Seniors with Flava
Big State Flava Jam opens the viewing period in style
By Chris HansenDALLAS -- The Big State Flava Jam was one of two major viewing events going on in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area and concluded with a hard-fought Elite Division championship between All Ohio and DFW Elite T-Jack. Though both teams had plenty of players making huge contributions for their respective squads, there were plenty of other teams with a host of budding college prospects at the tournament on the campus of Southern Methodist University that wrapped up on July 8. Here is a look at some of the top performers from the rising senior class.
Peyton Adamson's 3-point shooting exploits are well known in the state of Texas and this kid hits the court with the utmost confidence. There isn't a shot on the court she's afraid of and she even knocked down a halftime-buzzer-beating 70-footer. Her form isn't text book but she gets rid of it quickly and it goes in so I don't think anyone is going to mess with it. She's aggressive on offense and feisty on defense. She competes on every possession but as a shooter at the next level she's going to have to move better without the ball to set up screens or take advantage of defenders overplaying her.
Austin Elite wing-guard Jasmine Baugus is blessed with wide, strong shoulders and a long wing span on her 5-foot-10 frame. The Kileen High School prospect has an aggressive style which sometimes leads to some shots that are out of control but with a quick first step and the aforementioned length she can certainly get to the basket. She enjoys getting into the paint and plays through contact. Developing her left hand to finish would help take her game to the next level as she can get to the rim with both hands.
Cy-Fair Premier wing-guard Nia Bradford has a fantastic offensive repertoire. She invites contact and has a college-ready body to win most of the battles in traffic. The 5-11 scoring machine has range as well. She shot the 3-ball off the dribble and off the jab with the defender rendered helpless because they were trying to counter her quickness. Confidence is not lacking with this kid and if she can improve her ability to create for her teammates when the defense collapses she will be one of the better players in the class with the ball in her hands.
DFW T-Jack has four kids ranked in the ESPN HoopGurlz Hundred so it's no wonder that Odyssey Sims (No. 4), Tiffany Moore (12), Kristen Grant (38), and Kelsi Baker (57) get mentioned plenty in our tip sheets. But they aren't the only rising seniors getting it done for this squad. Meagan Conwright from Grand Prarie, Texas, is a big part of what this team does on both ends of the court. She is a great on-ball defender with good size at 5-9. She plays within herself on offense, keeps the ball moving and makes plays going to the basket when needed. If she can improve her perimeter shooting it will be hard for colleges to pass on this solid point guard prospect.
Oklahoma Magic point guard Carissa Crutchfield was one of the most impressive guard prospects at the Flava Jam. The 5-8 combo guard from Muskogee, Okla., is a smooth athlete who may lack in straight line speed but doesn't lack any quickness. She has a strong build which allows her to initiate contact and gain an advantage. She was one of the best at creating space. Her court vision is a plus and she's one of those players that sees a play ahead and is ready to make a play with the pass or knock down a tough shot. She showed range on her jumper and the ability to score off the dribble.
Alexis Dobbs of Berea, Ohio, is listed at 5-6 and she definitely is no taller than that, but she plays with the heart that spans seven feet for All Ohio. Her ability to adjust to the ferocious on-ball pressure of the DFW Elite guards allowed her team to maintain control of the games tempo in the championship game. She has quick change-of-direction moves and can push the ball up the court when needed. In the half court she does a good job of creating space for the offense to run more so than creating space to create for herself. She stepped up big in her team's biggest game of the early summer.
Skyline High School guard Krystle Henderson did a lot of good things for her US Elite-Black team. She has the ability to create shots for herself at will and isn't afraid to let it fly from behind the arc. She hit a couple of pretty step-back 3-pointers and knocked the long ball down off the catch. She scored from mid-range on pull-ups as well. She showed quick, shifty dribble moves and confidence is definitely not lacking in this 5-6 prospect.
Top Prospects forward Alexis Kelley is a tremendous athlete. At 6-2 she can make passing lanes disappear and when she gets a steal she is incredibly fast in the open court. The Skyline High School rising senior can also get from playing interior defense out on the wing in transition in the blink of an eye. She rebounds with authority and can bother quite a few shots. Her offensive skill set in the half court is still on a little raw but she has the ability to face up from the mid-post and create shots both going to the basket and mid-range shots. The tools are there and she just needs to be refined in half court situations where she missed some shots she that should be easy for her.
North Texas Shockers forward Corey Mulder doesn't jump out at you with crazy athleticism, but the more you watch the 6-1 prospect from Dallas, the more there is to like about her. She's got a strong upper body which allows her to play well on the interior, good footwork and she recognizes when to make the pass out of the interior. What she may lack in lateral quickness she makes up for with smarts and effort. She is a vocal leader on the floor which was need on final day of play when teammate Brady Sanders sat out. She rebounds, gets on the floor for lose balls, and appears to have all the intangibles.
Memphis Bobcats guard Jasmine Robinson is a tireless worker. She is one of the few players that embrace competing on the defensive end of the floor which is part of the reason she's ranked in the ESPN HoopGurlz Hundred. She is a legitimate threat from behind the 3-point arc, can put the ball on the floor, and create for her teammates and for herself. Most of all she leads by example with her heart and intensity.
All Ohio has had some great interior players over the past four years, from Jantel Lavender to Ayana Dunning and last year again with Karisma Penn. This year Latisha Walker of Cleveland's Luthern East High School is manning the middle. She doesn't get the acclaim of her predecessors but this kid can play. At 6-2 she has a long wing span and is a capable shot blocker. She's also a physical player who has no problems mixing it up and playing with contact. She has a solid base offensively but could add some counter moves to her repertoire before getting to college.
Chrisstassia Walters is coming off of a knee sprain but it hardly limited her ability to create. The 5-7 combo guard from Texarana, Ark., has an explosive first step complemented by her length. When penetrating she does a good job of keeping her eyes on the help defense to find passing lanes for her teammates. She showed the ability to shoot off the dribble out to 17 feet.
When Breisha Wynn attacks the basket she punishes the defense. The 5-11 wing from Fort Worth, Texas, is as physical and strong as they come on the wing. She is at her best slashing to the cup or getting in the paint off of dribble penetration. She gets after it on both ends of the court, rebounds her position, and knocked down some shots from 3-point land. She did have some issues passing as she had several passes get tipped.
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Chris Hansen is the National Director of Prospects for ESPN HoopGurlz and covers girls' basketball and women's college-basketball prospects nationally for ESPN.com. A graduate of the University of Washington with a Communications degree, he has been involved in the women's basketball community since 1998 as a high-school and club coach, trainer, evaluator and reporter. Hansen can be reached at chris.hansen@espn3.com.
