2018 Texas Spotlight Showcase Tip Sheet
TAYLOR BROWN (FORT WORTH LADY HORNETS) JAMILLE JOHNSON (EAD 17U)
DUNCANVILLE, TEXAS- Talk about starting an inaugural event off with a bang, well the Texas Spotlight Showcase definitely got up and running early and didn’t slow down however I expected nothing less since I’ve been knowing tournament director Cynthia Guillory for over 15 years and when she says she’s going to make it happen, I know it will and with several out of town teams from Texas, one from the West Coast, Arizona, special on 602 coming, and yet another from a neighboring state, New Orleans, Lady Trojans, this event will do nothing but grow in the future and speaking of future, I’m going to drop you some talented players that are on the right track for a bright future at the next level but have no fear, others will be dropped via Twitter and (or) Facebook and Instagram, as well as my BLOG so as they say where I’m from and that’s wherever, let’s get the ball rolling
2019
Cierra Beachum-post (ATX Outwork 17U) you can’t teach several things, size, effort and heart are among those so when you wrap that up with the fact that Beachum never takes a play off, battles on both ends for rebounds, plays the passing lane, finishes on the inside as well as showed she could hit the midrange ……
Hayle Campbell-guard (CC Thunder Blue) okay I get it and she definitely gives it play after play after play. She attacks relentlessly, yet under control and that’s the same way she goes coast to coast with the ball yet she sees the floor and can score an abundant amount of ways over and over again
Chanta Thomas-guard (Houston Hoops) aggressive, athletic, powerful rolled into one young lady that just brings it over and over, play after play and she battles taller players for rebounds as she plays taller than she is, having “ups” truly helps but she can also score either attacking or facing the basket
Kyla London-guard (SMA Rohan) athletic and acrobatic that also knows how to create her shot and get it off. Nice change of direction in the open court and knocks the floater down consistently. Also adds a stop and pop plus she defends well
Jamille Johnson-guard (EAD 17U) plays bigger than size and rises higher than average as she can get her shot off multiple ways but watching her create and elevate is something plus she can take defenders off the dribble at a blink of an eye
Erin James-post (Swish Select Blue) above 6’0, strong, athletic and a college ready body right now should get your attention and to be honest she’s nowhere near her peak and will be a better college player. Runs the floor, rebounds and finishes after contact, , faces basket for points, defends in paint and on perimeter
Briyaun Stewart-wing (Cen Tex) long and athletic, nice midrange can get shot off under pressure. She can create off the dribble and explode to the basket in one motion. Nice timing enables her to alter or block shots, runs the floor, defends baseline to baseline and rebounds well
Taylor Brown-forward (Fort Worth Lady Hornets) game after game she showed me something different and played ruthless and relentless in the paint, battling like there was no tomorrow. Athletic, strong, rebounded on both ends and finished over and over plus she attacked the basket easily
Mya Phillips-post (New Orleans Lady Trojans) strong body, rebounds on both ends, ignites break on one end, runs floor and finishes on the other and speaking of finishing, she does that well with players hanging on her. Also showed she could face the basket and score as well as play defense outside the paint
Klynn Farrar-guard (Team Bonafide 2019) size don’t matter when you can play so when you add speed and handle, then athleticism and strength, you have Farrar who can also drop it from AFAR plus she attacks well, defends and sees the floor
2020
Madisyn Chisolm-forward/post (Kileen Lady Cougars) I love seeing throwback player type in this era and yes, Chisolm does remind me of those who were physical, set screens, boxed out and numerous others that don’t show up on scoresheets yet create opportunities for baskets. She’s athletic and rebounds, that does show up and can score
Kenshawnna Reed-guard (Nike EAD) I said 5 or 6 years ago this would be a monster class for Texas and every tournament I’m finding even more. I’ve actually seen Reed but it fits and so did her game as she is simply hard to defend as she has nice artillery of offensive weapons, combined with athleticism and a nice first step
Alyssa Samuel-guard (Team Bonafide 2021) special S/O for just bring “it” and as another size don’t matter guard, she brought the house, well Duncanville Fieldhouse down with the acrobatic shot of the day
