PGH Circuit Team Profile: Texas Platinum
Jason Green
"Our goal for our 16U and 17U teams would for sure be to win the regional championship for Prep Girls," said Texas Platinum director and coach Jay Bruce when asked what his goals were for his squad this season on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit.
Who could blame him for aiming that high really? Texas Platinum 17U was the inaugural PGH Dynasty Region Champions and the 16U team finished third. Add in the fact that Bruce has also won a Texas High School Boys State Championship as a coach and it's clear to see that he really expects nothing less than excellence from his players.
Last season players like
Claire Graham
Claire
Graham
5'8" | SG
Jim Ned | 2022
State
TX
and Tristan Keller - both Abilene Christian commits - led the Platinum squad to the finals, so who are the stars to keep an eye on this time around on the PGH Circuit?
Jenna Kendall | 5-7 CG | Dallas Thunder - Platinum Elite | 2023 | @Jennakendall20
Kendall is a great shooter from outside who can put up big numbers from behind the arc. Far from a one-trick pony, however, her threat of shooting throws off defenders who are left off-balance as she blows by them with a quick first step and tough finish at the rim. Jenna is a hustler who does all of the little things and has won at every level. Exactly the type of player Jay Bruce and pretty much every college coach are looking for.
Rylee Verduin | 6-2 P | Dallas Thunder - Platinum Elite | 2023 | @VerduinRylee
Another Dallas Thunder National Champion who brings their winning ways to the Platinum Elite... or is it the other way around? Verduin is not just a tall post, she is a strong post who does a good job of working down low to get into rebounding position. She is physical and gets up and down the court very well for a "big." She is going to be a handful for Platinum's opponents in the Dynasty Region without a doubt!
Ashlynn Galvin | 5-6 CG | Jim Ned - Platinum Elite | 2023 | @AshlynnGalvin
Last season on "the circuit" Galvin was a standout in almost every game for her Platinum team. She put up big scoring numbers with some lights-out shooting and was just a ton of fun to watch. She is quick with silky handles and when running the point she shows off a tremendous basketball IQ. Clearly, Ashlynn has played a ton of basketball and the experience is paying off as she gets better and better and so does this Platinum team.
Mackenzie Espinosa | 6-0 F | Chapel Hill - Platinum | 2024 | @EspinosaMackenz
Espinosa is still young, but clearly set to continue the high level of Platinum basketball and most likely the winning tradition. She can light it up from long range. At six feet tall she is moving into a "stretch four" role with Platinum and as she learns to work inside and outside, her value as a college prospect will only go up and up. I look forward to seeing this young prospect compete against some of the best in the country on the PGH Circuit!
Lexi Price | 5-10 G | Lovelady - Platinum | 2025
One of the players Coach Bruce was most excited to talk about was freshman Lexi Price who is not only a tall guard, but also strong and tough. She is a phenomenal shooter who can handle the rock, play defense, run the point when needed - basically do everything that a coach could want. Though still young, Price is already looking like a Division-I prospect and the PGH Circuit will be the perfect showcase for a player of her skill level.
With all of these players on board, plus champions from last season returning, it's clear to see why Jay Bruce doesn't just want to win the Dynasty Region, he expects to win it... again.
"Our other goal would be for our kids, to just create some real good hype," said Bruce when asked why else Texas Platinum chose the PGH Circuit. "Get some social media love. Get some of you guys following them a little bit." Bruce also listed the chance to play toward something (i.e. the format) and all of the coverage that PGH provides as reasons for coming back for year two of the circuit.
I am definitely looking forward to covering Texas Platinum again this time around on the Circuit beginning this weekend in Dallas!
