As I prepare to release my new Top 25 in the city, here is a review from last year and update in their whereabouts.
1.Meighan Simmons (Tennessee)
2.CeCe Harper (Kansas)
2.LenNique Brown (USC)
4.Sune Agbuke (2011-Baylor commit)
5.Erica Donavan (2011)
6.Jessica Kuster (Rice)
7.Stephanie Whittman (Kansas State)
8.Jackie Edwards-Woods( Saint Mary Commit/Attending Juco)
9.Kiante Ageous (Arizona)
10.Chyenne Berry (SFA)
11.Arielle Roberson (2011)
12.Julissa Garret (unknown)
13.Kathryn Galindo (Saint Mary)
14.Daniell Blagg (2011)
15.Michelle Rodriquez (UT Arlington)
16.Alexis Govan (2011)
17.Ciara Mclee (Jacksonville St.)
18.Taylor Calvert (2011)
19.Arlene Cisneros (unknown)
20.Asha Hampton-Finch (2011)
21.Shana Holmes (2011)
22.Victoria Willems (William and Mary)
23.Niaga Mitchell-Cole (2012)
24.Olivia Patterson (Southern Illinois)
25.Marquisha Sparks(Blinn College)
In review:
-16 Seniors on the list
- 11 Division One Players
- 14 College Bound Seniors
- List did not include college bounds seniors:
Hillary Lumpkin(Saint Anselm), Cierra Booker(Dillard College), Brandy Hurd(Dillard College), Julie Knouse(Incarnate Word), Liz Briones(Catholic University), Genise Pressley(Concordia), Lauren Elliot(Southwestern), Chelsey Solis( Texas A&M Kingsville), Haley Capestany( Texas A&M Kingville), Nicole Kindred( OLLU), Maretta Stubbs(OLLU), Jordan Callazo(Panola JC)
- At least 26 Seniors playing in college this upcoming season
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Top 25 Players in the City!!!
1. Sune Agbuke -Cornerstone/Lady Rohawks(2011)- Sune is the most dominate player in the city. The Baylor commit improved this year while playing in an open post offense for the Lady Rohawks. Many observers were very surprised at seeing the 6'4 post playing facing the basket. Agbuke used the past season to become a more vocal leader and assertive. She showed that she was a lot more agile than thought to be. She controls the game with her shot blocking and rebounding ability. She is a space eater with a tremendous touch around the basket. Watching her hit a few three pointers in early May was very impressive and illustrated her progress.
2. Erica Donovan-Jay/TeamXpress(2011)- Donovan is another player that improved in the club season. Her TeamXpress club lacked a true elite point guard to compensate for it's very competitive schedule to Donovan's benefit. Erica faced some of the best guards in the country while shouldering the burden of handling the pressure of leading a Top 15 team. She is poised to lead her team back to a potential state trip. Her performance last high school season versus Wagner in the Regional Final was legendary. She is easily the toughest player in the city. She dominates high school games on both ends with her physical style of play. Donovan can play.
3. Arielle Roberson-Wagner/TeamXpress(2011)- The 6 foot lefty for the T-Birds still has tremendous upside. She is poised for a breakout year as the head of the T-Bird attack. She is one of the best rebounders and defensive players in the city. She expanded her game this summer to play more on the perimeter and her feisty competitiveness makes her a major obstacle for opposing teams to overcome.
4. Danielle Blagg-Smithson Valley/ South Texas Hoyas(2011)- Blagg status sky rocketed this summer on a national level. The 6 foot wing has a strong sturdy frame and great athleticism. She is one of the few players in the city with a strong mid-range game as she elevates and shoots like a boy. Her handle has gotten increasingly tighter. Her strong body and great leaping ability allows her to finish in traffic while absorbing contact. When going well, Blagg can hold her own against anybody in this city.
5. Ebony Watkins-Wagner/Lady Rohawks(2011)- No player increased her status as much as the 6 foot guard for the T-Birds. She is hands down the best slasher in the city. Her sleek frame allows her to touch paint constantly and her handle leaves many with sore ankles. The floater is a main weapon but her 3-Ball has vastly improved. Watkins has a quirkiness about her that keeps defenders guessing on her next move. Playing the point with her summer club has helped her decision making ability.
6(tie). Niaga Mitchell-Cole-Roosevelt-Lady Rohawks(2012)- Niaga is one of the best defenders in the city. She can play either guard positions with ease. Her handle, athleticism and body allow her to penetrate at will. She can stretch the defense with a decent 3-Ball. The only knock on Mitchell-Cole is that she is not selfish enough. Mitchell-Cole seems to be content on being a facilitator at times when she should use her vast skill set to take over games. She is the best player in the Class of 2012 in San Antonio. When it is all said and done, Mitchell- Cole has the ability to be a great one.
17.Brooke Allemand- Champion/SA Finest(2013)- The best spot up shooter in the city will open a lot of eyes this season. As a freshman, she led the city in three point percentage while playing off of the ball. She will be the head of a potent Dribble Drive Motion attack for Champion this season. She will be able to exhibit her tight handle and proficient mid-range runner. She capped off an impressive summer campaign by lighting up zones across the nation. For Champion to hope to duplicate last years success, Allemand will have to facilitate as well as score.
18. Ebony Easter- O'Conner/TeamXpress(2012)- Easter gets it done. She has played out of position in both high school and club ball. At 5'09, she has been played in the post but has been very effective in the process. She has great instincts and scores well over bigger defenders. She can knock down the 15 footer with regularity and can put it on the floor going right. This will hopefully be the season that she steps away from the basket and is allowed to grow into her college position as a guard. She reminds me of her club teammate, Alexis Govan in terms of development.
19. Kiarra Taylor-Jay/Lady Rohawks(2011)- After being one of the best on-ball defenders in the city for the last couple of seasons, KiKi found her niche as a scorer this summer. After a season with the South Texas Hoyas and a brief stint with TeamXpress, Taylor found the right fit with the Lady Rohawks. The constant pressing, open post and free shooting offense allowed Taylor to blossom. I viewed a few games this summer where she hit more than 5 three point baskets against major opponents. Her increased range has helped establish her as a scoring threat to go along with being a good defensive player.
20.Karissa Cantu-MacArthur/SA Heat(2011)- An unfortunate ACL injury sidelined Cantu for her last summer season. However, the very polished lead guard is set for a major comeback. She has a flair for the game with nifty passes and adept ball handling. She scores baskets in transition as well as being able to stretch the defense by knocking down open threes.
21. Sabrina Berry- Reagan/Austin Elite(2012)- She is better than a hand full of kids that I have rated higher than her. She was stuck playing JV last season due to transfer rules. Berry has a wingspan that does not stop and a first step to match. She plays a lot bigger than her 5'11 height. If she continues her terrific summer play, the Rattlers will have a tremendous season. She should be a Top 10 player come December when she has solidified her status on the Varsity level.
