8th Grade Tip Sheet 2015 Summer Hoops Tour #PrimeTime
TELISHA BROWN (RICE PLATINUM)
The Woodlands, TEXAS- This group had several exciting players that will make the transition into high school next season almost immediately and based on some of the ones I’ve watched numerous times before, it was also great to see some new faces of talented players that will be among the top players in the area. Skyrise Howard 2020 and Skyrise Meyers 2019 wound up in the finals but decided not to play the championship game, both squads have an abundance of players that fit the opening description and even though Howard’s squad still has a year to go, some could play next year and create issues as well including 2021 Kyndall Hunter, write that name down and remember I told you about her a long time ago. Here are 8 of the standouts from 8th grade division
Riane Burton (Skyrise Howard) the jump she’s made in a year has been astounding, she simply won’t let you outwork her in the paint. She understands positioning; rebounds well on both ends and can finish underneath or off dribble. What I really like is the improved perimeter defense giving her multiple options on positions she can play
Kyndall Hunter (Skyrise Howard) two things you can’t teach, speed and heart and with her ball handling and court vision, it ain’t too early to call her a D1 lock. She blows by defenders at will and she brings heat on defense, plays passing lane well and is a very unselfish player and why not, she gets hers in the flow
Jayda Kmiec (Skyrise Meyers) this was my first really good look at Kmiec and after a couple of minutes, I was sold. She’s 5’9, can score from outside or attack from the wing. To top that off, she battles on the boards, I’m talking both ends and finishes with contact. She has another growth spurt left and colleges love big guards that can score
Khari Clark (Skyrise Meyers) she stands at the magic number, she’s athletic, she rebounds well on both ends and never gives up or takes a play off and she also runs the floor and can step out and apply defense. She finishes with contact and can face the basket and score and when you have that formula, it’s only a matter of how high she will go cause she’s a lock
Yumon Simien (Rice Platinum) long and athletic, I’m digging her upside more than anything simply because I don’t think she realizes how good she is now. Great timing gets her plenty of blocks or alters not to mention she can shoot the long ball and attack from anywhere on the court
Telisha Brown (Rice Platinum) I might as well call her Downtown because she can let it fly and speaking of flying, in the open court she will definitely keep a smile on my face over the next few years. What I like even more is that she can take over when needed and she’s hard to handle once she gets going that will get even better
Emily Blackman (Houston Elite) Blackman knows how to do something I love seeing, find ways put the ball in the basket and by that I mean, well just that. It’s an uncanny trait but when you can do it, it’s good. Add the three ball into the equation and she’s got several tools
Atlantis White (Katy Rebels Howe) the jump she’s made in a year is amazing, well not really but the athleticism and speed has jumped as well as the confidence and I couldn’t but smile as she did some impressive things over the weekend, both offensively and defensively. I always talk about player progression, she’s a perfect example