This past weekend gave many basketball enthusiasts reasons to cheer in San Antonio.
Tom Brown and his Alamo City All-Stars organization had another event for the girls on Saturday. Brown, formerly with the SA Starz, is a well respected basketball guy in San Antonio in regards to youth basketball. Look out for a feature on Brown in the near future.
His event pitted some familiar teams against each other but also featured some special guests:
UTSA Men's Basketball Coach, Brooks Thompson, was spotted in the gym. Coach Thompson was at the tournament supporting his 8 year old daughter play in an AAU game. The sight of a Division 1 Coach sitting in a chilly middle school gym while feeding a new born on one knee, bouncing a toddler on the other knee and cheering for his little basketball star was a thing of beauty. The very approachable coach spoke optimistically about this years UTSA Men's Team.(UTSA just signed AJ Gasporra out of Los Angeles. I watched Gasporra lead Artesia to a California State Championship two years ago. Gasporra teamed with McDonald All American and projected NBA Lottery pick James Harden, Renardo Sidney,ESPN #5 Ranked player in 2009, and Indiana University Freshman Malik Story. On a team with 2 Future NBA players and so much talent, many felt that it was Gasporra who was the glue guy that made that team go) Coach Thompson and UTSA Womens' Coach, Rae Rippetoe-Blair, are doing some exciting things for San Antonio basketball and we should all support the Road Runners.
Another guest blending into the crowd and Tom Brown's event was the new Incarnate Word Girls Basketball Coach, Troy Patterson. Coach Patterson was smiling often and soaking up the scene. He has a lot to smile about these days due to a very promising group of players for Incarnate Word. The group is led by Kaela Lipo. The 6'1 junior Post Player is one of the best players in the city and reportedly has numerous college suitors. Word is that she may be leaning toward an Ivy League education. The Shamrocks are also returning sophomore Tayler Calvert.The 5'9 Calvert is what you would call a lock-down player. She can guard bigger and smaller players with the same effectiveness. The Shamrocks return seasoned point guard BreAnna Alba and gain a very talented freshmen in Victoria Villareal. Mark my words,Villareal, adidas Super Star Junior pick, is a future star. The sweet shooting lefty is savvy beyond her years. The freshman will make some noise real soon. Speaking of future stars, coach Patterson had to have dreams of a potential future dancing in his head on Saturday. McKenzie Calvert, Taylor Calvert's younger sister, was playing with her fathers Schertz Jaguar team and doing what she is known to do; BALL. The kid can play and her parents are reportedly considering sending McKenzie to Incarnate Word. She is only a 2014 and would eventually play one year with her older sister. The Shamrock is thought to bring good luck. Coach Patterson does not need any luck with this talented group.
The biggest happening for San Antonio this weekend happened in Dallas on Saturday.The Lady Rohawks fought Goliath and almost won. The Lady Rohawks lost to DFW Elite by single digits and the best player in basketball only dunked on them once. Britney Griner did play and apparently had the crowd buzzing as she put on dunking exhibitions during the event. The Rohawks played their trademark lock-down man defense and earned many admirers. More important than the win or loss, numerous Lady Rohawks solidified their college futures. Felicia Jacobs(Roosevelt), Alicia Houston(Reagan) and Michelle Rodriguez(Wagner) all attracted new college suitors with their play this weekend. All three guards upped their stock. The highly anticipated showdown between CeCe Harper(Madison) and Odyssey Simms never materialized as Simms played with her high school team. Harper still represented very well and gave as much as she took against nationally ranked guard, Adrienne Pratcher. Monica Engleman(Madison) reportedly had college coaches foaming at the mouth mad about her commitment to Kansas. She reportedly did it all and did it all very well.
All in all, it was a great weekend for San Antonio Girl's Basketball.
