PGH Texas Top 250 Expo -Guards “Size Don’t Matter”

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I speak frequently about things I have personally witnessed over the years, again, I am a REAL EVALUATOR, I'm not a novice just starting a Twitter account proclaiming to be an expert. I'm also not someone that will tell you "want you may want to hear", like "there's something for everyone" when a 2nd-grade math education would show you otherwise. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guards are everywhere and the abundance of smaller guards is overwhelming yet I used this hashtag years ago after a conversation with a college coach about a player being too small, #SizeDontMatter when you can play.<strong><a href="https://uhcougars.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/porsche-landry/2769"> Porsche Landry was 5'1</a></strong> and helped lead Houston to the NCAA Tournament while <strong><a href="https://riceowls.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/d-frantz-smart/2354">D'Franz Smart,</a></strong> slightly taller than Landry, helped lead Rice to the WNIT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I use another hashtag and I emphasize, #ThereIsNoMe because there isn't when you factor in I don't play political games, the success of my daughter and <strong><a href="http://girlzprepreport.com/">the countless players I have helped go to the next level</a></strong>, and the fact that I have forgotten more than most of these experts popping up will ever know or comprehend and it's not because I have early onset dementia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Here are some of the STANDOUTS, 5'5 and under, from the PGH Top 250 EXPO </mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512791,"width":256,"height":176,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/3-Asia-Bright-1024x704.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512791" width="256" height="176"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509659' first='Asia' last='Bright']-5'0 PG (Hillcrest) 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bright lit it up almost immediately by showing she understood how to use her athleticism to her advantage. Her ability to read the floor defensively stood out, and so did the "on the ball" pressure she applied baseline to baseline. She also handled the ball and saw the floor</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512837,"width":256,"height":164,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/89-Jourdan-Jones-1024x655.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512837" width="256" height="164"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509669' first='Jourdan' last='Jones']-5'5 WHATEVER (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones has WHATEVER where her position is because, well she played WHEREVER she wanted. Players like her were abundant back in the day, she gets the #THROWBACK hashtag because she JUST DID IT for me. She scored off the dribble, had very good body control, and finished after contact yet she outrebounded players over "the magic number" by understanding positioning and having DESIRE. She scored from midrange as well as around the basket</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512789,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/2-Allie-Seybert.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512789" width="256" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509657' first='Allie' last='Seybert']-5'0 PG (Porter) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seybert sold me on her abilities a few years ago and I love the progression each season. She's heady, plays within herself, and understands how to control the tempo but she's a fierce competitor that understands how to take a game over, either scoring off the dribble or dropping jumpers from outside. Solid ballhandling and court-vision</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512792,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/4-Stacey-Williams.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512792" width="256" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509683' first='Stacey' last='Williams']-5'2 PG (South Oak Cliff) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams was a show stealer, not just because of the number of steals she had, from using her quick hands to doing what I love to see, playing the passing lane. Her explosive first step coupled with acrobatic finishes are things that get my adrenaline going yet she threaded the needle like a master seamstress, and her blazing passes got her teammate's gimmes. Mid to long range, a huge YES</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512794,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/6-Nicole-Aguirre.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512794" width="256" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509682' first='Nicole' last='Aguirre']-5'4 CG (Rockwall) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aguirre also impressed me initially with her defense, which was smothering off the top and when you bring the heat like that, I'm usually sweating trying to keep up. She helped create turnovers, and picked some pockets yet on the flip, she showed she could create her shot "under pressure" to either attack and finish or drop the jumper</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512788,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/1-Madison-Borjas.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512788" width="256" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331902' first='Madison' last='Borjas']-5'0 PG (McAllen Memorial) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Borjas has been impressing me for years, yes years, and watching her countless game-winning shots from deep left a lasting impression early. She's fearless and wants the ball down the stretch and continues to show she can deliver in whatever setting. Her deceptive first step gives her options to attack or drop the pull-up, solid court vision is another plus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512796,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/9-Kennedy-Jarrett.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512796" width="256" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509671' first='Kennedy' last='Jarrett']-5'5 CG (Weatherford) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jarrett came out smoking on the defensive end and when you understand how to play it along with knowing how to use your athleticism to your advantage, you are ahead of the game. She forced players into traps, she also forced them to pick the ball up, a lost art but she also read screens. She created her shot, attacked, and finished with either hand </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512799,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/12-Adriana-Robles-Rivera.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512799" width="256" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='466568' first='Adriana' last='Robles'] Rivera-5'5 SG (Fossil Ridge) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robles-Rivera gave me several highlights with her Team Stay Ready club on the PGH Circuit yet her coaches had given me a "heads up" on what to expect. Fast forward to the EXPO, nothing has changed, she creates her shot so well and drops it, well, from wherever she wants. I was equally impressed with her attacking and finishing along with bringing more heat defensively</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512812,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/53-Morgan-Maldonado.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512812" width="256" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509681' first='Morgan' last='Maldonado']-5'3 CG (Paetow) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maldonado showed solid athleticism initially, played good defense, and was playing within herself, which means "not forcing anything". I blinked my eye and it happened, she dove on the floor for loose balls numerous times, #THROWBACK, and her attacking off the dribble and finishing after the lick had me smiling. To set it completely off, she dropped the midrange a few times, another lost art</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512813,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/55-Aaliyah-Taylor.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512813" width="256" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509655' first='Aaliyah' last='Taylor']-5'4 CG (Lake Lands) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor uses her athleticism wisely and nicely, on both ends of the court. Her defense was solid, she moved her feet and beat the offensive player to the spot several times, which forced them to pick up their dribble, I didn't mention this earlier but it too is a lost art. She also scored off the dribble, showing she could use either hand and finish, with either hand</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":512793,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/5-Karrington-Jackson.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-512793" width="256" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404749' first='Karrington' last='Jackson']-5'3 CG (Reedy) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson is an athletic guard that also showed some of the best court vision at the event. She saw the floor through a microscope and made the correct passes to the right players countless times. She created her shot, yes under pressure, and attacked from multiple angles while finishing strongly after contact. She also used that creativity to show both the mid and long-range jumper</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->