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.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
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!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Summer Updates!
-The TeamXpress Challenge last month was an eye opener for me. In a game between two of the top clubs in the area, TeamXpress Black and Lady Rohawks Black, three San Antonio players played prominent roles for their teams. Erica Donovan and Arielle Roberson for Xpress and Ebony Watkins for the Rohawks were occupying the court at the same time and I had a revelation; Ebony Watkins is as good as Roberson and Donovan!
That is a bold statement is San Antonio. Donovan and Roberson are the anointed ones of the 2011 class by many, including myself. I have always admired Watkins from afar. Her rocky road a couple of years ago in high school has left many still trying to figure her out. I felt Wagner would have beaten Pflugerville two seasons ago with the long Watkins at the wing. She was the X-Factor. She did not play well in the big showdown against Jay this past March. Jay's bully ball strategy slowed her down. The TeamXpress Challenge showed that she finally has taken her place among the elite in the city.
Let's talk skill set comparison:.
Size- Watkins is as tall as Roberson and longer than Donovan. Her slender frame is similar to Roberson, but she is not as strong Roberson . She is far from being as physical the punishing Donovan.
Handle- Watkins has ALWAYS played on the perimeter and has a much sharper handle than both. She lived in the paint during the first half of the Xpress game. I have witnessed her break smaller/quicker guards down off of the bounce all summer. She now finishes with both hands. Both Donovan and Roberson are transitioning to the perimeter and their handle, while getting better, is not as polished as Watkins.
Shooting- Watkins shot a knuckle ball jumper in the past. Now she is consistently knocking down the three ball. What is impressive is that she is hitting it off of the dribble at times this summer. Watkins has a solid mid-range game with various runners and floaters that make her a hard guard for defenders. However, Roberson has shown she still has a better 15-17 foot jumper. Donovan can hit the three in numbers when she is feeling good.
Defensively- This may be an area where Watkins have improved the most. Her Lady Rohawk team plays one defense only, MAN! They play it full court, all the time. Up 20 or down 20 makes no difference, they will play 5-second close, man to man defense. Watkins has had some tough match ups this summer and has held her own. Her length enables her to bother smaller guards and her lateral quickness is much improved. When compared to Donovan, Watkins is quicker and longer but not nearly as physical and tough as Donovan . Donovan takes defense personal and never takes a play off. Roberson is the best post defender of the three. She blocks shots and can guard MOST 3's, 4's and 5's. Roberson's kind off court demeanor(nickname is Smiley:) belies a fierce competitive nature. She is nasty when she has to be.
Basketball IQ- This is a tough call. All three play for successful high school programs with great coaches, Tina Camacho(Watkins and Roberson) and Mike Floyd(Donovan). Watkins has improved in this area this summer as well. She no longer has CeCe Harper to lead her. She must now shoulder the brunt of the leadership responsibilities for the Rohawks. The Rohawks are running an open post offense that is built on reading and reacting this summer. This mandates that Watkins makes the correct reads and counters on the fly. This has helped her immensely. Both, Donovan and Roberson are playing in a much more structured system, surrounded by a couple of national superstars.The smart play quite often is passing it to Top 5 player in the country, Krystal Forthan, on many occasions. Donovan and Roberson have learned dozens of set plays and counters, many from the college and pro level. This preparation has undoutedbly helped them with knowing the rigors of college basketball. So which of the three is the smartest basketball player? This is a lot more subjective than the other areas. Shooting is easily determined by who is making shots. The better Basketball IQ argument will have to be settled during the high school season.
All three have intangibles that allow for "who is the best" argument. That was not the case going into the summer. Watkins was not in the argument at all . That is not the case any more. She is Top 5 in the city, EASY! However, according to Hoopgurlz ratings, the kid from Smithson Valley is as good as this city has to offer in 2011. But I will talk about Daneille Blagg in another blog about FIT!!!!
- Shanesha Clayton- The Highlands guard is the quickest guard in the city. She has been having a great summer with Sophia Young Elite by making opposing defenders look sloppy. Her change of direction and low dribble is extremely tough to defend. Pressuring her too close is probably not the best defensive strategy. Her diminutive size and reluctance to shoot the long ball says that the smart bet would be backing off of her. The problem is that she negates space by attacking defenders full speed and positioning them on their heels. As she gets them retreating and leaning in one direction, she does it! She yanks defenders mercilessly! She finishes surprising well for her size as well.
