2024 Watch List starts off with 25
Since I’ve been covering Texas basketball there have been at least 100 D1 players every year and countless that go on to play at the next level but I’ve made it a mission to try and identify some of the…
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Continue ReadingSince I’ve been covering Texas basketball there have been at least 100 D1 players every year and countless that go on to play at the next level but I’ve made it a mission to try and identify some of the players that were ahead of the game early and players like Sarah Andrews Sarah Andrews 5'8" | PG Irving Macarthur | 2020 State TX (Baylor) Deja Kelly Deja Kelly 5'8" | PG Duncanville | 2020 State TX (North Carolina) Jordyn Merritt Jordyn Merritt 6'2" | PF Plano | 2020 State TX (Florida) and Myra Gordon Myra Gordon 6'1" | CG LD Bell | 2020 State TX (Alabama) just to name a few were all called #D1Locks by me before their first middle school game and this was because I caught them early, in a variety of settings and they just stood out right off the top. Several other players were added to that hashtag after seeing them more and some just had growth spurts, got stronger or continued to work on their game so I’ve dropped 25 players for the first segment of the WATCHLIST, this is not a RANKING and I’ll break it down by position later but first, here are some I labeled #D1Locks after my first sighting
Gwendlyn McGrew Gwendlyn McGrew 6'0" | CG Pasadena Memorial | 2024 State TX -6’0 CG (Reps Up)
McGrew stands at 6’0 and is powerful, she can shoot the three with ease as well as take defenders off the dribble yet her ballhandling under pressure and ability to see the floor makes her a legitimate threat at whatever position she’s playing, she can play all five but what’s also impressive is that her defense stands out, especially playing the passing lane and she rebounds on both ends
Raniyah Lewis Raniyah Lewis 5'8" | CG Conroe | 2024 State TX -5’8 CG (Skyrise)
Lewis just set it off the first time I saw her and she was playing up as she exploded for points galore just about every way imaginable. The pull-up from midrange, the long-range jumper falling while down or attacking and finishing after contact were all positive signed on what would be coming yet her poise and composure at a young age told me a lot
Kendall Robinson Kendall Robinson 5'9" | SG North Crowley | 2024 State TX -5’11 SF (Texas Savage)
Robinson left me speechless as a 6th grader when I asked what high school she’d be attending, that’s a pretty good category to fall in yet she came back after a knee injury and sent numerous messages. She’s strong, relentless on the boards and finishes contact yet she can take defenders off the dribble as well as create her shot in traffic
Kennedy Evans Kennedy Evans 5'11" | SG Legion Prep Academy | 2024 State TX -5’9 SG (Cy Fair)
On a wasted trip to Dallas, Evans was one of the bright spots as she simply blew me away with her offensive mindset, playing up. She attacked strongly and finished even stronger, especially after taking the lick but she shot the three well as 5th grader. Fast forward, the three is still dropping, like a few steps past halfcourt and that, combined with a growth spurt will have her hard to handle early
Leaire Nicks Leaire Nicks 5'11" | SF State TX -5’11 SF (Drive Nation)
Nicks made my Tip Sheet with another team the year before yet she expanded her game so much that last summer I was simply amazed at the transformation. Long and athletic will always be the base, she adds “ups” and “desire” as she elevates over defenders to score or rebound yet by adding more to her game, watching what she’s becoming in the open court is a work of art