2015 Insiders Basketball Classic Gold and Silver Tip Sheet
JESSICA SODERS
CYPRESS, Texas- The Houston Skyrise brought three of their top teams in various age groups and Skyrise Hamilton 2019 and Skyrise Howard 2020 won the Gold and Silver divisions while Skyrise Blue Star lost to eventual NCAA division winner Lady Houston Phenoms in the semis. I’ll add a footnote on that one, star point guard Bre Bookman wasn’t available and since the game starts at the one, I can’t wait for the rematch. I’ve seen Hamilton’s and Howard’s teams many times over the past two seasons and both teams have an abundance of, I won’t use the term college prospects because to be honest, everyone is a prospect when you tie in the “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” but both teams have a lot of players that will be playing college ball as well as the other teams that competed in both Gold and Silver and here are a few that caught my eye
SANDRA CANNADY
2019
Dyani Robinson ( Skyrise Hamilton) speed and ball-handling are huge for guards and when you can handle the ball with speed, you’re way ahead of the game at this age. Robinson has an extra gear and plays passing lanes so well that she gets easy baskets galore
Jessica Soders (Skyrise Hamilton) she’s good enough to start on most HS teams in the area now and put up numbers. Good size and body combined with her desire that makes her go after everything is refreshing
Sandra Cannady (Dynasty Moore) Already long and around the magic number of six feet, she combines athleticism with instincts and those are some great attributes to start with but the jump she has made from last season adds her to one of the top in Texas 2019
Talia Gourad (Lady Houston Phenoms) athletic with an explosive first step but the real boom comes when she’s playing the passing lanes. Loves to defend and rebounds well on both ends and even showed me a pull-up off the dribble
Alexa Moore (Houston Insiders White) has made several jumps throughout season and is more under control as well as creating shots better. Strong body, can attack basket and finish with contact as well as face basket and score
DIJONE FLOWERS
2020
Dijone Flowers (Livingston Ladies) ahead of her years simply sums it up. This young lady is playing up and putting up numbers while handling the heat, that’s always a good sign. Very athletic on both ends, she can score multiple ways and rebound plus handle the ball in traffic
Cassidy Howard (Skyrise Howard 2020) Howard keeps improving in every aspect of the game but one constant remains, she thinks the game and sees plays before they happen. This is something you can’t teach and since the shot is falling, everything else will fall into place as she’s proving she can face the basket and score
Shadiya Thomas (Skyrise Howard 2020) athleticism is ahead of her years and she’s under control with it. She has a devastating first step and with her body control, she can finish with contact. Plays passing lanes exceptional for her age, huge upside
Honorable Mention
Regan Blackburn (Zero Gravity 2019)
Miannah Little (Waco Lady Panthers 2019)
Gabriella Cantu (Barbers Hill Lady Tigers 2020)
Tara Goolsby (365 Elite Red 2020)
Gillian Brotherhood (365 Elite White 2020)