Breakout Players Adidas Gauntlet Gold Day 1
Breakout means a lot of things, especially when I’m typing yet in this instance, it falls into the “taking their games” to another level, and (or) up a notch or more so here are some of the players that captured…
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Continue ReadingBreakout means a lot of things, especially when I’m typing yet in this instance, it falls into the “taking their games” to another level, and (or) up a notch or more so here are some of the players that captured my eye because of their “progression” on the opening day of the Adidas Gauntlet-GOLD in Mansfield TX
Deannasty Smith-6’0 PG (SA Hoops Elite Gold-McCleary) Clark HS (2022)
Smith is one of the most athletic girls in the state and one of the most athletic girls who can play, also in the state. She’s “long and athletic” I call that the base, she defends baseline to baseline “on the ball” yet she also does a good job defending in the paint because of her UPS and TIMING but she rebounds on both ends, finishes either attacking off the dribble or on putbacks, both after contact and she plays the passing lane
Breanne Casey-5’8 SG (TX Platinum 17U Bates) Casey Home School (2022)
Casey was good when I caught her earlier in the season yet as the season progressed, she just kept showing me more and her mid to long-range jumper has been consistent all season, and it has been dropped in numerous clutch instances but she plays within herself and understands how to create her shot as well as get it off. She rebounds and defends
Makenna Walker-5’7 SG (TX Platinum 17U Bates) Princeton HS (2022)
Walker is fierce on both ends, her mannerisms speak volumes, that and her poise was one of the main attractions I caught last season, well, and her ability to find ways to put the ball in the basket. She scores off the dribble, with either hand and that body control, see front page picture, as well as the ability to finish after contact yet what you don’t see in the picture, is how she understands something that’s not easy to do, creates contact which makes her an “and one” waiting to happen but yes that mid to long-range adds even more
Ramsey Robledo-5’11 SG (SA Hoops Elite Gold-Kearney) Clark HS (2023)
Robledo hadn’t been seen in an event I was covering since 2018 so I was happy to catch her in action yet nothing changed from what I initially saw, well except she’s gotten better and watching her create her shot, yes, under pressure, and just elevate over the defender to drop it was nice, so was her extended range but she even finishes stronger, with either hand and when you throw in she still hasn’t shown everything that’s coming, that’s kind of scary, for defenders
Annalia Cuellar-5’5 PG (SA Lady Hoops Gold-2023) Stevens HS (2023)
Cuellar has the right initials because no matter how much heat was thrown at her, the AC was blowing at full speed so watching her score more ways than I can recall, says a lot, two of those ways, the stop and pop in transition and the catch and shoot long ball were just exciting for me but so was her attacking and finishing
Deyjah Ray-5’4 PG (Houston Skyrise 16U GOLD) Aldine Davis HS (2024)
Ray is in one of those elementary school pictures I took when I was trying to steal her sandwich yet she’s flipped it by playing the passing lane and coming up with steals galore but that also happens when she’s defending, good hands, and timing yet her progression and confidence offensively has really impressed me as she can take defenders and finish with either hand or drop the jumper
Salena Carrasco-5’8 SG (Lady Jets Elite-Lewis) 2026
Carrasco just gave me a look when I told her I knew she was going to be a “playa” because we had the same initials, in the 5th or 5th grade and as that crystal ball continues to prove, I was right, yet again. Her hesitation in the open court, yeah the HEZ, her crossover, and even the stutter-step makes her nightmare to defend in the open court yet in the set, she comes up big dropping the mid to long with a hand in her face and speaking of hands, she comes up big taking the ball on defense