7th Annual Cy Fair Classic

Updated -- 7/15/09, 7:45 p.m.
Originally posted, 7/14/09, 10:16 a.m.

HOUSTON, TX -- The HRR is not a scouting service; however, I do want to write a few comments on the just completed 2009 7th Annual Cy Fair Classic which was held at Cy Woods HS, Spillane, Aragon, and Goodson Middle Schools.

From what I was told by the college coaches I spoke to, the talent-level at this year's Classic was not as good as previous years nor was it as good as the talent-level at the events held in Dallas and Frisco, Texas, earlier last week or in Florida or in Atlanta, Georgia.

However, that does not mean, the 7th Annual Cy Fair Classic was without talented players.

The best team I saw was the Cy Fair Houston Heat White team. This team had a little bit of everything: height (6'3 post Aron Garcia from Terrel HS, Class of 2010; 6'2 twins Taylor and Tyler Gilbert, Class of 2012, from Hightower HS); three point shooting from 6'0 Tyranni Henderson (Class of 2010, Westbury Christian); quickness (5'7 guard Amber Orrange, Class of 2011, Westbury Christian); versatility (5'11 Fallon Ellis, Class of 2011, Willowridge HS); and rock solid point guard play (5'10 Chrishauna Parker, Class of 2011, Nimitz HS). These young ladies defeated the Cy Fair Premier 17U squad to win the 17U Elite Platinum Division Sunday afternoon.

The CF Premier 17U club has good players, too. Donielle Breaux (5'10, Class of 2011, from Elkins HS) was everywhere on the basketball court. Breaux played the passing lanes; drove to the hoop and finished; and knocked down perimeter shots. Nia Bradford, 5'11, Class of 2010, Thurgood Marshall HS, has one of the best-looking jumpers I've seen. Bradford elevates nicely and knocks down jumpers. Brooke McCarty, all 5'5 of her, is only 13 years old, that's right, she's Class of 2014, but, she's got great poise on the court to go along with her quickness. Akwar Abula, 6'1, Class of 2011, is a shot-blocking presence.

It's very tough for me to name the best player I saw; but, I was definitely impressed by the point guard skills of Charlicia "CeCe" Harper from the Cy Fair San Antonio Lady Rohawks Elite team. CeCe, 5'7, Class of 2010 from James Madison in S.A., controls the basketball with ease. She dribbles the ball like it's part of her body. She strong and quick, too. CeCe's Rohawks club lost to the Houstonians in the final game of the 17U Elite Gold bracket by one point; but, teammates Taylor Calvert (5'9, Class of 2011, Cibolo Steele HS) and Nichole Kindred (5'9, Class of 2010, MacArthur HS) impressed me as well. Calvert is very quick and Kindred was draining shots from deep.

The Houstonians 17U team may take awhile to get started; but, once they bring the energy and intensity on defense, their depth wears down the opposition. Jessieka Palmer (6'0, Class of 2012, LaMarque HS) makes the club go. She seems to enjoy passing the ball more than scoring; but, she's got the skills to put the ball in the bucket, too. Madison Abshae stands out for a few reasons. First, she's 6'7 and the tallest player on the team. Second, she's the most vocal. Maddy is a great teammate. She's always talking and motivating her teammates to push and play hard. Maddy isn't the quickest player by any means; but, she definitely has a presence on the court. Teylor Seals, 5'7, Class of 2010, Westside HS, ran the offense well. Akuuna Elonu, 5'10, Class of 2012, Elsik HS, hit the winning lay-up versus the Rohawks; and, she seems to be merely scratching the surface on her basketball skills. Her sister, Adaeze Elonu, 5'9, Class of 2010, is much more physical than she is.

I didn't see every team nor every game; but, here are a few more players who caught my eye:

Cy Fair Top Prospects (Black)
Ish'chet "Weedie" Barrett, 5'6, Class of 2011, Kimball HS, Dallas, TX;
Chelsea Gardner, 6'3, Class of 2011, Desoto HS, DeSoto, TX;
Alexis Kelley, 6'2, Class of 2010, Skyline HS, Dallas, TX;
Chastity Taylor, 5'8, Class of 2010, DeSoto HS, DeSoto, TX;
Catherine "Bunny" Williams, Class of 2011, Duncanville HS, DeSoto, TX.

Cy Fair Texas Titans
Kathryn Tolbert, 5'10, Class of 2011, Hendrickson HS, Georgetown, TX.

Cy Fair Comets Elite
Sunejiro Agbuke, 6'4, Class of 2011, Cornerstone Christian, San Antonio, TX.

Cy Fair Houston Heat Blue
Briana Turner, 6'1, Class of 2014, Nolan Ryan Middle School, Pearland, TX.

Houston Angels 2013
Kierra Robinson, 4'11, Class of 2013, North Shore Middle School, Houston, TX.
Briana Williams, 5'9, Class of 2013, St. John's Jr. High, Pearland, TX.

Houston Elite White
Karla Gilbert, 6'4, Class of 2010, A&M Consolidated, College Station, TX.
Rachel Mitchell, 6'5, Class of 2011, Atascocita HS, Houston, TX.
Courtney Williams, 6'0, Class of 2012, Northshore HS, Houston, TX.

Houston Hotshots Platinum
Nyha Carter, 5'11.5, Class of 2010, Clear Creek HS, Webster, TX.

Kenner Angels
Allison Ulfers, 5'7, Class of 2012, Chapelle HS, Matairie, LA.

Louisiana Lady Fire
Tori Scott, 5'11, Class of 2011, John Ehret HS, Marrero, LA.
Danisha Shaw, 5'8, Class of 2010, Bonnabel HS, Kenner, LA.

Next Level 2011
Savannah Clark, 5'9, Class of 2011, Austin HS, Austin, TX.
Taylor Jones, 5'8, 2011, Class of 2011, Austin HS, Austin, TX.
Chamaya Turner, 5'10, Class of 2013, Canyon Middle School, Garden Ridge, TX.

Waller Ballers
Brittany Houle, 6'2, Class of 2012, Waller HS, Hempstead, TX.


COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES
Here are the schools I saw with a head coach or assistant coach attending the event:

Abilene Christian, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Baylor, Boston University, Centenary, Cornell, Univ. of Dallas, Dartmouth, Grambling State, Houston Baptist University, Howard Payne, Iowa State, Kansas, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, McNeese State, New Mexico Junior College, North Carolina, North Texas, Northern Arizona, Oregon State, Prairie View A&M, Rice, SMU, Sam Houston State, San Diego, San Diego State, Univ. of San Francisco, San Jacinto North, Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State, Texas Southern, and Tulsa.


7th Annual Cy Fair Classic Bracket Winners
17U Elite Platinum: Houston Heat
17U Elite Gold: Houstonians
17U Open Platinum: Lady Warriors
17U Open Gold: Austin Elite
16U Elite Platinum: Cobras 2011
16U Elite Silver: Houston Heat Blue
16U Open Platinum: Fury
16U Open silver: Sparks Gold
15U Platinum: Oklahoma Select
15U Gold: Sparks Purple
15U Silver: SA Comet Blue
14U Platinum: Dominos
14U Gold: Houston angels
12/13U Platinum: SA Comets
12/13U Silver: Cy Fair Sparks