ALLEN, Texas—If Thanksgiving at your house is a gluttony of edible options at the dinner table, then the week before in Texas is your own personal buffet of basketball for the dedicated, faithful and slightly disturbed. The yearly pairing of the McDonald’s Invitational in Pasadena and the Lady Eagle Hoopfest in Allen may not be a “formal” relationship but those hoping to get an early season sneak preview of some of the talent in the Lone Star State are truly “thankful” for the annual timing of these two scholastic cornucopias. The lineup in Pasadena featured 32 teams in two divisions for the 13th annual McDonalds event. Up in Allen 24 more teams made up the bracket for an event tracing its roots back to the inaugural tip off in 2001.
While November basketball comes with the nuances of limited practice time and annual matriculation necessitated roster revisions, it’s still possible to see established recruiting commodities in action as well as identify some upcoming young talent ready to make a name for themselves over the course of the season to come. Wins, statistics and evaluations all come with an early season “grain of salt” for those taking it all in. There’s a lot of basketball yet to be played between now and when the nets come down next March in San Antonio. Here’s a look at some of those getting off on the right foot last week in both Allen and Pasadena.
Just a quick reminder. The events are combined in this write up and, as always, are in alphabetical order. Inclusion does not necessarily represent any ranking, status or any other social media flag someone might want to wave. There were plenty of talented players on hand and these were some of those who had some strong moments when we were in the gym. We’re looking forward to seeing many more.
Joanne Allen-Taylor – 2018 – 5-8 – Combo – Cypress Falls – Texas signee…Combines speed with strength…Quality individual skills allow her to attack on the break and in the halfcourt…Reads well off the drive…Turns the corner at speed…Pull up and floater serve her well when rotations come her way…Stroke and range force close outs…Has the footspeed and strength to be an impact on ball defender
Sarah Andrews – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – MacArthur – Elite, hard to find point guard…Makes those around her better…Can deliver her own scoring opps or improve those of teammates in both transition and halfcourt…Off the drive threads the needle while keeping everyone guessing…Risks she takes are worth the return in the end…Form and range keep defenders honest…Step back creates plenty of separation…Deceptive strength and vertical…Could use some defensive consistency however
Kamryn Arrington – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – South Grand Prairie – Strong and smart guard…Reads the floor…Handles contact in the backcourt and off the drive…Looking to attack but willing to share as defense rotates
Amaya Brannon – 2021 – 5-11 – Swing – Plano West – Smooth, athletic small forward…Deceiving in her effort versus productivity…Makes plays…Active with the ball or without…Can spot up with a soft touch…Shot fake and drive are a challenge for defenders…Slithers in traffic…Tools are there to defend #2 through #4 or any spot in the press…Lots of promise
Taylor Broussard – 2019 – 5-11 – Forward – MacArthur – Undersized but effective forward…Athletic with strength and quickness for size…Plays with plenty of versatility…Willing to post and get physical while looking to produce around the rim…Gets out and makes herself a factor in transition…Efficient on the glass…Inserts herself into the action
Jala Buster – 2018 – 5-10 – Wing / Guard – Cypress Ranch – South Alabama signee…Assertive on the perimeter…Looking to attack on the catch…First step boarders on explosive…Willing to get on the block and post…Spin move is there…Embraces contact as she navigates to the rim…Crashes the boards
Corina Carter – 2019 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Converse Judson – Small but feisty point guard…Attacking mentality…Looks to push from make, miss and turnover…Sound, smooth release…Makes plays
Lindsey Claude – 2020 – 5-2 – Point Guard – Mansfield Summit – Small but dynamic young point…Quick in her attack and skills…Mixes up both speed and direction…Not afraid to take it into traffic…Quick and assertive on ball defender…Makes plays and an impact
Charli Collier – 2018 – 6-5 – Post – Barbers Hill – Texas signee…Continues to add to her game even as a senior…Struggled to finish at times this time around…Playing more and more physical…Handled some “cheap” defensive efforts…Becoming more and more active without the ball…Showed off some instinctual interior passing…First step off the high post drive is deceivingly quick for a player of her size…Hitting the glass with much more consistency and authority…Not relaxing on her National Letter of Intent signature
