Heart of Texas Showcase

2016 PBR Heart of Texas Showcase
The 2016 PBR Heart of Texas Showcase gave over 320 teams and thousands of players the opportunity to play in front of 200+ college coaches. So many teams and players stood out that it would be impossible for me to list them all. Here are a few of my standouts at this loaded event.

I have to start with the top bracket back to back champions in OK PWP Elite 17u Adidas. Defending their title with much of the same group as last year, OK PWP showed their usual excellence of execution. Led by emerging 2017 guards Trena Mims and Maya Mayberry, OK PWP does an excellent job of creating plays while minimizing turnovers. Sharpshooting 2017 forward Jo Keni Lippi and 2019 forward Gabby Gregory create a lot of space for their teammates because defenses have to stay attached to them. Add 2017 forward/center Mallory Vaughn supplemented by a loaded bench led by 2017 Cenia Hayes and you have the perfect combination of size, skill, and grit. The most underrated part of coach Brian Morgan’s squad is their ability to play different types of opponents defensively. PWP will be a team to watch come July at both the Gauntlet Finale in Dallas, TX and the Adidas Summer Championships in Atlanta, GA.

AD Elite – Team Peterson made a terrific run to the championship game. Playing small ball and led by the outstanding play of 2017 lead guard Ariana Whitfield, Peterson consistently outran teams on their way to the championship game. 2017 guards Aerial Starks, Jasmine Smith along with 2018 guard Joanne Allen-Taylor and forward Monet Jones make up a team whose run and gun style is fun to watch. AD Elite will continue to have college coaches packing gyms throughout the summer.

Texas Elite 17u Adidas Phenoms finished as champions of the Connecticut bracket. Led by the ultra talented 2017 twins, Brianna and Kianna Suber, the Phenoms controlled every game they were in. With 2017’s Mya Hollingshed , Robyn Onuarah and 2018 Alex Pollard all standing 6’3” or taller, the Phenoms are able to rotate their bigs to keep them fresh and dominate the boards on both ends of the floor.
On the individual side, there were so many good players it would be next to impossible to list them all. Here are just a few that caught my eye throughout the weekend.

2017 Gabrielle “Gabby” Connally (TeamXpress Black)
I think Connally is the most underrated player in the 2017 class from the state of Texas. Connally is a terrific ball handler with vision off the bounce who is a deadly shooter from 3 off the catch. Connally controls the flow of the game and gets her teammates in position to succeed. She is a rugged on ball defender who also does a tremendous job of playing the passing lanes.

2017 Grace Daniels (TX Elite Adidas 17U Bounce)
Daniels is another extremely underrated player in the 2017 class. Daniels is a lefty with a natural feel for the game and a true ability to get buckets. Daniels is a knockdown shooter from any spot on the floor, who also uses her strength and handle to get to the free throw line. Daniels is a physically strong on ball defender and very good rebounder on both ends of the floor with a natural nose for the ball.

2018 Tatum Veitenheimer (Texas Elite 17u Adidas Prime)
Veitenheimer is a playmaking guard with an unequaled motor. She is extremely fast and has terrific vision off the bounce. Veitenheimer has a terrific feel for the game, and is a gritty, athletic on ball defender who also plays the passing lanes and angles well on the defensive end.  Veitenheimer is a multi sport star whose best basketball is ahead of her.

2018 Quincy Noble (Texas Elite 16u Gauntlet Noble)
At 5’11” Noble is a long, athletic wing with skill. She is a shot maker who has a very high basketball I.Q. Noble has a nice handle and good vision off the bounce. Noble is a good wing defender who has the ability to become a great defender with added strength and seasoning.

2019 Nyah Green (SA Finest Cee Lou)
Wow!! Green cemented her place as my national #1 in the 2019 class with a jaw dropping performance against Texas Elite Prime. Green has the handle, the shot from 3 and the pull up off the dribble from the mid range. Green is a top notch athlete with size who finishes through contact with her improving strength. Green is quickly developing a better feel for the game and starting to see the floor well. As she continues to develop, she will be a near impossible cover for teams. Green has the athleticism to become a shut down defender, but needs to continue to develop the mindset to do so.

2019 Taylor Jones (Urban Heroes Elite – Marcus)
Jones was the breakout player of the tournament, jumping on the radar of every college coach attending. At 6’4”, Jones is developing very quickly into a top post prospect. Jones ability to run the floor, rebound on both ends, and finish around the rim left many coaches salivating. Jones did a terrific job contesting shots and finishing defensive possessions with the rebound. Jones does an excellent job of keeping the ball high after rebounds. Jones has developed true grit in a very short amount of time and has become a skyrocketing prospect in the class.

2019 Kennedy Brown (NLHA Adidas  2019 Myers)
At 6’5”, Brown is long and skilled. Brown has terrific footwork and very good set of hands. Brown has a nice touch around the rim and a fluid stroke out to the mid range. Brown does a good job of helping and contesting without fouling on the defensive end while also gobbling up rebounds. As Brown adds strength, she will be a very highly sought after prospect in the 2019 class.

2019 Aijha Blackwell (Team St. Louis Red)
At 6’0”, Blackwell can do it all offensively. Blackwell is an excellent ball handler who sees the floor well off the bounce. Blackwell’s ability to shoot from the mid range off the bounce or off the catch from 3, make her an extremely tough cover. Blackwell is an athletic on-ball defender who can guard multiple positions. Blackwell will be a highly sought after prospect in the 2019 class.

2020 Sarah Andews (Lady ProSkills Elite HS)
Andrews is my national #1 guard in the 2020 class. Andrews most important attribute is her competitiveness, but she also has the game to match. Andrews is extremely quick and strong with the ball, has terrific vision off the bounce and a true sense of the game. Andrews’ ability to shoot the deep 3 with ease is what sets her apart. If Andrews develops her defensive game and plays every possession as well as she does on the offensive end, she may very well end up the #1 overall national player in her class.

2021 Chantae Embry (BIQ OLBE 2021)
Embry is my early favorite for national #1 in the 2021 class (and yes it is too early to rank that class). Embry is big, strong, coordinated, and skilled. A terrific rebounder and finisher around the rim, what jumps out at me is Embry’s ability to handle the ball in transition and shoot the ball out to the 3-point line from all angles. Embry has terrific court sense and vision off the bounce complemented by a high level understanding of defensive concepts – she really understands angles well on the defensive end for such a young player.