23. Raven Reyes- Jay/South Texas Hoyas(2012)- "Rae Rae" is space eater. She controls the board with her 6-2 and very solid frame. Reyes has come a long way in terms of development and still has a long way to go. She has gotten more polished on the offensive end and has developed a solid go to move with the jump hook.
24. Mo Zuniga- Antonian/SA Roadrunners(2011)- Zuniga is as calm and collected at the point guard position as it gets in the city. She is more of a scorer than a set up guard but she does both well. She is one of the few kids who can knock down the 3 ball off of the dribble.
25(tie). Marissa Rodriguez-Reagan/SA Roadrunners(2011)- Rodriguez has gotten better every year. Playing for one of the best high school coaches in the city, she has grown as a facilitator. She has become a good leader to go along with her nice shooting range.
25(tie). Laquisha "LB" Brown- Judson/SA Finest 2013)- One of the most athletic kids in the city. The Dennis Rodman of the group. She out rebounds bigger opponents with great instincts, leaping ability and timing. She can score in the post and has extended her range to 15 feet on her jumper. As she continues to sharpen her handle, she will be a star.
Knocking On the Door:
-Two players that are easily in the Top 10 players in the city but not on the list are Recee'Caldwell(Johnson/SA Finest) and McKenzie Calvert(Steele/DFW Washington). Both 2014 guards have put in work on a national level and are regarded as two of the best in their respective class by numerous ranking/scouting sources. Both Calvert and Caldwell have gotten the better of numerous girls in the city Top 10 in head to head battles. Caldwell single-handedly outscored 5 of these Top 25 players while leading her very young club team to a victory over them this past spring. I would be very surprised if Calvert was not the leading scorer for the Steele Knights this season. Calvert, a Baylor commit, is a freak of an athlete and will feast on defenders this upcoming season. If petty jealousy and high school politics do not hold these two back, the sky is the limit. I did not rank them because they have yet to play in high school just as I did not rank Amezquita, Vorpahl and Turner going into their freshman seasons.
-Another young player that will shine this season is Wendy Knight(Reagan/SA Finest/2014). The big strong guard is a legitimate Division 1 player already. Knight can do it all, inside and outside.
-Aleeya Harris-(Jay/South Texas Hoyas)2013- Very athletic young post. Blocks a ton of shots and is a physical presence. May eventually choose volleyball over basketball.
-Ashley Bryand-(Smithson Valley/SA Heat)-Big strong forward with good touch around the basket.
-Ashley Ross- (Wagner/South Texas Hoyas)- Will open a lot of eyes this season. As physically gifted as an athlete as any in the city.
-Alison Salmon-(Smithson Valley/South Texas Hoyas)- If she can finally put it all together, Salmon will be a Top 25 kid. She can shoot as good as any in the city and can defend effectively.
-Carly Truesdale- (Churchill)- Effective young scorer with a good feel for the game.
-Claudia Gayton-(East Central)- Can flat out shoot it.
2. Erica Donovan-Jay/TeamXpress(2011)- Donovan is another player that improved in the club season. Her TeamXpress club lacked a true elite point guard to compensate for it's very competitive schedule to Donovan's benefit. Erica faced some of the best guards in the country while shouldering the burden of handling the pressure of leading a Top 15 team. She is poised to lead her team back to a potential state trip. Her performance last high school season versus Wagner in the Regional Final was legendary. She is easily the toughest player in the city. She dominates high school games on both ends with her physical style of play. Donovan can play.
3. Arielle Roberson-Wagner/TeamXpress(2011)- The 6 foot lefty for the T-Birds still has tremendous upside. She is poised for a breakout year as the head of the T-Bird attack. She is one of the best rebounders and defensive players in the city. She expanded her game this summer to play more on the perimeter and her feisty competitiveness makes her a major obstacle for opposing teams to overcome.
4. Danielle Blagg-Smithson Valley/ South Texas Hoyas(2011)- Blagg status sky rocketed this summer on a national level. The 6 foot wing has a strong sturdy frame and great athleticism. She is one of the few players in the city with a strong mid-range game as she elevates and shoots like a boy. Her handle has gotten increasingly tighter. Her strong body and great leaping ability allows her to finish in traffic while absorbing contact. When going well, Blagg can hold her own against anybody in this city.
5. Ebony Watkins-Wagner/Lady Rohawks(2011)- No player increased her status as much as the 6 foot guard for the T-Birds. She is hands down the best slasher in the city. Her sleek frame allows her to touch paint constantly and her handle leaves many with sore ankles. The floater is a main weapon but her 3-Ball has vastly improved. Watkins has a quirkiness about her that keeps defenders guessing on her next move. Playing the point with her summer club has helped her decision making ability.
6(tie). Niaga Mitchell-Cole-Roosevelt-Lady Rohawks(2012)- Niaga is one of the best defenders in the city. She can play either guard positions with ease. Her handle, athleticism and body allow her to penetrate at will. She can stretch the defense with a decent 3-Ball. The only knock on Mitchell-Cole is that she is not selfish enough. Mitchell-Cole seems to be content on being a facilitator at times when she should use her vast skill set to take over games. She is the best player in the Class of 2012 in San Antonio. When it is all said and done, Mitchell- Cole has the ability to be a great one.
6(tie).Alexis Govan-Stevens/TeamXpress(2011)- Govan is the best defender in the city. She can guard 4 positions effectively. She had the opportunity to improve this summer by playing some point guard. While not a true point guard, she got better playing on the perimeter, which will serve her well at the collegiate level. Govan long and wiry frame is deceptively strong. She plays with and edge and backs down from no one. She is a proficient scorer when needed.
7. Shana Holmes-Southwest/South Texas Hoyas(2011)- Holmes gets buckets! She is one of the fastest basketball players in the city. She has the ability to take contact and score despite her diminutive frame. She shoots the long ball and touches paint with the same effectiveness. Hopefully, she can recover from a ACL injury to take her place as one of the greatest scorers in the cities history.
8.Chamaya Turner-Canyon/Next Level(2013)- The state champion in the shot put as a freshman is just as strong on the court. She is a beast! She punishes guards off of the dribble and finishes at the rim against taller defenders. She uses her body extremely well to score. She can hit the open jumper with regularity. If ever there was a young female Charles Barkley in the San Antonio area, it is Turner.
9.Asha Hampton-Finch-Roosevelt/South Texas Hoyas- Hampton-Finch has the quickest second jump in the city. This allows her to utilize her long frame to gobble up rebounds and influence shots on the defensive end. The majority of her points still come from hustle plays but this is an important year for her to establish herself as an elite scorer. Playing in a very controlled system, it is difficult for her to put up eye-catching numbers. Her putting up 8 points and 8 rebounds is the equivalent to putting up 12 and 12 at other places.
