Southwest Middle School Showcase with TRU HOOPS ALLIANCE

Houston, TX

This was a good evaluation camp for girls middle school talent. The list below are the players that impressed me and stood out the most.

Class 2027

A’niyah Harmon – A super athletic lead guard. She is shifty with the ball and can create shots for herself and teammates. Will definitely be a very good floor general, good ball distributer, strong one hand passes and knows how to move without the ball. She can shoot the 3 and has a phenomenal step back 3 already. She’s good off the bounce and is hard to guard. She is quick and crafty at causing defenders to move and she is smart enough to know when to kick out, take shot, or reset. She plays tough defense also with active hands causing deflections and steals . If she continues to work on her game and grow her IQ, she is without a doubt going to be a power 5 prospect.

Marvinisha Norman – Is a true competitive guard. She doesn’t play like an 7th grader, her IQ is above average, she’s strong, athletic. She works extremely hard, handles the ball in traffic. Aggressive, plays the passing lanes, a strong dribbler (experienced guards know what I mean by that), it says a lot about a guard who dribbles hard, and can explode to the basket. She is always active on both ends, knows how to dig in on ball defense, a scorer mindset. She’s going to be a strong 2 guard and a high prospect. I like the way she works, she’s about that business and the sweat proves it.

Saania Khawaja – is a young player who will continue to evolve the more she plays the game and play against tougher talent that challenges her skills. She stands at 5-7 with possibility of growing another inch or so. She is a cerebral player so once her IQ grows she will be a threat for sure. I think she is a coach’s dream as far as being coachable and an extension on the court. She can shoot and she is a decent ball handler. With her lengthy body she is capable of finishing at the rim. She moves without the ball and understands the basic concept of pick/roll, move and cut. She is coordinated, plays under control, shots are balanced, strong passer and receiver. I will keep my eyes on this kid to see how well she develops.

Kourtney Wright – is a 5-8 guard that makes you do a double take with the consistency of her shooting, I call it the “Curry effect” She impressed me with her ability to knock down the 3. I think she hit 4 in one of the games, and its a long ball! good arc, bottom of the net shot. A lights out shooter. Not only can she shoot but she has a very good IQ NOW, she moves without the ball and positions herself in her sweet spots. She’ll also do some penetration to the basket and doesn’t mind contact. She’s tough, plays on both ends of the court. She isn’t the quickest player on the court or the most athletic but she is one of the smartest players on the court. If you can’t tell by now I love her spot up shooting ability, I mean she’s in the 7th grade doing it!! and they are sometimes contested shots!

Erin Roberts – is what I call raw talent, she’s just naturally athletic and can go. She is a competitor and wants to win. Her go to is penetration to the hoop and has a pretty strong 1on1 game. She’s quick, and plays tough defense. She has an uptempo vibe and again continued skill development will be the key.

Class 2026

Mya Alston – A 5-8 guard, she’s long, athletic and gets better every showing she has so far. She plays on both ends of the court. I’m impressed with her defensive knowledge and ability, she makes good use of her extension by playing the passing lanes causing havoc. Her length also gives her an edge over defenders and you’ll find her also in the mix fighting for rebounds, Ball-handling is good able to use both hands comfortably and you may find her going coast to coast making it happen in transition, she can shoot and again her length and elevation allows her to get shots up in defender’s faces. She has a little shiftiness in her offensive game, nothing too fancy or crafty but enough to finish at the rim when necessary or whenever she decides to do.

Jhanae Nickerson – is more raw talent that if she decides to take her skill development seriously will be a problem in her class. She is jet quick, her strength is creating off the dribble, and that 1st step is hard to guard. She will get it and go if allowed. Her ball-handling is average and will need to improve in order to fully maximize her guard abilities.

Brittney Anderson – Has good footwork and can finish on one leg, she has a euro step finish that is effective, plays under control, likes to penetrate to the basket and knows how to lean into the contact to initiate it without being thrown off. She pushes in transition and she can shoot the ball which makes her a threat as well.

