MAYB WTX Summer Championships- Amarillo TX
by LaQuita Thompson
Amarillo, TX – West Texas has a special place in my heart because it is the birthplace of so many things that are valuable and important to our history. It’s a place that is overlooked by many because when you search it out on the map all you see is a bunch of land and dirt. One thing I know for sure also is that West Texas is home to an untapped market full of athletic potential. I, also being raised in this part of Texas, understand how difficult it can be to get noticed by college scouts and that’s why this year I decided to include the MAYB tournament in Amarillo on my scouting route. I was highly impressed by some of the talent I watched over the 2 day weekend, especially in the younger Divisions. The tournament included all Divisions, both girls and boys. There were several rivalry games that ignited an energy in the gym that makes you feel proud to be from a small community where the support is simply unbelievable. If you want to experience basketball, or any sport for that matter, like it was meant to be experienced, travel to a small town and go to a game. It will be the most exhilarating thing you ever do in a lifetime.
Participating teams were from across the city of Amarillo, West Texas/Panhandle, Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. I will go deeper into teams and players later but first I want to highlight some of the teams that impressed me and caught my attention immediately. This blog is designated for the female athlete but because I evaluated both girls and boys at this event I will be also highlighting some of the boy athletes that I enjoyed watching. Lets begin with some of the teams. (1). Amarillo Elite has a phenomenal youth basketball program across the board from its girls to the boys teams. Their teams are highly skilled and are coached by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. Every game I watched their players were competing at a high level from tip-off to the end of game buzzer. (2). WTX Splash Family boys team is another program in the city of Amarillo doing a great job with teaching, training and coaching their players. I absolutely love watching the 5th and 6th grade boys divisions play. You’ll be sure to see some good shooters, defenders, and team basketball. (3). Team Swoosh has a fundamentally sound boys team with several players who have the potential to play at the next level once they’re ready. This team is full of high IQ players and athleticism on it’s roster. (4). Colorado Legends 4/5th grade boys from Coloradoabsolutely blew me away! This is a well groomed, oiled machine that plays impressive basketball at this age. Highly skilled and an IQ that is amazing. (5). Reign 5th boys team has a good up and coming small town team that is really beginning to make a name throughout the panhandle, they’re quick and play tough defense. The girls division also displayed some hidden jewels. Again (6). MAG7 boys team has some athletic players. The one thing I noticed about this team and its impressive is that they play the passing lanes well. They are quick to score, rebound, and they have some vertical explosion. (7). AmarilloElite has a group of 7th grade girls that are solid and probably the top 7th girls team in the Panhandle, they’re young but they play good together, push the ball, and will attack at every angle. (8). Lady Heat 7th grade and High School teams has some raw talent on it’s rosters. Player’s that don’t mind getting dirty or bruised up to get a win. You always need players of this caliber on your squad for tough rival games because they are going to finish it and leave it on the court no matter what. (9). TopofTexas high school girls team played with a little more experience. They had a few seniors on the roster who did a great job leading on the court, making smart decisions and capitalizing on every opportunity. (10). Lady Mixx 2019 Red was loaded with talent. They did well pushing the ball, taking good high percentage shots, playing tough aggressive defense. (11). Oklahoma Dream was another team with a few players whose potential is out of the roof. They have some strong players, quick, and some shooters. (12). Lady Tigers from Oklahoma has an impressive group of girls. They exhibited good court vision, aggressive scorers, strong rebounders, and quick. (13). Lady Phenoms has some real troopers, they fight for rebounds, block out, nice pull up jumpers, and play aggressive defense. That sort of never give up attitude almost won them a championship. (14). Morton Maidens has tremendous potential. they make be lacking in size but when I say they will play full court defense! they are still learning how to be effective offensively but their defense is never ending, always active, double teaming, hands all over the ball, getting steals and quick layups. (15). New Mexico Zias 5th grade girls is a young team on the rise. They don’t shy away from contact one bit. They do some of the intangibles now so I am definitely looking forward to watching them grow in the game.
