2028 Group More Than Solid #KickoffClassic

I've been around this for a long time, like before they let freshmen play varsity. I have seen some amazing individual performances like Eboni Mangum (Dulles) dropping 28 points in the final quarter to lead her team to the state Final Four. Mangum went on to star at TCU and she's from the deepest class out of the Houston area, 2005, where over HUNNID players went on to play at the next level, more than 40 D1.   Fast forward to now, freshmen have been coming in and making immediate impacts for their teams, and here are a few I saw at the event.    Conway is a NATIONAL player, BCS, Power 5, or whatever you want to call it, she's showing next-level and beyond. I've mentioned I've caught something new each time I've seen her this year but her ability to take over games offensively, inside the paint, to BTA, was in full force as she's showing signs of being a "nightmare to defend"     Herpin is a couple of shades under "the magic number" yet her college-ready frame as well as her DESIRE to go AFTA everything has me keeping a close eye on her progression on the court. She showed power in the paint, solid upside and did a good job defending, both in and outside the paint. Huge upside     Howard was a player I heard about from a RELIABLE source yet I told them I still had to see her so I'd know what to say. Well, her first step sold me off the top as she blew by defenders in the set as well as in the open court, body control on her finishes is solid, and so is her jumper, "catch and shoot" from deep included. She also does a good job defending "on the ball" from baseline to baseline.     Nelson is an athletic guard who does a good job of using her athleticism on both ends of the court. Her "on the ball" pressure helped fuel an early comeback yet she also showed she could attack the basket from multiple spots and finish after the lick, nice body control on her finishes.     Dixon along with Nelson gives Hastings one of the top young backcourt in the area and their games mirror each other so they can both run the 1 or 2 yet she also showed good court vision, in the set as well as in transition and did a good job creating her shot from outside, nice upside.     Nwosu is just under "the magic number" and is already understanding how to make her presence felt inside the paint, on both ends. She gave me the "hands and footwork" so I'll give her the #THROWBACK hashtag, she hit the boards, on both ends, and was solid defensively.     Gonzalez sold me in the 5th or 6th grade while playing up so it was no surprise to me that she handled the pressure admirably. She made good decisions, she hit her teammates at the right time and she stayed under control, against some of the best heat in the state. Solid upside     Stigler was a "stickler on defense" and her "on the ball" pressure is what immediately grabbed my attention because she falls into that "never takes a play off" group. As hard as she went defensively, she attacked the basket to same way and finished strongly after contact. She also played the passing lane and has good upside.

I've been around this for a long time, like before they let freshmen play varsity. I have seen some amazing individual performances like Eboni Mangum (Dulles) dropping 28 points in the final quarter to lead her team to the state Final Four. Mangum went on to star at TCU and she's from the deepest class out of the Houston area, 2005, where over HUNNID players went on to play at the next level, more than 40 D1.