DEER PARK, Texas—For the 11th consecutive year (six more for the boys) the Deer Park and Pasadena school districts have benefited by the community run McDonald’s Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament. The 2015 edition saw 32 teams on the girls side come together to compete across three days in an early season tune up with some of the Lone Star State’s highest profile talent.
While we only had the opportunity to take in Thursday’s pool play action, we got a good look at some of high profile athletes we’ve been following on the summer circuit. Competition continued through Saturday and complete brackets and results can be found by following the link below.
http://www.texasinvitational.com/brackets.html
Below are some of the impact players we caught up with during our one day trip to the McDonald’s Texas Invitational.
Easily one of the more impressive performances of day one came later in the evening from DiDi Richards of Cypress Ranch. The 6-1 junior wing continues to impress with the advances and refinement in her game. There’s plenty of versatility in her play and the skills are there that allow her to contribute at any position in the backcourt. Her true position is and most likely will be the wing but the tools are there to handle lots of situations as a guard as well. Richards is finding more and more consistency in her perimeter shooting both off the dribble and spotting up from long range. There is still a forward motion on the follow through that will lead to a few off nights but it’s obvious that plenty of work is being done to smooth things out and it’s paying off. Equally effective is her aggressive cutting and use of screens. She’s making herself an option and creating looks by way of smart, hard cuts. Other players should take note that it all doesn’t have to come off the dribble. Defensively Richards has the size and tools to match up at #1, #2 or #3 and be an impact in any pressing situation.
Given a choice, it’s hard to imagine putting the ball in any guard’s hands other than North Shore’s Chasity Patterson. The dynamic 5-6 point guard is has the ability to create options for both her teammates and herself with ease. On the main stage of the recruiting radar for a long time now, Patterson also has that enviable capability of controlling the pace and tempo of the game. Her speed and quickness are well established but her application and choices are becoming lethal for opponents of any level. A scoring threat in her own right, she keeps defenders off balance with her penetration and slithering attack that negates her somewhat limited size. The ability to read rotations and deliver the ball inside will keep her popular with post teammates for years to come. Opponents choosing to give her space will pay with the step back and range that extends well beyond the arch. On the ball defensively she’s going to exploit any carless ballhandling and one pass away she taking some chances but coming up with some results.
Some of the players we’re critical of at times are the ones we hold in the highest regard. Charli Collier of Barbers Hill has always been among the elite in the 2018 class and she keeps adding to the skill set that that will keep her in that conversation. The 6-4 post / forward has a depth to her game that a lot of players her size don’t possess. To this point, her use of those resources has been somewhat erratic. Her overreliance on perimeter shooting has taken away from her effectiveness. The last few times we’ve seen her in action she’s begun to establish her interior game first before stepping away from the block. A huge step in the right direction…and an effective one at that. On the catch Collier is a challenge with her length and frame. She protects the ball well and releases it at a high point with almost full extension. Good luck getting a hand on that. Touch will still need repetition to develop more consistency but defenders will find better odds keeping it out of her hands rather than trying to contest. To her credit Thursday she was patient and kept posting despite teammates who were missing obvious entry passes. However, once the inside attack has stirred the pot she has the proven ability to step out and shoot the perimeter or attack off the drive from the high post.
Duncanville’s Zarielle Green is evolving into a dominant presence in almost any game she plays. Though, like Collier, just a sophomore, she has had the attention of recruiters and evaluators for several years now. Appearing to have added strength and more length, the 6-0 sophomore is an active, dynamic presence on the perimeter. She can make things happen both on the break and in the halfcourt. The ballhandling is there to create off the drive and Green is more than willing to give it up as opposing bigs rotate her way. Give her too much room and she’ll knock it down from deep. Her long ball comes with a narrow base that impacts consistency when rushed but with time…you can write it down. There is an assertiveness to her defensive play and the physical tools are in place to match up anywhere on the perimeter and even at the small forward spot. Though already very highly regarded, Green may be underestimated to some degree…big, big mistake.