Jimena Cortez-forward (Texas Queens) can’t say I’ve seen a whole lot of girls grab the ball in the air with one hand and I mean palming it straight, not cuffing it so that as well as excellent timing on blocks, rebounding, finishing, running the floor and simply battling for everything which included diving on the floor was refreshing
MADISON McGEE (602 LADY NATION PLATINUM 16U)
2021
Madison McGee-forward/guard ( 602 Lady Nation Platinum 16U) good size, 6’1, and showed range consistently and she mixed up everything else nicely, attacking from the wing and finishing with contact as well as battling in the paint for put-backs but also rebounded on both ends
Laila Williams-guard (Swish Select Orange) strong body, athletic, gets to the basket and finishes strongly with contact. Showed she can hit the outside shot. Defends baseline to baseline and has good upside
Kassidy Dixon-guard/forward (602 Lady Nation Platinum 17U) big guard, 5’10, that can shoot, mid to long range, and her instincts are unreal as she just makes things happen. Recovers well, attacks better and I definitely loved the stop and pop on a dime over and over
Deseray Garcia-forward (Team Bonafide 2021) scored a barrage of baskets with players hanging on her on Championship Thursday and when you can do that and not get flustered, that’s huge. She also rebounded on both ends and defended well
Courtney McWilliams-guard (ATX Outwork 15U) right team name because one thing I saw her consistently do was not let anyone outwork her and as she battled bigger opponents over and over for rebounds, she stayed with it every game I caught.
Deborahjhae Beauregard-post (Team Motivate) okay size does matter, especially when you keep showing progression and you’re 75 inches tall, that’s 6’3 so every time I catch this young lady, I see she’s been adding something and being this young and that tall, there’s no telling where she’ll land
2022
Emma Hubbard-forward ( Cen Tex Floyd) okay two things, size and upside definitely stand out bit what makes that stand out even more is she’s long, athletic and just gives everything no matter what the score is. She can create problems defensively but the intangibles tell me to keep an eye on her
Shacoria Hill-guard (Fort Worth Hornets JV) takes defenders off dribble with ease and attacks from various angles or straight down the middle. Nice pull-up and mid to long range keeps them guessing but what also stood out was her body control as she made numerous acrobatic shots and got steals galore
Kate Steubing –guard (Elite Academy Ducks 16U) good size and strength always helps as she can overpower smaller guards attacking strongly over and over and having a good BB-IQ never hurts. Also hit the midrange nicely
Hadley Murrell-guard (PRODIGY) didn’t know which of their players I was going to pick but Murrell just went off on Championship Thursday, She’d already shown me a step back, played the passing lane and created her own shot but she was simply unstoppable form mid to long range and attacking the basket on Thursday
Caitlyn Panuco-guard (Lady Wolfpack) this team not only competes but pulls off some big wins with only 6 and Panuco plays a huge part as she can score from outside or attacking the basket and finishing falling down. Good knack for the game, plays unselfish and within herself
DESTINY LUNAN (602 LADY NATION 8TH GRADE PLATINUM)
2023
Aamaria Wright-guard (ATX Outwork 14U) when you’re fast, with the ball, and under control, especially at a young age, you’re ahead of the game and watching her zig and zag through traffic effortlessly was very nice especially since she sees the floor and makes the pass on the money, plus she attacks well
Talitha Hicks-forward (Team Bonafide 2022) simple things are not as abundant as they once were so saying good hands and footwork, coupled with desire is always going to grab my attention. Strong body and finishes after contact, nice touch on free throws
Alaisha Brown-forward (Team Motivate 2023) this squad keeps getting better and Brown has taken her game to another level. She never takes a play off, does the little things that don’t show up on a score sheet yet she can score when needed or when she wants to but defense and rebounds are on point
2024
Madison Caldwell-forward (DC Queens 2023 Silver) knew she was young but not this young and it’s no telling how high she can fly, on or off the court. Ultra-athletic that can score in bunches and defends but watching her attacking and finish acrobatically with contact at this stage is big
2025
Destiny Lunan -guard (602 Lady Nation 8th Grade Platinum) explosive guard playing against older players and getting it done sums it up. Handles the ball under pressure while staying in control, gets to the basket whenever she wants and has a nice pull-up plus she plays passing lane, big upside