Freshman 3-on-3 Standouts: Early Impressions, Big Potential

The PGH Texas freshman showcase is a great opportunity for players from all over the state to compete with their peers. What separates this event from others is everyone has an opportunity to compete against everyone. 3-on-3 is a good opportunity to evaluate prospects because nobody can hide here. Ball handling, the ability to create and score, defense, etc. are highlighted in the halfcourt setting. With over 60 players in attendance, and rotating half courts in a fast and furious manner, the following players are the ones that stood out early on.    Martin set the tone early on during 3-on-3 play. She is an aggressive competitor who continuously puts the ball handler on alert because she will rip the ball out of ball handlers' hands defensively and brings consistent energy to the game. Equally impressive, is her ability to get her teammates involved on offense. She understands spacing, and can finish with either hand. Also rebounds the ball well and plays with a motor that stands out.     It's refreshing to see players at a showcase play team ball and not hold onto the ball too much. While Mason can score effortless, it was restorative to see her emphasize making her teammates better.   Mason shows great body control, utilizing jump stops and shot fakes effectively before making accurate bounce passes to open teammates for easy buckets. She plays with a nose over ball defensive stance and has a quick first step. Did a nice job communicating with our team, particularly on the defensive end, and showed a willingness to make winning plays.     Bell's raw athleticism was on full display early on. The way she sets her man up high, turns the brakes on then sails backdoor to score was clinic worthy. She has deep shooting range and tight handles. The opposition had a hard time shutting her down in the 3-on-3 play because with her without the ball in her hands she is effective.     Tenison has a real subtleness to her game, meaning she is doing a lot of difficult things on the court while making it look simple. It starts with an effortless shot from outside. She can either shoot off the catch or use a strong crossover to go into a quick release three-point shot. Tenison is a freshman that I expect to make an immediate impact for the varsity team in the upcoming season.     Thomas did a really nice job ducking in and consistently moving in and out of the paint. Her length allows her to seal defenders, create separation, and establish herself in the lane, which then gives her ample space to go up and finish targeted passes for easy buckets. Defensively, she did a good job playing the passing lanes outside the paint and showed good anticipation, coming up with steals.

The PGH Texas freshman showcase is a great opportunity for players from all over the state to compete with their peers. What separates this event from others is everyone has an opportunity to compete against everyone. 3-on-3 is a good opportunity to evaluate prospects because nobody can hide here. Ball handling, the ability to create and score, defense, etc. are highlighted in the halfcourt setting. With over 60 players in attendance, and rotating half courts in a fast and furious manner, the following players are the ones that stood out early on.