GAMES
RANKINGS
NEXT IN LINE: Houston Christian's Thomas is #Trending
THE HOUSTON-AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCENE IS RICH IN TRADITION. MAYBE THE RICHEST IN THE COUNTRY.
What other city has had four WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks — Nneke Ogwumike (Cy-Fair), Chiney Ogwumike (Cy-Fair), Brittney Griner (Nimitz) and Charli Collier (Barbers Hill) — dating back to the beginning of the WNBA in 1997? None. The Houston Comets won the first four Championships in league history.
Houston is the epicenter of girls basketball.
As Rori Harmon and Kyndall Hunter of Cypress Creek head to the University of Texas this fall, the question begs...who is the next big thing?
Houston Christian combo- guard D'Asia Thomas is currently a nationally-ranked star in the Class of 2023 with college coaches all vying for her signature a year from now.
"When I was younger, I was always overlooked," the 6-foot-3 Thomas said. "If you would have told me I would be where I am today back then, I would have thought you were crazy. But I've put the work in from running hills, on the track, in the weight room and in the gym for countless of hours. It's all paid off."
When not dominating the SPC for the Mustangs, she plays in the summer with Cy- Fair Elite.
"I was pretty good in middle school and then I joined Cy-Fair Elite. They opened up my game tremendously and made me so much better. They put me on a much bigger platform." What makes Thomas special, is her versatility.
"In school ball, I play all five positions," she said. "If I need to play the point, I'll play the point. It's really helped me improve on my guard skills from shooting the three-pointer to seeing the open man to getting to the basket. I can always get a bucket.
"What I really need to concentrate on now is my defense," she laughs. "I don't love defense but that is going to take me where I need to go. I watch a lot of DiDi Richards (Cy Ranch, Baylor and New York Liberty). I play her position and she made her name playing defense."
The offers have begun piling up as she starts to whittle down her list of favorites.
"I like to watch Baylor and I've been to a few UH games, but it's starting to get really busy," she said. "I'm looking for a place where I can build a great relationship with the coaches and players, and is big on God. I'm looking for a second family."
For now, she's just a kid doing TikToks, fishing with her father, hanging with friends and family, watching Outer Banks and listening to 'Lil Baby.
On the court, however, Thomas can see her future.
"I want to be the best girls basketball player to ever come out of Houston Christian and get drafted in to the WNBA in five years," she said. "It will take more work, but I know I can get there."
Much like the ones before her.
...
TO ORDER
DIGITAL VERSION - 2021-2022 VYPE Houston Basketball Preview Magazine - VYPE
ORDER COPY - 2021 VYPE Houston Magazine (VYPE Basketball Preview): Volume 14 Number – VYPE Shop (shopvype.com)
FOR PHOTOS -- VYPE PHOTOS
BREAKING: Cy Woods, Rice star Erica Ogwumike drafted by New York Liberty, traded to Minnesota Lynx
HOUSTON - A third Ogwumike is heading to the WNBA.
On Friday night, Erica Ogwumike, the youngest sister of the four, was drafted by the New York Liberty with the 26th pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft and then traded to the Minnesota Lynx for Stephanie Talbot. Ogwumike joins her sisters Chiney and Nneka in the league, who both play for the Los Angeles Sparks.
Ogwumike starred at Cy Woods High School for four years, leading the Wildcats to the 2015 Class 6A State Championship. Ogwumike was the MVP of that title game. In her high school career, Ogwumike played in 143 games and scored 2,227 points and had 1,141 rebounds.
Once Ogwumike left Cy Woods, she went to Pepperdine for a year where she played for one year before transferring back home to Rice University.
LEAGUE BOUND | Erica Ogwumike is headed to New York after being drafted by the @NYLiberty!
Go be the ⭐️ we know you are.@Ogwumi13 x #WNBADraft pic.twitter.com/E924dzNyBa
— Rice Women's Basketball (@RiceWBB) April 18, 2020
After redshirting, Ogwumike became the first-ever Rice player to earn Conference USA Newcomer of the Year in the 2017-2018 season. She finished that year ranked fourth in the conference in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game. Rice reached the WNIT that year.
Last year, Ogwumike helped make history at Rice.
The junior helped lead Rice back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005 and for the third time in program history. Ogwumike averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game to become the first-ever player to ever win C-USA Player of the Year and was also named C-USA Female Athlete of the Year as well.
This season, which was cut short, due to COVID-19, Ogwumike averaged 19 points per game and was poised to lead her team back to the NCAA Tournament before the season ended early. She was named the Conference USA Player of Year for a second-straight season.