’21 Next 100 Killeen HS Tip Sheet pt 1
I had a chance to evaluate around 30 players that participated in the HS Division at PassThaBall’s #Next 100 held in Killeen TX, I’m breaking this down into the 2022-2024 classes and I’ll do another on the incoming freshmen so here are 17
2022
Esperanza Moreno-5’6 G (Belton HS) Supergirls– her defense was definitely one of the things that jumped at me instantly yet speaking of jump, that pull-up came around during the games and when that she can attack with either hand, taking the defender off the dribble was easy
Diamonique Barnhart-5’3 (Copperas Cove HS) she handled the ball well under pressure, saw the floor, and made the right pass yet she also created her shot to either drop the jumper or attack the rim
Anna Beamesderfer-6’1 F (Kempner) Supergirls– watching her finish in the paint early was nice yet as the day progressed, she showed a lot like the mid to long-range jumper but alas, good hands and footwork and scoring after contact just did it
2023
Taleiyah Gibbs-6’0 F (Killeen HS) AD Elite– long and athletic will always be the base but her tenacity inside the paint for rebounds was awesome as she went after everything but she also took defenders off the dribble as well as dropped the jumper, oh yeah, she plays the passing lane
Elizabeth Walton-5’6 PG (The Village School) TNBA– you can’t teach heart and when you add her ability to find ways to put the ball in the basket, that’s big so she can score off the dribble, create the mid to long-range, or battle for putbacks
Alisha Nunley-5’5 G (Trinty HS) was one of the most explosive players that weekend, she elevates on her jumper as well as attacking the rim and her acrobatic finishes coupled with very good body control, not to leave out her defense as well as playing the passing lane was all very good
Valerie Edson-5’2 PG Pro Skills– heady PG that understands the importance of controlling the tempo, she plays within herself and made the right passes yet she also set the defender up with a deceptive first step to take off the dribble
2024
Emery Espinoza-5’4 PG (East Central HS) DC Queens SA-the long ball has been there for a very long time so watching her just keep adding has been a treat as she mixes in yup to take the midrange or attack and score with either hand, a growth spurt has also helped her create problems defensively
Ma’Leah Duvall-5’6 G (Harker Heights HS) House 4 Hoops– long and athletic is still the base as I stated earlier yet she smoothly plays the passing lane and attacks by creating her shot and finishing with contact. She makes good decisions and defends well, good upside
Iyanna Billups-5’1 PG (Shoemaker HS) Competitive Edge– I have seen her do some magical things however she went completely off throwing outlets on the money, attacking from everywhere, and dropping the long ball from her favorite Chick-Fil-A in the area yet that SWB, the speed with the ball, is something else
Cassidy Gladney-5’4 PG (Temple HS) Supergirls– she attacks off the dribble, finishes after contact yet can also create her shot under pressure and drop the jumper as well as the stop and pop in transition but here defense is smothering, that’s really impressive
Grace Riggs-5’9 G (Harker Heights HS) another inch or two and more muscle has made her more than just a long ball threat as she knocked the midrange down consistently, scored off the dribble, and rebounded on both ends
Chloe Montanez-5’3 PG (New Braunsfels HS) SA Lady Hoops– stole the ball numerous times showing she had quick hands yet she also grabbed some steals playing the passing lane so the D was there, so was the O as she dropped the mid to long-range and finished strongly after contact, plus she saw the floor
Noelani Ajel-5’5 G (Steele HS) DC Queens SA– smooth as silk guard that just looks you in the eye and drops it, mid to long-range, with a hand in her face yet her poise under pressure stands out wherever she is and seeing her handle the ball, under pressure and make passes on the money is pretty nice
UNKNOWN CLASS
Jasmine Culpepper-5’2 G (Hendricks HS) did a good job creating her shot and knocking it down. The form was nice, release fluid and she was consistent but she also understood when and how to attack, she finished strongly after contact
Aniyah Shields– took the defender to the left, to the left so many times, I wanted to sing yet she danced to the right and GLIFDED to the basket. Her body control, coupled with her athleticism made her hard to handle, plus she rebounded and defended
Kristen Thomas-5’1 G– plays within herself and understood how to score in the flow yet she also made good decisions handling the ball while being pressured and hit teammates for assists, good upside