2014 All Star Weekend Tip Sheet

 

DEYONNA GASTON (HTX FIRE)

WESTWEGO, Louisiana- The line just keeps getting longer on the John Lucas events I’m covering on the girl’s side and one thing that has remained constant is that I’m steadily identifying talented players that I hadn’t before.  This go round, my travels had me in Louisiana at the Alario Center, a place I am all too familiar having traveled there numerous times over the past 10 years to observe some of the top players in the country. What I saw at the John Lucas All Star Weekend were some very exciting young players, in fact a couple of the top prospects in the 2020 class who are on the fast track to maybe even MDAA. I’ve mentioned most of the players and all of the teams throughout the blog, there was over fifty talented young ladies who have their destiny in their hands and here are a few that simply stood out

 

2018

Khaitlyn Gavidel-guard-South Texas Hoyas- Ghavidel is becoming more than just a three point shooter who simply strives to be the best she can be. Her six three’s in the semi’s and three from bta isn’t what impressed the most, it was her improved defense and ability to attack from the wing

Dynah Jones-point guard-Elevate New Orleans-Jones simply amazed me, not only from what she did on the court but she did numerous times after being injured and coming back. She knows how to score but more importantly understands at an early age how to run a team

Kourtney Weber-wing-Elevate New Orleans-Weber is a physical specimen at a young age incorporating size and strength along with being relentless while attacking. She can rebound as well as handle it coast to coast. Once she realizes how good she is, watch out in a big way

Megan Wilkinson-guard-GTE Red Elite-I knew she was a player last season, simply put “ice water runs through her veins” as nothing fazes her. She has a stroke, trust me and she is going to be one of those pressure players that will come up big many times

Simran Mayfield-point guard-GTE Red Elite- Like Jones, Mayfield caught my eye off the top because I love watching PG’s that understand the game at an early age. She also showed she could get anywhere on the floor and set up her teammates. She handled the press effectively without being flustered

Arianna Cooks-wing-Louisiana Blue Chips-Long and athletic, Cooks was worth me going to Louisiana is what I tweeted. Her athleticism is through the roof; she has good skills and understands the game. Tremendous upside will have numerous colleges calling

 

 

TA’NIYA JACKSON (SOUTH TEXAS HOYAS)

 

 

2019

Dynah McZeal-guard-Baton Rouge Lady Tigers-I’m almost ready to put McZeal in the scorers category because she simply found ways to put the ball in the basket. Size wasn’t a deterrent as she got to the basket whenever. Nice arsenal of weapons at a young age but she ain’t done

Alynzia Morris-post-Baton Rouge Lady Tigers-The more I watched Morris against the different, I saw she “got it.” Good hands and footwork are a plus at any age but her strength enabled her to finish with contact and no matter how hard the contact was, she kept coming

Ta’Niya Jackson-guard-South Texas Hoyas-Jackson has been working and her mentality is going to make her a star. She was simply everywhere on both ends of the court, scoring almost every way imaginable while being one of the top defenders during the event

2020

Ana Rodriguez-point guard-HTX Fire- This young lady keeps getting better and what keeps impressing me is that she’s getting it done against older, stronger and more athletic kids but she’ll be bringing the heat once everything is level because she knows the game

Deyonna Gaston-post-HTX Fire- Gaston is ultra-athletic as a sixth grader, if you don’t understand, remember her name. She’s hard to handle in the paint, she can score from the wing, midrange and long ball. How can you hold her, oh she’s six feet

De’ja Kelly-whatever-South Texas Hoyas- Kelly simply goes off when she has too, she can attack and finish with either hand, can hit step back three’s which sometimes are fours because defenders fall for it. I list her as “whatever” because she plays all five positions. She rebounds defends, she definitely has “IT”