Now lets take a look at some of the players from this event.
Player Forecast:
GIRLS 5th GRADE DIVISION:
OklahomaLightning
*#23 – is a small quick guard, handles the ball, has pretty good balance and footwork for her age. She loves the euro step finish. I was highly impressed with her game. She has lots of potential and bright future if she continues to work.
#1 Jasmine Gilbert – has size, she finishes layups under control, plays active defense which turns in to turn overs and steals, she also makes good passes.
*#33 Courtney Thompson – has size, she will block shots, she works to get rebounds and kick out with long strong passes, she will get to the F.T. line.
#24 Julissa Rocha – she can shoot the ball and has decent form, and she will not hesitate to attempt 3 pt. shots.
#15 – is a lefty shooter, has 3 ball range, and she’s a strong passer.
NITRO 4TH
#11 Ambrosia Cole – Did well running the PG position, she can handle and take care of the ball, and can finish with floater runners
#23 Addisyn Bollinger – One of the top 4th graders in the Panhandle, va good ball handler, she can and will attempt counter moves through traffic, under control and poised.
NMZias
#10 – is a shooter with range, handles the ball through traffic and can score.
*#19 – is a small guard who plays with heart. She’s the smallest thing on the court but she plays with fire, a little fighter, handles the ball, plays active defense.
#24 – has an athletic build, finishes lay-ups, and because of her size she will pull down rebounds.
TOP 3 PERFORMERS 5TH GRADE GIRLS:
#23 – OK LIGHTNING
#33 – Courtney Thompson – OK LIGHTNING
#19 – NM ZIAS
6TH GRADE GIRLS DIVISION:
Panhandle
#10 Lexi Williams – has a nice stroke, and did a good job of knocking down shots all weekend.
Tigers
#2 Taylor Pike – is a hard worker, she has the ability to score off the dribble and a decent ball-handler.
7th/8th GRADE GIRLS DIVISION:
Amarillo Warriors
#32 Cadence Monteith – does a good job finishing shots and lay-ups, she can also handle the ball.
#35 Taca Burns – Was a force on the boards all weekend. Few matched her intensity when it came to crashing the boards.
Amarillo Elite
#3 Nickilah Whatley- gets steals off of playing good defense, she’s lengthy, and has vertical quickness/explosion ability out of this world
#11 Brenna Butler- nice finishes inside, plays tough defense, does a good job running the PG position
*#21 Zeryhia-Lee Aokuso- is a phenomenal talent, super athletic, she can score at will, good ball-handler, quick first step to the basket, strong on her attack and stays low to the floor, plays tough defense covering the passing lanes and getting steals, always moving without the ball
#23 Payton Daniel- is a lefty shooter, absolutely love left handed players, hard to stop them from scoring once they master the game
#30 Madyson Eberly- rebounds and gets quick put backs off of missed shots
#35 McKenzie Smith- works hard inside to finish shots, rebounds, makes smart passes to the cutter, runs the floor and gets easy layups, hits F.T.
Lady Heat
#6 Daizjia Oages – can handle the ball, attacks the paint, she will also shoot the 3 ball, has quick hands on defense
#7 – Victoria Barrera – not afraid of contact, handles the ball, plays aggressive basketball, makes good passes, can finish floater runners, kept her team alive in the rival game championship game.
Pulse
#30 Ainsley Osborne- gets to the basket to score, and rebounds
#34 Amariyah Moreno- plays tough and strong on the inside.