10. Destiny Amezquita-Jay/Lady Mustangs(2013)- Destiny is one of the brightest young players in the city. She can shoot it consistently from 25 feet. Her handle is tight enough to keep over aggressive defenders at bay but her strength is her major weapon. She is power forward strong with elite guard skills. What she may lack in lateral speed, she more than makes up for with I.Q. and toughness. When it is all said and done, Amezquita will average at least 25 points a game in a high school season. Let's hope that she fully recovers from a recent knee injury so she can fulfill her promise.
11.Taylor Calvert-Steele/DFW Washington(2011)- It is finally Calvert's time to be the one. She transitioned from the post to the wing last summer and exhibited an ability to knock down the open three. Her handle has improved and she has always been a tenacious defender. Calvert moved this summer to one of the Top 20 teams in the nation for summer ball and played with a high school All-American and a few other major D1 prospects. Playing with all this talent either raised her level to compete with the best or robbed her of the opportunity to carry a team . This season will see which was the case as she has to play a major role in keeping the Steele Knights as one of the cities best.
12.Erica Hernandez-Floresville/South Texas Hoyas(2012)- The sweet shooting guard for Floresville had a monster summer that included two D1 offers. Hernandez can score in a variety of ways. She can hit the open three and put it on the floor to get in the paint with ease. She is a scorer in the point guard body. She happens to play for one of the best high school coaches around and her ability is allowed to shine.
13.Elena Gumbs-Steele/TeamXpress(2012)- The quickest guard in the city is poised for a big year. The undersized point guard has a scorers mentality and will have plenty of opportunities to score this season. With the graduation of Meighan Simmons, Gumbs will inherit a bulk of those shots for the Steele Knights. Her defensive ability and high school system will allow her to lead the city in steals and score a lot of points in the process.
14. Shaneesha Clayton- Holmes/Sophia Young Elite(2011)- If Gumbs is the quickest guard in the city, Clayton is the quickest guard in the city with the ball in her hands. Her yo-yo handle leaves defenders grasping for air while trying to stay in front of her. She lives in the paint and finishes well in traffic. She has yet to show a consistent three ball but teams still have a tough time keeping her out of the paint.
15. Leslie Vorpahl-Churchill/SA Heat(2013)- I love smart and savvy point guards and Vorpahl fits the bill. Her skill set is very refined. She is one of the few players in the city to understand the importance of changing speed to attack defenders. Her handle is tight which allows her to make plays with her great vision and knack for setting up scorers. Vorpahl has not played a varsity game due to school of choice last season. She will show the city why she must be considered as one of the best we have to offer. She is that good! She reminds me of one of my favorite San Antonio former high school guards, Liz Boyd.
16. Chatavia Boone-Fudge-Southwest/SA Rebels(2011)- "Baby" is anything but that on the court. The 6'0 power forward owns the boards and is not afraid of contact. Her go to move is a drop step that utilizes her strong build. Her offensive scoring ability is limited to 12 feet or so but she makes up for her lack of range with good foot speed. Southwest has a dynamic 1-2 punch with her and the scoring machine, Shana Holmes
17.Brooke Allemand- Champion/SA Finest(2013)- The best spot up shooter in the city will open a lot of eyes this season. As a freshman, she led the city in three point percentage while playing off of the ball. She will be the head of a potent Dribble Drive Motion attack for Champion this season. She will be able to exhibit her tight handle and proficient mid-range runner. She capped off an impressive summer campaign by lighting up zones across the nation. For Champion to hope to duplicate last years success, Allemand will have to facilitate as well as score.
18. Ebony Easter- O'Conner/TeamXpress(2012)- Easter gets it done. She has played out of position in both high school and club ball. At 5'09, she has been played in the post but has been very effective in the process. She has great instincts and scores well over bigger defenders. She can knock down the 15 footer with regularity and can put it on the floor going right. This will hopefully be the season that she steps away from the basket and is allowed to grow into her college position as a guard. She reminds me of her club teammate, Alexis Govan in terms of development.
19. Kiarra Taylor-Jay/Lady Rohawks(2011)- After being one of the best on-ball defenders in the city for the last couple of seasons, KiKi found her niche as a scorer this summer. After a season with the South Texas Hoyas and a brief stint with TeamXpress, Taylor found the right fit with the Lady Rohawks. The constant pressing, open post and free shooting offense allowed Taylor to blossom. I viewed a few games this summer where she hit more than 5 three point baskets against major opponents. Her increased range has helped establish her as a scoring threat to go along with being a good defensive player.
20.Karissa Cantu-MacArthur/SA Heat(2011)- An unfortunate ACL injury sidelined Cantu for her last summer season. However, the very polished lead guard is set for a major comeback. She has a flair for the game with nifty passes and adept ball handling. She scores baskets in transition as well as being able to stretch the defense by knocking down open threes.
21. Sabrina Berry- Reagan/Austin Elite(2012)- She is better than a hand full of kids that I have rated higher than her. She was stuck playing JV last season due to transfer rules. Berry has a wingspan that does not stop and a first step to match. She plays a lot bigger than her 5'11 height. If she continues her terrific summer play, the Rattlers will have a tremendous season. She should be a Top 10 player come December when she has solidified her status on the Varsity level.
22.Victoria Villareal-Incarnate Word(2012)- The lefty shooter can play! Injuries have kept this strong guard out of the spotlight as one of the cities best. This season can be the year that she takes her rightful place.
23. Raven Reyes- Jay/South Texas Hoyas(2012)- "Rae Rae" is space eater. She controls the board with her 6-2 and very solid frame. Reyes has come a long way in terms of development and still has a long way to go. She has gotten more polished on the offensive end and has developed a solid go to move with the jump hook.
24. Mo Zuniga- Antonian/SA Roadrunners(2011)- Zuniga is as calm and collected at the point guard position as it gets in the city. She is more of a scorer than a set up guard but she does both well. She is one of the few kids who can knock down the 3 ball off of the dribble.
25(tie). Marissa Rodriguez-Reagan/SA Roadrunners(2011)- Rodriguez has gotten better every year. Playing for one of the best high school coaches in the city, she has grown as a facilitator. She has become a good leader to go along with her nice shooting range.
25(tie). Laquisha "LB" Brown- Judson/SA Finest 2013)- One of the most athletic kids in the city. The Dennis Rodman of the group. She out rebounds bigger opponents with great instincts, leaping ability and timing. She can score in the post and has extended her range to 15 feet on her jumper. As she continues to sharpen her handle, she will be a star.
Knocking On the Door:
-Two players that are easily in the Top 10 players in the city but not on the list are Recee'Caldwell(Johnson/SA Finest) and McKenzie Calvert(Steele/DFW Washington). Both 2014 guards have put in work on a national level and are regarded as two of the best in their respective class by numerous ranking/scouting sources. Both Calvert and Caldwell have gotten the better of numerous girls in the city Top 10 in head to head battles. Caldwell single-handedly outscored 5 of these Top 25 players while leading her very young club team to a victory over them this past spring. I would be very surprised if Calvert was not the leading scorer for the Steele Knights this season. Calvert, a Baylor commit, is a freak of an athlete and will feast on defenders this upcoming season. If petty jealousy and high school politics do not hold these two back, the sky is the limit. I did not rank them because they have yet to play in high school just as I did not rank Amezquita, Vorpahl and Turner going into their freshman seasons.