Rosanelly Pastrano – Has a nice 1on1 game, she’s shifty with the ball and has a strong hesi and finish. What I love is that she knows how to and when to use that hesi, it’s instinctive and smooth and catches her defenders off guard every time. She also did very well with the pick/roll making the right reads and pass, her timing is good, another coach’s dream to coach. She’s aggressive and speedy under control. Keep growing that IQ kid!! you’re going places

Endia Stigall – A very very jet quick guard. Here is more raw talent that just needs to get under the right training regimen. She is shifty and then shifty some more with the ball, she can get to the hoop easily, still needs work on her finishes and the ability to finish with both hands. She can shoot and again IQ is key regarding shot selection. She’s tough, competes, speedy and gives you 100 on both ends of the court.

Kobe Johnson – A 5-10 G/F. She has a strong athletic build. Brings good size to the court, a tough rebounder, and contender in the interior. She is still developing her skill set but let me tell you she is going to be a sought after player once it all sets in. I really like her size now, she’s another that will continue to grow the more she is challenged to do so. Keep an eye out for her.

Simone Richmond – is a phenom guard, a power 5 prospect to be. She does it all now in the 8th grade. She can shoot, good 3 ball range and she can hit transition 3’s, another “Curry effect”, she’s super shifty and crafty with the ball, loves to penetrate, I would say she is a 3 level scorer. She’s quick and always active and locked in. She enjoys the game and you can tell she’s having fun. High IQ, she’s coachable and her potential is through the roof.

Melissa Odom – Okay sohave you ever been in a gym and this kid walks in and everybody is like “who is THAT?” WELL that’s Melissa. She is a 6-1 strong athletic build player. Her size in the interior coupled and tripled with her ability to fight for rebounds, block shots is what I love to see. She can get up and down the court, she’ll take shots, still learning how to face up and utilize post footwork effectively but has a pretty balanced up/under move. She understands how important it is to position herself big on the block, she has basic understanding of how to defend a post. She can make Free-throws and shooting form looks good. I’m telling you she has the potential to be a power 5 prospect an elite prospect.

Jacy Abii – Is a 6-0 hybrid. Very high IQ player, a power 5 prospect in the making. She is a 3 level scorer, quick, aggressive, strong. She knows how to play the game. Her bags are full of tricks, she’s shifty, crafty, versatile, strong passer, good court vision, rebounder, finisher around the rim, strong leaper. Super talented. A coach’s dream player now. What I really really like is her character, she’s humble, jolly, able to hold a conversation, and is just having fun being a kid who loves basketball. A trail blazer!

Averi Steele – Is a 6-1 quiet storm. She does an absolutely superb job working for position on the block, I watched her pin her defender, high big hands asking for the ball, she also understands the high/low set and execution of it. She’s in the fight for rebounds. She has a strong interior build and presence. Hey Averi remember what I told you….. Development is key and will be the difference maker.

Amyah Hall – A 6-3 post. She brings good interior size, she’s mobile, has the capability to rebound and protect the paint. Consistent, challenging player development is essential to bring out her full potential. Once this is in place and she turns up her motor she’ll be able to maximize her talents and be a tenacious threat inside.

Jaidyn Gunter – A 5-7 G that I love love love. She competes, handles the ball in traffic, she is a good ball distributer, good drive and kick reads and react, she’s strong and is a 3 level scorer. She’s quick, consistent, driven, good IQ, can finish with contact under control, good court vision and strong passer. A power 5 prospect in the making. Keep developing your game, don’t get comfortable.

Taryn Smith – Is a hungry guard. What I mean by that is she works consistently on her game. She is a student of the game, she loves to penetrate and work off the dribble. She can shoot also, good range, a hard nose competitor. Plays both ends of the court, defends, she’s active, and wants to win. She’s coachable and will be a good leader on the court and sidelines. Her upside is huge, I think she will be a high major prospect.