2024 Newcomers PGH Texas Top 250 Expo pt 1

I wanted to start my coverage with the younger players, 2024/2025, I caught at the Prep Girls Hoops 250 Expo in Texas for a number of reasons and I broke it down into those who I had already seen from the 2024 class that made the Watchlist and now the newcomers will be broken down into 2 parts, some already showing not only next-level potential up to D1. Keylonai Shrubs made an impression initially after I asked her what her name was, she told me and I said, like a tree, she said actually like a BUSH, and for one of the few times I was speechless <img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-214914" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/134-Keylonai_Shrubs-2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150"> <strong>Keylonai Shrubs-6'1 PF (Wellington HS) @keylonaishrubs</strong> Shrubs immediately caught my eye before the games even started because she was not only long and athletic but very long and athletic so her upside is scary, she has so much going for her right now that seeing her react and do things instinctively at her size will grab college coaches interest. She attacks the rim, finishes strong, and rebounds on both ends. She also showed she could face the basket and score, has good timing to block, deflect or alter shots, and defends well plus she runs the floor <img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-214865" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/73-Mahogany_Pierce-2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150"> <strong>Mahogany Pierce-5'7 SF (Brennan HS)</strong> Pierce also falls into that long and athletic group, arms are long and she is athletic so she actually plays bigger than she is because she can outrebound taller opponents, on both ends and finish against taller opponents, after the lick so her mindset is key because that's of those things you can't teach but with all of her effort offensively, it trickles over to the defensive side as she showed she can man-up baseline to baseline as well as in the halfcourt and came away with a few blocked shots <img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-214863" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/72-Crystal_Schultz-2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150"> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='793208' first='Crystal' last='Schultz']-5'7 G (George Bush HS)</strong> Schultz knows something unlike the Sargent on television, she has a mixture of offensive tools already creating problems so creating is a good word because she creates her shot under pressure, always a great sign and it enables her to attack and finish, which she does well, especially after contact and it also enables her to get her shot off which can be a jumper from mid-range or long-range but she also handled the ball in the open court and that stop and pop was working as well <img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-214857" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/61-Lawren_Norton-2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150"> <strong>Lawren Norton-5'6 G (Guyer HS)</strong> Norton came out on fire defensively as she was applying pressure off the top and it didn't stop as that certainly was one of the first things that caught my eye about her game. Her ability to stay with her man either in the full court or half-court situations was enhanced even more as she battled for rebounds but her "mental toughness" didn't stop there as she flipped the switch as the games progressed and showed she could handle the ball and attack strongly plus she showed range from a variety spots <img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-214910" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/128-Averi_Aaron-2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150"> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="206973" first="Averi" last="Aaron"]-6'0 P (Boerne HS) @AaronAveri</strong> Aaron is strong and plays strong but showing future #BEASTLIKE signs stood out even more because of her agility on both ends of the court as well as her fluidity. Her timing was equally impressive, she understands how to set the defense up as well as take away options but she does so many things instinctively which at her size will go a very long way. I left out she finishes strong and watching her score with players hanging on her, no exaggeration tells me a lot about what's in store <img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-214903" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/121-Gabby_Morales-2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150"> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='585115' first='Gabby' last='Morales']-5'8 G (Idalou HS) @gabby_morales33</strong> Morales showed a variety of offensive skills, one that's certainly a lost art, the midrange which she dropped consistently while being contested which is very important but she also showed she could shoot the long ball, and both the mid and long-range were usually set up by her ability to create her shot while being defended and she understood how to use that to her advantage because when you add she took defenders off the dribble, that kept them guessing; She also has good timing, blocked some shots and had some steals <img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-214834" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/34-Danielle_Bennett-2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150"> <strong>Tre'sur Danielle Bennett-5'6 G (Clark HS) @danielle_tha_beast</strong> Bannett has WORKS in caps on my eval sheet and she capitalized on numerous occasions with her athleticism and strength, she left a lasting impression. She rebounds very well for her size, on both ends, she attacks the basket strongly and finishes after contact but that starts with her ability to create her shot and ballhandling. She shoots the midrange and showed she could drop the long-range as well but that WORKS also applies to her defensive effort as she brought plenty of heat