New Faces-Girls TABC Showcase Opening Day pt 1
In this article:
I store a lot of content in my head, something like a PETABYTE yet I’ll never be PETTY with my evaluations and one thing I take pride in is keeping it real and having NO AGENDA whatsoever, no matter who…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingI store a lot of content in my head, something like a PETABYTE yet I’ll never be PETTY with my evaluations and one thing I take pride in is keeping it real and having NO AGENDA whatsoever, no matter who a player plays for. If you don’t know me or follow me, I’m sort of different because I have watched this game change several times, on and off the court over the past 20 years, the impact of social media has been great in some aspects yet for the most part, it has been somewhat of a joke at times however one good thing is if I can’t see a player in person, I can actually SEE A PLAYER
I missed Alisha Peavy Alisha Peavy 6'2" | C Pieper | 2025 State TX -6’1 F (Comal Piper) 2025 at the Girls TABC Showcase back in June, however, I saw enough of her on video to know she’s one of the top players in Texas and will be added somewhere on my next update but please remember the best way to be EVALUATED is LIVE because MEMOREX isn’t always going to do IT for me. With that being said, on October 8th in Carrolton TX, the Texas Top 250 EXPO will give players a chance to be seen for the first time, as well as how much they have progressed before that next update, use COLSONPGH2023 for discount
Here are some of the players that left a lasting first impression from the event
Nikyah Bourgeois-5’6 G (Hitchcock) 2025
Bourgeois is an athletic guard who uses her athleticism on both ends, which’s always a good sign, and her on-the-ball pressure baseline to baseline immediately grabbed my attention yet on the flip, watching her explode off the dribble and finish after contact, body control helped play a part in that, was equally impressive. She also did a good job of creating her shot and knocking it down, from mid to long range, with a hand in her face
Nia Etienne-5’6 G Hitchcock) 2024
Etienne made one of the most acrobatic shots I saw, not only at the event but over the post-high school season which included club basketball. When I put WOW in caps, that means a lot but so did watching her play the passing lane which is something I actually love to see players do. She handles the ball after the steal, and court vision is solid but she also showed the “stop and pop” jumper which she elevates on to release, and her defense was solid
Kyleigh McDaniel Kyleigh McDaniel 6'1" | PF Hitchcock | 2025 State TX -6’1 F (Hitchcock) 2024
McDaniel used her frame along with nice “hands and footwork” to create problems for defenders around the basket as she finishes strongly after contact. She rebounds on both ends, yet just as importantly, runs the floor on both ends and when she showed good timing to block, alter, and (or) deflect shots, I had seen enough yet wasn’t she wasn’t finished. Her defense, in and outside the paint was nice, and so was her midrange jumper
Avery Harris Avery Harris 5'7" | SG Lorena | 2024 State TX -5’7 G (Lorena) 2024
Harris is a heady guard who truly understands how to set the defender up in multiple ways. Her shot selection is good, and her release is nice, how nice was it? Well, she was one of the best “catch and shoot” players I saw at the event. She knocked it down from mid to long range and her concentration was also good as she nailed from outside after the lick. She saw the floor and understood how to control the tempo
Jordan Mitchell-6’1 F (Lorena) 2027
Mitchell has some scary upside because not only is she “long and athletic” which is the base and one of the profiles I love to evaluate but more importantly so do many college coaches and they offer what? Next-level opportunities. She also stands over “the magic number” which is 6’0 and her “hands and footwork” got her some easy baskets, she also scored on putbacks, yes, she rebounds on both ends
Timya Grice-6’5 C (Katy Taylor) 2024
Grice was NICE as I had heard about her a few times, yet never had seen her so this event gave me a chance to see SEVERAL players I knew absolutely nothing to write about. At 6’5, she is an imposing figure on both ends of the court and I enjoyed her interior defense off the top yet her lateral movement to guard outside had me smiling because she understands how to apply pressure. She rebounded on both ends, scored with her back to the basket as well as facing it
Me’Arah O’Neal Me’Arah O’Neal 6'4" | C Houston Episcopal | 2024 State TX -6’3 F/C ( Houston Episcopal) 2024
O’Neal was another player I had heard about yet never saw in person. Her dad is an NBA Hall Of Famer, yes that O’Neal so I was excited I was finally getting a look she showed me enough during warmups as she was dropping the long ball effortlessly yet when the game began, her defense, her shot-blocking as well as her rebounding all stood out, she even played the passing lane. She handled the ball from the wing to attack and score and she dropped it from mid to long-range