DALLAS, TX – A lot happened in Texas last weekend and Blue star Media was fortunate to be on hand for the Queen of the South Event just outside of Dallas.  While it’s always easy to be excited about good basketball and talented prospects it’s also imperative that we keep in mind the students, staff, families and community of Santa Fe, Texas, near Houston, who experienced the all too common nightmare of yet another school shooting.  The thoughts, prayers and compassion of Blue Star and USJN are with those impacted by this and other senseless tragedies invading the landscape of our everyday lives.  We love basketball and the impressive young women we see playing the game, but we hope all of us will remain conscious of the bigger picture in the world we live in today.

Travis did make the trip to the Mansfield and Fieldhouse USA last weekend and had the chance to take in some of the top Lone Star State talent.  Over 90 teams made their way to the Metroplex giving him a chance to see a variety of players, many for the second time this Spring.  No doubt we’ll be seeing many of them multiple times across the entire club schedule and look forward to checking out the advances they should make in their skills and game.

The players below are just some of the athletes that caught his eye at the Queen of the South.

Sarah Andrews – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – ProSkills 17U EYBL – Speedy with the ball…Pace on her passes…Floats through the sky and lofts the tear drop over outstretched defenders…No look passes off the bounce…Elite extra gear 

Amani Barlett – 2021 – 6-3 – Forward – Cy-Fair 16U EYBL – Tennessee commit… Lanky rim runner type…No problem sitting down and going to work in the post…Can rebound and take 2-3 dribbles for the outlet pass

Sierra Bickson – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – Cy-Fair 16U Platinum – Attack mode, especially in transition…Nice drive and scoop finish around the defender…Hits the three off the bounce…Scorer’s mentality…Can also run the show from the point 

Mia Deck – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Cy-Fair 17U Platinum – Athletic lead guard…Strong, zippy passes are second nature…Advances the ball with the pass well…Three is certainly falling…As a point can go on scoring runs on her own 

Kayla Demus – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – North Texas Lights Out Elite – Nice weekend…Handles and vision continue to improve…Sneaks some passes through tight spaces…Runs the floor in transition…Likes to cut and create lay ups 

Victoria Flores – 2023 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – ProSkills 16U EYBL – Young combo…Playing head and shoulders above her age…Can handle, pass, and shoot…Quick release on the three pointer on the move…Court vision of a high school varsity player already 

Paetynn Gray – 2020 – 6-2 – Guard/Forward – AD Elite Peterson – Versatility and athleticism…Can defend different positions…Offensive skill set lends itself more to the wing…Will block some shots…Shoots the three at times 

Hannah Gusters – 2020 – 6-5 – Post – ProSkills 17U EYBL – Elite post…Mobility has improved with maturation…Snatches the ball out of the air…Strong footwork and pivot action gets some big time baskets in the paint 

Kayla Harris-Williams – 2019 – 5-6 – Guard – Urban Heroes Elite Marcus – Steals and buckets in transition…Range to the arc…Poised and patient for an athletic guard…Speedy…Runs the floor looking for the ball 

Aja Holmes – 2020 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – SA Finest Cee Lou – Shooter alert…Made 8 three’s in one game…Great build for the wing…Tall enough to shoot over smaller guards…Stock on the rise 

Aniyah Johnson – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – Urban Heroes Elite DJ – Still learning on both sides of the ball…Athletic traits give her a great head start…Posts and will battle for position…Gets up quick to finish…Has some back to basket moves 

Zaria Johnson – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – AD Elite Peterson – Lanky…Has the look…Can handle to drive or in transition…Scores in post as well…Will take the pull up in transition…Covers ground…Likes the back down and spin back 

Deja Kelly – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – ProSkills 17U EYBL – Texas commit…Fills it up in different ways…Finishes in different areas and situations…Shooters touch…Floater game is on point…Head for the game is exceptional 

Kendall McGruder – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – ProSkills 15U Black – Length and speed at the guard spot…Plays well on both sides…Change of pace and direction with and without the ball…Active defender…Still plenty of development ahead 

Taylor Morgan – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – UTLB Elite Jacobs – Skilled, crafty, and gritty point…Hit multiple threes…Will drive and take that mid-range…Worked on defense 

Ngozi Obineke – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Urban Heroes Elite Marcus – Plenty of natural traits…Active and runs well…Can flash and finish in the paint…Offensive boards and put backs…Continued skill development and weight room work will build consistency 

Lauryn Pendleton – 2021 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Cy-Fair 16U EYBL – Young point guard…Size and length…Attacks to score or distribute equally as well…Reading situations well for age…Gaining experience

Navaeh Perkinson – 2020 – 6-3 – Post – DFW Elite 16U EYBL – Huge post…Wide frame makes a big target in the paint…Soft hands and great hand-eye coordination…Get balls and put them in the basket…Mobile for her size…Active feet…Utilizes a smooth, effective shot fake…Stock will rise with more conditioning and work in the weight room 

Peyton Rush – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Texas Elite Premier – High energy #2 guard with size…Shot ball well in spurts…Will attack rack…Smart and gets after it effort wise 

Jasmine Shavers – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – DFW Elite 16U EYBL – Can flat out play the game…Smooth mid range pull up…Will also shoot off the bounce from the other side of the three point line…Slashes to the rim…Has a feistiness she shows at times especially on defense…Possibilities when she finds that next gear consistently 

Diamond Sweats – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard – Cy-Fair 17U Platinum – Athlete…Can make it rain from deep…Competitive spirit really comes out…Will get on the floor for you…Makes those hustle plays

Jade Thompson – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Lady Drive Nation 16U Stephens – Strong, cut guard…Impressive moments…Elevates and hangs in the mid range…Dangerous when penetrating deep into the paint…Type of player that can help a team in different ways

Nevaeh Tot – 2020 – 5-3 – Point Guard – DFW Elite 16U EYBL – Smaller point…Can score the basketball…Under the radar to some but a known commodity in Dallas…Good handle and dish…No issues against athletic press…Streaky shooter off the bounce

Samantha Wagner – 2023 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – SA Finest Team Mirez – Offensive threat inside and out…Scores in different ways…Energetic…Good footwork and handles…Smart and unselfish…Type of player you want on your team 

Carleigh Wenzel – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – SA Finest Team Mirez – Extremely skilled and smart…Closes out on the perimeter…Textbook…Stop and pop over defenders…Shoots three on the move with good feet…Understands spacing and how to get herself open…Only going to continue to improve 

Nyah Wilson – 2021 – 5-9 – Point Guard – ProSkills 16U EYBL – Changes pace and direction on the drive…Can pull it back and then blow right by defenders…Gets to rim with contact in transition…Crafty defender…Shoots the three ball as well 

Desiree Wooten – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – ProSkills 15U Black – Wing with all the physical attributes and potential…Nice explosion on the first step…Will split defenders to finish lay ups…Really hard nosed on defense at times