Another 2018 making some noise Thursday was Cypress Woods forward Catherine Reese. We’ve seen the 6-2 forward several times now and she never fails to be one of the more productive players on the floor. Each time out she’s played with more and more confidence and simply made plays time and again. Making herself a presence on both ends, her effort is on par with any teammate or opponent. There is a willingness to play physical and hit the floor that the college coaches already love. Reese has nice size and a solid build plus the added caveat of being able to put it on the floor enough to improve or create her own options. There’s a relentless effort on the boards that is hard to find these days as well as the capacity to go back up in traffic around the rim. Athletically sound, she’s promising, comfortable and efficient at the forward spot and doesn’t appear to be looking at the often misguided idea of moving to the perimeter.
Besides Chasity Patterson, North Shore got some strong contributions from 6-2 Alyssa Okoene. While an eye catching talent, the North Carolina signee is still just scratching the surface of what she might ultimately be capable of on the floor. A long, lean athletic build gives her the agility to play effectively from baseline to baseline. Okoene performs with plenty of effort and makes herself a factor in plays on both ends. While the post may be home scholastically the strength is not there yet to do the same on the college level. Even as that evolves she’ll be more naturally suited for the forward spot and possesses the potential to do it well. Her quickness, mobility and length make her an asset in almost any defensive scheme and as well as a factor in transition both ways.
We’ve had the pleasure of watching Duncanville’s Ciera Johnson over the years and now that she’s officially signed with Louisville we’ll take another look. A solid 6-4 post, Johnson continues to play an aggressive and assertive game that is going to easily translate to the colligate world. She’s never had reservations about the physical aspect of the game and has both known and embraced her role as a post. Her willingness to make herself an option on the block and hold ground while often being pushed, shoved and generally abused by lesser defenders will serve her well in the future. She’s reading her opportunities more efficiently these days and posting to the pass often directing perimeter teammates to reverse the ball to improve the entry. Johnson will even get out on the break when the option is there. That patience, experience and maturity is never a given with any recruit. There’s still plenty of work to be done (as there is with any prospect!) but this Texas post is well on her way.
Like Johnson, we’ve watched 6-9 Nancy Mulkey from way back and have enjoyed seeing the tremendous strides and progress in her game. Bound for Oklahoma and Coach Sherri Coale, Mulkey, from Cypress Woods, has absolutely come into her own over the past two years and improvements at the same pace will have her destined for special things. Because she’s never been considered anything but a low post player, she’s been able to focus and hone the building blocks and skill set that are going to allow her to find out just how far she can take her game. The confidence she plays with now allows her to look for and create her own shots rather than just take the ones that come her way. The jump hook is indefensible and with consistency will be a signature weapon. She shoots with comfort on the perimeter but is judicious in her shot selection. Thursday she appeared to be dealing with back issues and was limited but still offered up some strong moments including some sharp passing from the high post. The defensive end speaks for itself and should showcase her ability to make an impact.
QUICKHITTERS
Joanne Allen-Taylor – 5-9 – 2018 – Guard – Cypress Falls – Strong guard…Athletic…First step is there…Nice form…Quick release…Impressive on ball defender…Watch
Christina Baker – 5-10 – 2017 – Forward – Mansfield Summit – Aggressive small forward…Strong frame…Posts up hard…Physical on defense
Amber Dixon – 5-8 – 2017 – Guard – Mansfield Summit – Wiry guard with individual skills…Lots of speed with the ball…Strong interior passing…Out of control at times
Olivia Noah – 6-0 – 2017 – Forward – Cypress Fairbanks – Active…Text book skills…Solid build and frame…Runs the floor
Imani Robinson – 5-9 – 2016 – Guard – Cedar Ridge – Wiry built guard…Active with and without the ball…Slash
Tasharian Robinson – 5-9 – 2017 – Guard – Clear Springs – Athletic…Quick…Pushes the ball…Tools…Shot needs refinement
Megan Valdez-Crader – 5-7 – 2017 – Point Guard – San Antonio Brennan – Ballhandling and passing…Pushes the ball at times…Made some plays
