Pre Thanksgiving Trifecta
DEJA KELLY
HOUSTON, Texas- The 2018/19 season opened up with a bang for me in the Summer Creek at Cy Creek game, this was a follow up to last season’s R-3 finale which Cy Creek won and Summer Creek avenged that defeat in the opener. The game was filled with intensity and energy, something I hadn’t seen in a season opener in a very long time and when I say the game has changed, I’m not just “blowing smoke” because it has and again social media has played a huge part in from what it was, to what it is no matter what anyone else tells you. The last game I’ve seen was in the FBISD Tournament with Hightower holding off Ridgepoint in the championship and that game too reminded me of some of what I remember from a decade ago and earlier, Hightower winning the title in both that game and the Peggy Whitley Classic. Katy over Westside in SBISD Tournament Championship was a solid game, asterisk added because #BCSLock Fatou Samb was out for the Wolves but this will be a season where there is no clear favorite to win R-3 6A however I’m leaning toward Hightower and Manvel in 5A but let’s just see. Here are some of the top players I saw over last weekend from Texas Invitational, Lady Mustangs Tournament and FBISD Tournament
ARIEONA ROSBOROUGH
Arieona Rosborough-guard (Lake Ridge) explosive scorer, midrange continues to create issues, powerful rebounder and defends baseline to baseline
Zaya Price-guard (Cibolo Steele) good size attacks relentlessly and is an “and one” waiting to happen. Athletic and nails mid to long range consistently
Bria McClure-guard (Cibolo Steele) leaves me awed at times, defies gravity around basket, unlimited range and deceptive ball handling makes her hard to stop
Rori Harmon-guard (Clear Creek) crossover keeps getting better as she keeps defense honest,mid to long range sold me when she was 10 years old
Kyndall Hunter-guard (Clear Creek) first step is devastating, strong and athletic, makes things happen off dribble or with the pull-up, plus she plays passing lane
Hannah Gusters-post (Duncanville) on just about every major programs wish list and at 6’4, already shows she can dominate yet still has upside
Deja Kelly-guard (Duncanville) was one of the reasons I called 2020 a monster class and her game is scary good as she can take over or get 30 in the flow
Maliyah Johnson-forward (Summer Creek) has added range to go with her 6’3 height and she’s sort of hard to handle as she can score facing basket or inside
Ashlyn Jones-forward (Klein Oak) always poised, especially under pressure and can take defenders from the wing or nail the outside shot
Tommisha Lampkin-post (Mansfield Summit) throwback player, at least for me because I know, won’t be outworked, 6’3, never takes a play off, sum that up
JADA MALONE
Jada Malone-post (The Village) one of the top 2021 players in the world, 6’4, scores mid to long, great hands and footwork , scores powerfully on inside, rebounds on both ends
Tymberlin Criswell-guard (The Village) long and athletic, plays passing lane, has that pull-up from mid to long range and scores off the dribble
Elyssa Coleman-post (Atascocita) not 100% but will pay dividends for the Lady Eagles down the stretch with her Dede Davis, who was out, and a solid squad
Robin Whitehead-guard (Atascocita) players bigger than her size, rebounds against taller opponents and battles for everything. Oh yeah, knows how to put ball in basket
Deazhia Smith-guard (Clear Creek) the more I see this squad, the more I think, anything can happen and Smith has been clutch all season. Footnote Eliya Ellis was out, do not underestimate this squad
SYDNI JOHNSON
Sydni Johnson-guard (Hightower) elevating on jumper is good, especially when it goes in and Johnson was dropping the pull-up from everywhere
Taelor Purvis-guard (Hightower) ultra-athletic, plays passing lane to a tee, nice stop and pop or just blows by defenders waving
Taylor Thomas-guard (Ridgepoint) went completely off scoring in bunches in FBISD finale, can hit mid tolong range as well as take defenders off the dribble
Sydney Ward-guard (Katy Taylor) one of the top freshmen in Texas, been waiting to say that since she was in the 6th grade. Long and athletic, elevates on jumper, instinctively maneuvers to the basket, huge upside
Raven Adams-guard (Ridgepoint) passes are on the money and through traffic as she continues to show me she’s one of the state’s top 2021 PG’s. Handles ball under pressure and can score from just about everywhere
DeYona Gaston-wing (Pearland) she’s 6’3 and, probably dunking, rebounds over defenders, scores from LONG range, long and athletic and she ain’t done as she’s one of the top 2020 prospects in the country