Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, as the opening stages of this winter have already featured a multitude of stylish shooters.
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Courtland Cloud -- Shadow Creek Girls Basketball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
There was no time wasted by surging shooting guard Courtland Cloud, who has quickly asserted herself as one of Shadow Creek’s most enthralling new additions. The former St. Pius X standout arrived fresh off a sophomore season that earned her first-team, all-state recognition in TAPPS-6A — and she’s carried that momentum straight into 2025.
Now a junior, Cloud has become a seamless fit within an already well-established Sharks program that has stormed out to a 13–1 start. A constant double-double threat, she’s pacing the team with 17 points and 7 rebounds per night, setting the tone on both ends.
For a squad that drew a tough opening-round matchup with Hightower in last year’s postseason, Cloud’s arrival feels like more than just roster enhancement. It’s a sign that Shadow Creek may be positioning itself for something bigger this time around.
Peyton Cooks -- Manvel Girls Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Among the numerous Houston-area programs to enjoy hot starts to the winter campaign, Manvel has steamrolled its way to an 18-2 record under sixth-year head coach Jhared Marshall. Those impressive numbers aside, it’s the quality of opponents the Mavs have already dispatched – including district rival Dawson, Barbers Hill, Klein Collins, Cy Ranch, and Fulshear – that makes their upswing even more noteworthy.
And while this Manvel roster is equipped with exceptional balance and depth, it certainly isn’t without its alphas. Few have been quite as impactful as Peyton Cooks, a senior who has already built a strong résumé. Following a first-team, all-district selection last winter, Cooks not only continues to score well into the double digits, but has also shown her ability to keep teammates involved from the combo guard spot.
District 22-6A will be a gauntlet, but the rapid progression this group has displayed suggests the Mavericks are built to withstand it.
Chase Richardson -- Friendswood Basketball
Matt Powell (VYPE)
In the early stretch of winter play, Friendswood (11–4) has proven to be every bit the contender it was projected to be. That promise crystallized last week in San Antonio, where Danny Russell’s group went 4–1 at the South San Tournament — falling only to eventual champion Cibolo Steele. More than the wins, the trip offered a meaningful barometer for a roster that continues to show it can thrive just as comfortably in hostile territory.
At the heart of that rise is Chase Richardson, the most staggering weapon in Russell’s arsenal. One of the more fascinating blue-chip talents in Texas, Richardson brings a skillset that opposing defenses rarely contain, much less counter. His pin-point shooting, dynamic driving ability, no-look vision, and explosive bounce make him a matchup problem on every possession. A 2025 first-team, all-district selection, Richardson is firmly positioning himself as a legitimate 20-5A MVP candidate if his trajectory holds.
Journey Lovett -- Dawson Girls Basketball
Isaiah Vela (VYPE)
The Eagles haven’t skipped a beat in head coach Gary Douglas’ first year at the helm. Recently named the GHAGBA (Greater Houston Area Girls Basketball Association) Team of the Month, Dawson has been nothing short of mesmerizing through the tournament portion of its schedule.
As district play arrives, the Eagles (13-2) close November with a championship at the inaugural Hoopfest Invitational and a runner-up finish in the gold bracket of the McDonald’s Texas Invitational. With Duncanville, North Crowley, Cy Springs, C.E. King, and Houston Christian all left in their wake, it’s increasingly evident that this roster is constructed to contend.
Identifying just one standout from a group this deep is no small task. Last year’s 22-6A MVP Kendall Ford (Sr. CG), Ellison-transfer and reigning 16-5A MVP Faith Etienne (Jr. G), and first-teamer Mia Ibarre (Sr. G) all have legitimate claims to the spotlight.
Even so, Journey Lovett has more than earned her share of it. Having signed with Bradley University last month, the senior shooting guard continues to showcase the scoring punch that has long defined her game. Whether it’s her 25-point night against Angleton or a 30-piece versus C.E. King, Lovett seems magnetized to the scoreboard — a trait that will only elevate a Dawson squad aiming to build on last year’s run to the 6A-DI Region III Final.
Devan Brown -- Pearland Boys Basketball
Matt Powell (VYPE)
Momentum has quickly become Pearland’s calling card, as the Oilers have strung together 10 straight wins heading into their district slate. That surge was punctuated by an undefeated run at the Gulf Coast Classic, where they secured the championship with a 56–44 victory over Barbers Hill just a week ago.
Now sitting at 11–1, Pearland shows no signs of easing off the gas — due in large part to the steady brilliance of senior Devan Brown. Fresh off being named Tournament MVP of November’s Maroon Classic — another event the Oilers swept at 5–0 — Brown continues to anchor the offense with an efficient scoring touch that hovers around 20 points per night, often more.
Expectations were already substantial for this group, but the way Brown and Pearland have navigated their early schedule suggests those aspirations are well-founded. A run at the 22-6A crown would only reinforce the hype they’ve been building.
