2017 July GPR Under The Radar Tip Sheet
JACQUIA WHITE (DFW ELITE GOLD)
July has and always will be my favorite month for girls’ basketball simply because I can observe some of the best talent in the country playing against just that and when I tell you that one of my most used and probably most unappreciated sayings is “it’s not what you do, it’s who you do it against” seems to fit right in. Several of the GPR Under The Radar players definitely helped themselves in terms of colleges offering scholarships and many who hadn’t been on college radars, definitely proved they belong. 2018 players Jordan Ott and Mikayla Schenck as well as recent Arkansas commit 2019 Ginger Reece didn’t play in the first go round due to nagging minor injuries however they’re up and running so here are some updates on the other UTR stars.
2018
Kayla White-guard (DFW Elite Nike 16U EYBL) after making me look like a genius at Boo Williams, she proved that I was in Run 4 the Roses where she came out smelling like one. She’s just under 6’0 and can play just about any position on the floor. Defends baseline to baseline, handles ball under pressure, sees the floor and that 3 ball has been amazing where she connected on over 50% Kentucky while shooting almost 70% from the field
Jacquia White-guard (DFW Elite Gold) White continues to expand her game and running the one with precision. That first step is devastating as it enables her to do so much on the offensive ends, great pull-up but her ability to create under traffic continues to be a viable asset. Scores off dribble, mid to long range and defends but understands that getting her teammates involved is necessary and she does that well and she definitely had the right seasoning at Flava Jam
D’Asia Collins-guard (Texas Elite GATA) one of the misconceptions about this talented PG is her ability to play D but at Super 64 in the top division, that was definitely laid to rest. I already knew she was capable of doing so because throughout her career she always has guarded the top offensive guards but if you don’t know, you need be educated and the lesson she prepared was graded an A. The game starts at the one and her performance at Super 64 solidified everything I’ve said about her
Rayven Patin-guard (New Orleans Trojans) Patin continues to take her show on the road and the Louisiana native silences the naysayers once again. Not only does she “get it” but she also gives it on the court and her ability to score from the one as well as set teammates up for gimmes was on display at Suwanee Tournament of Champions in Georgia. She’s always been explosive but that threading of the needle and ability to catch and shoot leaves me speechless at times
Reagan Heun-guard (Texas Elite GATA) one more time, colleges love big guards that can shoot and 5’10 Heun is bombs away baby. Good body, can attack and take lick while finishing as well as rebound on both ends but that shooting ability is mind boggling and she was “home on the range” at Super 64 and after an earlier performance of B2B2B three pointers in a matter of under 90 seconds when I saw her in April, she came in and almost repeated it again in July but no lie, she can stroke it
Tia Tolbert-guard (Houston Lady Roadrunners) when you have a first step that catches defenders off guard, well that’s an asset you want but when you can stop and pop, from mid to long range, or blow by defenders for baskets, money in the bank sums it up. What I enjoy even more about her game is that she was doing that three years ago and didn’t just stop, it’s all about progression and her ball-handling under pressure combines with a jump in her defense was more than solid at Super 64
2019
Reagan Montgomery-guard (Cy Fair Nike Elite 15U) another talented point guard that can score is how I summed this young lady up four years ago. She always understood who to give the ball to and when to do so and she also learned how to carry a team at an early age. New team, new challenges yet she shined at Flava Jam because I love players that keep bringing it and her ability to handle the type of heat that was thrown at her was something to see
Claire Hale-guard (San Antonio Islanders) Her performance at Super 64 left me speechless, she had just had a minor injury a few days ago but you never would have known. She’s added mass and muscle to her frame, she’s another big guard with a stroke and even after all of which I just wrote, watching her set defenders up off the dribble was priceless. She’s added that since I caught her in April so when you can create your own shot, under pressure from legitimate defenders, and nail it consistently ……
Jessica Cornelius-guard (Lady Jets Platinum) hopefully when I emphasize the phrase “ size don’t matter, especially when you can play” because I don’t just say or write things to be doing so. Cornelius in a one word description would be “warrior: because no matter what the situation is, you won’t beat her, you won’t break her and the numerous nagging injuries this young has come back from speaks volumes. She can score, mid to long range, she handles the ball under pressure but that lock down defense she showed me at Super 64 playing in the top division definitely caught some eyes other than mine
2021
Payton Andrews-guard (Arkansas Banshees Future) started out with her back to the basket because she was taller than everyone and as she gets closer to the magic number of 6’0, she has definitely learned how to do more than score in the paint. She mastered the long ball and the midrange is clicking as well but when you do a 360 and go from a 5 to a 1, well her poise under pressure and ability to handle the ball under that same pressure boosts her status tremendously and at Super 64, she definitely showed all of the above mentioned as well as seeing the floor