San Antonio Islanders #simmiecolsonclassic

I have met some really nice and genuine people over my 20-plus years of doing this and Jesse Torres, head coach, and the director is among those I consider a friend. I remember him contacting me about his squad and I told him I would try to catch them and BOY have I held on over the years

That initial squad had his daughter Alexia and let me tell you something, I have never seen so many long ball shooters on one squad until I asked Jessie could she shoot it too, he said of course

Alexia went on to play at the next level and now she’s coaching with dad so it’s always special when we get together because I always bring up watching them POP Nike teams, with MDAA and future WNBA players but here’s the rundown

2023

Angelina Romero is heady and under control. She did a good job of seeing the floor as well as creating her shot under pressure

Viviana Moreno created her shot in the set to other show the pull-up or attack the basket. Her stop-and-pop jumper in transition was nice, and so was her court vision

2024

Savannah Ramirez made my Day 2 Top Performers for Prep Girls Hoops but she had me going on opening day as well. You can’t teach DESIRE and you won’t outwork her around the basket, she thinks the game and just gets the job done on both ends

Julisa Davilla is an athletic guard that saw the floor in the set as well as in transition. She also scored off the dribble as well as from outside, yeah she dropped the pull-up while being defended but she also did a good job defending “on the ball”

Debi Hernandez put on a show to start things off, yeah she made the Day 1 Tip Sheet but nothing she does surprises me. I watched her drop 40 against a team that went deep into the playoffs in a fall league earlier yet she just understands how to take a game over offensively, she will be added to the Top 100 next update

2025

Sophia Alvarez scored off the dribble as well as on putbacks, oh yeah, she rebounded on both ends, but she also has good court vision and made tough passes look easy. Her defense was solid, she also played the passing lane well

2026

Lilah Yanover caught my eye at last season’s ALL EYEZ ON ME Individual Showcase and she still has me looking with her variety of moves coupled with her ballhandling under pressure. She scored off the dribble and played the passing lane strongly

Aaliyah Devin has some nice upside because she understands how to get hers in the flow and she plays within herself but her pressure defense as well as scoring off the dribble, especially against THAT HEAT, tells me a lot