2015 Insiders Basketball Classic WNBA Tip Sheet
PAYTON WALKER
CYPRESS, Texas-The Insiders Basketball Classic gave me a look at several new faces this season as well as some who continue to show me they’ve added something to their games. I chose a player from each team in the WNBA Division, Waco Lady Panthers dropped two since they won it and those two fall into several categories including mid to BCS locks so here we go
2016
Marie Benson (Waco Lady Panthers 17U)-game has evolved from just back to the basket as she’s a legitimate three or four at the next level. Pull-up, midrange and handling ball baseline to baseline all have jumped but she can still get it done in the paint
Shannon Jones (Houston Dominators)-hadn’t seen Jones in this type of setting all year and she’s showing the midrange over and over as well as the “hang time” for baskets. Long and athletic, she’s definitely one that can create issues for any defender
Cydney Varner (Hybrid Hoops)-I pub her as one of the best midrange shooters in the state, she’s explodes on her pull-up, gets shot off against anyone and has great body control going to the basket. Defense has always been there, even more intense
Payton Walker (365 Elite)-long and athletic, she does several things quite well. She attacks off the dribble, rebounds and can hit mid and long range consistently. Her length comes in handy on defense as she has great timing to alter or block shots
Naomi Brown (Dynasty Johnson)-each year, I see this young lady expanding her game and with her frame and strength, she can get anyone in the paint on both ends. She battles after everything and can finish on the inside with players hanging on her
Melissa Rodriguez (Runnin Rebels)-one of the top long ball shooters in her class, I’m talking about Texas and she can catch and shoot, stop and pop or even drop them going full speed while hanging in the air. Very unselfish and sees floor well
Violet Reynolds (Zero Gravity)- big guard that explodes to basket with power and can finish with contact. Nice midrange game loves to play defense and is very good at playing passing lanes. Doesn’t mind rebounding in fact loves contact
KENDALYN REECE
2017
Kendalyn Reece (Houston Insiders Blue)-long and athletic, game continues to move upward. Can take over offense in the flow either attacking or midrange, good defender and shot blocker , ballhandling also has taken off
Taylor Howard (Houston Dream Elite)-big guard that can score sums her game up, not really because she doesn’t have to score to be effective. She defends and rebounds, she comes up with steals by reading court and she sees the floor but she fills up score-sheet over and over
Madison Nicholas (Bay Area Blaze)- I knew it was coming when I saw her two years ago, poised under pressure at the most important position. Good ball handler that knows how to create shots for teammates yet can score off dribble, mid or long range
London Mallet (DFW Elite Houston 17U)-has “BEAST” like tendencies in the paint, powerful rebounder that battles over and over again. Loves contact, can finish while taking it but even more impressive is her stepping out and play D on perimeter
Caroline Taylor (Livingston Ladies)-long and athletic guard that hit some from that Louisiana state line. Definitely one of the top long ball shooters over the weekend, midrange was on point as well but she was definitely one of the top long ball shooters over the weekend
Barbara Benson (Waco Lady Panthers) –maybe the best 2017 player in Texas you don’t know about and she’s in my Top 5 so blow her phone up. She’s athletic, first step is a killer, she can hang in there while I change batteries in my camera, she shoots the long ball, rebounds and defends and I said she was a BCS lock and you can throw away the key
Martina Stavinoah (Fury)-she’s athletic enough to create her shot from any angle and sowed she could score against anyone. Good midrange and long ball shooter who has nice inside moves as well as the ability to score off the dribble
Falyn Taylor (Houston Dream Elite Blue)-loved watching her shoot the long ball and if I left the gym after she made one, when I returned she was dropping another, both days but she also showed she could defend and did a good job seeing the floor