TEXAS SKILLS SELECT BRINGS OUT THE OLD AND THE NEW
Posted by Angie Diamond at 12:28 pm
TEXAS SKILLS SELECT BRINGS OUT THE OLD AND THE NEW
From the old to the new, talent was on full display at the Skills Select-Texas. Skills Select hosted 68 players from five states for a day of skill development, film study, inspiration, motivation and games. We’ll take a look at the top performers of the camp starting with the Class of 2012 top cagers:
Moriah Jefferson/ 5’7 Point Guard (THS) – Jefferson is regarded by many as the top point guard prospect in the country and one of the country’s fieriest competitors. Nothing changed my mind during the camp. Jefferson, a UCONN commit, was the Day 1 standout as she showed great speed and execution during the skill workout and translated those energies and efforts into the five-on five competition. Standing a shade under 5’7, Jefferson was a surprisingly willing rebounder on the interior. Her skills, combined with her speed and willingness to “go hard” all the time, makes her an elite prospect. She was slowed during the second session due to a head injury.
SKILLS (HM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (MM+) +SPEED (HM+)+ INTANGIBLES (HM+)+ UNDERSTANDING (HM) + POTENTIAL (HM) =OVERALL (HM) {P24}
Courtney Williams / 6’1 Guard (Northshore)- C-Will is simply a WOW type of player. Her combination of size, athleticism and skills really goes unmatched in any girls HS basketball camp. At 6’1, Williams is as versatile as any player in America. She has made a verbal pledge to the National Champions – Texas A & M Aggies and figures heavily in their plans for another championships in the coming years. I would like to see her a little more assertive and at times a little more selfish, especially on the offensive end. Her skill work was good, but not great as her effort seem to come and go. The same can be said about her game play, but this is by far one of the most talented and versatile guards in the country in the past six years.
SKILLS (HM-)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (HM+)+ SPEED (HM-)+INTANGIBLES (HM+)+UNDERSTANDING (MM+) + POTENTIAL (HM+)= OVERALL (HM) {P24}
Chloe Pavlech/ 5’9 Guard (Sycamore, OH) – Pavlech, an Ohio native, made the trip down to Texas to show why many consider her one of the top guards in the Buckeye State. A cerebral guard with a strong frame and very good understanding, Pavlech has improved her ball-handling skills and is an improving play maker. A good athlete, she will need to improve her speed and quickness as she prepares for life in the ACC (Maryland commit). Her shooting was inconsistent most of the weekend, but her ability to recognize that is a skill in itself.
SKILLS (MM+)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (HM-)+SPEED (MM) + INTANGIBLES (HM-) +UNDERSTANDING (HM) + POTENTIAL (MM)= OVERALL (MM+)
Anna Strickland/ 6’0 Forward (The Woodlands) – Strickland was in many ways the surprise of the weekend camp among the seniors class participants. She was the centerpiece of a team of hardworking, unselfish, and determined troopers that went undefeated in Group play. Strickland likely projects as a forward at the next level but she’s versatile enough to make her very attractive as a wing. Her quickness to the ball and her ability to score in transition were very noticeable. She doesn’t look the part, but she’s a player; a definite glue style player for any mid-level program.
SKILLS (MM+)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (MM)+SPEED (MM) + INTANGIBLES (HM-) +UNDERSTANDING (MM+) + POTENTIAL (MM)= OVERALL (MM)
Briona Chatman/ 5’10 Forward (Klein Oak)- Chatman was another surprise performer at this year’s Texas camp. Long, wiry and athletic. Chatman was a factor on both ends of the floor. This is a player who could affect the game without scoring a basket, due primarily to her raw athletic abilities. I see her as a first rate defensive minded wing with the ability to guard multiple position. Her offensive skills are lacking the polish to warrant recognition from the Majors- or even some emerging or top-tier Mids, but a college prospect none-the-less.
SKILLS (LM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (MM)+SPEED (MM+) + INTANGIBLES (MM) +UNDERSTANDING (LM+) + POTENTIAL (MM)= OVERALL (MM-)
Kassandra Lopez/ 5’6 Guard (Veterans Memorial) – Lopez is a small guard who primarily played off the ball during the five-on-five competition. She has a nice stroke and performed well during the skills portion of the camp.
SKILLS (MM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (DII)+SPEED (LM) + INTANGIBLES (LM) +UNDERSTANDING (MM) + POTENTIAL (LM)= OVERALL (LM/DII)
LaTifah Rainey /6’1 Forward (John Tyler) – Big Body post; limited mobility; very little elevation.
SKILLS (DII)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (LM+)+SPEED (DII) + INTANGIBLES (DII) +UNDERSTANDING (LM) + POTENTIAL (LM)= OVERALL (DII)
Ebony Easter/ 5’8 Guard/Forward (Sandra Day O’Connor) –A classic tweener type of player, Easter plays an outstanding inside game, but combines it with nice attacking style from the wing and key area. Despite her 5’8 frame she was able to score (regularly) again bigger forwards. Despite her effectiveness, many DI level will shy away because her skills still need some refining. But she’s a player worth some consideration at the DI level for sure.
SKILLS (LM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (LM)+SPEED (MM-) + INTANGIBLES (MM-) +UNDERSTANDING (LM+) + POTENTIAL (MM-)= OVERALL (LM+)
Adriana Dominguez/ 6’1 Forward (Klein Oak) – Dominguez is a long forward with the ability to finish.
SKILLS (LM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (MM-)+SPEED (MM-) + INTANGIBLES (LM) +UNDERSTANDING (LM+) + POTENTIAL (LM)= OVERALL (LM)
Kelvin Powell is the Director of Player Personnel and the Director of Skills Select Exposure Camps for Ganon Baker Basketball Services. Powell is a member of the McDonald’s All-American Selection Committee, as well as a contributing editor with SLAM Magazine. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Gatorade National and State Player of the Year Program. He is presently employed at Tallahassee Community College as an Athletics Adminstrator.
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