The Last Run finishes first
HOUSTON, TX–The John Lucas Last Run happened to be yet another exciting event I’ve had an opportunity to cover since I decided to get involved on a different level in girls basketball and this tournament had just about anything you could imagine. The talent on the court gave college coaches from all across the country a chance to see talented Texas doing their things on the court. DFW Elite Swift came down with a loaded supply of ammunition and the 2018 group defeated a couple of the areas high school squads while DFW Elite Blue Collar and Cy Fair Nike-Jolivette provided one of the tournament’s most exciting games and when I say one of, I mean just that because opening day, how about Texas commit Brooke McCarty dropping close to 30 including a half-court shot to send her Clear Springs team into overtime against a very impressive North Shore group.
The 2017 class was represented well and North Shore’s Chasity Patterson closed the day with a three for all as she was simply unconscious from everywhere. Alexis Morris and Chennedy Carter put on a show in the backcourt for DFW Elite Blue Collar, Marissa Banfield did the same for Westbury Christian and Deauzya Richards and Arianna Whitfield were hampered by injuries for Cy Ranch, but they are going to do some damage when they return healthy. Clear Springs and Clear Creek had several freshmen that are already making the transition; Tasharion Robinson’s offense has already turned another corner while Sierra Cheatham is on the verge of big things, well so is Lacee Savage from Creek, as well as several of her teammates and Hightower’s Treazure Mouton showed she’s ready to step in play off the top.
I don’t want to even touch on 2018 however Zae Green, Madison Williams and Charli Collier had college coaches in disbelief about their ages and as I echo one of their comments. “I’ll take all three right now.” Stay tuned, I’ll give you more during the week and let me give a special thanks to Rice University’s head coach Greg Williams who I asked me did I know the significance of Nneka Ogwumike and John Lucas being in the same building and this was one of the few times I’ve drawn a blank. He then responded “both were the top picks in their respective leagues” so thanks for the assist Coach Williams
HOUSTON, TX-Brianna Turner added another Gold Medal to her collection, this one for the U118 3X3 world championship and I had a brainstorm on my own for the front page. Turner is considered by many to be the #1 player in the country, Nneka Ogwumike wasn’t and neither was John Lucas yet both proved after their college careers someone made a mistake as both were chosen #1 in their respective leagues.
Turner joins Nneka as another elementary school player I’ve watched grow up right before my eyes, John’s a little older so I can’t claim that. Nevertheless Turner has continued to work on her weaknesses since that initial sighting to become an “ELITE FIVE STAR” player and that’s the bottom line.
She already has a state title, this happened when she was freshman at Westbury Christian and to be honest, she might be in a position to get one this season with Manvel as they are one of the frontrunners in Region 3. I expected big things from Turner when I first saw her and I’m thinking the same thing about her career at Notre Dame and beyond and who knows, this picture may be prophetic when she graduates from college and could possibly be the first pick of the draft