LaVega On Track For Deep Run in 4A- Girls TABC Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The title is somewhat deceiving because the defending state champions were looking playoff-ready at times during the event held in June and when you have an abundance of guards that can not only apply pressure but score, that will create problems yet the improvement from the interior players is just a huge plus that has them as one of my early picks to win it all and keep in mind, I caught them against Duncanville who I think will make a deep run in 6A so listen carefully, it's not what you do, it's who you do it against </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309654' first='Kiyleyah' last='Parr']-5'6 CG <em><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/09/sizzling-guards-standout-at-girls-tabc-showcase/">see evaluation </a></mark></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='307757' first='Alaysia' last='Gude']-5'8 G (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gude is explosive both in the set and in transition and watching her blow by defenders effortlessly yet under control has been a treat to watch over the years. Her court vision is very good, she can hit players in the open court going full speed, with either hand, and her mid to long-range game helps to create problems because of her ability to score off the dribble. She plays "on the ball" defense and plays the passing lane</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='678715' first='Angela' last='Carroll']-6'2 C (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carroll continues to sing a different tune as her stock skyrocketed over the summer simply because of her improvement as well as her standing over "the magic number". Well, she's also long and athletic, which will always be the base, not to leave out strong and athletic, but her powerful finishes inside the paint, with players literally hanging on her are going to create some issues, plus she rebounds and runs the floor on both ends </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sydney McKinney-6'0 F (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McKinney was not only solid inside the paint, she hit the boards hard on both ends, but she also did a good job defending. The bonus was she showed she could guard her man outside the paint and she did a good job finishing around the basket </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='833823' first='Mimi' last='Willis']-5'7 G (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Willis is definitely a sparkplug and she falls into that GAMECHANGER group by doing the little things that turn out to be big. Her "on the ball" defense is smothering at times and helps to create turnovers, so do her quick heads, yet watching her dive on the floor for loose balls gets her the #THROWBACK hashtag as that ignites her teammates. She also does a good job of creating her shot for the jumper or to score off the dribble </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Solange Loadholt-5'10 G/F (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loadholt is a "long and athletic" guard, that too is the base, and her ability to score in the flow and do so many things that don't show up on the stat sheet will be a huge key for her team. She can defend baseline to baseline as well as in the set yet her wingspan forces the offensive player to not only pick up their dribble but make bad passes. She plays the passing lane and scores off the dribble as well as around the basket as she rebounds on both ends</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='842823' first='Cemaria' last='Kelly']-5'7 G (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelly continues to elevate her game as she too falls into that "long and athletic" guard group but watching her defend is always a treat because she reads the floor and comes up with steals playing the passing lane. She also understands how to force the offensive player into traps and her quick hands help her to pick pockets. Her pull-up jumper has also improved, she scores off the dribble and has solid court vision </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ri'Azia Smith-6'3 C (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith was another hot commodity over the club season as her height and length, over "the magic number" and "long and athletic" stood out each time I saw her yet her going after the ball relentlessly over and over had me going. She also scored powerfully in the paint after contact included but on the flip, her defense was very good, and so was her timing to block, alter, and (or) deflect shots </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Other key players </mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jermarriana Daniel-5'5 G (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cra'Lajah Bradley-5'6 G (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Taliyah Parker-Minnitt-5'6 G (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kimora Hebert-5'10 F (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->