Class of 2017 TEXAS ELITE College Commitments

Brooke Bradley
Bishop Lynch HS / Texas Elite Christian GATA
UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD
Not only did I feel at home when I visited the University of the Incarnate Word, but I felt super excited to be able to play under a great coaching staff. Coach Smith was very welcoming and I am looking forward to building a Division 1 program with her. I have known assistant coach Marvin Walker basically half my life since he coached with my mom at Trinity University. Coach Betsy just went on a mission trip which was something I've always wanted to do and I enjoyed hearing about her trip. Not only is the coaching staff so amazing, but my aunt and uncle and their family lives in San Antonio right next to UIW. I grew up going to schools in San Antonio and the opportunity to play there is a huge blessing, especially knowing that I will be surrounded by so many loving people that want to help me succeed in my dreams and goals. Also I get to play with my teammate and one of my best friends, Kandyce!
Texas Elite basically became my second family these past few years. My teammates and coaches were not only extremely competitive, but they were funny, friendly, and helped me be the person I am today. Our coaches taught us life lessons and helped us play to the best of our ability, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. All the Texas Elite players, whether they were on my team or not, have become some of my greatest friends. I definitely would not have wanted to spend my last AAU season with any other program. It was also fun getting to play in the same program as my two younger sisters.


Temi Alao
Allen HS / Texas Elite adidas Prime
RICE UNIVERSITY 

The recruiting process was tough because everyone who offered me was extremely generous, kind and amiable- which made it more difficult to turn them down. I chose Rice because the academics are of course top notch and very vital in my future, the campus is beautiful and the staff is amazing; however I do want to make a change and a difference in the Women's Basketball program. I'm very blessed & excited to be coached by Coach Langley. I can't wait to play!

I love my teammates. I cherished every game, every practice, & every hotel room we stayed in over the summer. 







Kandyce Shepard
Round Rock Westwood HS / Texas Elite Christian GATA
UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD
My recruiting process wasn't very complicated, just long and required much evaluation and thought. I received several letters like most do, and talked to many coaches, but I often felt it wasn't going to go further than that. Yes, the interest is there but are you good enough for our agenda and roster or to bring on a visit? But ultimately through the process I grew as a player and went through the loss of some coaches interest and gained some from others which allowed me to narrow my decision. I was stuck on making sure I visited each school I narrowed it down to and making sure just which one had all that I needed in a school. In the beginning I didn't mind attending a long distance school, but ultimately I'd rather stay in Texas, I decided. Incarnate Word was that. Not only is it an hour from home, but it offered some really good academic programs, and since the school isn't strictly BASKETBALL BASKETBALL AND BASKETBALL, I'm easily allowed to double major and add more focus to my studying as I balance both balling and studying. Also, I get to play with a close teammate and we actually talked about it and think we will and have actually allowed each other to grow and pushed one another. I know a few of the players on the team, and they are pretty good as well, and I think all of us together will help the program take off to another level. The coaches are so open and invested in their players and the school environment is so homey, so I believe it's a good fit. All the help I received along the way is greatly appreciated. 
Playing with Texas Elite was great. It was so fun and it allowed me to, without a doubt, grow my post game (which was shy at first) and my being all in. Coach Brenton, Drew Barba, and Shane Laflin invested a lot of time into us that all in all paid off. When I got asked to play with Texas Elite 2 years ago, I was hesitant to, but I'm glad I did. I honestly don't think I'd be recruited to the great school that I'm at without the added skills training, practice, and outgoing/talented teammates that I was fortunate enough to play alongside. Also I got to travel out of state several times and never thought I would ever get on a plane, pretty cool experience. Don't care to be in the air again though...


Taylor Green
Georgetown HS / Texas Elite Christian GATA
TEXAS A&M COMMERCE 

My choice to choose TAMUC wasn't very difficult. My dad always says you have to show people love who have nothing but love for you. They were at every single one of my games for two tournaments in a row. Not only an assistant coach or the head coach - it was every single one of them at my game, every game. So when it came down to make sure a school had a good educational fit, athletic fit, social and spiritual fit, and to what school really wanted me and showed it, it was an easy choice.


