DALLAS, Texas—It almost become a ritual for many college recruiters, evaluators and media entities to start their annual summer tour with the Texas double header of the DFW Big State Flava Jam and the Premier Basketball Super Sixty-four. If you’re going to recruit the Lone Star State or those in the immediate neighborhood there isn’t a better bang for your buck than three days deep in the heart of Texas. We spent day one with the DFW folks before heading north to Frisco to join Joey Simmons and his PBR staff for two more full days of basketball to kick off July.
Today we take a look at some of the standouts on hand at the 11th annual Big State Flava Jam. A total of seven states were represented among the 106 participants who braved the frosty confines of the Automobile Building in Fair Park. Teams competed in four different age groups with the top programs doing battle in the Marques Jackson division named for the late DFW benefactor. While our time was limited at the Flava Jam there was no shortage of talent.
DFW T – Jack appears to be playing some of their better basketball in recent memory and the interior is being ably handled by 2016 post Ciera Johnson. After establishing herself at a young age she’s had some inconsistencies at times but appears to be offering up her most impressive effort to date. Appearing stronger and more active, the 6-3 Johnson is making herself a factor on both ends of the floor. Offensively she’s reading more efficiently and making better choices on the catch which is no small feat in a guard oriented setting. Additionally she’s handling the contact from defenders and finishing at a higher percentage. Defensively she’s working to keep it off the block and really has strong positioning one and two passes away. Her reaction to penetration has a split second hesitation at times but her perimeter teammates can still take some chances and know she’s going to be there.
On occasion you see a player who is deceiving on first looks before you realize it would be better playing with her than against her. Mae Coleman of the Southern Phenoms is a 6-1 power player you want in your corner. A bigger, solid build does nothing slow her attack and the mentality is there to take on all comers. Her footspeed will catch you off guard and creates some easy looks even against opponents bringing more size to the equation. The 2016 Coleman is effective off the one or two dribble drive and embraces any opportunity to “mix things” up with physical defenders. She is vulnerable to perimeter players doubling down and getting a hand on the ball when she puts it on the floor. At the rim she finishes with confidence and consistently. Her conditioning was evident on occasion but the potential is there to make plenty of noise at a level beyond first impressions.
Another player we’ve watched over the years is finally on her final summer tour is Rodrea Echols. The Memphis native has been playing up since a young age and her time has definitely arrived. A 2016 “power” guard for the Sophia Young Elite, she has the attention and BCS offers that reflect the level of her game. You would definitely categorize her as physically strong and playing with a maturity that is beyond a lot of her scholastic peers. Echols doesn’t get the “college ready” banner quite yet with the need to find more consistency and a greater focus off the ball defensively. However, at her best, she’ll challenge any backcourt opposition with her ability to create looks off the drive and the pull up. The stroke and touch are there as well to necessitate a quick closeout creating a decision on the lesser of evils for defenders.
Echols isn’t alone in the backcourt for the Sophia Young Elite. Take a quick look at 2016 guard Aaliyah Prince…a very quick one. The 5-9 San Antonio native is constantly on the move and creates opportunities both in transition as well as the halfcourt. A wiry, athletic build provides plenty of speed and quickness that Prince puts to use on both sides of the ball. She penetrates with a lethal first step and has the ability to score it or deliver some sharp interior passing. At the same time the shot is there clear out to three point range requiring defensive attention from the time she crosses halfcourt. Her shot selection had a few fuzzy moments where we’ve seen her give it up in the past, but there’s no doubt that Prince can make plays with the ball in her hands.
Jade Williams is evolving into one of the more multi-dimensional interior players in club and high school basketball. The 6-3 2017 forward for Texas United is a capable threat around the rim and has the length to play with those bringing a few more inches to the party. Williams also can do some impressive things from the high post. The ability is there to deliver some sharp high – low passing but she’s not hesitant about putting it on the floor and taking it to the hoop herself. Throw in the fact that she can also drop the 15 footer and you’ve got matchup problems on defense. Her own defense features some agile feet and a wingspan that will change plenty of shots in the paint. She’ll still need to add more strength and a greater willingness to use it before her scholastic days come to an end.
