Texas Tip-Off: Honorable Mention List

Welcome to the fourth article of the Texas Tip-Off series, a special edition dedicated entirely to the kids and the one referee who made our Honorable Mention list. While these players did not make the primary lists, their on-court performance during the tournament caught my attention. I saw a level of desire, heart, and hustle in each athlete that deserved recognition.   To the players featured here: let this serve as proof that your hard work is being noticed. Use this recognition as fuel to keep going, keep grinding, and keep putting in the work. You are only scratching the surface of what you can accomplish, and your ceiling is as high as you want it to be. I encourage you to keep working on your game.   Referee Calvin Rickman:  It is rare for a referee to make a tournament standout list, but this official's performance was impossible to ignore. In fact, over the six years I have been involved with youth basketball, he is, in my opinion, the best referee I have seen thus far.   From the opening tip to the final buzzer, Mr. Rickman brought absolute professionalism; he communicated and explained his calls clearly to the players, coaches, and fans in the stands. Mr. Rickman controlled the pace of the game, explained and made consistent calls under pressure, and treated the players and coaches with the utmost dignity and respect. Great games require great officiating, and this referee showed exactly what elite game management looks like. Thank you, Mr. Rickman; your incredible work ethic and devotion to teaching these young athletes. Thank you!   R1T1 13 U (Photo Above)- I was able to catch these young ladies play in between my 15U schedule, and they are tough. Honestly, their skill level and maturity on the floor had me convinced I was watching a 15U team until a parent in the stands corrected me. These kids are simply that good, and they could easily beat some freshman and JV-level high school teams right now.   It is clear they have been playing together for a couple of years, as their chemistry on the court is evident.  They make crisp passes and consistently make the right decisions on both offense and defense. We definitely need to put this entire group on the radar and continue to track their progress.    Averi is a talented student-athlete who possesses the skill and versatility to plug into and start on most rosters. Defensively, she was completely on point throughout the tournament. She performed well, locking down opposing ball-handlers.       What impressed me most about Suhana was that after the game, she asked me what she needed to work on. That level of maturity and hunger to learn instantly earned her a spot on this list. On the court, her jump shot mechanics are beautiful—silky smooth and effortless, to the point that each shot looked like a guaranteed bucket. She also has a strong understanding of how to move on the court without the ball.   Suhana, remember, it is completely okay to impose your will on the floor and dominate, as long as you do so within the confines of your coach's system. Keep grinding!       Kaylee is an energetic guard who brings non-stop energy to the floor. She did an excellent job of attacking the paint, finishing strong through contact to convert several tough layups and earn multiple "and-one" opportunities at the free-throw line.       Brooklyn converted a couple of nice runners in the lane. Defensively, her quick hands helped her force a couple of steals, leading to transition opportunities for her team.

Welcome to the fourth article of the Texas Tip-Off series, a special edition dedicated entirely to the kids and the one referee who made our Honorable Mention list. While these players did not make the primary lists, their on-court performance during the tournament caught my attention. I saw a level of desire, heart, and hustle in each athlete that deserved recognition.