- Kyra Lambert 2015- (TeamXpress) Kyra is the best middle school prospect in the city. Her basketball instincts are off the charts. She possesses the ability to slash and touch the paint almost at will. She also makes others better. Her unselfish play and demeanor belies a fierce competitive nature. Kyra has already played in the Top Division of the Boo Williams April event. It does not get much tougher than than that. Will surely be recognized Top 100 kid on a national level.
- Erica Sanders 2015-(SA Finest) Erica is as fast as any kid in the city from baseline to baseline, regardless of grade or age. Erica has tightened up her handle to make her almost unguardable off of the dribble. Her Euro Step is just plain nasty. She finds gaps in defenses that others would not dare to attack. Unfortunately, this leads to her taking a lot of physical contact. She will live at the free throw line in high school with the constant attacking pressure that she puts on defenders. As her shot continues to develop, she will be a nationally recognized kid.
- Amber Ramirez 2016(Lady Hoops) -The most exciting scorer in the city for middle school. Scored 30 plus on the regular for her 7th grade team this past season. Amber has all the tricks on offense. Her handle is advanced and her 3 ball seems to be automatic. One of her biggest attributes is an understanding of how to change speeds to keep defenders off balance and guessing. Her "Eric Gordon" high crossover makes defenders look silly. It is obvious that she plays against boys often as she possesses a knack for scoring with quick releases and difficult shot making. Swagger to spare!
- Aaliyah Holmes 2016(Lady Hoops) -Holmes makes the 3 Ball seem like a lay up. She is the younger sister of the high scoring SA Express Super Teamer Shana Holmes and can light it up like big sis. Holmes is almost the same height as her sister now and is built with the same strong explosive frame. She went for 40 plus in a middle school game this season and averaged 30 plus.
- Kirsten Kramer 2015 (Lady Jayhawks)- Kramer is gifted. It is easy to see that the cross training of playing additional sports gives her an aggression and understanding of going hard. This also has left her with a ton of upside. Her shot has good bones and will become more consistent as she is now fully dedicated to the game. Kramer is another kid with great instincts. She can slash and finish well in traffic. Her size and speed enable her to make great "basketball plays". Huge upside!
- Kiana Williams 2017(TeamXpress)- Williams is legit! A super quick guard in the mode of SA great Len'Nique Brown. Her handle allows her to see a play ahead of the competition. She is a very good passer for her age and makes others around her better. She can hit the open jumper as well. Williams has big time written all over her if she stays on the path.
- Kenzie Heineman 2017(SA Finest)- A pure scorer! That may sound ridiculous to say about a 6th grader but the proof is in the bottom of the net. Heineman is the younger sister to 27-5A New Comer of the Year, Carlie Heineman, and the art of getting buckets is in the family. Kenzie is ambidextrous and can shoot from 15 feet with both hands, with success! She can stretch the defense with the 3Ball and already has a mid range game with runners and step backs. Her handle and first step makes her a nightmare for girls her age.
- Gabby Connally 2017(South Texas Hoyas)- Gabby glides down the court like football great Herschel Walker used to run. Her long explosive strides eat up so much ground that it is unfair to defenders. She has sharpened her handle and is continuing to work out the kinks with her jumper. In terms of raw talent, there may not be a more gifted kid in the city for middle school.
- Desiree Johnson 2015(SA Lady Rohawks)- Eboni Watkins again! Johnson lives in the paint and possesses the same runner in traffic that UTA bound Watkins mastered. Johnson is of good size at 5"7 and has a street ball flair of getting it done. She has the attitude of a champ and fears no one! Already getting college attention for her raw potential.
- Megan Valdez 2017(South Texas Hoyas)- One of the most hard nosed kids in the city. Megan will get double digit rebounds and assists from the guard position due to her knack for reading the floor and defenders. She is the best off-ball defender that I have seen in the middle school age for the city. She already understands how to read the shoulders and eyes of opposing players to jump passing lanes. Her ability to penetrate has been aided by her new found range from deep. Megan can play.
- Brianna Millett 2015(SA Lady Rohawks)- Millett has always been a beast in the post but has now moved out to her eventual position of off guard. "Bree" is strong! She is Erica Donovan strong on the perimeter, though not as tall, and punishes smaller defenders. Her handle has tightened which allows her to effectively use her body get to spots with the live ball now.
