The PRIME Event: Day 1 Standouts (Part 2)
I was able to attend the first day of The PRIME Event presented by Premier Basketball this weekend and got to see a ton of talented Texas prospects compete against programs from all around the country. Although I didn’t get…
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Continue ReadingI was able to attend the first day of The PRIME Event presented by Premier Basketball this weekend and got to see a ton of talented Texas prospects compete against programs from all around the country. Although I didn’t get to watch every team, I was still treated to some brilliant individual performances.
With that in mind, here are some of the best prospects from the tournament:
Michayla Gatewood Michayla Gatewood 5'8" | PG DeSoto | 2022 State TX | 2022 | 5’8” Point Guard | Team Lex Nation | DeSoto HS – Gatewood was one of the most polished players I saw this weekend. The Texas Tech commit had some beautiful takes to the hoop and finished through contact regularly. Her feel for the game was on full display, further showing that she can make every pass in the book as well as convert some really tough looks when attacking off the bounce. She showed some poise down the stretch of her opening game of the tournament, sneaking down low to score the go-ahead bucket in the final 90 seconds of action after her teams’ nine-point advantage had vanished. She was a disciplined defender on the perimeter too.
Jules LaMendola Jules LaMendola 5'10" | SF Coppell | 2023 State TX | 2023 | 6’1” Shooting Guard/Small Forward | ProSkills 16U | Coppell HS – I’ve labeled LaMendola a point forward several times in the past, and I continue to stand by it. Her mid-range and paint scoring were solid. That said, her playmaking is by far my favorite part of her game. The Coppell junior is an effortless and accurate passer with terrific vision and decision making. Beyond that, she struggled to put the ball in the basket in her first matchup on Saturday, but played well when it mattered most, making some high IQ plays in her teams’ late game comeback attempt that ultimately came up one point short. Despite that, she showed her understanding of situational basketball while also displaying more physicality and grit as a defender than I’ve seen from her in past outings.
Ashlin Crabtree | 2023 | 5’11” Point Guard | True Texas Hoops 2023 Crabtree | Argyle HS – Crabtree is another floor general who showed a brilliant feel and understanding of how to quarterback her offense. She made great decisions, kept the ball moving, and consistently got her team the best possible look each possession. The junior guard navigated the floor well and was great about getting defenders out of position. Additionally, Crabtree hit a pair of catch-and-shoot corner threes in her first outing of the weekend, ultimately ending the contest with nine points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Shanel Reid Shanel Reid 5'10" | SF Austin | 2023 State TX | 2023 | 5’10” Shooting Guard/Small Forward | Team Austin | Austin HS – Reid is a talented all-around prospect. She was a dog on defense this weekend, evidenced by a chase down block in transition as well as an overall solid performance on the perimeter. At the other end, her shot-making was impressive, knocking down the long ball off the dribble and from the catch. She was responsible for a gorgeous assist via a full court outlet pass as well, hitting her teammate perfectly in stride. The 2023 prospect put together an excellent two-way performance. Furthermore, Reid contributed on the defensive glass with some good-looking rebounds.
Kassi Ballard | 2022 | 5’5” Combo Guard | True Texas Hoops 2022 | Ponder HS – Ballard was a gritty player in her Saturday afternoon matchup, going to the ground on numerous occasions, forcing jump balls as well as coming up with some steals. Her hustle and high motor really set the tone for her team. She hit some tough shots in the paint while fading away on offense, finishing through and absorbing contact. I liked how she recognized that her team was struggling from the field and subsequently got herself to the foul line. In addition, Ballard had some good-looking finds and zipped the ball to her teammates for assists.
Waverly Hassman | 2023 | 5’11” Shooting Guard | True Texas Hoops 2023 Crabtree | Coppell HS – Hassman is another high-motor player who consistently worked her tail off at both ends of the floor. She is a tough-nosed wing, battling in the paint and clawing for every inch on D. She looked comfortable handling the ball on the perimeter and made timely cuts when operating off the ball. The Coppell prospect also grabbed some offensive boards and converted them into put backs. She is a hard worker, willing to grind it out on offense and defense from start to finish. Beyond that, she is capable off drilling threes when spotting up. Hassman finished her opening matchup of the tournament with 12 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.