-Brandeis High School- The summer has brightened the future of Brandeis basketball. The Broncos return rebounding machine Christina "Mena" Harris and Rose Maldonado. Maldonado has spent the summer playing besides Stephen F. Austin soon to be freshman Cheyenne Berry, learning the tricks of the trade. The Broncos have a great freshman class that includes Hannah Thompson, Kelsey Glassburn and Mykel Costly. However the biggest reason for Coach John Ince to smile is the addition of 6'0 lefty, Kia Baez. This 2012 wing will be a star. She is very long and athletic with a basketball body to match. When she adds some polish, I expect Brandeis to challenge for city supremacy in the 2011-2012 season.
That is a bold statement is San Antonio. Donovan and Roberson are the anointed ones of the 2011 class by many, including myself. I have always admired Watkins from afar. Her rocky road a couple of years ago in high school has left many still trying to figure her out. I felt Wagner would have beaten Pflugerville two seasons ago with the long Watkins at the wing. She was the X-Factor. She did not play well in the big showdown against Jay this past March. Jay's bully ball strategy slowed her down. The TeamXpress Challenge showed that she finally has taken her place among the elite in the city.
Let's talk skill set comparison:.
Size- Watkins is as tall as Roberson and longer than Donovan. Her slender frame is similar to Roberson, but she is not as strong Roberson . She is far from being as physical the punishing Donovan.
Handle- Watkins has ALWAYS played on the perimeter and has a much sharper handle than both. She lived in the paint during the first half of the Xpress game. I have witnessed her break smaller/quicker guards down off of the bounce all summer. She now finishes with both hands. Both Donovan and Roberson are transitioning to the perimeter and their handle, while getting better, is not as polished as Watkins.
Shooting- Watkins shot a knuckle ball jumper in the past. Now she is consistently knocking down the three ball. What is impressive is that she is hitting it off of the dribble at times this summer. Watkins has a solid mid-range game with various runners and floaters that make her a hard guard for defenders. However, Roberson has shown she still has a better 15-17 foot jumper. Donovan can hit the three in numbers when she is feeling good.
Defensively- This may be an area where Watkins have improved the most. Her Lady Rohawk team plays one defense only, MAN! They play it full court, all the time. Up 20 or down 20 makes no difference, they will play 5-second close, man to man defense. Watkins has had some tough match ups this summer and has held her own. Her length enables her to bother smaller guards and her lateral quickness is much improved. When compared to Donovan, Watkins is quicker and longer but not nearly as physical and tough as Donovan . Donovan takes defense personal and never takes a play off. Roberson is the best post defender of the three. She blocks shots and can guard MOST 3's, 4's and 5's. Roberson's kind off court demeanor(nickname is Smiley:) belies a fierce competitive nature. She is nasty when she has to be.
Basketball IQ- This is a tough call. All three play for successful high school programs with great coaches, Tina Camacho(Watkins and Roberson) and Mike Floyd(Donovan). Watkins has improved in this area this summer as well. She no longer has CeCe Harper to lead her. She must now shoulder the brunt of the leadership responsibilities for the Rohawks. The Rohawks are running an open post offense that is built on reading and reacting this summer. This mandates that Watkins makes the correct reads and counters on the fly. This has helped her immensely. Both, Donovan and Roberson are playing in a much more structured system, surrounded by a couple of national superstars.The smart play quite often is passing it to Top 5 player in the country, Krystal Forthan, on many occasions. Donovan and Roberson have learned dozens of set plays and counters, many from the college and pro level. This preparation has undoutedbly helped them with knowing the rigors of college basketball. So which of the three is the smartest basketball player? This is a lot more subjective than the other areas. Shooting is easily determined by who is making shots. The better Basketball IQ argument will have to be settled during the high school season.
All three have intangibles that allow for "who is the best" argument. That was not the case going into the summer. Watkins was not in the argument at all . That is not the case any more. She is Top 5 in the city, EASY! However, according to Hoopgurlz ratings, the kid from Smithson Valley is as good as this city has to offer in 2011. But I will talk about Daneille Blagg in another blog about FIT!!!!
