Top Performers- BeYOUtiful Classic Day 2- part 1
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If my math is correct, I saw 21 of the 32 teams at the event and I would’ve added even more had I stayed for the last day however I had to attend a function in Houston for the gentleman…
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Continue ReadingIf my math is correct, I saw 21 of the 32 teams at the event and I would’ve added even more had I stayed for the last day however I had to attend a function in Houston for the gentleman who I met 20 years ago and coached with for almost 15 years and who instrumental in helping place my daughter in front of the right people, college coaches, not those idiot arrogant evaluators and let me drop one more time she had over 100 D1 offers, no shoe team around here can say that, well they can but it wouldn’t be true so here is part 1 of day 2
2022
Lexi Alexander Lexi Alexander 5'10" | PF Cedar Ridge | 2022 State TX -6’0 F (Cedar Ridge)
Alexander sent a message over the summer with Austin Elite and Nicholls State was one of many that received it so their signee continued to send messages at the event as her strength attacking the basket combined with her powerful finishes were overly impressive yet so is her mid to long-range but Alexander is a tough defender, either in the set, the paint or baseline to baseline and she showed even more of that
Arianna Buduan-5’9 F (Bowie)
Buduan proves my old saying that I hashtagged #talentiseverywhere providing you know what you’re looking at and she was impressive on opening day and even more so on day 2 as she battles for rebounds and plays taller than her size, her putbacks over taller opponents gives you an idea, yet she attacks and finishes with ease, after contact and has good timing, showed that on blocking shots as well as playing the passing lane
Nyanna Robertson Nyanna Robertson 5'7" | PG Boswell | 2022 State TX -5’7 G (Boswell)
Robertson signed with George Washington, she also cut down the cherry tree, wait, that’s a myth yet her explosiveness off the dribble definitely isn’t as she can grab a rebound and go coast to coast full speed, that’s SWB, speed with the ball, under control to finish or dish yet she stays under control and that same explosiveness is used in the set but she can drop the jumper, she sees the floor and she defends, yes she plays the passing lane which leads to scoring opportunities as well
2023
Blythe Troke-6’3 C( Bowie)
Troke has a nice stroke facing the basket to go with her 75 inches yet her timing was really nice as she blocked, altered, and (or) deflected numerous shots on both days but she also runs the floor on both ends of the court and rebounds, on both ends of the court and watching her score numerous times on putbacks was nice
Tyanna Simpson-5’10 P (Killeen)
Simpson just falls into that “never takes a play off” type of player every time I see her play, whether it’s the club season or, well high school because she will not be outworked so her desire to battle for the rebounds on both ends comes in handy, especially when she can score off putbacks yet she has nice moves around the basket to finish as well as the ability to attack from the wing which has gotten better. The short jumper creates some problems as well
Taleyah Gibbs-5’11 F (Killeen)
Gibbs may not be related to that mythical hero on NCIS yet she solves plenty of mysteries on the court but let me start with she is “long and athletic” and for those who don’t follow me or pay attention, that’s the base, that 100 D1 offers should have told you something but I like the way she “gets after it” defensively and doesn’t mind getting on the floor for loose balls yet she attacks from a variety of angles and fin dishes strongly, also rebounds on both ends
2024
Janiyah Alvarez-5’8 G (Cedar Ridge)
Alvarez was a pleasant surprise, she looks taller than her size listed possibly because of the fact that she’s “long and athletic” and tell you what, her upside is pretty good because of what she’s doing at this stage of her career. She understands how to take the defender off the dribble, her first step is deceptive yet deadly and her finishes are nice, especially when you factor in she has good body control but her pull-up jumper in the set or the “stop and pop” in transition also works
Chloe Mann Chloe Mann 5'8" | SG Duncanville | 2024 State TX -5’7 G (Boswell)
Mann is so smooth with the ball, she doesn’t get flustered and that reminds me of what first grabbed my attention about her game, poised under pressure, yet she wants the ball under pressure and she can deliver either with the mid to long, attacking off the dribble or seeing the floor and making the right passes but she too plays the passing lane and with her solid ballhandling, that usually gives her options which lead to baskets