-Another young player that will shine this season is Wendy Knight(Reagan/SA Finest/2014). The big strong guard is a legitimate Division 1 player already. Knight can do it all, inside and outside.
-Aleeya Harris-(Jay/South Texas Hoyas)2013- Very athletic young post. Blocks a ton of shots and is a physical presence. May eventually choose volleyball over basketball.
-Ashley Bryand-(Smithson Valley/SA Heat)-Big strong forward with good touch around the basket.
-Ashley Ross- (Wagner/South Texas Hoyas)- Will open a lot of eyes this season. As physically gifted as an athlete as any in the city.
-Alison Salmon-(Smithson Valley/South Texas Hoyas)- If she can finally put it all together, Salmon will be a Top 25 kid. She can shoot as good as any in the city and can defend effectively.
-Carly Truesdale- (Churchill)- Effective young scorer with a good feel for the game.
-Claudia Gayton-(East Central)- Can flat out shoot it.
Get Tough!!!
ESPN Hoopgurlz featured a great article on East Coast guard, Bria Smith. The article chronicled her journey becoming one of the best players in the nation. Mentioned in the article was her longtime trainer and hoops whisperer, Jerry Powell. I have been aware of Powell's training prowess for some time. He is a respected trainer of every level, male and female. A good majority of so called trainers are glorified work out coaches. They run players through a series of physically demanding exercises and claim that they are training. While they may be training the physical body, they fail to DEVELOP skill set and sharpen the MENTAL mind. Powell is apparently a true trainer. He uses hundreds of specific drills that he has come up with over the years to teach beginning and accomplished players.
In a YouTube clip featuring Powell, he goes on to discuss his philosophy. " If my momma was in front of me and trying to stop me, I will run her the (expletive) over!". This over the top style earns Powell many detractors but his results are undeniable. Elite guards such as Bria Hartley(UCONN) and Bria Smith(Virginia) have been training with him since the fourth grade! The female Pistol Pete, Samantha Prahalis(Ohio State) and Kentucky freshman Jenifer O'Neil came to him to transform their games. The common characteristic in Powell's trainees is toughness. Powell and his vulgar vocabulary and extreme expectations are as legendary as the players he helps produce.
After watching some of Powell's methods, I then popped in an instructional DVD featuring Purdue men's coach, Matt Painter. The all-access video gives watchers a sneak peak into his Division 1 program. An hour or so in the video, Coach Painter is riding a post player pretty good. He yanked the Big out of a defensive drill and simply stated that he was going to sit on the bench like the previous year if he did not get his act together. A few drills later, the Big finished a team drill with an emphatic rebound. Coach Painter clapped a total of three times. The assistant coaches and other players cheered for the Big. However, the Big was apparently enjoying the ovation a little too much as his teammates continued to shower him with love. Coach Painter then exploded and said, " Lets not have a (expletive) parade for doing something that you are supposed to do. You are on scholarship, you are supposed to do that"!
This comment immediately took me back to an all-access Geno Auriemma DVD. In one of these tapes, Geno tells Maya Moore(the best player in the nation) that she is "the dumbest defensive player he has ever coached". My mind then drifted to a televised USA National team event that Geno lead this past summer. Sylvia Fowles( arguably the best Big in the world) was shooting free throws which prompted Auriemma to comment that her shot was "the ugliest shot ever".
Examples of coaches and trainers making negative comments or gestures to players are too plentiful to document. I have read many accounts of hollering coaches and trainers being bad for girls/women's basketball. Maybe so, but I would say that negativity is a major part of basketball on every level.
The story is as old as the game itself. Suzie Q is told that she is number one on a team's recruitment list. She is promised that the coaching staff will not recruit anymore players at her position. Of course as soon as she signs that Letter of Intent, she realizes that the truth is a matter of interpretation many of times. Suzie Q finds out that the same coach that told her she is number one and the only one, has told the same thing to 5 other girls. She now realizes that she must compete against 5 other players for the minutes that she was guaranteed.
Or how about this one.
Susie Q was recruited by a coach that told her that she would always be there for her. Suzie turns down dozens of other schools and chooses the stability of the loyal coach. One year later, after finally getting acclimated to college life, Suzie is told that her current coach is leaving for greener pastures. Oh well, life goes on. Then the new coach comes in and explains to Suzie that she does fit into the programs future plans. She protests that she can adapt and help the new coach win. The new coach makes in very evident that Suzie services are no longer needed and she will see no playing time. She is encouraged to find somewhere else to play as she does not fit the new regime's plans.
Or this one.
Suzie was all world in high school. She was recruited to become all world at the collegiate level. The honeymoon lasts about two weeks as she realizes that she made a huge mistake. Everything the freshman does is wrong. The things that were cherished as a high school player are seemingly the things that are preventing her from climbing out of the coaches dog house. Her explosiveness in now being called impatient. Her creativity is now being called undisciplined. Her individual ability and initiative that made her a high school great are now being classified as lacking in basketball I.Q. Expectantly, her confidence takes a beating while sitting on the bench. She is away from home and the thing that has always rewarded her is now her biggest agitation. What is she supposed to do? GET TOUGH!!!
All these scenarios happen hundreds if not thousands of times a year at every level of the game. Mental toughness is probably the most important but overlooked aspect to the game. While I am not advocating cursing at kids, I am saying that in the long run, only the mentally strong will survive.
In a YouTube clip featuring Powell, he goes on to discuss his philosophy. " If my momma was in front of me and trying to stop me, I will run her the (expletive) over!". This over the top style earns Powell many detractors but his results are undeniable. Elite guards such as Bria Hartley(UCONN) and Bria Smith(Virginia) have been training with him since the fourth grade! The female Pistol Pete, Samantha Prahalis(Ohio State) and Kentucky freshman Jenifer O'Neil came to him to transform their games. The common characteristic in Powell's trainees is toughness. Powell and his vulgar vocabulary and extreme expectations are as legendary as the players he helps produce.
After watching some of Powell's methods, I then popped in an instructional DVD featuring Purdue men's coach, Matt Painter. The all-access video gives watchers a sneak peak into his Division 1 program. An hour or so in the video, Coach Painter is riding a post player pretty good. He yanked the Big out of a defensive drill and simply stated that he was going to sit on the bench like the previous year if he did not get his act together. A few drills later, the Big finished a team drill with an emphatic rebound. Coach Painter clapped a total of three times. The assistant coaches and other players cheered for the Big. However, the Big was apparently enjoying the ovation a little too much as his teammates continued to shower him with love. Coach Painter then exploded and said, " Lets not have a (expletive) parade for doing something that you are supposed to do. You are on scholarship, you are supposed to do that"!
