PBR First Look: DFW HS Girls' Basketball

Arlington Bowie High School: led this year by senior Emerald Mayfield (committed to Northwestern State), senior Bria Degrate and junior Divine Ndu. Bowie has great size up front and will go as far as their guard play allows. Bowie pounds the offensive and defensive boards and will not be a fun matchup for any team looking to advance in this loaded 6A Division I.

Cedar Hill High School: led by my #1 national 2016 prospect, Joyner Holmes, 2016 Victoria Jackson and senior Cencia Newman. Holmes’ game has matured as she is now dominating in ways her talent should allow. A tough pre-district schedule highlighted by a win over Dallas Skyline sets up a promising season for battling Duncanville, Desoto, and South Grand Prairie in this very tough 6A District VIII.

Dallas Bryan Adams High School: led by seniors Alexxus Gilbert (committed to California State – Bakersfield) and Fabrianna Dixon. Adams does a terrific job on both the offensive end of the floor and locking up opponents on the defensive end. In my opinion, Bryan Adams as well as McKinney North will come out on top in the 5A Region II.

Dallas Skyline High School: took a huge hit by losing their best player, senior Alexandria Gulley (committed to Baylor), to a season ending Achilles injury. Skyline has four senior DI signees other than Gulley, and their best player 2015 Christalah Lyons has yet to sign. With sophomore Jaylan Gulley also getting substantial playing time, Skyline has abundant talent. Big wins over Plano West and South Grand Prairie and taking home the prestigious Allen Lady Eagle Hoopfest championship makes Skyline one of my favorites to come out of 6A Region II.

Duncanville High School: one of the more talented teams in the area for another year. This edition of the Pantherettes is very young, but jelling. The January arrival of Jazmin Taylor (Rice) just in time for district will make Duncanville a huge threat to win another state championship. In the post, 2016 super recruit Ciera Johnson continues to improve every time I see her. 2018 super recruit Zarielle Green is starting to get comfortable and made a big splash against highly rated Dallas Skyline. Green will blossom once joined by Taylor. Taylor is the only senior on the team, so if this years’ Duncanville team figures out how to win the state title this year, they are set up to make another 2-3 year run of championships.

Flower Mound High School :led by #1 nationally ranked 2016 super recruit Lauren Cox. At 6’4”, Cox is paramount on both the offensive and defensive ends. Cox’s blocked shots, rebounds and outlets create easy fast break opportunities for teammates. The rest of the team must do a better job capitalizing on the opportunities given by Cox’s presence in order to make noise in the toughest region in the state: 6A Region I.

Flower Mound Marcus High School: fundamentally sound in their offense and even better defensively. Led by senior Taylor Roof (committed to North Texas), Marcus’s regimented style of play is going to make them a tough team to beat in the playoffs. Their two district games with cross-town rival Flower Mound will be highly contested defensive struggles. An early season win over highly rated Waco La Vega gives Marcus something to build on.

Irving MacArthur High School: led by senior Tana Driver (committed to Marshall) and junior Essence Wells, MacArthur has the talent we have come to expect from this powerhouse program. If 2016 Gabby Gregory (Kansas State commit) is allowed to play by the UIL, this guard heavy team will be another tough team in 6A Region II.

Mesquite John Horn High School: led by 2016 Jada Underwood, this tremendously strong athlete is always able to finish through contact. Underwood also has a great pull-up jump shot from mid range. Horn’s guards must score to compliment Underwood, while their post game does the dirty work to keep Horn alive in this very competitive Class 6A Region II.

McKinney North High School: one the favorites to come out of the DFW area in class 5A. An impressive win at Dallas Skyline early in the year gives North something to build on. Led by senior Chanterria Jackson (committed to Long Beach State), and super sophomores Breah Powell, Stephanie Jackson, and Tia Wright, will make this team tough to beat as they gain more experience.

Plano West Senior High School: led by 2016 super recruit Natalie Chou. Chou has elevated her game to the very highest level, and is as tough to guard as any player in the area, if not the country. Chou is flanked by 2016 Callie Owens and senior Sydney Skinner (committed to Harvard). West will have to find ways to make up for their lack of size to compete in their very tough Class 6A district 6 with Flower Mound and Flower Mound Marcus, as well as compete in the loaded Class 6A Region I.

Richardson High School: led by 2016 Arleighshya McElroy, a must see for any fan of girls basketball. Hard to guard, McElroy combines great athleticism with a remarkable mid range pull-up game. McElroy is joined by 2016 Dorian Branch and 2015 Nautica Grant in completing a threatening three guard combo. Richardson beat highly rated Flower Mound and Duncanville in the Frisco ISD Tip-Off Classic. Richardson will be a tough team to beat in the playoffs (6A Region II) provided the “big three” stay healthy and out of foul trouble.

Rockwall High School: led by senior combination guard Sara Williamson (committed to Abilene Christian). Rockwall has a great point guard and no visible weaknesses. They are able to play big or small and execute whatever game plan is asked of them; Rockwall is a silent sleeper in 6A Region II.

Sachse High School: has one of the top players in the DFW area, senior Ashley Hearn (committed to UCLA). Hearn’s teammates will have to continue to develop around her in order for Sachse to make some noise in the brutal 6A Region II.

South Grand Prairie High School: led by seniors Zhane Templeton (committed to Gonzaga) and Victoria Price. 2017 Kayla Wells may be the best sophomore in the area and freshmen Amber Bacon and Uchenna Nwoke will both be recruited heavily. South Grand Prairie plays in one of the toughest districts in the state in 6A District 8 along with Cedar Hill, Duncanville, and Desoto. As long as they find a way into the top four in the district and into the playoffs, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Their tough championship game loss to Dallas Skyline in the Allen tournament will fuel their fire as they head into district play.

Sunnyvale High School: led by seniors Grace Goodhart (committed to Lloya-Chicago) and Bria Johnson (committed to Houston Baptist). Add in sophomore Ivy Alexander and Sunnyvale is my pick to come out on top in 3A Region II. Sunnyvale has played an early season schedule full of bigger 4A, 5A, and 6A schools that will serve them well in preparing for district and the playoffs.