#14 Ella Martinez- Handles the ball, brings it down court under control, active on defense and gets steals
TOP 3 PERFORMERS 7TH/8TH GRADE GIRLS
#21 – Zeryhia-Lee Aokuso
#3 NIckilah Whatley – Amarillo Elite
#7 – Victoria Barrera Lady Heat
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS DIVISION:
High Plains Storm JV
#2 Caitlyn Brewster – is a shooter, and plays through contact
Morton Maidens JV
*#1 Alyssa Rodriguez- is the work horse of the team, she plays through contact, good court vision, hustles and plays aggressive on both ends of the court, shoots the 3, fights through screens , she does it all
#3 Ashley Roberts- has a strong body, can finish inside, fights for good position, makes some solid post moves sometimes just off of good instinct,
#2 Mariah Regalado- is a shooter behind the arc, active on defense, good hands
#21 Hannah Mankin- plays tough aggressive defense and can shoot behind the arc
Lady Phenoms
*#22 Kenadee Bennett – fights for rebounds, block shots, runs the floor, makes some strong moves inside and finishes
#3 Mariah Williams – has good hands on defense, can finish with left hand
#32 Emmery Sides – has a nice pull up jumper
#20 Karlie Venhaus – is a shooter, and a strong defender
#23 Zoe Francis – strong rebounder, fights to get 2nd shots
#30 – good ball-handler, plays aggressive, she’s quick, can complete shots/lay-ups/short jumpers, and a strong passer off the dribble
#10 Ryleigh Taylor – a shooter, good court vision, has a long body and extension, plays smart basketball
Lady Mixx 2020
*#11 Bailey Walterscheid – strong passer, rebounds, gets the ball down court, good 1st step off baseline moves, a good team player
#10 Kandin Ford – is a knockdown shooter from beyond the arc.
TOP 3 PERFORMERS 9TH/10TH GRADE GIRLS
#1 – Alyssa Rodriguez Morton Maidens
#11 – Bailey Walterscheid Lady Mixx 2020
#22 – Kenadee Bennett – Lady Phenom
11th/12th GRADE GIRLS DIVISION:
OK Lady Tigers
*#11 Alaijah Stewart – quick 1st step, athletic lefty player, very good court vision, makes good pases
#21 Mikal Macias – a shooter
#12 Hadli Shelby – quick, strong to the basket, can score, aggressive defender
#20 Calebi Cusher – good anticipator, can handler the basketball, works her tail off to score inside
#15 Taylor Robinson – fights for position to get rebounds, uses body to box out
#23 Madison Rollins – shooter, ball-handler, plays strong and aggressive
Lady Heat Elite
*#1 Tayjanna Mcghee-Pleasant – a 6’1″ SF, block shots, rebounds, very athletic, fights inside for position and on defense, a raw talent with loads of potential
#12 Jessalyn Gonzales- shooter, and she can score off the dribble
#10 Aubrey Nash- looks to penetrate and score in the paint around the rim, handles the ball in traffic and through contact
#9 Tionte Smith- has a good short pull up jumper, has a strong athletic build, does a good job sealing off her defender inside and work on the post
#35 Zhariah Howard- makes reads off of draw and kick or dribble drive action
Top of Texas
#2 Katana Smith – pushes the ball, can handle the ball and attacks the basket, makes good passes, strong 2 guard, can score, and plays good defense
#32 Alexis Powell – plays SF position, tough defender, smooth to the basket finishes, can also handle the basketball
#4 Ruqiyo Abdirahman – small guard that runs the point, floor general, good ball-handler, ball distributer, also has the ability to score
#21 Layla Reyes – does a good job rebounding and kicking the ball out for transition
Lady Mixx 2019 Red
#15 Ryan Patterson- court vision, good in traffic, shooter with range
#7 Savannah Sumrall- works to get shots off penetration in the paint, hustler on both ends of the court
#21 Caitlynne Speegle- has a finisher’s mind set, nice shot, speed, uptempo game, plays with purpose
#20 AJ Jackson- fights for rebounds and 2nd shots, good seal and finish around the rim
#12 Lainey Choate- gets to the rim, plays tough and through contact
Dream
*#25 -Is a strong finisher in the paint, post moves off the block, does a good job sealing off her defender with her strong body
*#12 – Has quick hands, strong to the basket, plays smart and aggressive
*#5 – strong body in the paint and around the rim
*#15 – nice shooter with range, she can score
High Plains Storm
#3 Emma Hussey – a lengthy guard, understands the game, takes good open shots
#12 Siarra Dadisman – pushes ball in traffic, makes good passes
#13 Morgan Miller – aggressive with the ball, active player
#11 Courtney Williams – isn’t afraid to take and make open shots
TOP 3 PERFORMERS 11TH/12TH GRADE GIRLS:
#1 – Tayjanna Mcghee-Pleasant Lady Heat Elite
#11 Alaijah Stewart – OK Lady Tigers
#10 – Lady Mixx 2019 Red
BOYS 4/5TH GRADE DIVISION:
Reign
#0 Omar Martinez- Has a nice shooting stroke, found the open man, and made the right plays all weekend.
