she’s so athletic yet so under control and her physique definitely gives her a jump. She plays passing lane already, scores multiple ways and defends baseline to baseline
2025
Rezia Castillo (HTX) enjoyed watching her play with the 2023 squad last season as a 2nd grader but as a 3rd grader she was one of the best players in the 4/5 grade division. You can’t teach speed and her first step is a monster but on top of everything, she’s under control, with the ball. Talk about a high ceiling, she definitely reminds me of my daughter at the same age