- Shanesha Clayton- The Highlands guard is the quickest guard in the city. She has been having a great summer with Sophia Young Elite by making opposing defenders look sloppy. Her change of direction and low dribble is extremely tough to defend. Pressuring her too close is probably not the best defensive strategy. Her diminutive size and reluctance to shoot the long ball says that the smart bet would be backing off of her. The problem is that she negates space by attacking defenders full speed and positioning them on their heels. As she gets them retreating and leaning in one direction, she does it! She yanks defenders mercilessly! She finishes surprising well for her size as well.
-Brandeis High School- The summer has brightened the future of Brandeis basketball. The Broncos return rebounding machine Christina "Mena" Harris and Rose Maldonado. Maldonado has spent the summer playing besides Stephen F. Austin soon to be freshman Cheyenne Berry, learning the tricks of the trade. The Broncos have a great freshman class that includes Hannah Thompson, Kelsey Glassburn and Mykel Costly. However the biggest reason for Coach John Ince to smile is the addition of 6'0 lefty, Kia Baez. This 2012 wing will be a star. She is very long and athletic with a basketball body to match. When she adds some polish, I expect Brandeis to challenge for city supremacy in the 2011-2012 season.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Too young to travel!
"In my opinion, middle school players should not be traveling to play basketball games." This was a quote from one of the most respected and influential basketball men in girls basketball. What was ironic about the statement was that the speech was given to the parents of middle school kids at a pretty pricey camp that he was sponsoring. Most of the campers were out of town kids! I have continuously given my opinion on why kids should travel but I want to look further into that philosophy.
ESPN Hoopgurlz just released the Terrific 25 for the class of 2012. This list names the so-called best players in the class of 2012. This was a monumental day for many of the kids. Whether good or bad, the Hoopgurlz rankings have become a point of much pride for aspiring athletes. Truthfully, they are probably more important to these kids parents but that is another topic. The list goes on to name three Texas guards in the Top 20, Moriah Jefferson(#3), Alexis Jones (#5), and Courtney Williams(#20). Two of these players, Jefferson and Jones play for the same club, DFW.
Rewind to last years DFW team and recall that the ESPN 3rd ranked player in the nation was Baylor signee, Odyssey Sims. Fast forward to this past Memorial Day Weekend Nike Summer Showcase in Ohio and see the MVP of the 15u division was DFW freshman, Candace Adams. Adams is certainly is one of the best freshmen in the nation. So what does DFW and their string of successful guards have to do with the statement that young kids should not travel? It proves that young kids should not travel!!! If a city, organization or team has the kind of depth, talent and environment that DFW Elite has, why travel? There MAY be enough talent in weekly practices that would negate a need to leave the city. Of course DFW Elite's philosophy is anything but "stay at home". The first time I saw Adams was in the Lady Rohawks "Ladies First" event last year in San Antonio. She was an 8th grader and on a team of 6 players, playing in the tiny Ed White MS gym. She guarded on ball the entire game w/ one brief substitution. This kind of tenacious defensive pressure, with basically no bench help, was foreign to me; foreign to San Antonio.
If I had not played DFW Elite in this event, when were my middle school girls going to encounter this type of swarming defense. In High School? No Way! A vast majority of local high schools play zone. And even if they did play full court man for the entire game, very few local kids can match the defensive prowess of kids like Adams.
To further my point, TeamXpress is clearly the best "local" team in the city again this year. The current team features one of the best players in the nation in Krystal Forthan. It also includes the # 37 ranked player in the nation along with probably the best two 2011 players in San Antonio, Erica Donovan and Arielle Roberson. But, TeamXpress was beaten badly(running clock in the first half) by a Nike Cy-Fair Shock team on Memorial Day. Why? Defensive pressure on Xpress guards turned the game into a turnover festival. TeamXpress beats every team in the city by double digits this year. They had to go out of town to find those that are better, or who have differnet styles, and different players. Cy-Fair Shock featured two girls who are trying out for the U.S. teams later this month. Cassie Peoples and Sydney Cook are both vying for spots to represent our country on the court later this summer. In furtherance of my argument, both Peoples and Cook have been traveling to play basketball since their preteens days.
