Top Performers-Mansfield Spring Creek Invitational pt 1
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Where I start is always one of the things that pops into my mind when I cover this event and the Sandra Meadows Classic because both are right after the Christmas Holidays. It revitalizes me to see 64 teams, probably…
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Continue ReadingWhere I start is always one of the things that pops into my mind when I cover this event and the Sandra Meadows Classic because both are right after the Christmas Holidays. It revitalizes me to see 64 teams, probably over 75% that I hadn’t seen all season, and it’s a great tune-up for part 2 of the season.
Part 1 is the preseason, part 2 is the district and part 3 is the MOST important, the playoffs. It has been reworded by many but always remember that nothing of relevance is being said that I haven’t already said but nevertheless, here are some players that just stood out in a big way
Other standouts were on the Top Unsigned Seniors article and I have a FRESHMAN list coming, as well as a few others but let me start with the Top Performers from the the top 2 teams, Mansfield Timberview defeated South Grand Prairie in the Championship game
Wilson has always amazed me with her ability to get open and watching her score off the dribble and finish acrobatically after contact speaks volumes about her body control. She’s explosive in the set, as well as in transition and her “stop and pop” jumper from distance was clicking yet so was her court vision but she applies heat defensively and plays the passing lane
Jones is a force to be reckoned with and when you have the power, strength and frame to do what she does consistently, I just SMH at times because her “hands and footwork” around the basket have always been nice, so has the drop step yet she can score off the dribble by either attacking the rim or hitting the pull-up jumper. She also rebounds, on both ends and does a good job defensively in and outside the paint
Terry is ranked #30 but I foresee her moving up and her MVP performance in front of me had me thinking about her progression over the years, She was really good young yet that wasn’t enough and watching her adding to her offense, yeah she scored off the dribble and hit the midrange but her 3 ball was clicking, so was her “catch and shoot” with a hand in her face from deep but rebounding and going C2C to score or dish was also nice, that’s coast to coast
Barnes is “long and athletic” which will always be the base yet she does so many things instinctively that many will miss. She reacts very well on defense, she does a good job defending in and outside the paint, her timing to score around the basket, putbacks included, is very nice but it also looks good when she’s blocking shots. Her pull-up jumper is sweet, she elevates over defenders, forget about blocking it yet she also plays the passing lane
Highlights
Parker is “long and athletic” and after impressing me early when she was in Oklahoma, I called her a #BCSLock, she’s heading to Texas A&M. Her timing to block, alter and (or) deflect shots is nice, she rebounds on both ends and handles the ball afterward. Her court vision in transition as well as in the set is very good, she drops the mid to long-range, scores off the dribble, applies on the ball pressure and plays the passing lane
Carr is still in the “driver’s seat” and when you factor in her skillset coupled with her standing 3 inches above “the magic number” well what else? She has a college ready frame and can be overpowering around the rim but she also does a good job or rebounding and getting the break going on one end, as well as scoring on putbacks on another. Defense is solid around the basket, she also has good court vision
Tamaiya Mims
Tamaiya Mims
Mims “the word” as there’s no need for her to say anything as I played on words yet her play on the court is exciting because she is an athletic guard that understands how to use her athleticism on both ends of the court. Her smothering defense “baseline to baseline” helped to create turnovers but she also showed she could blow by defenders in the set as well as in the open court and score attacking the basket, nice body control on her finishes