Standout Underclassmen Forwards-Duel For The Dynasty
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I’m still playing things in my head, I’m a visual person and I can look at picture ad certain things will pop into my head that impressed me from certain players, it’s a gift yet it’s also a curse because…
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Continue ReadingI’m still playing things in my head, I’m a visual person and I can look at picture ad certain things will pop into my head that impressed me from certain players, it’s a gift yet it’s also a curse because I usually don’t remember what I ate for breakfast yet with an event filled with talent, I’ll keep adding to the menu. I won’t repeat players I chose for the All-Tournament or Daily Standouts, just wanted to let you know off the top. A couple of players have a little history, Jewel Brandley’s aunt Patrice Reado is a Houston legend, I saw her cuff a ball on one end as a player was shooting it, throw it to the other of the court, and dunk, this is no urban legend I was there and she starred at Texas A&M, was a senior in my daughter’s freshman year. Audrey Metzger also has a little history, her grandfather Roger was a Golden Glove shortstop for the Houston Astros, this is why there is no me!
Taneya Howard Taneya Howard 5'11" | PF Broken Arrow | 2023 State OK -5’10 (Oklahoma Swift 2023) 2023
Howard showed a lot of power, both on the offensive and defensive end, and just seeing players finish strong after contact over and over is always a plus for a number of reasons yet with her strength, she even finished with players actually hanging on her. She understands positioning, got several put-backs on the offensive end yet she also showed she could outrebound taller opponents by just going after it over and over
Nicolette Polocheck Nicolette Polocheck 6'0" | PF Memorial | 2024 State TX -6’1 (Just Play Elite 2022) 2024
Polocheck is just adding so much to her game that she’s taking a jump on the 2024 update. I’ve always admired her work ethic, yes she falls into that “you won’t outwork me” category and the thing about her is that she goes after everything off the rim but watching her attack from the wing even stronger, not to leave out finishing the same way, strongly, with either hand plus her defense inside the paint as well as outside of it keeps jumping at me
Salese Blow-5’10 (Platinum Basketball 2023 Walker)
Blow was another powerful player on the inside but let me start with she’s long and athletic, I call that “the base” and she does a good job not only attacking the rim from the wing but finishing after the lick. She plays the passing lane and handled the ball in the open court after the steal but her timing also was a plus, she alters shots, well she blocks them as well and her timing also played a part in her rebounding on both ends
Jewel Brandley-6’1 (Houston Queens Elite 2023) 2023
Brandley is also long and athletic and seeing her turn it up as the tournament progressed spoke volumes about her progression. She caught my eye a few years ago with her potential and as time went on, I observed how she could get hers “in the flow” on the offensive end yet rebound and play solid defense yet with her understanding when to take over offensively, either attacking the rim or showing the pull-up jumper facing the basket has me excited about her upside
Aubrey Metzger-6’1 (Platinum Basketball 2023 Alexander) 2023
Metzger’s improvement from last year tells me a lot but watching her move around the basket to score, especially with her size and length creates a lot of problems. She has a soft touch facing the basket yet she also did a good job attacking the rim, not to leave crashing the boards on both ends but I guess what really excited me was her defense, not just in the paint but stepping outside it