Avery Crouse – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – Sachse – Steady advances from a year ago…Impressive combination of size, skills and basketball IQ…Patient and understanding in the halfcourt or on the break…Form, stroke and range are all there…Cuts hard off screens with good reads…Needs to add some strength…Could still grow a bit…Quiet but very effective
Tavy Diggs – 2019 – 6-0 – Swing – Plano East – Nice combination physically and basketball-wise…Perimeter skills are advanced for size…Can handle it in transition or from the wing and top…Form is sound and some range is there…Has to become more of a factor without the ball including posting up on occasion…Effective on the offensive glass…Makes an impact but potential is there to do much more
Amaria Fields – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – McKinney North – Lean, athletic young guard…Has length and may grow…Demonstrates speed pushing the ball or getting out in the lanes…First step is quick and lengthy…Off the dribble can take it both ways…Form is there as well as both touch and range…Length and lateral speed gives her the tools to be a strong defender…Ultimately limits may well be up to her…Watch closely
Ashlynn Freeman – 2020 – 5-10 – Forward – Manvel – Solid and athletic…Gets off the floor quick…Vertical is there…Posts up and holds her position…Some ballhandling is there…Got on the offensive glass
Erin Fry – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – McKinney – Fluid and attacking…Looking to attack…Creates both shots and passes…Handles contact despite a somewhat slight build…Navigates traffic on the break or off penetration…Crossover serves her well…Quick feet defensively
Madison Gissendanner – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Pearland – Physical and active forward…Rough edges with potential…Gets out and runs the floor…Willing to defend but showed frustration at times…Physical play is not a problem…Rebounded with authority…Carried a bigger load with teammate DeYona Gaston sidelined
McKinzie Green – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Manvel – Speed and quickness offsets size…Works both change of speed and change of direction…Sees the floor off her attack…Forced a few but still made some plays…Quick and agile defensively
Zarielle Green – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing – Duncanville – Tennessee bound…Finally a senior…Makes herself a factor on both ends…Combines her length with athleticism to challenge offensively and defensively…Versatility is on par with anyone in the class…Playing more patient and making stronger choices…Range forces opposition to close out…Elevation serves her well off the drive and on the glass…Defensive possibilities are endless
Hannah Gusters – 2020 – 6-4 – Post – Duncanville – On the radar for some time and progressing each time we see her…Impressive growth as a player and an athlete…Posting hard and holding her ground…Showing a more mature understanding on possessions she may not get a touch…Makes herself an option both from the wing and the top…Handling the extra “physical” aspect that comes with smaller opposition at times…Protecting the ball better on the rebound…Pace of advancements is measured and smart by those working with her…All up to her
Tyler Jackson – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Allen – Improves almost by the possession…Lefty guard…Solid build…Touch and range…Ability is there to get on a roll…Ballhandling is sound but needs sharpening…Strength lets her post smaller perimeter match-ups…Lots of focus and effort at both ends
Starr Jacobs – 2018 – 6-0 – Forward – Duncanville – University of Houston signee – Physically strong at the small forward…Speed and quickness are virtually all the way back after knee issues…Ballhandling is beyond first impression…Form and touch…Has a fall-away to call upon…Narrow base however on deeper jumper…Will mix it up defensively…Plays with plenty of effort on both sides of the ball
Donalyn Johnson – 2020 – 5-10 – Forward – North Shore – Active with a solid build…Undersized at the #4…Physically strong…Aggressive but not going to add much more size…Willing to mix it up and make some things happen in the paint
Deja Kelly – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – San Antonio Johnson – Continues to keep herself among the elite…Dynamic and attacking off the dribble…Hesitation move is lethal…Willing to share the ball (too much at times)…More active without the ball than in the past…Understands how to make herself an option off the cut…Reads on penetration could be sharper at times…Active defender
Tommisha Lampkin – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Mansfield Summit – Lean with length…Agility is there with and without the ball…Strong individual skills for size and age…Consistency and application will have to evolve…Acceleration and first step serve her well on high post drive…A little lost without the ball…Active defensively and came up with some boards…Major upside
