Girlz Prep Report 2013 Texas Top 100
After an exhausting yet exciting trip to Arlington last weekend covering DFW Elite’s Fall Finish, I came away with countless new players that have the ability to play at the next level. When I started doing this, I said that I wanted to set the foundation down in Houston and I would expand throughout Texas because honestly, we have as much or even more talent from across the state as anywhere else in the country year after tear. I have preached that over and over and as the rest of the country noticed that what I was saying had some validity; the kids are now getting their due, which is great.
On the downside, some kids are still overlooked, that will always happen on a national scale because sometimes players are seen only a handful of times, especially if they aren’t the ones with the big names or playing on certain teams. On top of that, if you aren’t on your “A” game or close to it when you are being evaluated, you will most likely get a low to no ranking, always be on your “A” game! On the other hand, I get to see players a great number of times, not only in the Houston area but across the state as well and I plan on doing my best to put together a true Texas Top 100 for every junior class from here on, along with another 100 or more “Best In Texas” so that college coaches from all over the country will have a chance to see information on any player that might have been misevaluated or missed completely.
Two players from the Class of 2013 in Texas made a major impact this summer on several scouts from across the country, Breanna Hayden , Dallas Lincoln and Christen Inman, Seven Lakes in Katy. Inman, by the way, is the Girlz Prep Report Top 2013 player in the area, while both young ladies are in my Girlz Prep Report 2013 Texas Top 10. I have written stories about these two in the past and one thing I take pride on is spotting talented kids at a young age while breaking down their strengths and weaknesses and then watching them improve. I saw a possibility of greatness in both while they were in the middle to high school transition summer and as they have continued to progress, their tickets to the next level have been stamped, special delivery at that! I have finished up my DFW Fall Finish with a story about Hayden on the GPR blog, but right now, Christen Inman.
Sometimes nicknames pop into my head for some of these players and they probably don’t catch on, but it’s still something I do. I myself have been tabbed either “Guru” or “The Beast With The Tp Sheets” and I’m probably a little of both . Courtney Williams is “The Truth”, AJ Alix is the “Real Deal” and the baby of the bunch, Brooke McCarty was first called the “Chosen One” after I saw her simply dominate some high school guards in a tournament while she was still in the in sixth grade.
Why do the names pop into my head? I have no idea, and after several calls to Dr. Gregory House remain unreturned, it happened again as I was writing this story about Inman. After looking at one of her action shots and reminiscing about the first time I saw her simply jump out of the gym, I was somewhat reminded of a young David Thompson, therefore Skywalker seems to be a perfect fit and if you have any doubts, the above picture says it all. I thought Seven Lakes could be a sleeper last season and possibly make it to the Campbell Center as one of the Region 3 Final Four teams however an early season injury to Inman, even though she came back, spelled doom. This season, once again they are a sleeper and this team will go as far as Inman can take them. Even though she has solid players to help her, defensive whiz Jade Johnson and a very underrated Sydney Buchel, Christen is the key and keeping her healthy will play dividends in the long run, not only for her, but for the team as well.