Lone Star Classic Week 3 – Texas Middles to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After several weeks of getting on the road to compete for a spot at the 2023 USA Girls Junior National Championship, Texas teams will have homecourt advantage this weekend, when they will play in Dallas in the third week of the 2023 Lone Star Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest national qualifiers there is, the Lone Star Classic has been going on for two weeks already and the third and final weekend of competition will feature as many as 11 divisions from the 15s, 16s and 17s age groups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As expected, several teams from Texas will be on the court in Dallas this weekend and we're using the days leading to the event to present some of the most exciting prospects from the Lone Star State that will be competing in the Open divisions. Today, we'll look at some promising middles:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["318130"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Perry is one of those players who not only have amazing physical tools, but also know how to utilize them on the court from very early on. She's tall, strong and very quick and uses all of these attributes to dominate and be a force at the net for Drive Nation - 15 Red. Her offense is particularly impressive as Perry not only jumps high and hits the ball hard, but she also times her approach extremely well and hits around the block when she has to. She's also a very effective blocker, who is capable of making a big impact on the game on both sides of the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31a5b2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17999863/6397937ddfe27401fc8946b3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31a62f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Claire Nelson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St. Andrew's","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Austin Skyline","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Nelson will offer a massive presence at the net for Austin Skyline 15 Royal. Her length and excellent timing make it very difficult for opponents to overcome her blocking and she's also very aggressive with her hands, making good moves above the net. Nelson is a very strong offensive player too, making a strong approach and hitting with a fully-stretched arm, which increases her reach by an inch or two. She also does an excellent job of making herself available in transition plays, using her great footwork to get in position.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31a7a2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17177840/642b16430428a30d8437a23d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31a7d9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["220413"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Shanahan provides a strong offensive option for NRG VBC 16 AMPD Navy in the middle. She's a very powerful and effective offensive player, who can score at a high level and demands great attention from opposing blockers. One of the things that makes Shanahan's offensive game so strong is her versatility as she can hit all sorts of different sets down the middle and is also very efficient working with higher sets at the pin. She has a heavy right arm and can swing into different directions too. Shanahan also has a strong blocking presence, in big part thanks to her impressive hangtime.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31a883"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19023888/642def9e386dfe0b7407e245' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31a8b1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["142220"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Anyanwu has long established herself as one of the top middles in the state of Texas and that hasn't changed. The TAV 17 Black prospect is extremely complete and productive, making a major impact on both sides of the game when at the net. Her power is nearly unmatched in her age group as she swings the ball hard and never holds anything back. Anyanwu's blocking game is also very, very effective as she moves really well at the net and does an excellent job in taking up space from opposing hitters with her long arms.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31a926"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15051049/636ba68be97b9508ccdefc7b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31a94f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Gabriella Spellings","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St. Michael's Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Austin Juniors","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Spellings' offensive power is a huge asset for her AJV 17 Adidas team. She was on fire a pair of weeks ago, helping her team qualify at the Pacific Northwest Qualifier, and has only earned more confidence for the remainder of the season. Spelling's strong approach and quick arm make up for a solid combination at the net, but her ability to hit different sets also helps her a lot in terms of beating opposing blockers. She's also a strong blocker herself, displaying excellent mobility, an impressive vertical and excellent timing to make her moves.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31aa70"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16906899/6423c0903863c9051ca7b532' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643037f31aaca"} /-->