2021 Heart Of Texas Under The Radar squad
After years of giving logical information only to see a new breed of stupidity enter girl’s basketball, I just sat back, watch and SMH knowing what the aftermath will be yet I always have said “there are too many people giving advice and information” that have ulterior motives or don’t know what they’re talking about and it snowballs so while attempting to grow the game, much of this nonsense in social media has actually hurt the game, as a whole, and there will always be players who are Under The Radar for a number of reasons so what I like to give honest evaluations which doesn’t happen a lot these days, that’s one of the reasons the portal is and will stay full. Lexi Alexander-6’0 SF (Austin Elite RFW) has always impressed me, not only because of her physique and showing me she could score inside yet her progression every year to where she can drop the mid to long-range as well as power inside but I also am gifted enough to watch a true PLAYER a couple of minutes and know what I’m looking at and seeing Aaliyah Craft-5’9 PG (Lady Thunder King) had me immediately add her to the PGH Texas 2022 where she joined Alexander and Craft has SWB, the speed with the ball, sees the floor and attacks relentlessly, all under control and can score in droves or in the flow but as I made it a point to catch others here is what I saw
2022
Mercedes Mancha-5’8 CG (Skyrise Edmond) heady player that left me speechless playing on a bad ankle at Border Wars, even dropped a 3 and smiled at me yet I’ve smiling at her dropping the 3 for years and watching her transform into more than just a shooter, she can really shoot, has be a treat as she can handle the ball under pressure, see the floor as well as take over when needed
Kenna Gibson-5’8 CG (Skyrise Edmond) the often used “unlimited range” really applies to her because once she crosses midcourt, you need to be on her yet I’m even more impressed with her being able to control the tempo if she switched to the 1. Her defense, on ball, has taken off, she dives on the floor, she plays the passing lane and her passes are “on the money when it counts” yet that pull-up in transition has been cicking
Brooklin Brown-5’10 SG (Skyrise Edmond) I often wonder what I like most about her game and it would have to be the midrange because she’s long and athletic, that’s the base I use, and with a deceptive first step as well as elevating on her jumper, she gets wherever she wants to and gets it off, yet the 3 ball works too, so does attacking and finishing after contact but her defense, rebounding and playing the passing lane are all very solid
Alex Neimeth-5’8 SG (Austin Elite RFW) she showed so much potential before high school and watching her elevate her game to a legitimate next level prospect has been a joy but the real joy comes from watching her set defenders up as well as performing in the clutch. She’s a gamer, she’s heady and she plays multiple positions but she also “finds ways to put the ball in the basket” that’s not common and she fills up the stat sheet
Makenna Walker-5’7 SG (Texas Platinum 17U Bates) caught my eye last season creating her shot and nailing it and after seeing her consistently doing that, I was sold yet she also finds ways to contribute other than scoring, yeah the mid to long range is nice but so is her seeing the floor, understands how to read defenses as well as battling for rebounds and at her size, that’s huge but so is her fire to get teammates going
Allie Buchanan-6’0 SF/PF (Texas Platinum 17U Bates) I’ll never forget catching her a few years ago, team up 20, she’s going off, next game, team down 20, she’s going off and her CONSISTENCY combined with size is a definite plus and while I’m adding, her mid to long range jumper is equally as important as her finishing inside showing god hands and footwork plus she rebounds and college coaches love shooters her size
Bree Casey-5’8 SG (Texas Platinum 17U Bates) it would be easier to say what she can’t do and all I can think of is dunk yet she SLAMMED so many other intangibles like her “entry passes” taking charges or diving on the floor for loose balls yet she outrebounds taller players, she defends and she can flat out shoot the ball, mid to long-range and is an “and one” waiting to happen because of her TIMEX “take the lick and keep on ticking” mindset
Atria Dumas-6’3 PF/P (Texas Phenoms) watching her over the years has been a joy as she has transformed from a “decoy” to a back to the basket player to one that can face the basket and score with her soft touch but her intensity on defense, she’s rebounding with authority, she’s running the floor and she’s playing defense inside and outside of the paint so throw in blocks, alters and deflects shots, yes, yes and yes
Aniah Hall-6’3 P (Team Lex Tar Heels) the transformation continues as she’s turned out to be a real SUPERGIRL and let me throw this out there, there aren’t many that go after the ball, off the rim, like she does “you can’t teach that” and I love her intensity on the defensive end yet she continues to finish with players hanging on her and showing the nice “hands and footwork” combination as well as facing the basket for buckets
2023
Paris Guillory-5’8 CG (Lake City Pride) when I first saw her, POISE under pressure just jumped at me and 4 years later, watching her take over games scoring mid to long-range, attacking the basket or after the steal, she has quick hands make her an offensive threat but she also rebounds and plays “on-ball defense ” baseline to baseline. She also can run a squad, either in the half-court or in transition where her pinpoint passes just helps complete her game
Aniyah Sanford-5’4 PG (Houston United 2023 Gold) these 5 years have been something to observe and seeing her just control a game under pressure during the season made me smile yet watching her come from nowhere and elevate over a 6’0 for a rebound still has me smiling. She handles the ball, sees the floor, can attack and finish yet she creates her shot, under pressure and knocks down the mid to long range jumper
Keely Cummings-5’6 PG (Houston Skyrise 23 Elite) “heady” is an understatement because she can either be the “pass first 1” or “1 who takes over” yet she is one of the best passers in her class, she makes the hard ones look easy and she does it consistently but lets not get it twisted because she’s also one of the best “long ball shooters” and “clutch shooters” in her class so however you want it, KC will bring the SUNSHINE to the court
Riley McCloskey-5’5 PG (Just Play Elite 2022) I love the HEZ she has added to her game, it gets the defender off balance and enables her to get by them for the smooth pull-up jumper or to attack the rim yet her passing, with either hand, are blazing and on the money but speaking of money, she can also drop the long ball by creating her shot under pressure. What else does she do, well she understands how to run a team and direct traffic
Erin Lloyd-5’3 PG (Houston United 2023 Gold) you can’t teach speed and I want to say she is one of the best defensive guards in her class and watching her “man up” as well as “play the passing lane” creates problems yet she also can attack off the dribble, hit the pull-up in transition and understands how to control the tempo
2024
Ashna Tambe-5’7 SG (Texas Elite 16U 3SSB) love to see players flourish in new systems and she is playing at a different level than when I caught her initially yet seeing her for the first time got her immediately added to the PGH Texas 2024 Watch List, yes she’s that good. She plays under control, nothing fazes her and she understands how to run a team yet she can score, off the dribble or mid to long range and when you factor in her upside, there is no telling how high she will fly