2021 Heat On D #GirlsIndividualShowcase
I have been involved in girls basketball for over 20 years, my daughters wanted to play and my ex-wife made me take them, that just about sums that part up however once I became involved, I fell in love with…
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Continue ReadingI have been involved in girls basketball for over 20 years, my daughters wanted to play and my ex-wife made me take them, that just about sums that part up however once I became involved, I fell in love with “this side” because of the fundamentals, the playing hard and the playing smart that I didn’t always get “on the other side” yet when I say something, either with subtle hints or just blurting it out, sometimes it goes in one ear and out of another yet again, my daughter over 100 D1 offers and plays in the WNBA and I’ve helped hundreds, if not thousands of players who had absolutely nothing go on to play at the next level so I may just know what I’m talking about and one thing I do know id that defense wins games, it helped my daughter’s Texas A&M squad win a National Championship, okay now I have your attention. Here are some of the senior defensive standouts I caught at the Girls Individual Showcase
Robin Whitehead-5’9
Whitehead is strong, very athletic, and moves her feet well on defense yet watching her man up and tire out offensive players baseline to baseline gave me some yesteryear memories. She battles in the paint for rebounds, on both ends of the floor and the other side she used that same strength to go right at whoever defender her and did a good job getting to the rim
Shanna Petty-5’10
Petty has just evolved into a menace and she reads the floor so well that even I can’t think of anything clever to compare it to. I’ve watched her play the passing lane all season, she has turned it up and with her athleticism, she comes up with steals galore yet she loves to apply pressure, either giving or taking it right to whoever is defending her
Ashley Ngene-6’0
Ngene made a statement to one of the campers after telling me she would be at some of the other upcoming showcases I would be covering saying “I’m chasing those scholarships” and let me tell you something, with her size and mindset, she is definitely on to something but her sheer strength, she rebounds like there is no tomorrow at times and goes after the ball, but she always has since I first saw her in middle school and when you throw in “she can finish” well she ain’t finished
Gabrielle Owens-5’11
Owens leaves me speechless at times and seeing an old photo I took of her years ago definitely lifted my spirits a few weeks ago and play those 4 years back into my head, one thing is certain, you won’t outwork her and with her frame and strength not to mention athletic ability, she defends and outrebounds taller players because she thinks outside of the box as well as boxes out but not only does she play within herself, she fills up the stat sheet
Quera Newby-5’5
Newby was a newbie to me until I saw her at the #713Showcase a few weeks ago and since we’re in the same area code, I speak about Texas being big, well Houston is too and as much as she showed me offensively in that event her defense caught my eye this time as she used athleticism to create some problems, forced offensive players into the trap and took away the baseline, all of the things I love to see
Taylor Jackson Taylor Jackson 6'1" | C Cy Creek | 2021 State TX -6’3
Jackson has always impressed me, first with a team out of Katy in middle school until she helped lead her Cypress Creek squad to the state tournament, twice however her heart and desire has just overwhelmed me as her mom told me she “playing on a sprained ankle” and although I knew something was a little off, she still put in work blocking shots and rebounding and as I talked to college coaches who have had problems with players and “phantom injuries” hopefully the subliminal message is absorbed
Tierra Simon Tierra Simon 6'2" | C Heights | 2021 State TX -6’1
Simon says “did you SEE ME” and I’m going SIMMIE sees everything and her timing, as well as that impressive wingspan, was on full display as she blocked shots and rebounded fiercely but watching her snag loose balls going out of bounds was worth the price of admission, if I had to pay, but she definitely made the offense pay numerous times