2017 I-10 Tune Up Showcase Tip Sheet
RILEY & CORI GRAYS
HOUSTON-Texas- The Lady Houston Phenoms hosted their first pre July tune-up and one thing I always look for is talented players that can play at the next level wherever I’m covering and this event gave me a chance to see many had never seen play before. I also look for progression in players and for those who I had seen in the past, I definitely say a lot of progression in many so as I sat there checking out the action, several players simply stood numerous times over the two day event so I had to decide on which ones would be on the Tip Sheet, provided I had a roster so here you go.
*Dalanna Carter is a Tip Sheet waiting to happen every time she steps on the court at an event I’m covering , she simply has the “it” factor as she heads to the 7th grade, she’s a D1 lock but this time another Lady Dragon made the cut
ANNA KASSIM
Kierra Flowers-guard (Texas Elite NMD) as this young lady heads into her senior season, she continues to amaze me as always being a player that left everything on the court. She battles through pain as well as anyone I’ve seen since I’ve been doing this and elevated something in her game each season. She scores well off the dribble, can shoot the mid to long range and defends well but her passion is second to none
Camryn Perry-guard (Hoopstarz Bowman) loved her energy last season but I really enjoyed watching her in action. Physical guards that get it always are in need but what I see in her game over the past season is an improved midrange and BB-IQ not to mention poise on the floor as she simply makes things happen either starting rallies with her offense or defense.
Taylor Thomas-guard (Texas Elite 832) talk about steadily improving since I tagged her a #sizedontmatter guard in the sixth grade. Guess what, she shows it still doesn’t matter as her explosiveness has become more powerful and her range deeper. Thomas just makes things happen on the court as she definitely was a sparkplug igniting her squad over the weekend with her clutch offensive performances
Kori Grays-guard (Hoopstarz) let me sum it up this way on Kori’s game, plays defense baseline to baseline, never takes a play off, dives on the floor for loose ball and all of those combined together have become somewhat of a lost art over the years. On top of all that, the young lady definitely showed she could put the ball in the basket and for the first time ever, sisters make the same Tip sheet as her younger sibling is up as well
Leeza DeLa Garza-guard (DFW Elite Butch) to be honest with you I thought she was an urban legend as I had heard rumors about a young lady that could fill it up so on opening day, she definitely showed she could shoot the long ball. Once she gets going, she’s hard to handle because that range is unlimited. Love the “catch and shoot with accuracy” plus she showed she could score off the dribble just to keep the defense honest
Kayla Cobbs-guard (Houston Hoops Red) I have always enjoyed watching this young lady and her sister over the years and way back when is when something just stood out and that was the fact that she never got flustered on the court no matter what. Talk about improving every season is an understatement but this event the heat she brought on defense was on point as well as her shot.
Anna Kassim-forward (Lady Phenoms 16U) did well playing a lot of 4 last season so what really has me intrigued with her game is she’s showing she can play the 2/3 on both ends if needed. Strong body doesn’t mind banging on both ends for rebounds and finishes strong after taking the lick. Range definitely keeps getting better, mid and long, and definitely brings that energy from start to finish. Let me give her another S/O for that “no look” cause I definitely was looking
Joy Chanslor-guard (TX Elite Phenoms) one thing I always enjoy seeing and that’s players that create off the dribble under pressure and if you don’t understand that, I can’t say it any simpler. Chanslor does that and more but what really put some icing on the cake was her pull-up after creating, and the fact that she shot it accurately which is even more important
ALLANA THOMPSON
Allana Thompson-guard (Lady Daredevils) the good news is that 2020 has another star and the better news is that I’ll catch her at the HBU camp over the weekend. She’s very athletic and her length definitely creates issues on both ends as she can alter shots defensively and get her shot off at will and her shot was definitely one of the best clicking at the event, mid to long range
Donalyn Johnson-forward (Houston Lady Dominators) very impressive performances back to back weeks definitely gets my attention on top of that, she’s another bright spot from that 2020 class. She explodes off the ground for rebounds, she finishes strong after contact, she defends inside and outside and she keeps showing me she can score off the dribble from the wing and (or) drop the midrange
Carly Sampson-guard (DFW Elite Corey) let me see, high energy, athletic, plays until the final buzzer sounds and just gives everything she has is only a prequel. I love her upside, I see things developing that she does and attempts and there’s nothing I like more than players that think the game. Getting to rim is no problem and being fearless and not afraid of contact is what she does. Nice outside shot and plays D
Alexa Gayden-forward (Texas Lady Dragons) simply got after it on both ends, played defense in the paint and on the perimiter and rebounded on both ends. Length enables her to get shot off which is one of the pluses she continues to show as she faces the basket to score more frequently
Riley Grays-forward/post (Texas Dynasty) I sometimes tag players #sizedontmatter when you can play yet it actually does more times than not when college coaches blow up my phone/email/social media looking for “bigs” Grays is 6’2 and heading to the 7th grade, she’s athletic/long understand s the importance of keeping the ball high and the outlet pass. Great skill set at her age and size, finishes with either hand, runs floor, rebounds and blocks shots and defends so guess what, she will have options galore
Tymberlin Crisswell-guard (Skyrise Edmond) to be honest I could’ve picked any of the starting five from this squad for the tip sheet but when you perform in the clutch like this young lady did on opening day against older “talented” players, well that’s huge and hopefully you got the parenthesis . Long and very athletic, she’s always impressed me with her ability to get to the rim but that range combined with that first step enables me to call her a nightmare to defend,. She definitely keeps adding and is nowhere near the finished product which is scary