McDonald’s Texas Invitational

Many top high school players attended the 2015 McDonald’s Texas Invitational on November 19-21. The headliners going into the tournament were 2016 6’9” Oklahoma commit Nancy Mulkey of Cypress Woods and 2016 6’4” Louisville commit Ciera Johnson of Duncanville.

Nancy Mulkey showcased her ever-improving skills. On multiple occasions, Mulkey handled the ball up the court and pulled up at the free throw line for a jumper. At 6’9”, Mulkey’s combination of skill and size is impossible to stop at the high school level. Her outstanding touch from the high post is beautiful to watch. Mulkey is also a terrific passer from the high post. She does a terrific job of clogging up the lane on the defensive end and finishing with the defensive rebound.

Ciera Johnson has led Duncanville to a very hot start to the high school season. Johnson uses her big, strong body to get excellent position in the post and her terrific hands to finish with a very soft touch around the basket. She has really improved her footwork in the post, and has an excellent array of post moves, making her a very difficult matchup on the offensive end. On the defensive end, Johnson is a lane clogger and top-notch defensive rebounder. Her outlet passes fuel the fast break for the Pantherettes.

Didi Richards of Cypress Ranch and Chasity Patterson of North Shore led a very talented 2017 class at the McDonald’s Texas Invitational. Richards showed her usual athleticism and versatility on both ends of the floor. The difference in this tournament versus other tournaments I have seen Richards play in was her ability to knock down the three-point shot. Richards was phenomenal in the second half against a highly regarded Barbers Hill team. At 6’2”, Richards is an elite athlete, ball handler and wing defender. Her improved confidence in her jump shot makes her a near impossible cover for opposing defenses.

Chasity Patterson has been a lead guard on every college coach’s radar for years, and Patterson showed why during the McDonald’s Texas Invitational. Patterson has elite quickness and ball handling ability. Her ability to shoot the three with ease and her vision and passing off of dribble penetration is what sets her apart. Patterson is also an excellent on-ball defender who plays the passing lanes very well.

Charli Collier of Barbers Hill and Catherine Reese of Cypress Woods led a very talented 2018 class at the McDonald’s Texas Invitational. At 6’4”, Collier is a tough matchup because of her skill set. She is an excellent shooter out to the three-point line, which causes immediate issues for other posts trying to guard her that are not comfortable defending on the perimeter. Collier has terrific handles and can blow by posts that do come out to the three-point line to contest her shot. She also has a consistent shot from the high post and makes sound decisions passing the ball when facing up. If a coach decides to play a smaller player on Collier, she uses her big frame and soft hands to post up. The array of post moves Collier has makes her a near impossible cover for a smaller post player.

Catherine Reese is a skyrocketing player in the 2018 class. Reese was automatic wherever she caught the ball 18-feet and in. Reese is extremely efficient scoring the ball, using minimal dribbles or moves when putting the ball in the basket. She has a never-ending motor, scoring 10 or more of her points per game by simply outrunning defenders to the rim. Reese is a terrific rebounder on both ends of the floor and has good vision and passing ability. Reese is a high-level help defender with excellent timing on shot blocks.

Other players that caught my eye during the 2015 McDonald’s Texas Invitational were 2016 UNC commit Alyssa Okoene (North Shore), 2016 Houston commit Angela Harris (Cypress Fairbanks), 2016 San Diego State commit Monique Terry (San Antonio Brennan), 2016 Incarnate Word commit Imani Robinson (Cedar Ridge), 2016 Kayla Godfrey (Cypress Falls), 2016 North Texas commit Madison Townley (Duncanville), 2016 Celsi Caraway (Mansfield Summit), 2016 Courtney Cook (San Antonio Brennan), 2017 Ariana Whitfield (Cypress Ranch), 2017 Marilyn Nzoiwu (Cedar Ridge), 2017 Tasharian Robinson (Clear Springs), 2017 Sierra Cheatham (Clear Springs), 2017 Amber Dixon (Mansfield Summit), 2018 Zarielle Green (Duncanville), 2018 Joanne Allen-Taylor (Cypress Falls), 2018 Madison Armer (Barbers Hill), 2018 Jala Buster (Cypress Ranch), and 2018 Mariah Thomas (Cypress Ranch).