Houston Hoops Evaluation: Underrated Hoopers who stood out

I attended the Houston Hoops Scouting Evaluation this past weekend in Little Rock, and I witnessed tough, physical play for the entirety of the event's three hours. I saw plenty of players who I already knew about raise the stock, but several other players came into that event under the radar. Now, I am raising the alarm about those underrated hoopers.    [player_tooltip player_id='1260229' first='Kaydence' last='Holloway'] may be able to earn minutes early on as a freshman with the Conway Lady Wampus Cats with her versatile play.   Holloway, who stands at 5'10", primarily plays the power forward and center positions. Her length is very valuable on the defensive end in the post. She has a long wingspan and showed good instincts as a rim protector during the evaluation. She can also rebound with toughness and score underneath the basket.   Her best offensive attribute was her ability to stretch the floor. She proved that she could knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers from 3-point range, even with defenders sprinting to go out and contest her shots.   What impressed me the most about [player_tooltip player_id='1260229' first='Kaydence' last='Holloway'] was not her floor-stretching ability or her shot-blocking; it was her effort. She gave 110% effort during the evaluation, did not give up on plays, and impressed every coach in that gym. That alone will earn her playing time.     I would not say that [player_tooltip player_id='1260223' first='De'Asia' last='Neal'] is "underrated," but she still impressed me at the evaluation.   Traditionally, Neal would be confined to the post thanks to her strength and solid footwork in the paint, but her ball-handling proves that she should be helping initiate the offense along the perimeter. She doesn't lose the ball, nor does she try too hard. Neal plays within herself and relies on her fundamentals to break down a defense.   If there is a lane to the basket, Neal exploits it. She puts her head down when attacking the rim, finishing through contact thanks to her power. In addition to her post play, Neal can step out and knock down outside shots, proving that she has legitimate inside-outside scoring capabilities.   [player_tooltip player_id='1260223' first='De'Asia' last='Neal'] is already expected to contribute immediately with Conway, so make sure to keep an eye on her this coming season.     Both Phan sisters were killing it at last weekend's evaluation. Kya Phan may be playing for a homeschool squad, but she proved that she could go toe-to-toe with any other guard.   Phan plays with pure speed. She outruns every defender who matches up with her, and she is always looking to get into the paint. If she can't, then she will try to find an open teammate.   Phan also did not hesitate to launch 3-pointers. She has a quick release, and she hit a couple, proving that defending her from beyond the arc needs to be a part of the defense's plan.   The Little Rock Flames had several representatives at this event who impressed, so I will definitely need to follow them this year.     Once again, another Little Rock Flame is being mentioned. Loryn Jones did not score at will or anything, but she showed that she does not back down from a challenge.   This was a tough evaluation for a lot of players. Players like Jones are matching up against players older, bigger, and more tested than her, but she still played well, all things considered.   Jones fought for rebounds, boxing out well and not letting up when things became physical. She was also in the right place at the right time on several occasions, acting as an easy outlet for teammates to give the ball to in the lane. There, Jones could score with a soft touch.   The Little Rock Flames clearly have a bright future, especially with a now-tested seventh grader like Loryn Jones on their roster.     Another underrated player who stood out was Tiana McGehee. I will admit, I did not know much about McGehee before this weekend, but now, I think she can develop into a star for the Lady Patriots.   McGehee can provide help down low right away with her length. Her 6'2" frame and long wingspan will be nightmarish for the opposition, as she can quickly become a star shot-blocker. She can also use that length to dominate the glass.   Tiana McGehee is still developing both her offensive and defensive abilities, but I think once she gets a shot on Parkview's varsity squad, she will break out. Keep an eye on this up-and-comer.

I attended the Houston Hoops Scouting Evaluation this past weekend in Little Rock, and I witnessed tough, physical play for the entirety of the event's three hours. I saw plenty of players who I already knew about raise the stock, but several other players came into that event under the radar. Now, I am raising the alarm about those underrated hoopers.