GAMES
RANKINGS
GHAGBA All-Star Game set for Saturday on VYPE
HOUSTON - The area's best girls basketball players will descend upon Wheeler Fieldhouse on Saturday for the annual GHAGBA All-Star Game, which is slated for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
All-Star teams will be divided into Team Blue, led by Manvel coach Jhared Marshall, and Team White, led by Summer Creek coach Carlesa Dixon.
"I feel honored to be selected for that," Dixon, who also coached in the 2019 game, said. "It's a big game representing the best of the best in the Houston area. I just feel fortunate to be a part of it."
Both teams are headlined by some big-time stars that we will see at the next level. Summer Creek's Kaitlyn Duhon is signed to Auburn University and will actually be on Team Blue, meaning Dixon will have to coach against her star player that helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to the UIL State Basketball Tournament in San Antonio this season for her final high school game.
"That's going to be different," Dixon said with a laugh. "Luckily, I know how she plays. I know how to get into her head. It's going to be fun ... She's very competitive, I'm competitive, so it's going to be interesting to see us two go against each other. That hasn't happened."
Along with Duhon, the rosters for both teams is chuck full of talent.
On Team Blue joining Duhon are the likes of Lamar-signee R'Mani Taylor from Shadow Creek, Georgetown-signee Victoria Rivera from Dobie and University of Mary--Hardin Baylor-signee Kenna Gibson of Clear Springs rounding it out. On Team White, University of Texas at Arlington-signee Nya Threatt of Fort Bend Dulles, Siena College-signee Savannah Wilson from Kingwood Park and Dayton-signee Saija Cleveland of Langham Creek.
"It shows that there's a lot of talent in the area," Dixon said about the rosters. "All these girls can play and play next level. It's going to be a fun and competitive game because each one of these kids on these rosters they are winners in some sort of capacity, so they don't like to lose. I think it's going to be an intense game but also fun just being able to appreciate the greatness we do have in the Houston area in girls basketball."
Another fun roster note heading into Saturday's all-star game is that twin sisters Caitlin and Cortni Harris of Crosby, who are both signed to the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor will be on opposite teams as well.
Earlier this week the teams held practices, which Dixon said are all about "having fun" and "enjoying the moment" but when the game starts, it will be business as usual.
"Once that ball goes up in the air, I'm going to be all business," Dixon said with a laugh. "I'm going to have to keep reminding myself it is just an All-Star game but at the same time I want to win.
"Most importantly, I want the kids to have fun and enjoy that moment."
TEAM Blue – Coach Jhared Marshall
Kaitlyn Duhon- Summer Creek (Auburn)
R'Mani Taylor- Shadow Creek (Lamar)
Victoria Rivera- Dobie (Georgetown)
Dai Dai Powell- Dulles (University of Texas of Permian Basin)
Anita Ivery- Foster (University of Louisiana at Lafayette)
Jada Grigsby- Hightower
Tia Mitchell- Cy Lakes
Sian Phipps- Cy Springs
Jasmine Green- Stratford
Emei St. Laurent- Oak Ridge
Kenna Gibson- Clear Springs (Mary-Hardin Baylor)
Cailtin Harris-Crosby (Mary-Hardin Baylor)
Amanda Crowninshield- Bridgeland
*Blake Matthews- Atascocita (Bucknell)
TEAM White - Coach Carlesa Dixon
Anahlynn Murray- Summer Creek (Tyler JC)
Jasmyn Jackson- Cy Creek
Brooklin Brown- Shadow Creek
Nya Threatt- Dulles (University of Texas at Arlington)
Alyssa Berry- Clear Brook
Aleah Franklin- Hightower
JJ Schmaltz- Clear Creek
Atria Dumas- North Shore
Katelyn Chomko- Tomball Memorial (Mineral Area College)
Savannah Wilson- Kingwood Park (Siena College)
Cortni Harris- Crosby (Mary-Hardin Baylor)
Jasmeen Lemons- Hastings (Milwaukee Area Technical College)
Jalyn Wright-Hardin Jefferson
Peyton Foster-Langham Creek (Hill College)
*Saija Cleveland- Langham Creek—on bench-can not play due to injury (Dayton)
Where are They Now: Texas Tech vs UH features plenty of H-Town Talent
HOUSTON - When the Red Raiders and Cougars rumble into NRG Stadium on Saturday night for a primetime season kickoff in the Good Sam Texas Kickoff there will be plenty of H-Town talent on display.
Let's start with Texas Tech from the Big 12 Conference.
The Red Raiders, led by Matt Wells naturally features a lot of Texas talent. But from the Houston area it will be homecoming for the likes of Eisenhower alums Adrian Frye, who is a senior defensive back, and Tyrique Matthews, who plays linebacker.
In just a few days @TexasTechFB takes the field at NRG Stadium!
@GoodSam #TexasKickoff | #WreckEm
— Good Sam Texas Kickoff (@TexasKickoff) September 1, 2021
Another defensive back coming home is Eric Monroe, who actually started his career at LSU before transferring to Texas Tech. Monroe in high school starred at North Shore and was a part of the 2015 State Championship squad.