Dajinae McCarty – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Cedar Hill – Still turning heads…Lean but dynamic athlete…Plenty of speed and quickness…Individual skills lead to penetration to force defensive issues…Looking to attack and push the ball on virtually every possession…Fluid on penetration…Floater is there…Crossover off hesitation gets her past even the quickest opposition…Seems to be playing much more disciplined basketball…Anticipates defensively and makes picks from the weakside of the floor…Impressive rebounder from the perimeter…Could advance her game to a special level
Zoe McCrary – 2020 – 6-1 – Post / Forward – Allen – Lots of physical tools…Some size and good strength…Potential to add size is there…Will post big and wide…Needs to initiate physical play herself…Has advanced her game but could be making bigger strides in refinement…Gets on the boards at times…Possibilities still promising
Kyjai Miles – 2019 – 6-2 – Forward – Dallas Skyline – Athletic forward…Good size with solid frame…Agility is there as well as elevation when needed…Can put it on the floor at times…High post drive is there…Gets the ball out quick off the defensive glass…Length and reach serve her well on the defensive end of the floor
Uchenna Nwoke – 2018 – 6-6 – Post – South Grand Prairie – Duke signee…Plenty of size with the frame to carry some real potential…Getting up and down the floor better than ever…Understands the role and potential of her presence…Knows what she’s looking for down low…Base, angles and targets are more focused and efficient…Lots of rough edges yet to work on but progress thus far makes future promising…Consistency ultimately has to be there
Jordyn Oliver – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – Prosper – Baylor verbal – Physically strong guard…Plays with a maturity beyond her age…Acceleration leaves defenders scrambling…Elevates on the pull up and mid-range…Sees the floor and willing to share it…Strength allows her to be effective in traffic…Uses screens efficiently but can create her own off the dribble…Still needs to be more active without the ball…Lockdown defender at times…A fixture among the class elite from day one
Jaden Owens – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Plano West – High profile guard continues to elevate her play…Multifaceted game makes defending her a challenge…Can knock it down from deep to force close outs…Off the drive she can deliver with contact or make the harder interior passes…Acceleration on the catch is rare and forces opposing bigs to stay on their toes in helpside…Vision is productive on the break…Assertive and on quick defensively on the ball…Takes chances on the weakside of the floor at times
Amanda Pollard – 2018 – 6-4 – Post – Cypress Fairbanks – Impressive size and frame…Good athleticism and agility…Lefty…Jump hook is there and used often…Passes the eye test…Lots of tools but lacking refinement at this point…Ability is there to get up and down the floor…Defensive presence with size and length…Strength needs to catch up…Level??
Catherine Reese – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – Cypress Woods – Arizona signee – Front and center of recruiting stage for years…Size with skills…True “4” with the ability to work low against the right match-ups…Active with and without the ball…Goes up with contact and can still get the shot off…Works well in hi-lo situations…Understands angles and works to make herself an option at the elbows, trail or on the block…Can find her own looks…Could stand to be more physical defensively prior to the catch
Peyton Rush – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Wylie – Active with some length in the backcourt…Nice form on her shot…Quick release is there…Made some plays
Adhel Tac – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Sachse – Long with plenty of athleticism…Lean build with limited strength at this point…Active and consistent in her effort…Rough edges with lots of potential…Can finish by the rim or from mid-range…Passes the ball well from the forward spot…Plenty of time and potential
Amanda Turpin – 2020 – 5-11 – Wing – Cypress Fairbanks – Size and skills out on the perimeter…Size says wing, skills says guard…Lean build at this point…Ballhandling and passing allow to create and improve options…Step back is there…Quick release is in place along with some range…Runs the lane in transition…Defense needs some attention particularly on the weakside of the floor…Lots of possibilities…Watch
Kyra White – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Converse Judson – Solid size and build in the backcourt…Ballhandling is in place to develop her own options…Touch is there mid-range along with a floater…Form looks sound from deep…Sees the floor and can deliver some sharp passes…Nice stroke on her shot…Needs to be more active without the ball in her hands