In fact, the first time I heard of Cassie Peoples was when she was a 6th grader. Peoples, who is from San Antonio, was in San Diego, California at a "phenom camp"(Also at that camp was a good 7th grader named Odyssey Sims). It's a good thing that her parents did not subscribe to the " middle schoolers should not travel" philosophy. If that was the case, she probably would not be slated to attend the University of Texas on a full ride. She probably would not be ranked in the Top 25 of her class. And as for the other guards mentioned above, I first saw an 8th grade Courtney Williams at an exposure event in College Station; she lives in Houston. I saw Alexis Jones as an 8th grader playing along side Odyssey Sims and Britney Griner in Houston; she lives in the Dallas area.
These girls' parents understood that to limit your child to her immediate surrounding basketball environment will surely limit her future choices. Waiting until high school to see how you stack up against the best may be a little to late if you are trying to be the best.
ESPN Hoopgurlz just released the Terrific 25 for the class of 2012. This list names the so-called best players in the class of 2012. This was a monumental day for many of the kids. Whether good or bad, the Hoopgurlz rankings have become a point of much pride for aspiring athletes. Truthfully, they are probably more important to these kids parents but that is another topic. The list goes on to name three Texas guards in the Top 20, Moriah Jefferson(#3), Alexis Jones (#5), and Courtney Williams(#20). Two of these players, Jefferson and Jones play for the same club, DFW.
Rewind to last years DFW team and recall that the ESPN 3rd ranked player in the nation was Baylor signee, Odyssey Sims. Fast forward to this past Memorial Day Weekend Nike Summer Showcase in Ohio and see the MVP of the 15u division was DFW freshman, Candace Adams. Adams is certainly is one of the best freshmen in the nation. So what does DFW and their string of successful guards have to do with the statement that young kids should not travel? It proves that young kids should not travel!!! If a city, organization or team has the kind of depth, talent and environment that DFW Elite has, why travel? There MAY be enough talent in weekly practices that would negate a need to leave the city. Of course DFW Elite's philosophy is anything but "stay at home". The first time I saw Adams was in the Lady Rohawks "Ladies First" event last year in San Antonio. She was an 8th grader and on a team of 6 players, playing in the tiny Ed White MS gym. She guarded on ball the entire game w/ one brief substitution. This kind of tenacious defensive pressure, with basically no bench help, was foreign to me; foreign to San Antonio.
If I had not played DFW Elite in this event, when were my middle school girls going to encounter this type of swarming defense. In High School? No Way! A vast majority of local high schools play zone. And even if they did play full court man for the entire game, very few local kids can match the defensive prowess of kids like Adams.
To further my point, TeamXpress is clearly the best "local" team in the city again this year. The current team features one of the best players in the nation in Krystal Forthan. It also includes the # 37 ranked player in the nation along with probably the best two 2011 players in San Antonio, Erica Donovan and Arielle Roberson. But, TeamXpress was beaten badly(running clock in the first half) by a Nike Cy-Fair Shock team on Memorial Day. Why? Defensive pressure on Xpress guards turned the game into a turnover festival. TeamXpress beats every team in the city by double digits this year. They had to go out of town to find those that are better, or who have differnet styles, and different players. Cy-Fair Shock featured two girls who are trying out for the U.S. teams later this month. Cassie Peoples and Sydney Cook are both vying for spots to represent our country on the court later this summer. In furtherance of my argument, both Peoples and Cook have been traveling to play basketball since their preteens days.
In fact, the first time I heard of Cassie Peoples was when she was a 6th grader. Peoples, who is from San Antonio, was in San Diego, California at a "phenom camp"(Also at that camp was a good 7th grader named Odyssey Sims). It's a good thing that her parents did not subscribe to the " middle schoolers should not travel" philosophy. If that was the case, she probably would not be slated to attend the University of Texas on a full ride. She probably would not be ranked in the Top 25 of her class. And as for the other guards mentioned above, I first saw an 8th grade Courtney Williams at an exposure event in College Station; she lives in Houston. I saw Alexis Jones as an 8th grader playing along side Odyssey Sims and Britney Griner in Houston; she lives in the Dallas area.
These girls' parents understood that to limit your child to her immediate surrounding basketball environment will surely limit her future choices. Waiting until high school to see how you stack up against the best may be a little to late if you are trying to be the best.
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