PGH Circuit Team Profiles: Texas Cagers Select
In this article:
Let me start with “I know who’s developing” because watching the Texas Cagers Select on the PGH Circuit gave me a glimpse as the teams and players looked totally different from the start to the finish but after all, head coach/ director, Dirk Minniflied played 5 years in the NBA with Houston, Boston as well as Golden State and after our sit down, receiving his messages on what the true mission is aligned with my thinking and before I drop the interview, it wouldn’t be March Madness without his DUNK while at Kentucky
I am so ready for the PGH Circuit, I’m a Regional Scout and I’ve dropped an article from the Dynasty Region, the Houston Lady Nets but El Paso Lady Hustle are coming up next and I’ll close it Team Stay Ready but first, let me let Coach Minnifield elevate
Coach Minnifield became involved because his son wanted to play and one of his earliest memories was taking 9 All-Stars to a camp in Indiana, yet on the girl’s side, his program continues to grow as many of the players were from the Katy area last season, now they’re from other parts around the city like Pearland, Richmond and Missouri City yet while talking to him about his vision, it’s about more than basketball and that touched my heart because he mentioned GOD, FAMILY and then BASKETBALL, stay with me because it gets deeper
His mission is to give the players an opportunity to play at some level of the next level, this is about life, and after the ball stops bouncing so we were on the same page as far as the thought process and his squad definitely has a large number of players that have shown me signs of playing somewhere. He also said “I want the players to see other parts of the country and make this an experience about more than just basketball because it gives them a chance to not only site see but educate them about other things which will benefit them in life”
Some of his former players made it to the next level, Cassidy Coleman (Midwestern State) is one of them yet others are on the right path
Charis Phoenix Charis Phoenix 5'7" Jordan | 2023 TX (Jordan High School) solid point guard that can control the tempo as well as score, solid court vision
Madison Keenan Madison Keenan 5'8" Jordan | 2023 TX (Jordan High School) is one of those “finds ways to put the ball in the basket” type of player, nice upside
Emikele Hawthorne Emikele Hawthorne 5'9" Jordan Highschool | 2023 TX (Jordan High School) is a terror in the paint, she is so powerful that she literally scores with players hanging on her
Others to keep an eye on
Sofia Budnik (Cinco Ranch High School)
Sophie Baran (Cinco Ranch High School)
Isabelle Hartl (Cinco Ranch High School)
Madison Lee (Cinco Ranch High School)
Soraya Sharma (Awty International School)
I love seeing men that played at the next level, including the “highest of the next level” understand that “yes basketball is basketball however “girls are different than boys” and by him coaching his own talented daughter, who also coaches one of his teams, he gets it and I’m not just saying that because I like him, it’s the truth but I asked him why did he choose the Prep Girls Circuit and he said “I want to give the players a chance to showcase their skills, the format is set up for them to do that” and he’s right so I closed it by asking what takeaway he wanted to end with and here ya go ” building young ladies lives to become successful people and use basketball as a tool to achieve that” and that was perfect