SA Lady Hoops Gold start off July with a bang #AdidasGauntlet

Well when you win your division in both #ClashOfTheClubs and #AdidasGauntlet someone will notice and although many have been aware of the talented players on this talented team, I was there to catch them during their Gauntlet run for three games, which I had to because they were working their tournament, Battle In The Alamo, which I’ll start on this week on my website as well as putting together some Top Performers from the Top Performers Tip sheets but here’s another tip, Elevate and Lady Jets Lewis were seen because of this squad, I’ve dropped stories on both, how’s that for an assist, BTW, I didn’t take notes, what they did in front of me is embedded in my head 2023 Annalia Cuellar-5’5 PG (John Paul Stevens HS) Cuellar was the star of the second game on Friday as she did what she does, hit big shots, and score in the flow yet the way she hit the shots, under pressure and deep to change the momentum was very nice so was her attacking the rim off the dribble and finishing strongly after contact Calista Perez-5’4 SG (John Paul Stevens HS) Perez did a good job of to only creating her shot but knocking it down and the long ball was consistent when I watched her but so was her defense as she applied pressure and helped create turnovers Skye Stephens-5’4 PG (Earl Warren HS) Stephens had me write "Skye is the limit" the first time I saw her in what seems like an eon ago but she had SWB, the speed with the ball, was under control and could score, all before high school yet she’s gotten stronger while adding on to what she already showed me, her range is deeper, she understands how to run a team to perfection and is a good defender, that pull-up is sweet Aaliyah Henderson-5’5 SG (Judson HS) Henderson just left me speechless, not sure if she can sing but she was still a hit playing that passing lane and on Friday, I was tired yet I had to see them and her energy revitalized me, so did her jumper as well as her defense. Mia Jiminez-5’5 PG (Incarnate Word HS) Jiminez is on a team of how can I say this, clones sort of as numerous guards can drop the long ball and apply heat on defense and she’s consistently one of the best at doing so as she creates her shot smoothly and drops it from, well anywhere Emery Black Emery Black 5'7" | CG NB Canyon | 2023 State TX -5’5 PG (Canyon HS, New Braunfels) Black made a Tip Sheet after watching her for about 3 minutes pre-high school as she filled in several blanks and facilitated but her being able to do damage without scoring has always been impressive because she’s heady and crafty but she can score when she wants Chayse Goetz Chayse Goetz 6'0" | SF NB Canyon | 2023 State TX -5’11 SG (Canyon HS, New Braunfels) Goetz Gets Buckets was the first headline I wrote if memory serves correctly yet if it wasn’t the first, it was among the first because her thing is she understands how to "put the ball in the basket" multiple ways and when you factor in her size, that’s huge and why is that Simmie, because college coaches love big guards that can shoot Future Acevado-5’7 SG (Warren HS) Acevado has been called an "and one" waiting to happen by yours truly and watching her drop countless threes, I didn’t count them has been a thrill yet so has seeing her take defenders to the left, to the left, and make it right after contact, she takes them to the right as well, is something else yet her biggest "and one" helped seal the CHAMPIONSHIP  Zaadiyah Stovall Zaadiyah Stovall 6'0" | PF Judson | 2023 State TX -5’10 SG/SF (Judson HS) Stovall is "long and athletic" remember that’s the base on several college coaches shortlist yet even with a busted lip, she was a warrior on Championship Sunday, battling for rebounds and elevating over defenders to score but her pull-up jumper and her ability to block, alter and deflect shots are definite intangibles 2024 Abigail Smith Abigail Smith 5'11" | SG Boerne | 2024 State TX -5’11 SG (Boerne HS) Smith had her breakout performance at Border War 2021 and hasn’t looked back because she understands how to set the defender up, her pull-up coupled with her size and frame makes her hard to handle, especially when she puts on the floor and slices to the rim but her rebounding and defense continue to add to her tools