Ellie Stanley
Tatiana Butenko of College Station, Texas, works on her jumper in a BCT spotlight session. *Photo by Anthony Lugardo.
AUSTIN – The Check Me Out Showcase is amongst the elite when it comes to premier individual showcases throughout the year inside the state of Texas. With elite level talent coming from as far away as Iowa and Washington to take part, there was no doubt that the event director Chris Hansen had the place to be for new faces and established names alike this weekend. Brandon Clay Spotlight Shooting Sessions held before hand are designed to give prospects a chance to work on their shooting technique specifically prior to the start of the event:
Boone is quickly becoming a staple inside these sessions. After attending sessions in Atlanta, Austin and Indianapolis in 2020, she was back again. The elbow on her shooting arm is lining up under her wrist and hand nicely these days. When Boone does that, she gets the elevation needed on her release to consistently shoot the ball out to beyond the 3-point line. She’s a prospect who approaches the game with a surgical like precision. As a result, we expect Boone’s jumper to keep blossoming with more and more time put in.
Tatiana Butenko (College Station, Texas), Just Play Elite - 2024
Butenko’s foundation is in a good space for her to start ascending to the next level of grassroots basketball over the next 12 months. In this eval, Butenko took instruction well and was able to make adjustments on the fly when need be. She’s got a smooth, consistent release to her shot with the skill set needed to be a consistent factor off the catch and shoot or creating shots. Butenko’s game will keep growing as her range grows.
ProspectsNation.com managing editor Chris Hansen was high on Chastain’s game after her showing in Phoenix earlier in the spring. A left-hand dominant shooter, she has a very high ceiling based on what we’ve seen so far in 2021. Chastain’s ability to pick up footwork drills usually reserved for kids two to three years older bodes well for her future. Keeping her shooting pocket in front of her will be a major place for development.
Hollyhead was with our staff in Seattle back in February. As a result, we felt that she stepped into this setting with more confidence and improved form from our evaluation 90 days ago. That said, Hollyhead’s willingness to hold a high one-second follow through will be a point of emphasis over the summer.
De’Andra Minor (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Unity - 2027
This was our staff’s first chance to work with Minor. She’s got good tools to become a consistent outside shooter in time. Her ability to keep a nice, high shooting pocket that sits above her waistline will be a huge factor in her growth over the next six months. Minor has length and athleticism at the forward spot already with a fantastic attitude on the floor.
Addison Perez (Pleasanton, Texas), SA Select - 2027
Perez is a smaller guard right now who was completely dialed in to improving here. Like most young guards, staying square and locked in with her shooting pocket makes a huge difference in her game as a whole. When she lands with her feet lined with the basket and a tall follow through, Perez has the tools that it takes to be a consistent outside shooter.
Emily Roman (Cedar Park, Texas), Phoenix Select - 2027
This was our first time on the floor with Roman. She has a huge upside if she’ll continue to attend elite shooting, overall skill development sessions like this one. Roman’s attitude was top notch showing growth in her technique even in this one-hour segment. There’s a lot to like about where Roman can go from here.
Savannah Salinas (Boerne, Texas), AD Elite - 2025
Salinas has good length and size at the forward spot. Depending on how she grows, we envision Salinas as a shooter who can stretch the floor with her outside shooting ability. It’s hard trying to get a young prospect to hold a consistent follow through but Salinas showed the beginning stages of what should be a really nice looking outside shot in time. The tools are there.
Yasmeen Schmidt (San Antonio, Texas), SAHE - 2026
Schmidt has fantastic length on the perimeter. She’s a versatile option who should be able to shoot the basketball out to the 23-25 foot line with no issues during her high school career if she keeps working with our staff over time. Schmidt's performance here reminds me of a young Jenna Villa (WA-23). We see Villa four to six times annually as she as has progressed into one of the better shooters nationally. Expect a similar trajectory from Schmidt.
Stanley was in the building with our staff at our Dallas Training Academy in 2020 and came ready to show her improvements. Stanley’s confidence in the drill work jumped right off the page. It’s easy to see that she’s been in the gym. Keeping her right shooting elbow under her wrist into a high one-second release in the next step for Stanley’s shot to keep maturing.
Thienpont’s jumper looked fantastic in the Austin Training Academy progressing leaps and bounds from our shooting session in this same city during 2020. Still just a rising freshman, the sky is the limit for her shooting ability. Look for Thienpont’s consistency to take another leap as she keeps developing her footwork off the dribble. This was a positive showing for her going forward.
Kourtney Wright (Bixby, Okla.), Unity - 2027
Wright showed our staff in March at the Brandon Clay Spring Showdown the type of player that she has the ability to be longterm. For Wright to get that place, continuing to work on her shooting form is crucial. She has the footwork and bounce to create off the dribble. Wright’s growth over the next 12 months is a consistent, tall follow through with her wrist snapped.
Brandon Clay serves as the Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com and owns The BrandonClayScouting.com Evaluation Report, which is read by more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. He also serves as the Executive Skills Director for the Brandon Clay Scouting Academy Series.
