Sandra Meadows Classic

I began the high school season writing about how strong the Duncanville Pantherettes looked at the Frisco Tip-Off Classic. Duncanville put an exclamation point on the early season with a very strong showing at their home tournament, The Sandra Meadows Classic.

Led by tournament MVP and 2016 Louisville commit Ciera Johnson, the Pantherettes blew by all five opponents by a minimum of 20 points. Johnson has made a big improvement in multiple aspects of her game. Most notably, she is now demanding the ball when in the post offensively. Johnson’s ability to get deep post position combined with her soft hands and touch around the basket have caused major issues for every defense Duncanville has faced this year.

Johnson’s sidekick is highly regarded 2018 Zarielle Green. Green, like Johnson, has vastly improved almost every aspect of her game. She played very well in the championship game against highly regarded 2016 UCONN commit Crystal Dangerfield of Blackman High School (TN), earning championship game MVP honors. Green’s ability to hit the three from any spot, combined with her ability to get out and finish on the fast break, are what make her a top-10 national prospect in the class. She even showed an ability to finish with her left hand in transition, which is a point of contention I have been critical of in the past. Once Green fully develops her left hand, she will be extremely tough to defend. She is also improving as a defender and rebounder to complete her game on both ends of the floor.

Completing the big three for Duncanville is 2016 North Texas commit Madison Townley. Townley is the perfect complement to the dynamic duo of Johnson and Green. She is a whirling dervish type of player who scraps for loose balls and rebounds on both ends of the floor. Townley is a dynamic defender and has an ever-improving midrange jump shot. Duncanville has ten more college level players filling out the roster. I have seen most of the top teams in the country and have Duncanville rated #2 nationally behind St. Mary’s of Stockton, CA.

2016 UCONN commit Crystal Dangerfield led Blackman High School (TN) to the championship game in impressive fashion. At only 5’5”, Dangerfield can do it all; she is an elite athlete who has no problem either blowing by defenders or pulling up from the elbow with a pure jump shot off the dribble. She is a deadly three-point shooter if left open, although she struggled mightily from the three in the championship game. Dangerfield’s ball handling and overall understanding of the game make her a near impossible cover for defenders at times. She complements her vast offensive array with a dogged on-ball pressure defensive approach. Dangerfield has huge shoes to fill at UCONN, but has the ability and game to do so.

Other 2016s that impressed at the Sandra Meadows Classic were Rosie Davis (Duncanville), Sydney Goodson (Argyle Liberty), Hannah Hand (Argyle Liberty), Rebekah Hand (Argyle Liberty), Jazz Bond (Blackman – TN), Alexis Tolefree (Conway – AR), Brianna Wickware (Denton Guyer), Jada Lewis (McEachern –GA), Carissa Moody (Plano), Callie Owens (Plano West), Jalyn Hodge (Plano West), Natalie Chou (Plano West), Alicia Blackwell (Prestonwood Christian), Dorian Branch (Richardson), Brianna Lester (Richardson), Arleighshya McElroy (Richardson), Mikayla Christian (Vista Ridge), Danielle Rainey (Vista Ridge), and Amber Ramirez (San Antonio Wagner).

2017 Trinity Oliver of Euless Trinity continued her meteoric rise with a terrific tournament. Oliver has vastly her improved her jump shot off the catch and dribble and from both the three and midrange. She has always been a terrific athlete who flourished in transition and is now starting to use both her energy and athleticism on the defensive end. Oliver has terrific instincts and often makes the game look easy with her understanding of opponents’ weaknesses. With improvements in her rebounding her overall advancements, she is on the cusp of becoming an elite recruit in her class. Watch for Oliver’s stock to skyrocket throughout the rest of the high school season and into the summer.

Other 2017s of note at the Sandra Meadows Classic were Tae Davis (Duncanville), Gabby Rogers (Bishop Lynch), Taylor Freeman (Blackman – TN), Tasharian Robinson (Clear Springs), Sierra Cheatham (Clear Springs), Lauren Heard (Denton Guyer), Grayce Spangler (Fayetteville –AR), Maya Mayberry (Fayetteville – AR), Lauren Holmes (Fayetteville – AR), Rebecca Lescay (Frisco Liberty), Jordan Hamilton (Frisco Liberty), Mary Margaret Roberts (Highland Park), Madison Hattix Covington (Killeen Ellison), Que Morrison (McEachern – GA), Lyndsey Whilby (McEachern – GA), Jade Williams (Prestonwood Christian), Marissa Banfield (Westbury Christian), Laura Daulton (Westbury Christian), Emer Nichols (Westbury Christian), and Kianna Williams (San Antonio Wagner).

In an area full of elite players, I consider 2018 Bryn Gerlich to be the best pure shooter in the DFW metroplex, regardless of class. Gerlich is a pure shooter from any spot on the three-point line and a capable scorer inside the three when defenders overplay her shot. She is a natural basketball player with elite understanding of the game. She is continuing to develop on the defensive end and will be a hotly sought after prospect in the 2018 class.

Other 2018s that made an impact at the Sandra Meadows Classic were Aniya Thomas (Duncanville), Starr Jacobs (Duncanville), Mya Fuller (Blackman – TN), Jasmine Franklin (Fayetteville – AR), Jayda Ruffus-Milner (Harvard-Westlake – CA), Jayla Ruffus-Milner (Harvard-Westlake – CA), Sophia Ramos (Incarnate Word), Porsha Matthews (Garland Lakeview Centennial), Candice Parramore (Garland Lakeview Centennial), Bre’Asiajah Mathews (Garland Lakeview Centennial), Chanel Wilson (McEachern – GA), Lauren Davenport (Plano), Katie Ferrell (Plano), and Emma Halverson (Plano).

2019 Camryn Brown of Plano Prestonwood first caught my eye early in the high school season at the Frisco Tip-Off Classic. Brown has taken another step forward since I was last able to watch her play. She is an outstanding athlete with a natural feel for the game. She is a high motor player who plays both ends of the floor on every possession. Brown has a nice stroke out to the three and is developing a midrange pull up to complement. Brown is excellent in transition and showed true leadership abilities throughout the tournament. She is a must-see blue chip prospect with an extremely high ceiling.

Other 2019s that put their name on the map at the Sandra Meadows Classic were Endyia Rogers (Bishop Lynch), Randi Thompson (Frisco Liberty), Destini Hearne (Houston Westside), Jaden Owens (Plano West), Payton Hicks (Plano Prestonwood), Noelle Yancy (Richardson), and Corina Carter (San Antonio Wagner).