Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, as we ring in the New Year and the stakes begin to rise.
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Khloe Yarborough -- Manvel Girls Basketball
Doug Brown (VYPE)
Manvel has shown no signs of slowing down this winter, finally cracking the Top-10 in the TABC Girls 6A rankings and climbing into the state’s Top-20 per MaxPreps. Tipping off 2026 with a 23-3 composite record — including a 6-1 start against their foes in District 22-6A — all the pieces appear to be falling into place for the Lady Mavs.
On the topic of pieces, guard play is a critical asset at this juncture, but most championship-caliber rotations also require imposing physicality — exactly what Khloe Yarborough brings. While fully capable of performing as a guard, Yarborough inflicts her most damage at power forward. The junior can score when called upon, but it’s her defensive prowess and ability to grab boards that continues to shape Manvel’s identity.
As District 22-6A intensifies, Yarborough remains Manvel’s most imposing equalizer — powering a contender that looks built for January urgency and March potential alike.
Daniel Green -- Shadow Creek Basketball
Doug Brown (VYPE)
It would appear the Sharks are impervious to regression. In head coach Brandon Gay’s first season at the helm, Shadow Creek has surged to a 13-5 start, including a spotless 5-0 mark in district play. The Sharks most recently finished as runner-up at the Allen Invitational, adding another data point to a season defined by momentum rather than fluctuation.
Remaining at the forefront of H-Town hoops has been a combined effort. The comprehensive athleticism of freshman BJ Lafell, sophomores Jaylen Addai and Stanford Wiley IV, and junior guard/forward Braylon Caldwell already positions Shadow Creek among the rapidly trending squads in the city.
Still, point guard Daniel Green provides integral experience to the dynamic. One of the more seasoned individuals on Gay’s roster, Green has been a model of consistency. The junior is consistently knocking on the door of 20 points a night while forcing turnovers and distributing the wealth with a poised, unselfish tempo that steadies possessions before defining them.
With no clear weaknesses and talent to spare, the Sharks look built for more than early-season intrigue. If a leap is coming, Green will be the hand on the controls — guiding a contender whose potential is only just beginning to develop.
Kendall Ford -- Dawson Girls Basketball
Isaiah Vela (VYPE)
Dawson assuredly knows how to make statements, as evidenced by its D1 Gold Bracket championship at the Aggieland Invitational to cap off 2025. At 23-2, and ranked 4th in Texas by MaxPreps — while remaining comfortably within the Top-10 of the TABC’s 6A rankings — it’s becoming clear the Eagles are peaking at the perfect time.
Make no mistake: this roster is loaded with alpha-caliber players who all deserve credit for the run the team has experienced thus far. But it’s hard to argue against the early outlook that Kendall Ford could ultimately be named District 22-6A MVP for the second year in a row.
Ford is her. Whether the Tarleton State-bound senior is orchestrating the offense from the point guard spot or lighting up the scoring in tandem with fellow senior Journey Lovett and junior Faith Etienne, Ford remains the engine driving Dawson’s ascent.
If January reveals contenders, March crowns them. And if Dawson reaches its inaugural appearance in the State Final Four, Ford’s fingerprints will be all over the breakthrough — not just fueling a moment, but powering a movement.
Valin Idusuyi -- Dickinson Basketball
Doug Brown (VYPE)
While the Gators didn’t conclude the VYPE Holiday Invitational as they envisioned this past week, it’s hard to fault the team too much, considering it fell in the tournament semifinals to the top-ranked team in Texas, per TABC, Seven Lakes.
Even so, Dickinson begins the new year with a noteworthy 15-5 record and as much momentum as one could ask for, now turning its attention toward a district slate that will demand its best, but already appears within reach.
In the semifinal clash, senior guard Valin Idusuyi led the Gators in scoring, pouring in nearly 30 points toward the 92-63 final. For his efforts, Idusuyi received all-tournament second-team honors — a performance that underscored his broader influence on the group this winter. Though he typically hovers around 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals per contest, Idusuyi impacts possessions beyond the averages, offering stability on the glass, pressure in passing lanes, and scoring punch when called upon.
He trails only teammate TroyNelle Belle, a first-team selection who racks up 24 points a night on average, giving Dickinson a tandem dynamic capable of tilting games through balance rather than burden.
The Gators remain one of the more dangerous units in Houston, as Dickinson approaches district play not as a hopeful spoiler, but a legitimate mismatch threat when fully realized.
Kyndall King -- Clear Falls Girls Basketball
Alex Hinson (VYPE)
The Knights are in the midst of one of their fastest starts in years. The Coach Mary Graves-led squad currently flexes a 17-6 record, bolstered by a six-game winning streak as district play ramps up.
Much of that success stems from the undeniable impact of senior forward Kyndall King. From a statistical standpoint, King is averaging nearly 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals per game — all team highs, and numbers that only partially capture her influence. Her defensive pressure sets the tone, her activity on the glass steadies momentum, and her scoring arrives with a reliability that has quietly reshaped Clear Falls’ identity this winter.
District 24-6A is never an easy slate, but with King operating at this rate, Clear Falls is well on its way to securing its first playoff berth since the 2021-2022 campaign.