With Texas Elite I didn't really feel like you needed to be something you were not. My experience with Texas Elite was one I wish I could get back. This summer was unforgettable but bittersweet because it all had to come to an end, and a sad realization that I should have been doing this all along .. It's a family atmosphere and even though we were sometimes many miles away from home, I never felt like that because with the coaches and my teammates, it felt like a home away from home.


Alex Nance
Round Rock HS / Texas Elite Christian GATA
TEXAS A&M COMMERCE

Playing for Texas Elite for eight years taught me a lot about basketball and even things outside of basketball. The coaches are great role models, and I don't think I wouldn't have gotten where I am without them. They have always been like my family, and it was reassuring to know that they would do just about anything for me, especially helping me get to college to play at the next level.

The recruiting process has been sometimes stressful, but choosing Texas A&M commerce was ultimately the right decision. I felt like a part of the family to the coaches, similar to what I felt with my Texas Elite coaches. I'm excited to see my relationship with them grow and develop just like it did with Texas Elite. 




Lauren Heard 
Guyer HS / Texas Elite adidas Prime
TCU 

My recruiting process was long & vetted. I am very satisfied with my commitment to TCU because I'm 100% on board with coach Pebley's coaching philosophy & how she plans on incorporating me into the team. 

My experience with playing for Texas Elite has been truly amazing! I've never been a part of such a family-like organization. Playing for Texas Elite gave me the privilege to compete overseas as well as given me the opportunity to display my talent on the biggest stages. 


Gabrielle Rogers
Bishop Lynch HS / Texas Elite adidas Bounce
William & Mary University  

I choose The College of William and Mary  because it is a great fit for me. The college in general is the second oldest school in the US and is based on strong academic principles. The campus is beautiful and the coaching staff and the players are awesome. The coaches, players, professors and various support staff made me feel at home. They welcomed me with open arms and made me feel as though I was already a part of the team. Overall, my visit to The college of William and Mary went really well! 

This was my first year playing with Texas Elite and Coach Walt. However, it felt like I had been there since I began playing summer basketball. Texas Elite and Coach Walt set high standards and made my experience productive as well as positive. Coach Walt is an awesome leader and basketball coach whose passion for the game translates onto the players. Also, Texas Elite gave me an opportunity to practice and play against some of the best players in the nation. Overall, the organization was very supportive of our team. Lastly, I made life long friends while playing for Texas Elite.


Trinity Oliver
Trinity HS / Texas Elite adidas Prime
Baylor University

I've been so blessed to have become the basketball player I am today. Basketball didn't come easy for me at all. I knew I had the talent, but it was just about me bringing it out. It took me until my junior year to figure myself out, but I believe that's when it all happened for me. My recruiting process was so incredible just to see how many coaches were interested in me and were at so many games to watch me grow and develop over the years. Being recruited by any college is an accomplishment in itself, but Division 1 is everyone's goal, and I've been so fortunate to be a player that has been recruited by many great schools at such a high level.  If you would've said I would be where I am today I wouldn't have believed you.
This process is hard but it does pay off if you stick with it and dream big. Everyone has their different experiences when it comes to recruiting. For me it was mostly fun and I was super excited with all the visits and phone calls, but I knew the time to make my decision was coming up quick because when it's all said and done, you have to come down from the excitement and face reality and go to the school you think is right for you. This became the most stressful part of it all, but I have an amazing family and friend support system who has helped me along this journey.

I'm so grateful for my experience with Texas Adidas Elite I will never forget this organization. This team has been a huge part of my success. Playing with some of the best girls in the country and becoming a family with so many different backgrounds - that's really what it's all about: growing as a player and doing it with a bunch of people you love. Also getting the opportunity to be coached by Franey, Joey, and Shane was amazing. They instilled so much in me and I'm so happy I get to carry it on to the next level. 


Savannah Ralph
Austin Bowie HS / Texas Elite Christian - Maroon 
Loyola University - New Orleans

In the recruiting process I've found that Loyola University is the perfect fit for me both on the court and academically. I'm excited to continue my basketball career and education there. 