This comment immediately took me back to an all-access Geno Auriemma DVD. In one of these tapes, Geno tells Maya Moore(the best player in the nation) that she is "the dumbest defensive player he has ever coached". My mind then drifted to a televised USA National team event that Geno lead this past summer. Sylvia Fowles( arguably the best Big in the world) was shooting free throws which prompted Auriemma to comment that her shot was "the ugliest shot ever".
Examples of coaches and trainers making negative comments or gestures to players are too plentiful to document. I have read many accounts of hollering coaches and trainers being bad for girls/women's basketball. Maybe so, but I would say that negativity is a major part of basketball on every level.
The story is as old as the game itself. Suzie Q is told that she is number one on a team's recruitment list. She is promised that the coaching staff will not recruit anymore players at her position. Of course as soon as she signs that Letter of Intent, she realizes that the truth is a matter of interpretation many of times. Suzie Q finds out that the same coach that told her she is number one and the only one, has told the same thing to 5 other girls. She now realizes that she must compete against 5 other players for the minutes that she was guaranteed.
Or how about this one.
Susie Q was recruited by a coach that told her that she would always be there for her. Suzie turns down dozens of other schools and chooses the stability of the loyal coach. One year later, after finally getting acclimated to college life, Suzie is told that her current coach is leaving for greener pastures. Oh well, life goes on. Then the new coach comes in and explains to Suzie that she does fit into the programs future plans. She protests that she can adapt and help the new coach win. The new coach makes in very evident that Suzie services are no longer needed and she will see no playing time. She is encouraged to find somewhere else to play as she does not fit the new regime's plans.
Or this one.
Suzie was all world in high school. She was recruited to become all world at the collegiate level. The honeymoon lasts about two weeks as she realizes that she made a huge mistake. Everything the freshman does is wrong. The things that were cherished as a high school player are seemingly the things that are preventing her from climbing out of the coaches dog house. Her explosiveness in now being called impatient. Her creativity is now being called undisciplined. Her individual ability and initiative that made her a high school great are now being classified as lacking in basketball I.Q. Expectantly, her confidence takes a beating while sitting on the bench. She is away from home and the thing that has always rewarded her is now her biggest agitation. What is she supposed to do? GET TOUGH!!!
All these scenarios happen hundreds if not thousands of times a year at every level of the game. Mental toughness is probably the most important but overlooked aspect to the game. While I am not advocating cursing at kids, I am saying that in the long run, only the mentally strong will survive.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Ratings and Rankings!
San Antonio has seen a dramatic increase in national exposure over the past few years. Many of the players that have received national acclaim have at some point been ranked or rated by different basketball entities. What do these rankings mean and are they significant in terms of recruitment? The answer is a resounding yes and here is why.
Recognition- When speaking with a club director of one of the most prestigious clubs in the nation, he gave me interesting insight. He explained to me that playing in exposure events is not the secret of being heavily recruited. He went on to detail how getting respected recruiting services to rank a kid in the top 250 is a sure way to create major college attention. He went on to say that with between 1000-1200 or so Division 1 scholarships being given out on a yearly basis, it is understandable that the Top 25% of the players will have multiple options come decision time. Most respected recruiting services rank close to a 1000 players in each class.
Some may conclude that if all it takes to get heavily recruited is to get ranked highly by one of these services, it is easy to manipulate the system. While this may have some truth, the respected ranking and recruiting services must have integrity to remain credible. Consistently ranking kids for the sake of club affiliation or some other bias would eventually erode credibility among colleges. Most ranking services sell their reports to colleges coaches seeking to keep an eye on national prospects. If a particular ranking service repeatedly manipulated its player rankings, colleges would stop trusting its integrity. While the nature of ranking players is in essence biased, most services are very close in terms of ranking the top players.
San Antonio is an increasing hot city in terms of girls basketball because of recent and current players that have been and are ranked. No where was this more evident than with Tennessee player Meighan Simmons. At some point, Meighan Simmons was ranked in the Top 15 by Hoopgurlz, Blue Star, and All-Star Girls Report. This recognition of being one of the nation's best players helped catapult her to great levels nationally. Of course her ability as a player demanded this recognition but the rankings helped solidify her status as a national star.
In a recent conversation with a writer from one of the main girls basketball publications, I asked him why one of the best shooters in the state of Texas was not garnering more college attention. He explained that she had yet to play in front of the recruiting services and it is the recruiting services who tell the college coaches who they should be paying attention to. The old saying of "If you are good, they will find you" is probably true but being ranked will help more of them find you. Is a gold nugget worth anything while still in the ground? Yes it is but its true value goes unrewarded until its discovered. Ranking services can help players get discovered by colleges that value them. The key is to be worth something first.
Smithson Valley star Danielle Blagg is spending this weekend with her parents and club coach narrowing her school choices down to a dozen. The group spent a marathon session of Friday night into the early morning reducing a list that numbered in the thirties. Every knowing person in the San Antonio basketball community had to figure that Blagg would have numerous offers come her senior year but her status as an elite prospect went off of the charts this past season. Part of the reason for her skyrocketing status was due to fit. Blagg switched clubs and became the "go to" player and the results were tremendous. With her new found star status and a schedule of major events, Blagg went from being unrated on Hoopgurlz to being rated as a 90. This is the same rating that San Antonio star Erica Donovan received by Hoopgulz. This is the second highest rating of San Antonio kids, behind Sune Agbuke's 92. While the rating did not make Blagg a great player, it certainly help spread the word among the schools on a national level. Blagg has improved her ranking in a number of major ranking services and obviously colleges have come to pay attention.
(A side note: Blagg was given a very favorable rating in the Dan Olsen Report(very respected among college coaches) but not ranked within the Top 300 players nationally(Erica Donovan is ranked #125). Even though she was not ranked in the Top 300, she still has over of 30 firm Division 1 offers. This represents close to 10% of Division 1 programs wanting Blagg to play for them. This illustrates how heavily recruited the Top 25-50% of the players nationally can be.)
San Antonio will continue to makes waves nationally for years to come. The players in the city are increasing playing, training, traveling and getting exposed at an earlier age. The result will be an influx of great young stars getting rated and rank by the national services. All-Star Girls Report, one of the nations most respected services, recently ranked two of the brightest young stars in the city TOP 10 NATIONALLY! 2014 players, Recee' Caldwell and McKenzie Calvert were ranked #5 and #10 respectively by ASGR. While they both have a very long way to go as basketball players, they are doing their part to keep the spotlight on San Antonio for years to come.
