PGH Texas Top 250 Expo Out Of State GameChangers

Simmie Colson September 26, 2022 @ 04:49 AM

I wanted to give a special S/O to the players who traveled from Oklahoma, Ohio, and New Mexico to attend the event in Texas. I'm certain it was because they knew a REAL evaluator would be there and if they didn't, they know now. I use the phrase "talent is everywhere" and these 5 players were amongst the best in attendance so always remember, I have been out here 20 years, my daughter just won a WNBA Championship to go along with National Championship from college, so I know the process and I know talent

Nevaeh Cable Nevaeh Cable 5'8" Start | 2023 OH - 5'8 SG ( Start) OH [2023]

Cable laughed when I told her I was throwing away my firestick, she heard the joke before yet watching her put on a show. I love players that understand how to take games over and can actually do it because she can certainly JUST DO IT. She attacks off the dribble, uses impressive body control to finish after the lick, and drops the mid to long-range jumper. She's also "long and athletic" that will always be the base and plays the passing lane and watching her rebound and go coast to coast to score and (or) dish was nice

Elizabeth Buendia Elizabeth Buendia 5'6" | CG Lovington | 2024 State NM -5'5 PG (Lovington) NM [2024]

Buendia was more than a pleasant surprise. Well actually she wasn't a surprise as I caught a glimpse of her game during one of the viewing periods yet "in this setting" she stood out in a huge way. She creates her shot so well under pressure that she has no problem getting it off. She showed the pull-up jumper in transition, aka the "stop and pop" and showed it in the set. Watching her attack off the dribble, and score with either hand was also nice. Her court vision is solid, she threads the needle with blazing passes

Anneliese Johnson Anneliese Johnson 5'6" | SG McLoud | 2024 State OK -5'5 PG (Choctaw) OK [2024]

Johnson was one of the most explosive players at the event and her first step sets everything up. She has so many moves to get the defender off balance, this enables her to attack the basket from wherever she wants. Speaking of "off balance", her acrobatic finishes had me pumped, and so did her pull-up jumper yet when she showed the "step back" that was it. She also uses her athleticism on the defensive end and her "on the ball pressure was good, so were her quick hands to come away with steals

Katie Allen Katie Allen 5'7" Pittsburg | 2025 TX - 5'8 CG (Mcalester) OK [2025]

Allen was one of the top long ball shooters at the event, probably the top, which comes as no surprise after she dropped 7 or 8 in front of me the first time I saw her, in a half. What I also know is that she has become more than just a 3-point shooter, she understands how to create her shot and attack the basket. Since she shoots the long ball so well, defenders can't cheat, so watching her drop the midrange as well as making tough passes look easy, were all equally nice. She did a good job defending as well as being vocal on the court

Tori Kilburn Tori Kilburn 5'10" | SF Hartshorne | 2025 State OK - 5'10 SG (Mcalester) [2025] OK

Kilburn is also one of the top long ball shooters in Oklahoma and she and Allen are formidable "Dynamic Duo" on their club and high school squads yet even more are coming on that as I plan an Oklahoma visit. What I have always enjoyed about TK is that she simply elevates over defenders and drops it from everywhere and she falls into that "college coaches love big guards that can shoot" category. She also uses her power to rebound, on both ends, and score on putbacks yet her scoring off the dribble and finishing after contact also was huge