Meat and Potatoes Early at Heart of Texas

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setting the tone is one way of putting it, but when you have players who can change the momentum of games early, especially to start an event, well, that sets the stage for an interesting weekend filled with excitement</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1858653"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b9f1d0fa3d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bowie is <strong>"long and athletic,"</strong> which is the base, and she stands way above <strong>"the magic number." </strong>so that combination will always be high on the list of many next-level coaches, and let me start with some intangibles. She does things fluidly, like rebounding on both ends and playing defense, but her timing is another plus as she blocked as well as latered shots. She scored around the basket, putbacks included, and showed solid court vision </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1303772"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b9f1d0fa84"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harbert is one of the top unsigned players in the state, and since she never takes a play off and will not be outworked, seeing her go AFTA the ball relentlessly off the rim on both ends has become common for me <strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2026/03/2026-final-rankings-stock-risers-part-3/">see evaluations here </a></em></strong>as she does it in multiple settings, high school, college camps, and club basketball. One huge addition was watching her go coast to coast in traffic after rebounding and using the crossover and finishing a few times, with either hand </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1858659"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b9f1d0faae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's hard to believe I haven't seen Gray since 2022. It could be because of the numerous platforms or not having a roster<strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/05/22-queens-of-the-hardwood-ms-2nd-team-hm-open-division/"> see evaluation here</a></em></strong>, but her dominance on both ends to start my day off was exciting. Yes, she has that double combo, long and athletic, and over 6'0 tall, but her hands and footwork to score were clicking. She hit the boards on both ends, played solid defense in the paint, and stepped out to guard <strong>"on the ball"</strong> fullcourt plus she played the passing lane </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1222279"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b9f1d0fad4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith has done some damage on the PGH Circuit with her former Stay Ready club squad, <strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kimani-marie-smith/">see evaluations here</a></em></strong>, but her interior defense was impressive as she showed nice lateral movement to guard her man. She also finished strongly around the basket, even dived on the floor for loose balls, and she rebounded on both ends </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1858673"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b9f1d0faf7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Church gave me a nice first look off the top by starting with some <strong>#THROWBACK</strong> stuff. She's a couple of shades shy of that magic number of <strong>6'0, </strong>yet she plays as if she's above it by understanding positioning and coupling that with <strong>DESIRE </strong>to outrebound taller players, and I love things you can't teach. She is <strong>"long and athletic"</strong> and does a good job defending and finishing around the basket, but her coming from out of nowhere to block shots was also nice</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1539053"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b9f1d0fb19"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones also gave me a nice first look as she understands the simple things that turn out to be big, like using her frame on both ends, getting positioning to rebound, and starting the outlet. She ran the floor, played solid defense, and scored around the basket </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1311609"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b9f1d0fb3a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ekwu has made a couple of my Tip Sheets already,<strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/olivia-ekwu/"> see evaluations here</a></em></strong>, so watching her use her frame along with her strength on the inside to overpower and score was nice, but so was her finishing after using the "hands and footwork" I love seeing players implement. She also gave me another <strong>#THROWBACK, </strong>the drop step, and that, along with rebounding, defending, and playing the passing lane, had me smiling</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->