2019 Lady Thunder makes noise #Shooting4DaCure
PASADENA, TEXAS-The Houston Lady Roadrunners’ Shooting 4DA Cure Tournament gave me a chance to look at several new squads and a glob of talented players that I hadn’t seen before including three teams from the Bryan/College Station area, the Lady Thunder. This was special for me in so many reasons, I guess the main reason is that my daughter played at Texas A&M and helped them win a National Championship and one of the Lady Thunder coaches, Alexys King-Grice, was a ball girl for the Aggies. I remember asking her was she in gymnastics and she responded, “no sir, I’m a hooper” and after seeing her, well I never stopped watching , and she’s heading to the next level coming off an All State season for College Station HS so I caught a glimpse of all teams, here’s a preview, I’ll catch even more down the road but here are just some of the many standouts in the organization
Lady Thunder Black
Athletic and attacking guards and when you add high energy, wow. JerKayla Dickey and Arianah Lewis, upside of Jolie Howe and Ja’Jinae Willams was definitely impressive and speaking of up, Christianna Lewis left me speechless at times and she’s only a 6th grader playing 2 years up. Need a 3, holla at Breeee, Bryanna Stokes was dropping the long ball while Makayla Ford was smooth with the midrange. Aniya King will be back before this story gets hot, Kemyreal Wheaton’s nickname is Fat Mama, her gamed is FAT and she does things players heading to college can’t do, trust me she’s going to create some problems but the girls battle, I love seeing that and Olyiva Brooks just captivated me one sequence when she pinned the ball on one end, ignited the break and scored on the other end, stole the ball on the inbounds, 3 offensive rebounds later, an and one
Lady Thunder Silver
Minnie England, Aniya Stone, Kathryn Fix and Jy’Maya Rayford simply got after it and after catching many throughout the organization at their tryouts, I’m already impressed with the progression I’m seeing throughout the club. Kira May is long and athletic, Zoe Rich can just shoot it and Heaven Ford range was from the BCS area, I’m serious she has unlimited range
Lady Thunder 12U
What probably impressed me throughout the club I the players willingness to listen and be attentive, that as well as playing baseline to baseline no matter what, just reminds me of the old days before novelty basketball, aka social media nonsense, I’m a straight shooter, never used one and will always keep it real. Nya Coleman and Miracle Montgomery, Rianna Rush, Ariyah Curley and Brandi Turner brought heat throughout the event. Tiara McCoy’s size and strength at this stage is going to take her places, she athletic and mobile. Zion Turner, what can I say, she attacks at will from every angle and there’s that name again, Christianna Ellis defying gravity for baskets over and over. Zimia Turner sort of reminded me of Alexys saying come watch not far from the same age as she explained to me I wasn’t at her last game and what she did. I already know what’s coming, this kid already comprehends a lot but she ain’t the only one, sorry for the broken English, I’m an evaluator and Zimia I already get it, you can go, in fact three Lady Thunder players made my Tip Sheet