Recognition- When speaking with a club director of one of the most prestigious clubs in the nation, he gave me interesting insight. He explained to me that playing in exposure events is not the secret of being heavily recruited. He went on to detail how getting respected recruiting services to rank a kid in the top 250 is a sure way to create major college attention. He went on to say that with between 1000-1200 or so Division 1 scholarships being given out on a yearly basis, it is understandable that the Top 25% of the players will have multiple options come decision time. Most respected recruiting services rank close to a 1000 players in each class.
Some may conclude that if all it takes to get heavily recruited is to get ranked highly by one of these services, it is easy to manipulate the system. While this may have some truth, the respected ranking and recruiting services must have integrity to remain credible. Consistently ranking kids for the sake of club affiliation or some other bias would eventually erode credibility among colleges. Most ranking services sell their reports to colleges coaches seeking to keep an eye on national prospects. If a particular ranking service repeatedly manipulated its player rankings, colleges would stop trusting its integrity. While the nature of ranking players is in essence biased, most services are very close in terms of ranking the top players.
San Antonio is an increasing hot city in terms of girls basketball because of recent and current players that have been and are ranked. No where was this more evident than with Tennessee player Meighan Simmons. At some point, Meighan Simmons was ranked in the Top 15 by Hoopgurlz, Blue Star, and All-Star Girls Report. This recognition of being one of the nation's best players helped catapult her to great levels nationally. Of course her ability as a player demanded this recognition but the rankings helped solidify her status as a national star.
In a recent conversation with a writer from one of the main girls basketball publications, I asked him why one of the best shooters in the state of Texas was not garnering more college attention. He explained that she had yet to play in front of the recruiting services and it is the recruiting services who tell the college coaches who they should be paying attention to. The old saying of "If you are good, they will find you" is probably true but being ranked will help more of them find you. Is a gold nugget worth anything while still in the ground? Yes it is but its true value goes unrewarded until its discovered. Ranking services can help players get discovered by colleges that value them. The key is to be worth something first.
Smithson Valley star Danielle Blagg is spending this weekend with her parents and club coach narrowing her school choices down to a dozen. The group spent a marathon session of Friday night into the early morning reducing a list that numbered in the thirties. Every knowing person in the San Antonio basketball community had to figure that Blagg would have numerous offers come her senior year but her status as an elite prospect went off of the charts this past season. Part of the reason for her skyrocketing status was due to fit. Blagg switched clubs and became the "go to" player and the results were tremendous. With her new found star status and a schedule of major events, Blagg went from being unrated on Hoopgurlz to being rated as a 90. This is the same rating that San Antonio star Erica Donovan received by Hoopgulz. This is the second highest rating of San Antonio kids, behind Sune Agbuke's 92. While the rating did not make Blagg a great player, it certainly help spread the word among the schools on a national level. Blagg has improved her ranking in a number of major ranking services and obviously colleges have come to pay attention.
(A side note: Blagg was given a very favorable rating in the Dan Olsen Report(very respected among college coaches) but not ranked within the Top 300 players nationally(Erica Donovan is ranked #125). Even though she was not ranked in the Top 300, she still has over of 30 firm Division 1 offers. This represents close to 10% of Division 1 programs wanting Blagg to play for them. This illustrates how heavily recruited the Top 25-50% of the players nationally can be.)
San Antonio will continue to makes waves nationally for years to come. The players in the city are increasing playing, training, traveling and getting exposed at an earlier age. The result will be an influx of great young stars getting rated and rank by the national services. All-Star Girls Report, one of the nations most respected services, recently ranked two of the brightest young stars in the city TOP 10 NATIONALLY! 2014 players, Recee' Caldwell and McKenzie Calvert were ranked #5 and #10 respectively by ASGR. While they both have a very long way to go as basketball players, they are doing their part to keep the spotlight on San Antonio for years to come.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Scoring Machine Sidelined with Knee Injury
San Antonio scoring machine Shana Holmes has been sidelined with an ACL injury. Holmes was set to make a run at the new scoring record set last year by high school All-American Meighan Simmons. We wish Shana a speedy recovery and hope she is back to getting buckets soon.
SA OFFERING a great showing in July! Part 2
In a continuation of the hot summer San Antonio players are having, here are more players who are drawing national offers.
-Danielle Blagg is one of the hottest names in the state. Blagg came into this summer season with 3 college offers. With at least two more exposure events until the fall signing period, Blagg has reportedly picked up close to 20 Division 1 offers to date. This does not include increasing interest from Big 12 powers, Oklahoma and Kansas. Blagg just picked up major offers from a Big East and Pac-10 school. Those who know the Smithson Valley star would not be surprised if she chose a school based on fit and not a name(what a concept). She has played for two high school coaches and three club teams in the last five years. If any kid in the city knows the importance of fit, it is Danielle Blagg.
Blagg's stock went off the chart with a performance against national power and Nike program Essence in the Big State Flava Jam. I personally heard two analysts from competing national ranking publications discussing her performance on separate occasions. Blagg went for 20 points and 13 rebounds against a team that will send at least 7 or 8 players to the Division 1 ranks. While her South Texas Hoyas team lost by double digits in that game, Blagg showed what exposure ball is primarily about. Wins and losses mean little in the overall scheme of things during exposure periods. Yes, coaches want winners but they realize that its the players that they must recruit to fit their systems, not the teams. Blagg is slashing and shooting better than she ever has. Can a case be made that she is the best player in the city?
A side note: Hands down, Sune Agbuke is the most dominate player in the city. Baylor realized this long ago and offered her a ride last year. At a legitimate 6'4, she is a major force on the block. In a game against the #37 ranked player in the nation earlier this season, Neka Enemkpali DID NOT win that match up with Sune.
Back on the subject (kind of), how does Daneille Blagg stack up against the other Top 3 players in the city? Erica Donovan, Arielle Roberson, and Ebony Watkins all are about the same size as Blagg. Are any of the three more athletic than Blagg? No way! Do any of the three shoot it better than Blagg? No way! Are they better than Blagg? We will save that argument for a later date. But what is for certain is that Blagg is having an incredible summer.
- Ebony Watkins reportedly picked up 6 Division 1 offers in the past two weeks. Teams from the Southland, Big South, Conference USA and Sun Belt Conferences have all put their dibs in for the big guard for the Lady Rohawks. San Diego St. is reportedly actively pursuing her. They were one of the finalist for Watkins' Wagner Thunderbird teammate LeNique Brown last season.
- Floresville star and South Texas Hoyas scorer, Erica Hernandez has picked up her second Division 1 offer from South Carolina Upstate. The school competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
-Danielle Blagg is one of the hottest names in the state. Blagg came into this summer season with 3 college offers. With at least two more exposure events until the fall signing period, Blagg has reportedly picked up close to 20 Division 1 offers to date. This does not include increasing interest from Big 12 powers, Oklahoma and Kansas. Blagg just picked up major offers from a Big East and Pac-10 school. Those who know the Smithson Valley star would not be surprised if she chose a school based on fit and not a name(what a concept). She has played for two high school coaches and three club teams in the last five years. If any kid in the city knows the importance of fit, it is Danielle Blagg.