#3 Ryan Williams- Did a good job all weekend of putting pressure on the ball, getting in passing lanes, and forcing turnovers.
#15 Quantavious Busby- Lengthy big man, ran the floor well, strong rebounder, and finishes around the rim well.
Amarillo Wolfpack
#23 Jaden Shields-was in attack mode all weekend, only in 4th grade, but one of the most physical players on the court all weekend, does a good job finishing, and knocking down open shots.
BOYS 5TH GRADE DIVISION:
WTX Splash Family
#45 Jaylend Brashears – finishes lay-ups, good decision making with passing
#30 Hawkins Farris – plays the PG position, moves the ball, plays with good composure for his age, smart passes to open people, and will also get some shots up
#11 Victor Juarez – small guard, quick, works hard, can take care of the ball in traffic and he’s not afraid of contact
#15 Ethan Gonzales – quick, take open shots, good read on defense, plays intelligent on the court, quick pass out to score, strong passer, and can shoot the 3 ball
#21 David Herrera – has improved since I last watched him play back I January, he takes chances and plays with more confidence
#8 Aiden Tarango – is a nice lefty shooter, and hustle player.
NM Force
*#1 Daniel Lovato- has long body which makes his extension hard to deal with and get around, post up game, moves well, goes for steals, rebounds and has good anticipation
#33 Mo Kasi- a good defender, and does a good job handling the ball
#4 Kalijah Irving- not afraid to take 3 ball shots, small guard but quick, quick with the ball, not afraid of contact
Colorado Legends
*#11 Elias Cornelius – small guard, aggressive player, very active on bot ends of the court, quick hands, plays tough, and doesn’t shy away from contact
*#23 Dylan Nieto- can handle the ball in traffic like a pro, makes good passes, nice IQ to be so young, highly impressive
#0 Jace Cornelius- can flat out shoot, has 3 ball range
#7 Luke Wildhagen- was the only girl playing in the boys division, that’s impressive by itself!, she’s tough and a competitor
Amarillo Elite 5th
#14 Aushaun Wilson – good of the dribble, knock down 3’s, good ball-handler, takes open shots, good reads off the dribble drive
#2 TJ Tillman- Has lightning quick speed that few matched all weekend, plays good tough defense, and moves well laterally.
#30 Bristol Von Netzer – Can knock down the open 3 point shot, nice form on shot
Team Swoosh (NM)
#12 Rian Gonzales- good court vision, has range on his shot, decent footwork, uses pass fakes, makes high IQ plays, and moves well without the ball.
*#52 Kenyon Aguino- strong finisher in the paint, makes cuts to the basket to get open, good footwork on post moves, impressive post work by this kid
*#11 Hudson Brown- nice shooter, uses head fakes, can also penetrate to the rim, nice pick/roll reads, good dribble drive work, nice guard skills
#30 Aiden Wood- has good footwork and balance when making moves with the ball, can get pull up jumpers off using the hesitation step, making good guard move and creating
TOP 3 PERFORMERS 5TH GRADE BOYS:
#52 – Team Swoosh
#1 – Daniel Lovato NM Force
#11 – Elias Cornelius Colorado Legends
6th GRADE BOYS DIVISION:
WTX Splash Family
#1 Alain Nziza – is a lengthy player, grabs rebounds, and has nice vertical ability, block shots
Amarillo Elite 6th
#21 KJ Thomas – has quick handles, quick feet, does a good job of finding the gap, and hitting the open man in traffic.
