Desoto Will Go Deep #TheOpening
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I remember watching Sydney Carter as a 10-year-old and knew she would be a great player as I was pulling for her Desoto squad to win state over 15 years ago, I was right but she kept working as she…
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Continue ReadingI remember watching Sydney Carter as a 10-year-old and knew she would be a great player as I was pulling for her Desoto squad to win state over 15 years ago, I was right but she kept working as she and my daughter became the Two Syds, and helped Texas A&M win a National Championship so that, as well as her playing in the WNBA and now coaching at Texas, repeat after me, I WAS RIGHT, well he was yet I know talent because I am a REAL EVALUATOR not a wannabe selling make-believe so believe this, Desoto has a very good chance of winning it all and here’s what
Smith brings so much energy to the team as she’s an athletic guard who understands how to use her athleticism to her advantage on both ends. I loved watching her dive on the floor for loose balls , as well as her “on the ball” pressure baseline to baseline yet her first step left defenders standing as she attacked the basket and finished strongly after contact. Her stop and pop jumper was also nice
Jemerson has always been a GEM to see on the court and her performance at the Sandra Meadows Classic put her in the cue for Top 100. Her addition to this squad makes them even stronger as she scores off the dribble as well as dropping the jumper and seeing her curl off the pick to drop it is nice, but so is her court vision
Muhammad is one of the most underrated players in her class and looking at how many times I wrote OMG in my notes should give you an idea. She’s a long and athletic guard that simply blows by defenders to score, either with the pullup or finishing strongly off the dribble. She sees the floor, plays the passing lane and even rebounds, on both ends of the court
Miracle Akpotayobo
Miracle Akpotayobo
Akpotyobo was more than a pleasant surprise as she showed me enough to be added to the Top 100 on my next update simply because of her size, college ready frame and ability to not only punish in the paint but take punishment. She scored around the basket, putbacks included because she rebounds on both ends and her timing to block shots was also nice
Byles and her Super Sophomore teammates don’t have any notes by them as I’m only observing their progression after labeling all #D1Locks years ago. Her hands and footwork are an added plus as she’s gotten better with that yet she’s attacking off the dribble from multiple angles to finish, yes after contact. To top it off, her midrange looks good, so does her defense, in and outside the paint
Highlights
Hurst caught my eye a few years ago yet I lost track of her and 6’3, I knew she would resurface because of the potential she showed . Her timing was already there to block, alter and (or) deflect shots, so was her being “long and athletic” which will always be the base. I think watching her go after everything off the rim spoke volumes, so did her finishing around the basket
Pruitt can JUST DO IT multiple ways and when you factor in she stands above “the magic number” and is also “long and athletic” her intangibles separate her in so many ways for the next level. First of all, she’s moving into that “nightmare to defend” category because you are not blocking her mid to long range jumper, she elevates and release with ease but she also scores off the dribble. She plays the passing lane and does a good job defensively
Garcia is one of the most improved #D1Locks I called early and she continues to live up to her “Sunshine” nickname because her midrange jumper is next level ready. She does a good job creating her shot, nothing fancy just “old school basic” yet she takes me back to the age of shooters as she also can drop it from deep. Her deceptive first step is also a plus as she scores off the dribble but her body control on her finishes enables her to finish after contact
Desouze was THE ONE I just knew would create some problems when she was in I guess the 2nd or 3rd grade at a Prime Time event which is perfect because the game will always start at THE 1. Her ability to run a team and control the tempo has elevated as she understands how to get her teammates involved early yet don’t blink because she can also score both off the dribble as well as from the outside