Blagg's stock went off the chart with a performance against national power and Nike program Essence in the Big State Flava Jam. I personally heard two analysts from competing national ranking publications discussing her performance on separate occasions. Blagg went for 20 points and 13 rebounds against a team that will send at least 7 or 8 players to the Division 1 ranks. While her South Texas Hoyas team lost by double digits in that game, Blagg showed what exposure ball is primarily about. Wins and losses mean little in the overall scheme of things during exposure periods. Yes, coaches want winners but they realize that its the players that they must recruit to fit their systems, not the teams. Blagg is slashing and shooting better than she ever has. Can a case be made that she is the best player in the city?
A side note: Hands down, Sune Agbuke is the most dominate player in the city. Baylor realized this long ago and offered her a ride last year. At a legitimate 6'4, she is a major force on the block. In a game against the #37 ranked player in the nation earlier this season, Neka Enemkpali DID NOT win that match up with Sune.
Back on the subject (kind of), how does Daneille Blagg stack up against the other Top 3 players in the city? Erica Donovan, Arielle Roberson, and Ebony Watkins all are about the same size as Blagg. Are any of the three more athletic than Blagg? No way! Do any of the three shoot it better than Blagg? No way! Are they better than Blagg? We will save that argument for a later date. But what is for certain is that Blagg is having an incredible summer.
- Ebony Watkins reportedly picked up 6 Division 1 offers in the past two weeks. Teams from the Southland, Big South, Conference USA and Sun Belt Conferences have all put their dibs in for the big guard for the Lady Rohawks. San Diego St. is reportedly actively pursuing her. They were one of the finalist for Watkins' Wagner Thunderbird teammate LeNique Brown last season.
- Floresville star and South Texas Hoyas scorer, Erica Hernandez has picked up her second Division 1 offer from South Carolina Upstate. The school competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
SA OFFERING a great showing in July! Part1
July has been a busy month for San Antonio basketball. Local teams and players have traveled throughout the US in search of the basketball promised land; a scholarship from a university. States such as California, Washington DC, Tennessee, Chicago, New Orleans, and Florida will host local teams at some point this summer. All this travel offers the opportunity to get seen by college coaches who in turn OFFER local kids the chance to play at their respective universities. And Offer is what these schools have done in droves.
-The biggest news of SA summer exposure period is the verbal commitment of McKenzie Calvert to Baylor University. The 2014 standout committed to the Bears last week. Calvert was offered by Baylor at their Elite Camp in June. A strong showing in Dallas and Chicago apparently led Baylor to reiterate the offer and Calvert accepted. While many may question why Baylor would offer a kid so young, the business of basketball says that it is a very smart move on their part.
Anyone who knows the Calvert family will speak of the dedication that they have to basketball. Both Tim and April Calvert at some point have coached a few of the best kids in the city. The Calvert's sacrifice valuable time and money to drive both daughters to Houston a couple times a week for basketball practice with DFW Elite-Houston Heat. Older sister Taylor will surely receive a scholarship when all is said in done. She may take up an offer from one of the many Ivy League schools that are offering academic scholarships for her services as she is a brilliant student. Lastly, McKenzie is one of the best players in the country in her age group and routinely plays up against older competition.
A zebra does not change its stripes and I have witnessed McKenzie's shine since she was 11 years old. I had a firm grip on elite basketball on the national scene in regards to 2014 players when moving to SA over three years ago. I had just left a California environment that featured three of the top 2014 AAU teams in the nation, GBL( 2-time AAU National Champ) NJB( 2-time AAU National Champ) and Corona Lady Diamonds(2007 AAU 3rd place). These teams featured players such as: LaJana Drummer( offers from numerous D1's including Rutgers), Jordin Canada (considered by many the best PG in the nation and rumoured to be a UCLA lean) Cheyenne Butler( a small scoring machine that has at least one Pac-10 offer) Andree' Velasco( receiving letters in the 5th grade, recently reclassified to class of 2015)and Recee' Caldwell( first offer came as a 7th grader). Upon arriving to San Antonio, I quickly realized that Calvert was in the same category as all of the above mentioned and possessed the dedication to stay among the best. Obviously, Baylor recognized it too and grabbed another elite young guard.
- Speaking of Recee' Caldwell, The 2014 Point Guard for San Antonio Finest Basketball is showing out this summer. ESPN Hoopgurlz recently featured a write-up on her from the tip sheet of the Big State Flava Jam. The article by Chris Hansen went on the say:
" Some say that shooting is a lost art. Perhaps the skill is making a comeback in the future. When Caldwell elevates, extends and then flips her wrist, those watching get the feeling that the ball is about to ripple the net. Her release is so pure, it is in the Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis realm. What makes her a fantastic shooter is her understanding of her shot-making ability. Very few players her age have the strength to even draw iron on a step-back jumper from 18 feet. Caldwell didn't draw iron either, but it did trickle the net for one of the most impressive individual plays of the tournament. One look at her feet and it is easy to assume that her time at 5 feet 8 is running out. She is a savvy player with good ball schools and decent athleticism. Right now, as a point guard, she lacks lateral quickness to defend elites at the position. However her projected position is the wing when she grows into her feet. "
Caldwell was back in her birth state of California playing in an exposure event when the article appeared on HoopGurlz. One would expect that such a favorable write-up on the most respected media authority in amateur girls basketball would please the 13 year old. That assumption would be wrong. Caldwell was happy to get the national love but dismayed at the assessment of her as a "projected wing". So in typical fashion, she went out and put on a passing clinic like the facilitator that she is.
In a game against a Las Vegas team of older players, Caldwell shot the ball a grand total of two times! On the day when she was being compared to the best shooter in country(Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis) on HoopGurlz, the kid shot the ball twice! She went out and collected 13 assists in a blowout win. The fashion in which she did was more impressive.
Earlier this summer, Caldwell went out and hit 7 of 9 three pointers versus the South Texas Hoya's top team in a great shooting display. On the day the HoopGurlz article came out, her club teammate Brooke Allemand obviously felt that she too deserved some national attention. Allemand went out and shattered Caldwell's club record by hitting 10 of 11 three pointers( 9 in the first half). Allemand was assisted on 7 of her three point baskets by Caldwell. It was inspiring to watch Caldwell almost exclusively passing the ball to Allemand as they both chased number 10. She advised her fellow teammates to "feed the hot hand". Caldwell whipped the skip pass to Allemand for her 10th trey and yelled "That's 10!", before the ball even left Allemand's hands. When the tournament director approached her coach after the game, he got a pleasant surprise. A Division 1 coach from the west coast wanted to invite Caldwell on an unofficial visit so she could offer her a scholarship. This coach has led several pro players in her long coaching career. For Caldwell to receive an offer, her third to date, in a game that she shot the ball twice is quite remarkable. Even more remarkable is that this game was preceded by one in which Caldwell hit 5 three pointers including the game winner, a dribble jab jumper from NBA range against an older team that featured 3 D1 commits.
