One thing I have learned over the past few seasons, anything is possible and everything is wide open when it comes to who is the best team or teams in the city.
I remember when anyone could pick from the top 2 or 3 teams to determine who was going to represent Region 4. The basketball landscape is entirely different now.
One thing for sure, a lot of young ladies have been putting a lot of work this off season!
One thing for sure, a lot of young ladies have been putting a lot of work this off season!
Much has changed during the last few years with the abundance of quality trainers and with the quality of AAU/Club teams that are willing to travel outside the city and most cases out of the state, to help prepare young ladies for an opportunity to play at the next level. There is a lot of gratitude that should go to Club teams and basketball trainers, in many cases, their hard work helps make HS Coaches jobs a lot easier and in turn help HS teams compete by preparing and instilling players with skill, talent, experience, etc
A lot of HS programs have come a long way and even though some HS teams have found comfort and joy in beating perennial power teams during the regular season, It has been the perennial power teams like Wagner and Steele that have dominated when it counts the most, the PLAYOFFS!
It almost seems that HS Coaches that let their best players play and put them in position to make things happen, have been traditionally the most successful programs.
And when coaches have some great floor leaders on the court especially from the point guard position, that always is going to help tremendously.
Before you start looking ahead on this season, let's reflect on last years top teams in the city. One thing that sticks out is how many quality floor leaders running the point have graduated!!!
Wagner's Amber Ramirez, Clark's Rea Gulley, Reagan's Mailee Jones, Antonian's Sandy Ramirez, Steeles Charisma Shepherd, Johnson's Tara Molina, O'Connor's Casey Saldana, IW Alexia Torres to name a few as well as some great shooters like Madison's Lexi Rich, Judson's Belle Tovar and O'Connor's Victoria Pena.
So this leads me to this season, you have to start with MVP candidates Gabby Connally and Kiana Williams, all around exceptional players, with outstanding playmaking abilities.
Their respective teams will look entirely polar opposite in that Brandeis with Connally, graduated virtually all her supporting cast and Wagner with Williams, might just very well have the best starting 5 of any team in the city with the addition of transfer Angel Hastings. Contenders!
Talk about transfers, Johnson now has Megan Valdez, a strong, tough, smart highly skilled PG with a ton of experience running the show. Add incoming freshman sensation Deja Kelly to the mix that includes Post Alyssa Adams and you have a bona fide Contender!
And how about IWHS, the Shamrocks have added, Post Makayla Mabry anchoring quite possibly the deepest team in the city with Sophia Ramos, a highly skilled scorer and playmaker, Ashley Adaszczyk a savvy guard, Olivia Balderas one of the most improved shooters, Alexis Retault a highly underrated PG. Almost every player in their roster playing with some type of Club team in the city. Contender!
Going back to playmakers and leaders, look out for Stevens and PG Destiny Jenkins, Lee HS with PG Jenesis Navarro, Madison with Charlene Mass and O'Connor's with PG Natalie McCoy. All could lead their HS teams to a successful season run.
Another playmaker East Central Brittany Rodgers teaming up with another MVP candidate, Nalyssa Smith definitely makes them Contenders!
Judson will have a stacked team as well that includes Desiree Lewis and Kyra White and you can never leave out the defending Region 4 Champs, Steele with Antonia Anderson. Both will be serious Contenders.
Watch for Brennan with Kenzie Heineman, Taft with Stephanie Ruiz, Lee with Blanca De Leon, Antonian with Bailey Boyle and Gabby Teneyuca, to make some noise!
Last HS season, Steele, Wagner, Johnson and Judson made it to the final 4. Each team has lost key pieces and gained some key pieces.
Now that's what's going to make this HS season a joy to watch and follow. So many different story lines, too many to cover at once, so we will see how the season unfolds.
I've been told, It's not how you start, it's how you finish.
So I will start by listing my Top 1O, as always just for fun!!!!!!
1) Wagner
2) IWHS
3) Johnson
4) Judson
5) Steele
6) Brandeis
7) Lee
8) East Central
9) O'Connor
10) Stevens
Games to watch to start the season:
Wagner vs O'Connor
Brennan vs Judson
Lee vs Taft
Clark vs Johnson
And I will finish with, Go Support HS Girls Basketball........
Last HS season, Steele, Wagner, Johnson and Judson made it to the final 4. Each team has lost key pieces and gained some key pieces.
Now that's what's going to make this HS season a joy to watch and follow. So many different story lines, too many to cover at once, so we will see how the season unfolds.
I've been told, It's not how you start, it's how you finish.
So I will start by listing my Top 1O, as always just for fun!!!!!!
1) Wagner
2) IWHS
3) Johnson
4) Judson
5) Steele
6) Brandeis
7) Lee
8) East Central
9) O'Connor
10) Stevens
Games to watch to start the season:
Wagner vs O'Connor
Brennan vs Judson
Lee vs Taft
Clark vs Johnson
And I will finish with, Go Support HS Girls Basketball........
