Featured Players in Texas

I have seen a lot of quality high school players over the last few months, and wanted to highlight some of the ones who have really stood out to me as of late. Carrolton Creekview High School has two players that must be mentioned: Carissa Moody and Makayla Bonner. Carissa Moody is a 5’10” junior guard with long arms and a very strong body. She is lethal from 3-point range and strong on penetration to the basket. Even though she is a perimeter player, she is a double figure rebounder. I watched her in two consecutive playoffs games and was very impressed with this high level, advanced athlete.

Moody’s teammate, Makayla Bonner, is a 6’1” senior post that has flown under the radar, but is a likely major asset to numerous collegiate programs next year. She is powerful in the paint with either her back to the bucket or facing up. Bonner is a double-double machine—in terms of points and rebounds—and plays the game with a fierce passion. She is a polished player with great hands and can make moves left or right with equal effectiveness.

Another player I really like in Carrolton is Newman Smith High School’s combination guard, Dasia Johnson. The 5’7” athletic senior can play the 1 or 2 position and is a tough on-the-ball defender. Her first step is extremely quick and she shoots a great deep ball, but if you come out on her she will take you hard to the hole. Her teammate Amanda Wilson is a raw 6’0” junior post with tons of potential. Wilson has a great work ethic and passion for the game. She can also score in the paint and has surprisingly quick feet.

A player with the tools to make headlines is Frisco Wakeland High School’s Kathleen Donovan. No player works harder on improving one’s game than this 5’8” junior guard. She has superior fundamentals, evident in her extensive ball handling skills. She can also shoot the ball anywhere around the perimeter and is tough to cover on the mid-range jumper. Donovan is a smart leader with a tremendous upside.

I mentioned Courtney Brady in an article back in January, but as one of the best guards I have seen this season, this talented individual deserves additional praise. The 5’7” swing guard from Bowie High School is supremely versatile and is strong at all three of the backcourt positions. She has led her team to a 27-5 season record, including a perfect 12-0 district mark, averaging 20.1 points per game. The quality of a player is best demonstrated by how they perform in big games. In Bowie’s recent game against Nocona High School, Brady scored 31 points, eight of which were 3-pointers. In Bowie’s Bi-District win over Whitesboro (71-31), Courtney recorded 22 points and seven assists. In the following playoff game versus Keene High School, she had 23 points, which included four 3-pointers and was 9 out of 10 from the free throw line.

Frisco Liberty High School’s sophomore duo, 5’8” guard Rebecca Lescay and 5’6” guard Jordan Hamilton, are a fundamental reason the team is 31-3 and nationally ranked. The two must-see stars are electric and all over the floor: they score, rebound, pass and terrorize opponents defensively. Coach Ross Reedy has to be excited about the present and future prospective of his team.