Day 1 New Faces from Heart of Texas pt 1
In this article:
The acronym #HOT says it all and with the hashtag added there will be several new names I’ll drop around before becoming back tp those you may have heard of and as my database keeps increasing, I’ll still be going back to She’s Ballin Extravaganza and Shooting 4 Da Cure with a variety of informative stuff on many players but here are some of the players I haven’t seen personally or dropped anything on before
2021
Kendra Gillispie
Kendra
Gillispie
6'2" | PF
Harding Charter | 2021
State
#70
Nation
OK
-6’2 PF/C (Lady Drive Nation 17U Randle Jet)
Gillispie was so overpowering right off the top that I was scratching my head on "how do you miss a player like this" until I checked the roster but the Oklahoma standout stood completely out as she made her presence felt on the inside and watching that "drop step" just took me back to the age of #THROWBACK players. Good hands and footwork combined with a college-ready body
Trinity Gooden
Trinity
Gooden
5'11" | SG
Choctaw | 2021
State
OK
-5’11 G (Pro Skills 17U EYBL)
Gooden had me wondering "how did I miss the kid" and after checking the roster, that name kept bugging me be so I had to use my search bar and I saw my first mention about her was in 2014, she’s from Oklahoma but that range and pull-up came back to me, her energy, ability to play the passing lane as well as attacking the basket and finishing with contact was good back then but it’s off the chain now
Crystal Smith
Crystal
Smith
5'7" | SG
Katy Tompkins | 2021
State
TX
-5’8 SG (Cy Fair Elite 17U National Houston)
Smith caught my eye last season at Prime Time Nationals and the local standout stood out immediately but her explosiveness off the dribble and ability to make tight passes going full speed has just taken off even more but she mixes it up nicely, her stop and pop jumper in transition or the hesitation that can leave some defenders standing still
Mya Williams-5’8 SG (DFW Elite 17U Select)
Williams made my Tip Sheet in the 5th grade and to be honest, I didn’t remember her because of her growth spurt and my not seeing her for a few years yet it all came back and her ability to create her shot under pressure is what first caught my eye and she’s take that to a new level as she understands how to mix it up with a variety of moves but her jumper is smooth and accurate and she’s clutch under pressure
2022
Sydni Smith-6’2 F (Pro Skills 16U EYBL)
Smith has me wondering why I hadn’t seen her before but she’s from across the state line so that explained it as well as her range from across the NBA line but her length and athletic ability enables her to bring so much to the table which she has set with a variety of offensive skills but her defense applies so much pressure that it generally creates baskets going the other way
2023
Keely Cummings
Keely
Cummings
5'6" | PG
La Porte | 2023
State
TX
-5’6 PG (Houston Skyrise Cap)
Cummings caught my eye dribbling as a 3rd grader so before her game, I said "hey little girl, can you play" and her response was "come see" and she drops a 3 and then steals the ball and throws a "no look" for an assist and turns and stares at me and I haven’t stopped watching but her ability to run a team s solid but her clutch shooting, especially the long ball is a valuable asset
2024
Taliyah Parker-6’1 SG/SF (BTR 16U AA)
Parker left me somewhat speechless at times, especially in the open court but she’s on a team with some heavy hitters that can simply go and my saying she’s long and athletic doesn’t touch it because she’s ultra-athletic and can jump out of the gym and her rebounding and shot-blocking ability combined with the way she attacks the basket kept me on the edge of my seat
Taylor Craver
Taylor
Craver
5'8" | PG
Sasche | 2024
State
TX
-5’8 PG (Cy Fair Elite Nike Coop)
Craver is on a team that will revamp my 2024 Watchlist with additions and the additions she brings on the court are numerous pluses but watching her attack the basket off the dribble, hit the jumper in transition as well as creating her shot under pressure all were on point, which she runs efficiently yet on the flip side, she applies pressure and plays the passing lane
Kendra
Gillispie
6'2" | PF
Harding Charter | 2021
State
#70
Nation
OK
-6’2 PF/C (Lady Drive Nation 17U Randle Jet)
Gillispie was so overpowering right off the top that I was scratching my head on "how do you miss a player like this" until I checked the roster but the Oklahoma standout stood completely out as she made her presence felt on the inside and watching that "drop step" just took me back to the age of #THROWBACK players. Good hands and footwork combined with a college-ready body
Trinity Gooden
Trinity
Gooden
5'11" | SG
Choctaw | 2021
State
OK
-5’11 G (Pro Skills 17U EYBL)
Gooden had me wondering "how did I miss the kid" and after checking the roster, that name kept bugging me be so I had to use my search bar and I saw my first mention about her was in 2014, she’s from Oklahoma but that range and pull-up came back to me, her energy, ability to play the passing lane as well as attacking the basket and finishing with contact was good back then but it’s off the chain now
Crystal Smith
Crystal
Smith
5'7" | SG
Katy Tompkins | 2021
State
TX
-5’8 SG (Cy Fair Elite 17U National Houston)
Smith caught my eye last season at Prime Time Nationals and the local standout stood out immediately but her explosiveness off the dribble and ability to make tight passes going full speed has just taken off even more but she mixes it up nicely, her stop and pop jumper in transition or the hesitation that can leave some defenders standing still
Mya Williams-5’8 SG (DFW Elite 17U Select)
Williams made my Tip Sheet in the 5th grade and to be honest, I didn’t remember her because of her growth spurt and my not seeing her for a few years yet it all came back and her ability to create her shot under pressure is what first caught my eye and she’s take that to a new level as she understands how to mix it up with a variety of moves but her jumper is smooth and accurate and she’s clutch under pressure
2022
Sydni Smith-6’2 F (Pro Skills 16U EYBL)
Smith has me wondering why I hadn’t seen her before but she’s from across the state line so that explained it as well as her range from across the NBA line but her length and athletic ability enables her to bring so much to the table which she has set with a variety of offensive skills but her defense applies so much pressure that it generally creates baskets going the other way
2023
Keely Cummings
Keely
Cummings
5'6" | PG
La Porte | 2023
State
TX
-5’6 PG (Houston Skyrise Cap)
Cummings caught my eye dribbling as a 3rd grader so before her game, I said "hey little girl, can you play" and her response was "come see" and she drops a 3 and then steals the ball and throws a "no look" for an assist and turns and stares at me and I haven’t stopped watching but her ability to run a team s solid but her clutch shooting, especially the long ball is a valuable asset
2024
Taliyah Parker-6’1 SG/SF (BTR 16U AA)
Parker left me somewhat speechless at times, especially in the open court but she’s on a team with some heavy hitters that can simply go and my saying she’s long and athletic doesn’t touch it because she’s ultra-athletic and can jump out of the gym and her rebounding and shot-blocking ability combined with the way she attacks the basket kept me on the edge of my seat
Taylor Craver
Taylor
Craver
5'8" | PG
Sasche | 2024
State
TX
-5’8 PG (Cy Fair Elite Nike Coop)
Craver is on a team that will revamp my 2024 Watchlist with additions and the additions she brings on the court are numerous pluses but watching her attack the basket off the dribble, hit the jumper in transition as well as creating her shot under pressure all were on point, which she runs efficiently yet on the flip side, she applies pressure and plays the passing lane