Why write about Alexis Morris again? Because she doesn’t give you much of a choice. The 2017 DFW T – Jack point guard has the tools to be a dominant presence on virtually any floor she walks on to. The Flava Jam saw her looking for her own opportunities more often than not…and doing so with plenty of success. Defensively she’s a force on the ball with quick feet and anticipating hands. Away from the ball she takes some chances at times but has the athleticism to make a few of them pay off. Across the past few months we’ve seen her in both scoring and distributing mode. When the 5-7 Morris finds that delicate balance between the two each time out she’ll be causing plenty of gray hair for opponents charged with locking her down. Good luck with that.
The Arkansas Mavericks got some strong moments from 2017 forward / post Abigayle Jackson. At 6-3, she’s long and lean with some smooth, fluid mobility. She’s a factor on the boards but also has the speed to get out and run the floor in transition. That lean build is deceiving as she plays with more strength than you would guess based on first impressions. Jackson is active on the offensive end and cuts with some authority even when she’s not getting touches. On the catch she keeps it high and goes back up with some authority on the “O” boards. Defensively she has the foot speed and reach to be a factor in the halfcourt and the potential to be a contributor in many full court schemes. Lots of tools are in place and the best is yet to come.
Another 2017, Barbara Benson, offered up some strong play for the Waco Lady Panthers. The 5-9 guard has a “bookworm” look with her glasses but don’t let that fool you. She’s an explosive athlete who can create her own looks as well as develop opportunities for her teammates. There’s a strong crossover in place that goes hand in hand with some acceleration that leaves defenders scrambling to recover. Benson uses both hands and attacks either side of the floor with an effective change of speed. In traffic she has good body control and remains aware of the floor around her leading to some sharp looking assists. Something tells you she just might be finding her stride. Keep watching and see where it takes her.
At 6-4 Mallory Vaughn has lots of tools to call on. The post for the Oklahoma PWP has had some solid coaching somewhere along the line which might have the 2017 poised for a big summer. She demonstrated lots of versatility in Dallas making plays down low, from the mid-range and even from the high post. On the catch Vaughn keeps it high and you can see her reading defenders leading to sound choices with the ball. Vaughn can create her own looks but is comfortable giving it up when necessary as well. There’s plenty of effort and active play on the defensive end but she’s going to need a more physical approach as she gets closer to moving on to the colligate level.
While not quite their “big sisters” the Texas United 15’s had some moments last Monday. Versatile 6-0 wing / guard Priscilla Smeenge had a hand in their play. A Southlake, Texas native, the 2017 Smeenge is constantly active and plays with some sharp individual skills. With the ball in her hands she’s using a change of speed and direction as well as some hesitation moves. Her attack includes spinning off defenders on penetration which got her a few good looks. While her ball skills are sharp her perimeter shot has a forward action in it that’s doesn’t go hand in hand with the level of the rest of her game. Defensively she has good length on the perimeter as well as an attacking mentality on ball.
Charli Collier continues to evolve. We’ve had the fortune of watching the 2018 Texas United forward / post extensively and her growth physically and as a basketball player has been dramatic. While we just saw her last month out at the USA Basketball trials in Colorado Springs there was a change worth noting in her play this week. To her own and her team’s benefit she seemed to be looking for more of a balance between her perimeter shooting attack and working effectively inside. At the trials she was letting it fly from 15 feet again and again while overlooking a genuine strength in her game. Several times in the games we saw in Dallas she looked to take it to the rim and posted with success a time or two as well. While it’s great to see a 6-4 threat from the perimeter, it’s that balance in her attack that’s going to let her truly find out what kind of impact player she can be against the best competition.
One of the younger players in the Marques Jackson Division was also one of the more impressive performers. A 2020 class member, 5-7 Sarah Andrews of the Lady Jets has the potential to make some real noise over the next few years. Ultra athletic, she has the speed and quickness many older players only dream of. Add to that some strong body control and you’ve got an impact penetrator in the paint. She can finish off the drive but the pull up is a sound option already as well. Her jumper works and forces the close out that defenders aren’t going to be looking forward to. Andrews can make plays in the halfcourt but she’s at her best on the break. Defensively the tools are there on ball but her focus needs some sharpening on the weakside of the floor.
