Power In The Paint #TexasInvitational day 1

Here's a ground eye view from the haps inside the paint on opening day as I caught many I had seen numerous times in the paint as well as a couple I hadn't seen or seen that much of, here ya go <strong>2022</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="314168" first="Aryelle" last="Stevens"]-6’1 PF(Pearland)</strong> Stevens is one of the "hardest working players" in not only her class or position but the whole state of Texas and watching her score with players literally climbing her back makes her an "and one" waiting to happen. She's strong, well that's an understatement based on the previous sentence yet she's athletic and can slice through the defense to score as well as drop the jumper, oh yeah, she rebounds on both ends <strong>Liz Abiara-6’2 C (Mansfield Lakeridge)</strong> Abiara was more than serviceable on opening day as she combined strength and power to finish around the basket as well as rebound on both ends of the court. She has the agility and moves fluidly, also showed she could face the basket and score as well as nice hands and footwork <strong>Mikayla Hill-6'0 PF (Cy Ranch)</strong> Hill definitely climbed it as she was instrumental in their impressive comeback victory yet watching her attack from the left side of the basket and changing hands to score, while in mid-air just did it for me but she also did a good job finishing on putbacks as well as crashing the boards on both ends <strong>Atria Dumas-6'2 C (North Shore</strong> Dumas and her impressive wingspan makes offensive players think twice about attacking and watching her improved timing had me want to call out Beyonce or Madonna like her former club coach used to irritate me with yet she's irritating players on both ends and her and ones tell me how much stronger she has become as well as her rebounding on both ends <strong>2023</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134044" first="Amiya" last="Hopkins"]-6’3 C (North Crowley)</strong> Hopkins keeps HOPPIN up the charts for posts in her class because she's strong and she battles for everything off the rim, on both ends yet she's showing she can score from the wing off the dribble and seeing her defend both inside and outside the paint is pretty good as well, so is her upside which just keeps going up <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96125" first="RyLee" last="Grays"]-6’3 C (Pearland) </strong> Grays leaves no GRAY area on how I feel about her game and I transport back to the drop step I saw her put down as a freshman which told me she had turned a corner, well the junior is still turning corners and with the "you won't outwork me" mentality she has, she's doing damage at her new school. She dives on the floor for loose balls, hey 2 opponents can't get it away from her, she's that strong yet she is more under control on her multitude of finishes after contact and don't even get me started on the heat she applies defensively <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134042" first="Jorynn" last="Ross"]-6’2 C (Summer Creek)</strong> Ross is one of the most improved "bigs" in Texas from 9th grade until now, why, because she WANTS IT and her mannerisms on the court, not cracking a smile and staying focused are only parts of the equation and even though we don't have a final SUM as she keeps adding, she's giving defenders SOME nightmares, see how I did that but just see how she keeps elevating her game which is more important <strong>2024</strong> <strong>Asia Menard-6’0 PF (Barbers Hill)</strong> Menard shows me a lot of #THROWBACK stuff because she comprehends certain things you can't teach, like doing stuff instinctively as well as reacting to situations yet I really like her upside as she stands at "the magic number" which is 72 inches, something I get calls on from college coaches as late as August but watching her use her body and understanding positioning will put her in a unique position down the road &nbsp;