Top Performers #TexasInvitational day 2
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I’m switch-hitting sort of, I’ll come back to day 1 with bits and pieces of talented players I caught on opening day however I sort of dropped my phone, and the tedious process of starting fresh with a new set-up…
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Continue ReadingI’m switch-hitting sort of, I’ll come back to day 1 with bits and pieces of talented players I caught on opening day however I sort of dropped my phone, and the tedious process of starting fresh with a new set-up irritates me because it’s time consuming yet my time was consumed with a variety of talented players on Thursday and Friday, today I’ll pop up at another event but here are the Top Performers I caught on day 2
2022
Shelby Hayes Shelby Hayes 6'1" | PF Cedar Park | 2022 State TX -6’2 C (Cedar Park)
Hayes is one of those players that I have truly enjoyed watching progress on the court and her drop steps and spin moves around the basket just took me back to the #THROWBACK days because it worked then and it certainly works now but the Rice signee is also powerful on the boards as she rebounds on both ends yet she has mid to long-range and to be honest, I believe she will be an even better college player because of her size and upside
Amira Mabry Amira Mabry 6'1" | PF Judson | 2022 State TX -6’0 C (Converse Judson)
Mabry is also a player that I have watched turn several corners going from a low post decoy to a player that can simply dominate in the paint, on both ends because she’s long and athletic, go to the head of the class if you remember “that’s the base” and her intangibles are what put her on another level. The Tulane signee has great timing to block, alter and deflect shots, she elevates for rebounds, did on putbacks yet she also scored over defenders with ease in the paint and off the dribble
2023
Gisella Maul Gisella Maul 5'10" | SG Cedar Park | 2023 State TX -5’10 PG (Cedar Park)
Maul was offered by Texas shortly after I called her a D1 Lock in the 6th grade I believe but just watching her poise and mannerisms at an early age assured me on what she would become yet the scary part is that she’s ahead of where I anticipated at this stage, no she isn’t because she is unselfish yet she can take control of the game whenever SHE wants too, that’s why several BCS schools were at the event
Ja’Shelle Johnson Ja’Shelle Johnson 5'5" | PG SA Johnson | 2023 State TX -5’6 PG ( SA Johnson)
Johnson falls into my JJ group given to a select group of players with those initials because whenever she’s on the court, there will be Good Times because she is DYNOMITE. I asked her if she was tired of me saying it, she smiled and politely said no, even though she didn’t even know about the show when I saw her in elementary school yet elementary my dear Watsons out there, #sizedontmatter when you can play and her explosiveness off the dribble always wakes me up, especially with her acrobatic finishes but she has range, she sees the floor and she handles the ball under pressure
Riley McCloskey Riley McCloskey 5'3" | PG Memorial | 2023 State TX -5’5 PG (Spring Branch Memorial)
McCloskey was simply amazing as she flirted with a double-double yesterday. She’s a small guard, yet she’s tough and her BB-IQ is very good yet those 20-foot bounce passes on the money took me back to, well yesteryear and again, I love #THROWBACK yet she was directing traffic without a whistle however subliminally she was sending tunes as she hit players from every angle for assist opportunities but she can drop the jumper or use the slight HEZ, HEZZIE, HESITATION, whatever you want to call it, to attack and finish
2024
Janiya Murphy-5’8 G (Summer Creek)
Murphy needs to be added to the Top 100 list, the more I see her the more I envision what she’s going to become because she simply goes hard the whole game, let me do the #THROWBACK trifecta and watching her understand how to use her athleticism as well as when to use it is enlightening. Her jumper is smooth and solid, either in the set or the “stop and pop” yet the heat she applies on defense deserves another hashtag #DESIRE
Simran Williams Simran Williams 5'7" | SG North Shore | 2024 State TX -5’8 CG (North Shore)
Williams name preceded her before high school and I hear she’s a track star as well, that explains a lot as I watched her defy gravity attacking the basket as well as simply elevate over defenders for the jumper or around the rim but she also rebounds on both ends and plays the passing lane which usually leads to scoring opportunities because she can handle the ball and her speed and control gives her an edge