2023 City Rankings: Houston (#15-11)

Check out my analysis on some of the top performers in Houston! These ladies have really been performing over the summer and are primed to make some real noise during their senior year!   #15 [player_tooltip player_id='267343' first='Janavia' last='Gage'] 2023 6'3 Huntsville High School    Janavia is a force on the interior, constantly finishing through contact. I loved her natural rim running abilities, using her long strides to constantly beat her opponent's up and down the court. Her ability to run the court is already at a high level, and showed an ability to finish at her top speed, racing down the court. Gage high points every ball, whether it is a rebound or an entry pass into the post, rising up and attacking the ball to bring it down. Her energy all over the court was infectious every time she stepped on the court, and has all the tools to become a high level forward at the next level. Her willingness to hustle and finish down low really brought her team some much needed juice on both ends of the court!   #14 [player_tooltip player_id='134041' first='Riley' last='McCloskey'] 2023 5'3 Memorial High School    Riley is a high level shooter from all over the floor, but is also a special creator at the point guard position with her creativity with the ball in her hands. She made jaw dropping passes to set up her teammates for easy looks on the interior, spinning the ball around her opponents and into her teammates pocket. When playing alongside a rim running big, she consistently drove in to draw the attention of the defense and the opposing big before making the right dump off pass to her big screaming down the middle of the lane.   McCloskey is a patient scorer who thrives off of catch and shoot opportunities, as well as showing off her patience without the ball, never crowding the ball and instead waiting for her teammates to find her cutting into open space. She is an elite weapon offensively through her ability to rise up and score across all three levels off the bounce. I was blown away by how well she was able to create space with her handle and then rising up to score. Her consistency from beyond the arc is already at an elite level, expect her to be making some real noise this year for Memorial High School!   #13 [player_tooltip player_id='96161' first='Aniyah' last='Sanford'] 2023 5'5 Langham Creek High School    Aniyah is a crafty and aware point guard who sees the floor at a really high level, and takes pride in setting up her teammates with easy opportunities. She is a maestro out of the pick and roll, calmly orchestrating and dimming up her teammates. She knows how to use her momentum to draw a second defender's attention or forcing the big to step up and make a decision, allowing her teammate to slip back door or slide into space on the back side. Her infectious pass first nature bleeds into her teammates, both AAU and high school, and allows them to find the best shot opportunity every time down.   She is not just a facilitator however, she has a nice little step back that creates space for her on the wings within the half court. Defensively, she has surprisingly long arms that allow her to clamp up on the ball as well as play the passing lanes. She baits her opponents into lace passes, and then races the other way for easy fast break opportunities. Sanford has all of the natural point guard tools any coach could ever ask for, and her energy and play style is sure to make waves at the next level.   #12 [player_tooltip player_id='96132' first='Jacei' last='Denley'] 2023 5'6 Beaumount Westbrook High School    Jace is a high level shot maker, who is always ready to catch and shoot and punish the defense for relaxed coverage on the perimeter. She has great shot mechanics, allowing her to consistently get her shot up. She is a dynamic floor spacer who can score with the best of them from beyond the arc. Her fearlessness and shot-making ability is already at a high level, confidently rising up when she notices she has a step on her opponent. She is absolutely not just a shooter, she fearlessly puts the ball on the floor to attack hard closeouts and take on forwards off the bounce. She finishes strong and high, finishing through contact and over her opponent's outstretched arms. Once her defender is ready to close out the space and attempt to draw a charge, she puts a soft floater over their head. She is a complete offensive weapon who can score in bunches whenever she wants to. Her shot making ability and how easily she is able to get to her spots is sure to carry over to the next level. Expect her to make some real noise at Lamar University next year!   #11 [player_tooltip player_id='134052' first='Kierra' last='Merchant'] 2023 5'10 Westfield High School    Kierra is an aggressive two way guard who takes pride in her work on the defensive end, and has the size, awareness and intensity to be an elite help side defender and an overall team defender. It is no surprise why she is a division one commit, especially after watching her compete on the defensive side of the ball. She blocks shots, plays passing lanes and hustles after loose balls. Her infectious energy makes her team that much more intense, and it allows her other teammates to defend the perimeter even more intensely, knowing she is coming over on the back side rotation. She will walk into the University of Houston as a college able defender with how she can move her feet and stay in front of her opponents, not to mention her length and how much it will surprise people at the guard position! It is not hard to figure out why she has been named defender of the year for her district, as well as district 1st Team's!

Check out my analysis on some of the top performers in Houston! These ladies have really been performing over the summer and are primed to make some real noise during their senior year!