PGH Freshman Showcase Review: Teams 2 & 6

I stated earlier that this was one of if not the PGH Freshman Showcase I have covered, and one thing I know is talent and many of the players in attendance will be in the Top 100 Plus at some point. I’m dropping the Top 15- 20 freshmen I have seen PERSONALLY this season on the Watch List, not a RANKING, sometime in late October or early November

Speaking of RANKINGS, do NOT let that determine anything regarding what happens, I hear nonsense from people who just don’t know but be careful who you listen to. My daughter was ranked 207 at the guard spot by ASGR after seeing her play, yet listed her #207 at the guard spot because I had said some not-so-nice things to the director and wouldn’t let my daughter play for a shoe team, I was coaching her

Fast forward to now, she’s been in the WNBA for almost a decade winning Championships in college and professionally so I said all of that to say this, I am not PETTY, I don’t play POLITICS and I have no AGENDA so good luck

Team 2:

Makayla French-5’6 G (Rouse) Texas Elite

French steadily shows progression each time I catch her and what impressed me was her court vision not only in the set but also in transition. She also attacked the basket and finished strongly. Her “on the ball” defense has gotten tighter yet her ability to “catch and shoot” while being defended was another big plus

Breanna Briles-5’7 G (Forestburg)

Briles does something I love to see and that’s play the passing lane yet her handling the ball after it to score was nice. She also scored after getting steals playing tough defense and her quick hands played a part in that. She had nice body control after attacking the basket in the set plus her pull-up jumper was solid

Arianna Philson-5’7 G (Rains) BCB Elite

Philson is an athletic guard who uses her athleticism on both ends and let me say this, her ceiling has no roof as she was one of the best NEW FACES I caught at the event. Her first step can be devastating for defenders as she attacks and finishes powerfully but she also elevates on her jumper and drops it while being defended. She not only rebounded but went coast to coast to score, she also scored on putbacks. Her “on the ball” defense was very impressive and she played the passing lane

Ava John-5’8 G (Greenhill) True Texas Hoops

John was another player who understood the importance of playing the passing lane and watching her show the crossover after the steal had me smiling. she was also another guard that brought heat on ends but her SWB, speed with the ball, and staying under control were very nice. She’s explosive off the dribble, finished after the lick, has good body control, and her “on the ball” defense was solid

Rachel Torres-5’11 F (Vista Ridge) Phoenix Select

Torres showed good timing to block, alter, and or deflect shots but her interior defense was also nice. She rebounded and ran the floor on both ends. She scored around the basket and on putbacks but watching her go after everything that was loose gets #THROWBACK. To add more, since she’s just shy of “the magic number” she scored off the dribble

Nina Jefferson-5’9 G (City View) True Texas Hoops see evaluation here

Bailey Burns Bailey Burns 6'0" | SF Lake Creek | 2027 TX -6’0 F (Lake Creek) Cy Fair Premier see evaluation here

Diya Jain-5’10 G/F (Greenhill) Pro Skills

Jain was dropping it from everywhere to open the event up and when she attacked off the dribble and changed hands in mid-air to score, I dropped the mic, I mean clipboard. The mid to long-range pull-up was smooth, she showed the “catch and shoot” a few times but with her being “long and athletic” and a couple of inches shy of “the magic number” she will be on several shortlists for the next level. Oh yeah, the FLOATA was off the chain

Lucy Hahn-6’2 C (Covenant Christian)

Hahn hit the boards hard and at times, placed an exclamation point on it yet she understands how to get the outlet going as well as run the floor, which she did on both ends. She scored around the basket. That “hands and footwork” combination is #THROWBACK and she did a good job defending inside the paint, nice upside

Audrey Richardson-6’0 F (Liberty Hill) Phoenix Select

Richardson has shown me something new in each event I’ve watched her. Last time, the turnaround jumper grabbed me, and she still has it, but this time around, her handling the ball and seeing the floor in transition JUST DID IT for me. She also saw the floor in the set, scored facing the basket, and used that “hands and footwork” effectively to score inside plus “she’s long and athletic” and that is the base. Oh yeah, she’s at “the magic number”

Team 6:

Emerson York Emerson York 5'6" | SG Lovejoy | 2027 TX -5’6 G (Lovejoy) Texas Lonestar

York did a good job of getting hers in the flow and she patiently set the defender up to attack the basket from multiple angles. She has nice court vision and made good decisions on who the get the ball to. Her “on the ball” defense also stood out

Anna Alvarez-5’7 G (Rouse)

Alvarez rebounded over taller players so she understands positioning and that, combined with effort means a lot. Her defense was solid as she applied baseline baseline pressure. She handled the ball and saw the floor under pressure plus she created her shot and dropped it from outside

Kiran Karundethu-5’4 G (Allen) Doom Squad 16U see evaluation here

Ryan Kirby-5’3 G (Henrietta)

Kirby did a good job of cleaning up defensively and her pressure in the set as well as full court was nice. She also used a deceptive first step to attack the basket and finish off the dribble, body control played a part in that. Her court vision was also good

Mabry Reef-5’5 G (Tomball Memorial) Just Play

Reef created her shot under pressure and dropped it while being defended. She also scored off the dribble from multiple spots, her court vision was nice in transition and halfcourt, as well as off the dribble. What also grabbed me was watching her battle with taller players for rebounds

Natalie Barrett Natalie Barrett 5'7" | CG Rockwall | 2027 TX -5’7 G (Rockwall) DC Queens see evaluation here

Sam Earest-5’8 G (Frisco Memorial) Lonestar Junior 3SSB

Earnest was another NEW FACE that had both of my eyes wide opened. She’s a “long and athletic” guard, which is also the base, and watching her use the slight HEZ to get the defender to lean and go by them was very nice. Her body control and finishes were impressive, and so was her jumper from mid to long-range but she also did a good job dropping the “catch and shoot’

Kiera Walker-5’8 G (Allen ISD)

Walker left a lasting first impression because she BATTLES for everything off the rim, on the floor, in the air, and plays the passing lane. Her “on the ball” defense was smothering at times, she showed good timing to block shots so what else? Her first step is smooth and so are her finishes after contact, yes nice body control, but she also can drop it from mid to long range, even showed the “catch and shoot” from BTA

Emerson Seal-6’0 F/C (Prestowood Christian Academy) DC Queens

Seal has some impressive upside with her height and body and understanding the simple things that will turn out to be big. She’s long and athletic along with standing at the magic number but she hit the boards and ran the floor, on both ends. She also defended in and outside the paint and she scored around the basket