Class 6A All-State Team and Player Of The Year

This was an exciting year of basketball, especially when I called the outgoing senior class MONSTER when many of the players were in elementary school, [player_tooltip player_id="66106" first="Sarah" last="Andrews"] (Baylor) [player_tooltip player_id="66108" first="Deja" last="Kelly"] (North Carolina) [player_tooltip player_id="98797" first="Myra" last="Gordon"] (Alabama) [player_tooltip player_id="66109" first="Jordyn" last="Merritt"] (Florida) and I could go on and on but when you add juniors [player_tooltip player_id="97622" first="Kyndall" last="Hunter"] and [player_tooltip player_id="65878" first="Rori" last="Harmon"] (Cypress Creek) to the list of can’t miss I called early, it solidifies one thing, I know exactly what I’m talking about so as I playback the season in my head, I’m going to drop my All-State picks from the 6A Conference. First Team Player Of The Year [player_tooltip player_id="66108" first="Deja" last="Kelly"] - senior guard, Duncanville (North Carolina) Kelly’s poise sold me from day one, I look for certain intangibles including what players do instinctively as well as how they react to certain situations and when you’re playing up like she was at an early age, 3 or 4 years, the package was there and she has delivered in a big way leading Duncanville to yet another state championship. She can score in the flow or just put on a shooting exhibition with the blink of an eye and her mid to long-range was among the best in the state [player_tooltip player_id="97622" first="Kyndall" last="Hunter"]-junior guard, Cy Creek Hunter was definitely on a mission and being in the state championship game for the second time in three years is an accomplishment in itself and her squad is probably in the driver’s seat to do it again. Her expanded range is beyond NBA and she’s added strength and power to her already impressive game as she has shown she can not only create her shot in tight situations but elevate over defenders for baskets [player_tooltip player_id="136314" first="Kierra" last="Sanderlin"]-junior guard, Converse Judson Sanderlin was a BEAST when she helped Judson win the whole thing as a sophomore however you would have to put an exclamation point on how she put her team on her back and helped them make a deep run. After suffering a  minor injury earlier in the season, she came back with a vengeance and sent several messages on what type of player she not only is but will become [player_tooltip player_id="158665" first="Portia" last="Adams"]-junior guard, Cedar Hill Adams’explosiveness just went through the roof all season and although I missed her at the Sandra Meadows Classic because their opponent didn’t show up, she showed up at the She’s Ballin Showcase and gave me a front-row seat on what I had been missing from her this season. She goes hard and under control and her sheer desire to put the ball in the basket multiple ways spoke volumes [player_tooltip player_id="66107" first="Hannah" last="Gusters"]-senior post, Irving MacArthur (Baylor) Gusters has taken her game from just a big girl that rebounded when I saw her in the 6th grade to a legitimate force on both ends of the court. Yes she still rebounds and does that well, on both ends and she understands how to ignite the break with the outlet yet she has also put together some impressive offensive skills that let her score around the basket as well as hitting the short jumper Second Team [player_tooltip player_id="65910" first="Amina" last="Muhammad"]-sophomore forward, Desoto Muhammad turned another corner for this talented squad who will be healthy next season and ready to make yet another run because they went to state as freshmen, it’s seven of them, and I’m sure they’ll be more than ready and labeled by many including yours truly as the team to beat and she will have a lot to do with that. She’s one of the best defensive bigs in the state yet her offense has shot up [player_tooltip player_id="65909" first="Carleigh" last="Wenzel"]-sophomore guard, San Antonio O’Connor Wenzel is one of the top pure shooters in the country yet she also falls int the scorer category as she understands how to set defensive payers up to put the ball in the basket multiple ways. Her range is through the roof, she can hit the midrange, attack from the wing and even finish in the paint after offensive rebounds but the big thing about her is she plays within herself and gets hers in the flow yet if needed, she can simply take over just like that [player_tooltip player_id="65926" first="Samantha" last="Wagner"]-freshman forward, San Antonio Reagan Wagner is making a run at the top player in her class, I haven’t seen those boxed with her nationally yet, however, I’ve seen Wagner step out of the box and add something to her repertoire every year since, well forever. Size, strength, and skillset are the three S’s to SUCCESS yet she’s gone beyond that and added smooth because her outside shooting is fluid and she can simply overpower defensive players at  will [player_tooltip player_id="66122" first="Shay" last="Holle"]-senior guard, Austin Westlake (Texas) Holle went out with a bang and her shooting from distance as well midrange has been something to see over the years but she put up numbers, especially down the stretch and almost had her team in a position to make it to state. Her basketball IQ is second to none, she has put together an impressive run over the years to keep adding to her game [player_tooltip player_id="134030" first="Tristen" last="Taylor"]-freshman guard, Duncanville Taylor showed me at the Sandra Meadows Classic that she had made the adjustment with ease and since the game starts at the one, she falls on that list of notable freshmen point guards that have helped lead their teams to a state championship. She’s fast, she’s quick, she can handle the ball under pressure and she sees the floor, under pressure as well and since she doesn’t get fazed by the pressure, she also can score Honorable Mention [player_tooltip player_id="65878" first="Rori" last="Harmon"]-junior guard, Cy Creek Harmon is one of the top guards in the country, her ability to run a team has always stood out, even in elementary school when I said she was a #D1Lock and with her shift ballhandling as well as her passing ability, Cy Creek is the frontrunner to win the Region again yet Harmon also can score, the long-range is there, the stop and pop from mid-range is there or just for fun, she can dazzle defenders and attack the basket [player_tooltip player_id="66106" first="Sarah" last="Andrews"]-senior guard Irving MacArthur (Baylor) Andrews finished up the season strong after being hurt and many didn’t see her returning yet the first time I saw her playing up, on an 8th grade team destroying the opposition, I asked what high school would she be attending and she responded "I’m only in the 6th grade" Fast forward over the years, I have seen her do some uncanny things so her coming back didn’t surprise me one bit nor will her helping Baylor make National Championship runs [player_tooltip player_id="67946" first="AJ" last="Marotte"]-junior guard, Vista Ridge Marotte can just fill it up, size and smoothness with a jumper that sizzles is the short definition but the long one is her creativity, her attacking ability as well as her wanting the ball under pressure and delivering. She brings it on both ends, she can defend on the perimeter and plays the passing lane very well but as good as she is, she still has some scary upside [player_tooltip player_id="65914" first="Sa’Myah" last="Smith"]-sophomore post (Desoto) Smith just keeps getting better, I saw her control a game at the Sandra Meadows Classic from the defensive end which is simply amazing to see. Her excellent timing is intimidating yet she can score floating to the basket or showing great hands and footwork to finish inside. The short jumper is there and in that same Sandra Meadows Tournament she had a season-ending knee injury and had she not, there may have been a different state champion [player_tooltip player_id="97647" first="Zaria" last="Rufus"]-junior forward (Duncanville) Rufus filled in so many blanks for Duncanville and it’s championship season, I think I’ll equate what she did to being labeled a silent assassin because some of the things she did along the way just don’t show up on a scoresheet not to the novice yet an experienced evaluator, me, sees everything. Yes, she can score, powerfully on the inside and she can also rebound on both ends, not to mention defend but the intangibles she brought were over the top and something you can’t  teach