2024 Rankings Update: New Names Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had a parent ask me what was my rhyme and reasoning in how I rank players and my response was I have no rhythm and my understanding is bad when being questioned but the bottom line is to <strong>SHOW ME </strong>on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I hadn't seen<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='674623' first='Me'Arah' last='O'Neal'],</strong> yes that's Shaq's daughter so I was glad to have finally caught her at the TABC event because even though there was plenty of buzz, I'd rather get stung with my own evaluation but she left a lasting first impression as did many others. I'm starting with 6 who aren't guards, part 2 of the New Faces has 6 that are</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='674622' first='Taliyah' last='Parker']-6'1 SF/G (South Grand Prairie)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">#25 </mark></strong>Parker is "long and athletic" and I call that the base. It's a profile I love to evaluate, and so do many college coaches. She has UPS and watching her elevate to not only block shots but to rebound on both ends had my adrenaline going, especially when she handled the ball under pressure and went coast to coast to score. She attacks off the dribble, very nice body control on her finishes but watching her soar over outstretched hands to score around the basket as well as drop the jumper was a HUGE plus for me</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='674623' first='Me'Arah' last='O'Neal']-6'4 C (Houston Episcopal)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">#36</mark></strong> O'Neal showed versatility on both ends of the court, she's fluid as well as long and athletic but she also showed she could create her shot on the perimeter and drop the jumper, both in the set as well as in transition. She even knocked down the long ball but watching her handle the ball and attack from the wing told me a lot, and so did her rebounding and scoring not only on putbacks but around the basket as well. She has a solid upside to go with her solid interior defense </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='674624' first='Erica' last='Carr']-6'3 C (South Grand Prairie)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">#62 </mark></strong>Carr was in the driver's seat as she showed me so many things I ran out of gas, well ink. Her frame is strong and powerful and she understands how to use it around the basket to score, as well as rebound on both ends. Here's the kicker, she handled the ball afterward down the court, and her "court vision" as well as hitting teammates while going full speed was over the top. She showed she could attack the basket in the halfcourt, she even dropped the long ball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='674625' first='Camryn' last='Beck']-6'1 SF (Klein Cain)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">#76</mark></strong> Beck is long and athletic, I told you I love evaluating that profile but what I love even more is her "on-the-court progression". I knew after the <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/04/heart-of-texas-day-1-top-performers-pt-1/">Heart Of Texas</a></strong> she was next up, read what I said because I'm a REAL EVALUATOR. She has consistently added more to her game, the midrange is becoming a nightmare to defend because she drops it over outstretched hands with ease. She scores off the dribble, her timing to block shots is good, and so are her rebounding and defense </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='674627' first='Aimee' last='Flippen']-6'4 C (Glen Rose)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">#85</mark></strong> Flippen had me omit her in this article as I was doing 80 in a 60 flippen through pages yet she has been consistently one of the top players inside the paint since the state tournament that I have seen. I'm old school and when I see the "hands and footwork", the "drop step" and having a commanding presence inside the paint, that brings back memories from another era yet she rebounds on both ends, gets the break going with the outlet, even dropped the short jumper to go along with scoring around the basket. Her interior defense is also solid </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='674628' first='RiAzia' last='Smith']-6'1 PF (LaVega)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">#89</mark> </strong>Smith is on the verge of blowing completely up because she's not only "long and athletic" but she's also stronger than she looks. When you factor in her mindset of "never taking a play-off" to go along with her diving for loose balls in the air or on the floor, that speaks volumes in my book yet she keeps turning it up as she goes after everything off the rim and you just can't teach heart nor desire. She defends in and outside the paint, she also scores around the basket and off the dribble</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='674629' first='Chania' last='Price']-6'0 SF (Brewer)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">#92 </mark></strong>Price gave me a<strong> </strong>glimpse of what she could do last club season but I needed to see more and she asked me what did she need to improve on, my response was consistency and let me say this, she is falling into that double-double waiting to happen group. She scores off the dribble, she handles the ball in the set as well as in transition, and watching her drop the midrange has been nice all club season, Her defense in the open court has improved, and so has her timing to block shots and she plays the passing lane </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/texas/rankings/2024-rankings/">2024 UPDATED RANKINGS </a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->