Here are more Red Raiders that are from Houston.
No. 36 Trey Wolff - Klein HS (Place Kicker)
No. 43 Jake Justice - Lutheran South Academy (Defensive Line)
No. 48 Grant Nickel - Grand Oaks (Place Kicker)
No. 51 Robert Wooten - Stafford (Defensive Line)
No. 54 Bryce Ramirez - George Ranch (Linebacker)
No. 69 Caleb Rodkey - Ridge Point (Offensive Line)
No. 74 Larry Moore - FB Marshall (Offensive Line)
No. 80 Mason Tharp - Klein (Tight End)
No. 97 Tony Bradford Jr. - North Shore (Defensive Line)
No. 99 Gilbert Ibeneme - Pearland (Defensive Line)
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
ONE WEEK until @UHCougarFB takes the field at NRG Stadium.
#GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/WMCZF945oE
— Good Sam Texas Kickoff (@TexasKickoff) August 28, 2021
Now, let's get to the hometown Houston Cougars.
Dana Holgorsen enters year three of leading the Cougars and last season was truly a wash with all of the canceled games that Houston had to deal with.
On the recruiting front, Holgorsen and staff have made a conscious effort to recruit the Houston area and make that solid connection with the Houston-area coaches. It has worked as he's gotten some the area's best talent to stay home.
Here is the list of Cougars to watch on Saturday who will be repping their city.
No. 0 Derek Parish - Pearland (Defensive Line/Fullback)
No. 2 Deontay Anderson - Manvel (Linebacker)
No. 3 Donavan Mutin - Klein Collins (Linebacker)
No. 4 Ta'Zhawn Henry - Lamar (Running Back)
No. 8 Chandler Smith - Oak Ridge (Running Back)
No. 9 Jovanni Stewart - Katy (Linebacker)
No. 10 Sofian Massoud - Cy Lakes (Quarterback)
No. 10 Chidozie Nwankwo - Foster (Defensive Line)
No. 14 Mannie Nunnery - Shadow Creek (Linebacker)
No. 15 Mark Wilson - Clear Lake (Safety)
No. 18 Maddox Kopp - St. Thomas (Quarterback)
No. 19 C.J Guidry - Shadow Creek (Wide Receiver)
No. 19 Alex Hogan - Lamar (Cornerback)
No. 20 Antonio Brooks - Fort Bend Marshall (Safety)
No. 20 Kesean Carter - The Woodlands (Wide Receiver)
No. 22 Alton McCaskill - Oak Ridge (Running Back)
No. 25 DJ Small - Dickinson (Cornerback)
No. 26 Ja'Kori Morgan - Clear Lake (Inside Receiver)
No. 27 Amaud Willis-Dalton - Cypress Ranch (Linebacker)
No. 30 Alexander Duke - Bellaire (Defensive Line)
No. 34 Dylan Dixon - St. Thomas (Cornerback)
No. 35 Jalen Emery - Shadow Creek (Cornerback)
No. 36 Mike Welch - Dickinson (Safety)
No. 39 Shaun Lewis - Westfield (Cornerback)
No. 40 Jordan Carmouche - Manvel (Linebacker)
No. 41 Bubba Baxa - Pasadena Memorial (Kicker)
No. 41 T.J. Marshall - Shadow Creek (Linebacker)
No. 48 Caleb Mendez - Pearland (Kicker)
No. 50 Hakeem Ajijolaiya - Tompkins (Defensive Line)
No. 51 Kyle Ramsey - Ridge Point (Kicker)
No. 52 Ken Savanah - Stafford (Linebacker)
No. 53 Derek Bowman - Magnolia (Offensive Line)
No. 54 Blake Okoye - Klein Collins (Linebacker)
No. 61 Benil Johnson - St. Pius X (Offensive Line)
No. 62 Gabe Cossey - Klein (Offensive Line)
No. 64 Dennis Bardwell - Huffman (Offensive Line)
No. 66 Billy Thursland - Heights (Offensive Line)
No. 70 Jordan Boatman - College Park (Offensive Line)
No. 71 Max Banes - St. Thomas (Offensive Line)
No. 73 Cam'Ron Johnson - Shadow Creek (Offensive Line)
No. 76 Patrick Paul - Jersey Village (Offensive Line)
No. 77 Keenan Murphy - Crosby (Offensive Line)
No. 79 Chayse Todd - Crosby (Offensive Line)
No. 81 Darius Edmonds - Atascocita (Inside Receiver)
No. 82 Dylan Robinson - Atascocita (Wide Receiver)
No. 83 Peyton Sawyer - Clear Springs (Wide Receiver)
No. 84 Cole McGowan - Magnolia (Wide Receiver)
No. 89 Parker Eichenberger - Katy (Tight End)
No. 96 Nelson Ceaser - Ridge Point (Defensive Line)