- Anya Curtiss 2016(SA Finest)- Curtiss is right there with Holmes and Ramirez in contention for purest shooter in middle school. Curtiss is smooth and is never in a hurry. She plays under control, always knowing that defenders must run her off of the 3point line. If not, mark it up! She is that automatic. Her handle is strong and she possesses the footwork to match.
- Brittany Leonard 2015(SA Comets-Leonard) -"Moose" is another kid that can really shoot it. Playing up for years, her basketball IQ is exceptional and indicative of a coaches kid. Moose is a crafty lefty and a very adept at finding the open player. She has a strong frame and is a physical guard. She is a little too unselfish at times. She has all the tools and it is just a matter of time before she flips the switch.
- Bailey Quisenberry 2016(SA Finest)- Savvy as can be. "Quiz" is easily one of the best facilitators in the city. She understands that all passes are not good passes. She has remarkable touch on her passes. She passes to where players should be and rarely drops dimes to players out of their areas of success. Her mid range runner is highly effective and changes speed well. A pretty adept shot maker in traffic due to great footwork(mastered the Steve Nash outside pivot counter vs aggressive defenders).
- Anabelle Tovar 2016(Lady Hoops)- Another kid with a knack for scoring. Reminds me of Wagner great Chelsea Solis. Has the confidence and ability to get it done vs bigger and stronger defenders. Terrific at putting pressure on defense with dribble penetration. "Belle" is a very effective scorer in traffic. Another kid that plays against boys, she is not afraid to mix it up.
- Vanessa Oyola 2017(SA Finest)- Strong handle, great IQ and an improving facilitator, Oyola is mature beyond her years. She is a fierce competitor and attacks constantly. She has a solid mid range game with runners and floaters, using both hands. Her vision and willingness to get buckets for her teammates is pretty impressive. One of the few kids that can truly feed the post effectively at this age. One of the few young kids that understands the importance of spacing. She fears nothing!
- Danaja Daniels 2017 (SA Lady Rohawks)- Super quick guard with a nice mid range game all ready. Great on ball defender. Daniels plays low and penetrates at will. I have only seen her a couple of times but she left a great impression on me.
- Aiyanna Bardell 2016(South Texas Hoyas)- Bardell is long and very athletic. She took a year off and is back invigorated. Bardell can guard all 5 positions. She is the rare kid that can rebound in traffic, push the rock up the court and make a play for herself or others. This kid can be special if she continues to fulfill her promise.
- Moriah Creswell 2015(SA Lady Rohawks)- Johnson is quick and savvy. She already knows when to use her impressive speed and when to run a team. Everytime I see this kid, she becomes more impressive to me.
- Lexi Rich 2016(SA Finest)- Rich is a very good scorer for her age. She has a wide array of finishing moves and can knock down the 3 with a high percentage. Plays up against high school kids and holds more than her own. Rich does a great job at getting shots off over bigger defenders by releasing shots from crafty angles. Will be a 20 point scorer eventually in high school, no doubt about it.
- Endia Peterson 2015(Sophia Young Elite)- Not only does she play in the same club as SA Express News Super Teamer, Chymaya Turner, she plays like her. The 5"9 guard is super strong and has the confidence to match it. Peterson uses her body well and possesses a good command of the basketball. Her court vision is impressive and allows her to play up with older stars.
5th Grade Standouts 2018- (A quick hitter)
- Desiree' Caldwell(SA Finest)- Handle is better than 90% of starting high school point guards. Yanks defenders like she honed her craft at Rucker Park. A right hander that is more comfortable going left. Splits double teams with ease and scores in traffic. Can go!
- Katlyn Ghavidel(South Texas Hoyas)- Pure shooter. Reads and uses screens to get open like a seasoned 2 guard. Ice water in her veins. Can miss a few shots and come back and bury 5 in a row with the game on the line. Impressive demeanor!
- Sophia Ramos(South Texas Hoyas)- Erica Hernandez all over again. Great work habits with a tremendous feel for the game. Has a behind the back counter that she uses to attack defenders to get into the paint.
- Destiny Jenkins(SA Finest)- The sickest cross over in the city, regardless of age! Jenkins changes directions like a running back with the ball. Her small frame makes her willingness to attack the paint even more impressive. An aggressive on ball defender that causes headaches for the opposition.
I am sure that I missed a few but these kids are surely willing and able to carry the torch for SA basketball!
