Even when you look at the simplest of numbers, it doesn’t tell the true story of how successful and productive the ProSkills program out of Dallas has been in its six years of existence.
Throughout that time, the program has produced 76 girls that earned college scholarships at some level. But you need to break that number down a little more to get the whole picture. In its first year, ProSkills had only one girl earn a college scholarship.
Translation: In the last five seasons, ProSkills has helped 75 players get college scholarships.
“We’ve had our share of big names go on to play at big schools and we’re proud of that,’’ ProSkills Director Earl Rooks said. “But we’ve also had a lot of girls that have gone on to play at all levels in college. Basically, our goal is to help girls that want to continue playing past the high school level get college scholarships so that they can go on and provide for their families down the road.’’
That will be the goal again in 2022 as the ProSkills team looks ahead to playing on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit. Rooks will oversee the whole program and the Under-17 team will have Taylor Johnston as the head coach and Johnnie Jefferson as the assistant. It also will be led by a strong core of players from the Class of 2023.
Five Pro Skills players are ranked among the top 300 on All-Star Girls Report’s list of the top prospects for the Class of 2023.
Rooks started running through the list by talking about 5-foot-8 point guard Victoria Flores, No. 251 on ASGR’s list for the Class of 2023, because everything will run through her.
“Victoria is our quarterback and our floor general,’’ Rooks said. “She’s a flat-out competitor who leads with her behavior. She has a work ethic that’s just amazing.’’
Flores will be joined in the backcourt by 6-foot combo guard Laci Steele. She’s ranked No. 145 and makes the commute to and from Dallas from her home in Edmond, OK.
“I think she’s the top 2023 player in Oklahoma,’’ Rooks said. “She’s every coach’s dream in terms of flexibility and the ability to play different positions. She can put the ball in the hoop and she’s not scared of anything.’’
Stretch forward Maddie Cox is ProSkills’ highest-rated player by ASGR. She’s 6-3 and ranked No. 43.
“She’s the smartest player on the floor,’’ Rooks said. “She’s extremely vocal and a real leader. Every championship team needs a Maddie Cox, not just because she’s a great player, but because she’s a great leader.’’
Rooks said ProSkills also has two players he considers “late bloomers’’ and he expects both of them to explode in 2022.
They are Jadyn Atchison (No. 170) and Jules LaMendola (No. 214). Both are 6-1 wings.
“Jadyn plays more like a guy,’’ Rooks said. “She gives off a (Kevin) Durant vibe with the way she plays. I really expect great things from her and I think she’s just going to blow up this summer.’’
LaMendola is the final member of Pro Skills’ Class of 2023 that Rooks mentioned, but that doesn’t mean she’s any less important than the other four.
“Jules is an absolute killer with her mid-range game,’’ Rooks said. “She gets to the free-throw line a lot. She’s passionate about the game and that’s the thing I love most about her. You have to tell her when to go home.’’