#23 Daion Wilson- Range that extends out just past the 3 pt line, has nice guard moves and still developing
#6 Devin Baccas – quick to score off the block with back to the basket, has a knack for loose ball, and can guard multiple positions.
Amarillo Elite Red 7th
*#9 Brody Wilson- nice shot and good form, quick getting into his shot
*#7 J’maury Davis- super quick, nice elevation, athletic, , good vertical with the ability to dunk, handles the ball, good form on shot, makes it look so easy
TOP 3 PERFORMERS 6TH GRADE BOYS:
#7 – J’Maury Davis Amarillo Elite Red
#21 -KJ Thomas Amarillo Elite 6th
#1 -Alain Nziza WTX Splash Family
7th-8th GRADE BOYS DIVISION:
WTX Splash Family
#8 Keevin Ledoux – strong to the basket, plays tough, good read off the draw and kick, quick feet and hits his F.T.
#3 Jaxon Williams- good catch and shoot, nice spot up shooter
#30 Nick Sanchez- small guard, plays hard, still growing in the game, handles pressure, moves without the ball, can finish in traffic balanced, makes good read with the ball, draws defense and kicks out, quick hands on defense
MAG 7
#23 Xa Britton- quick to the basket, plays aggressive, nice shooting form, good ball-handler, crafty player, plays hard on defense
#33 Cutter Camp- plays aggressive, good passer off the dribble, strong
#51 Eric Grey- strong rebounder, has size, takes good short corner shots
#11 Kayden Tinnin- athletic, leaper, active, nice finish inside, good elevation on shot, quick 1st step and ability to get his shots, can score
Amarillo Elite 7th Black
*#33 Sylvester Ballard- crafty with the ball, tough finisher, quick 1st step, super athletic
#4 Jeray Carr- quick with the ball and on defense, ball-handler, 1st step is also crazy
#12 Jordan Nation- nice player, moves, passes, plays aggressive
D.C. Kings 8th Boys
*#1 – Anticipates, finishes inside, nice shot, very good skill set, one of the top players in the tournament regardless of age.
#2 Kash Bradley- pushes ball, uptempo game, quick active hands on defense and causes turnovers, catch/shooter, and finishes lay-ups
#23 Cayden D’Costa – has good court vision
TOP 3 PERFORMERS 7TH-8TH BOYS:
#1 – Kadden Price D.C. Kings
#23 – Xa Britton MAG 7
#33 – Sylvester Ballard Amarillo Elite Black
9th-12th GRADE BOYS DIVISION:
Amarillo Elite
#7 Beau Heider- athletic, good vertical, makes strong long passes, gets to the rim
#2 Eric Martinez- PG position, good passer, balanced off the dribble, good ball-handler, can shoot, plays smart basketball
22 Aaron Ovalle- smooth with the ball, nice shot, good off the dribble wing player, spot up shooter with beautiful form, handles ball , good penetration to the rim, nice floater finishes
#9 Darius Sanders- aggressive to the basket, can jump out of the gym, quick, quick hands on defense
SAYRE
#20 Luke Cromton – shooter, looks to score, active player, and aggressive
AG Allstars
*#1 – quick, creative with the ball, finish in the paint, knock down shots
#11 Jeremiah Wesley- small guard, quick to the hoop, can finish through contact
#35 Prince Malongo- Has crazy leaping ability
806 Select
*#33 Kaje Lee – can jump out of the gym, 1st step explosive, extension finishes, defender, able to handle pressure while being double teamed doesn’t get nervous or lose control
#35 Demetrious Jellison- long lengthy body, good court vision, can score
TOP 3 PERFORMERS 9TH-12TH GRADE BOYS:
#9 – Darius Sanders Amarillo Elite
#33 – Kaje Lee 806 Select
#20 – Luke Cromton Sayre Eagles
LaQuita Thompson
National Evaluator John Lucas Enterprises
email: lthompson@johnlucasenterprises.com
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