Texas Elite is a family oriented club that really focuses on each individual's skill development and gets great exposure. 

Mya Hollingshed
Bellaire HS / Texas Elite (Houston) Lady Phenoms
University of Colorado - Boulder

Being a part of the Texas Elite family changed my life. My basketball IQ increased tremendously under the skilled direction of Coach DJ. The Houston Lady Phenoms taught me how, not only to be a better individual player, but a team player. This was the first time I played with this much talent.  Based on the level of tournaments that we participated in, my exposure level increased phenomenally. 

The recruitment process was overwhelming and stressful at times as I balanced school and sports.  This process allowed to me speak with some of the top coaches, and I developed a few lifelong friendships. It's a blessing to be wanted by so many teams but in the end choosing the University of Colorado Boulder was EASY. They truly made me feel like family and everything we had discussed throughout the recruiting process turned out to be true as everything aligned. 

I am looking forward to the next step in this journey but I will never forget the phenomenal Texas Elite Houston Lady Phenoms.  

Brianna & Kianna Suber 
Bryan Rudder HS / Tx Elite Phenoms
University of Louisiana-Lafeyette 

Our recruiting process was challenging, but what definitely aided us in our decision was the desire to get out of Texas and see other places.  

Our Texas Elite experience was probably unique from others. My sister and I were on one of the first teams when Joey Simmons created the program (his top 8th grade team). We really helped and got to see the program take off. It was fun to watch approximately 4-5 teams throughout the Dallas and College Station area expand all over Texas. Now 5 years later more than 70 teams are in full effect (boys/girls)! We were also blessed to have the opportunity to finish our HS career out on a team that was recently added to Texas Elite, a Houston based team, Texas Elite Phenoms with coach DJ Johnson. 

It is a really successful basketball club and we encourage any young athletes to join Texas Elite for a great basketball career!



Olivia Noah 
Cy Fair HS / Texas Elite adidas 832
University of the Incarnate Word

For me, the recruiting process was constantly changing. I ultimately decided to chose a smaller school in Texas, which in the beginning was not what I thought I wanted. In the end UIW was clearly the best decision for me. The coaching staff is fantastic and the team is very close-knit, and I cannot wait to be a part of UIW women's basketball!

I began playing AAU basketball with Texas Elite the summer before my sophomore year. Coach Chuck and the other coaches have done a tremendous job of developing my game and helping me to play at the next level. Playing with very talented teammates pushed me to get better in every practice.



Ellie Rice 
Regents School of Austin / Texas Elite GATA
Loyola University Chicago 

My Texas Elite team was like a second family to me.  I grew so much through every practice and game, not only as a player, but also as a person.  My coaches taught me what it looks like to give everything you have on the court, and how to persevere through difficult situations.  I would not be where I am today without my teammates and coaches.  There were certainly ups and downs throughout my Texas Elite career, but I knew I could always count on my Texas Elite family to come along side me and push me to achieve my goals.  Shane, Brenton, Drew, and Roy were incredible coaches who taught me valuable skills that I can take into my college career. 

My recruiting process was long but I am so blessed to have made the decision to attend Loyola Chicago.  When I was a little girl, just learning how to shoot a layup, I remember watching college players in awe, dreaming of what it could be like if I could get there too.  It seemed impossible at first, but I remember the first phone call I received from a college coach, and I was so excited. I knew that my hard work and dedication was beginning to pay off, because college coaches were beginning to notice it.  I decided that I needed to take my time with this decision, because it was an important next phase in my life.  I chose Loyola Chicago for so many reasons.  It is a great academic school, and the coaches are a tight-knit group that really desire to see their players grow and achieve success on the court.  The girls were so welcoming, and I am so excited to get the chance to play with them next year. I am happy to begin this new chapter of my life at Loyola Chicago, because I know it will be a home away from home.
I couldn’t have achieved any of this without the Texas Elite Coaches and Parents who sacrificed so much of their time to send girls to play the game they love while receiving an education, and for that, I will always be grateful.