2021 New Faces For Top 100 pt 3
The last group of new additions has just blown me away after my first impression or first few or in the case of a couple of them, their progression has just taken off to have very productive closeout seasons in…
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Continue ReadingThe last group of new additions has just blown me away after my first impression or first few or in the case of a couple of them, their progression has just taken off to have very productive closeout seasons in club ball. Progression is big we, it always and always will which is one of the reasons I stress over and over to have the younger players in front of me at the variety of camps and showcases I cover because if I’m there and it’s something I’m promoting, I actually pay attention and if you’ve been paying attention, you would know that by the countless “can’t miss” players I’ve called in elementary school so again, here’s where I’ll be
I even caught a player as I passed a court and saw one of my all-time faves, Mia Topping, who will be on the next update, yes I try and catch as many courts as possible which is why I don’t like being stopped and asked a question you could have called or emailed me about because just like that window of players being seen is small, so is my window on seeing them, so one more time, the dropdowns are there for a reason
Gabrielle Huetter Gabrielle Huetter 6'0" | SF Magnolia | 2021 State TX -6’0 SF (Magnolia HS)
Hueter was unknown to me and she’s less than an hour away so how did I miss her? Once she was in front of me with the Lady Thunder, all bets were off as I saw her create the mid to long-range when her team scrimmage Austin Elite earlier in the season. As the games progressed, I caught her hands and footwork down low, her excellent timing at blocking shots and playing the passing lane and then the volume was turned even higher as she went on a tear in July and August with multiple 6 or more three-point games including scoring the final 15 points in a come from behind, they were down 20 in the first half, victory.
Aja Holmes Aja Holmes 6'0" | PF Luling | 2021 State TX -6’0 PF (Luling HS)
Holmes has added something every year, yes I know she was powerful in the paint early, and yes I saw her develop that inside game to finish with either hand, after contact, sometimes carrying players up with her but that desire and that fire she shows every time she steps on the court never burns out. She rebounds on both ends, in fact, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched her ignite the break with an outlet and outrun everyone to finish at the other end but on top of all of that, she’s added a short jumper that she mixes up with an up and under and she can take defenders off of the dribble
Shayla Dede Shayla Dede 5'7" | PF Taft | 2021 State TX -5’6 PG (Taft HS)
Dede has always brought it whenever I watched her yet she has taken it to a different level and after playing back her last performances in front of me, her acrobatic finishes, her ball on defense as well as her playing the passing lane has been among the best from guards all summer I’ve seen and I don’t just blow smoke. She has a nice first step in the half-court and that coupled with a solid pull-up jumper keeps defenders honest because, with the blink of an eye, she’s gone yet in the open court, you may want to outrun her and try and get in front because with the ball, she’s fast, under control and can hit teammates on the money going full speed
Eryka Patton Eryka Patton 5'11" | SF Lewisville | 2021 State TX -5’11 SF (Lewisville HS)
Patton was the player I caught accidentally so I’ll give Mia yet another assist but watching her use her size to do a number of things changed my focus on where I was heading. She plays bigger than what she’s listed, showing she could outrebound taller players as well as score on the inside but her defense, either in the half or full court and as I constantly watched her footwork and well as her reactions to screens not to mention instinctively playing the passing lane by anticipating what was going to happen the play before is just solid basketball knowledge and something that was overly prevalent at one time
Mayiah Watkins-5’11 PF (Marcus HS)
Watkins turned up the voltage at The Blueprint as I saw this long and athletic player intercepting passes like an All-Pro cornerback from the other end of the gym I had to get a closer view. Remember long and athletic is the base and what’s added to the equation determines a lot and I mention her playing the passing lane, that’s a definite pet peeve of mine when I don’t see it done yet she does it with regularity and her attacking the rim and finishing after contact, plus she showed a nice pull-up that she mixed in with that first step so that along with solid rebounding and defense got her here