- Speaking of SA Finest, 2014 guard Wendy Knight received her first Division 1 offer yesterday. Knight had a huge California trip including a 19 point effort in an exhibition game against the tournament runner-up. The incoming freshman lived in the paint. The older guards from SoCal Magic could not stop her dribble penetration and finishes.
Almost two years ago I wrote about the three above mentioned players on a blog entitled; San Antonio's Future. Honestly, I received some flak about the blog and my proclamations that a good portion of the kids in the piece would be Division 1 basketball players. I had a parent question me and my idiocy. In his words " you can't tell if a 6th or 7th grade kid is D1" and he went on to say how ridiculous I was to make such an assessment. While I agree that a lot of unknown factors may prevent a kid from panning out( burn out, wrong fit, weak work ethic, not continuing to develop,etc), an old saying applies to these three players. Two years ago they "looked like a duck and quacked like a duck" and now college coaches are realizing that they are ducks.
Keep it up young ladies. Y'all have a long way to go but you are obviously on the right track!
-The biggest news of SA summer exposure period is the verbal commitment of McKenzie Calvert to Baylor University. The 2014 standout committed to the Bears last week. Calvert was offered by Baylor at their Elite Camp in June. A strong showing in Dallas and Chicago apparently led Baylor to reiterate the offer and Calvert accepted. While many may question why Baylor would offer a kid so young, the business of basketball says that it is a very smart move on their part.
Anyone who knows the Calvert family will speak of the dedication that they have to basketball. Both Tim and April Calvert at some point have coached a few of the best kids in the city. The Calvert's sacrifice valuable time and money to drive both daughters to Houston a couple times a week for basketball practice with DFW Elite-Houston Heat. Older sister Taylor will surely receive a scholarship when all is said in done. She may take up an offer from one of the many Ivy League schools that are offering academic scholarships for her services as she is a brilliant student. Lastly, McKenzie is one of the best players in the country in her age group and routinely plays up against older competition.
A zebra does not change its stripes and I have witnessed McKenzie's shine since she was 11 years old. I had a firm grip on elite basketball on the national scene in regards to 2014 players when moving to SA over three years ago. I had just left a California environment that featured three of the top 2014 AAU teams in the nation, GBL( 2-time AAU National Champ) NJB( 2-time AAU National Champ) and Corona Lady Diamonds(2007 AAU 3rd place). These teams featured players such as: LaJana Drummer( offers from numerous D1's including Rutgers), Jordin Canada (considered by many the best PG in the nation and rumoured to be a UCLA lean) Cheyenne Butler( a small scoring machine that has at least one Pac-10 offer) Andree' Velasco( receiving letters in the 5th grade, recently reclassified to class of 2015)and Recee' Caldwell( first offer came as a 7th grader). Upon arriving to San Antonio, I quickly realized that Calvert was in the same category as all of the above mentioned and possessed the dedication to stay among the best. Obviously, Baylor recognized it too and grabbed another elite young guard.
- Speaking of Recee' Caldwell, The 2014 Point Guard for San Antonio Finest Basketball is showing out this summer. ESPN Hoopgurlz recently featured a write-up on her from the tip sheet of the Big State Flava Jam. The article by Chris Hansen went on the say:
" Some say that shooting is a lost art. Perhaps the skill is making a comeback in the future. When Caldwell elevates, extends and then flips her wrist, those watching get the feeling that the ball is about to ripple the net. Her release is so pure, it is in the Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis realm. What makes her a fantastic shooter is her understanding of her shot-making ability. Very few players her age have the strength to even draw iron on a step-back jumper from 18 feet. Caldwell didn't draw iron either, but it did trickle the net for one of the most impressive individual plays of the tournament. One look at her feet and it is easy to assume that her time at 5 feet 8 is running out. She is a savvy player with good ball schools and decent athleticism. Right now, as a point guard, she lacks lateral quickness to defend elites at the position. However her projected position is the wing when she grows into her feet. "
Caldwell was back in her birth state of California playing in an exposure event when the article appeared on HoopGurlz. One would expect that such a favorable write-up on the most respected media authority in amateur girls basketball would please the 13 year old. That assumption would be wrong. Caldwell was happy to get the national love but dismayed at the assessment of her as a "projected wing". So in typical fashion, she went out and put on a passing clinic like the facilitator that she is.
In a game against a Las Vegas team of older players, Caldwell shot the ball a grand total of two times! On the day when she was being compared to the best shooter in country(Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis) on HoopGurlz, the kid shot the ball twice! She went out and collected 13 assists in a blowout win. The fashion in which she did was more impressive.
Earlier this summer, Caldwell went out and hit 7 of 9 three pointers versus the South Texas Hoya's top team in a great shooting display. On the day the HoopGurlz article came out, her club teammate Brooke Allemand obviously felt that she too deserved some national attention. Allemand went out and shattered Caldwell's club record by hitting 10 of 11 three pointers( 9 in the first half). Allemand was assisted on 7 of her three point baskets by Caldwell. It was inspiring to watch Caldwell almost exclusively passing the ball to Allemand as they both chased number 10. She advised her fellow teammates to "feed the hot hand". Caldwell whipped the skip pass to Allemand for her 10th trey and yelled "That's 10!", before the ball even left Allemand's hands. When the tournament director approached her coach after the game, he got a pleasant surprise. A Division 1 coach from the west coast wanted to invite Caldwell on an unofficial visit so she could offer her a scholarship. This coach has led several pro players in her long coaching career. For Caldwell to receive an offer, her third to date, in a game that she shot the ball twice is quite remarkable. Even more remarkable is that this game was preceded by one in which Caldwell hit 5 three pointers including the game winner, a dribble jab jumper from NBA range against an older team that featured 3 D1 commits.
- Speaking of SA Finest, 2014 guard Wendy Knight received her first Division 1 offer yesterday. Knight had a huge California trip including a 19 point effort in an exhibition game against the tournament runner-up. The incoming freshman lived in the paint. The older guards from SoCal Magic could not stop her dribble penetration and finishes.
Almost two years ago I wrote about the three above mentioned players on a blog entitled; San Antonio's Future. Honestly, I received some flak about the blog and my proclamations that a good portion of the kids in the piece would be Division 1 basketball players. I had a parent question me and my idiocy. In his words " you can't tell if a 6th or 7th grade kid is D1" and he went on to say how ridiculous I was to make such an assessment. While I agree that a lot of unknown factors may prevent a kid from panning out( burn out, wrong fit, weak work ethic, not continuing to develop,etc), an old saying applies to these three players. Two years ago they "looked like a duck and quacked like a duck" and now college coaches are realizing that they are ducks.
Keep it up young ladies. Y'all have a long way to go but you are obviously on the right track!
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