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Four-Star Cypress Springs ATH Paris Melvin Jr.
BUILT DIFFERENT: Melvin Jr.’s versatile brilliance has revitalized Cy Springs Football
Melvin, now entering his senior year, is an athlete in every sense of the word.
Offensively, he lines up in the backfield or in the slot. Defensively, he locks down receivers at corner or flies around as a nickelback. Wherever the Panthers need a spark, Melvin delivers.
Last season, he totaled over 1,500 scrimmage yards, 21 touchdowns, and added an interception with four pass breakups on defense – enough to earn District 16-6A MVP honors and turn heads across Texas.
“Really, it’s something that I’ve been doing since I was a kid,” Melvin said. “Now, it’s come to the point where I just don’t like being off the field. When I’m not out there doing everything I can to make a play, it makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
That mindset – never sitting still, always impacting the game – has helped shape him into one of the most dynamic two-way athletes in the country. His skill set draws natural comparisons to Travis Hunter, the Colorado star turned No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But for Melvin, the inspiration goes even deeper.
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“Most people would assume that it’s Travis Hunter. Of course, he’s an athlete I aspire to be like… But I have two favorites: Deion Sanders and CeeDee Lamb.”
Deion’s once-in-a-generation versatility and Lamb’s explosive playmaking – especially meaningful given his roots in the Houston area, where he starred at Foster before ascending to Oklahoma and, ultimately, the Dallas Cowboys – both resonate with Melvin.
“CeeDee is my favorite current player and plays at my favorite position,” he said. “I’m not on his level yet, of course, but I do get a lot of comparisons to him.”
That confidence comes naturally. Ask Melvin what sets him apart, and his answer is simple but revealing.
“It’s the way I’m built,” Melvin said. “There’s nothing you could tell me that I can’t do. If you doubt me, I’m just going to go out there and prove it.”
Now in the latter stages of his high school career, Melvin ultimately announced his future program after committing to the University of Houston in July. The Coogs will be getting more than just a recruit – they’re getting a mentality.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
And that distinct mindset has been forged at Cy Springs, a program that didn’t always get the attention it’s starting to now.
“When I first got here after eighth grade, there wasn’t anyone on the outside who believed in this program,” Melvin said. “When everyone turned left, I turned right. I’m grateful that I stayed and have been able to build something with Coach [Oji] Fagan and his staff. Now, we’re in the process of becoming one of the top teams in the state. Stay tuned for that.”
If Melvin Jr. has anything to say about it – and he usually does, on every down and on every side of the ball – Cypress Springs won’t just be in the conversation. They’ll be leading it.
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Ridge Point's Austin Carlisle
THE GRIND: Future Houston Cougar Carlisle leaving legacy at Ridge Point
At the helm of this prolific attack is senior QB Austin Carlisle, whose journey to the top has been one noted by determination.
As is the case for many young athletes, Carlisle was inspired from watching others.
“Growing up, my Dad played football, so it was always a goal of mine to continue his dream and legacy,” he said. “I’ve also been impacted by all the professionals – guys like Patrick Mahomes and C.J. Stroud, who have incredible stories – telling myself I wanted to be there one day. I feel like the heart they show kind of fuels my ambition to prove to everybody in my community that I could be there.”
This three-star signal-caller’s path is also reminiscent of that of another professional, Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers), starting from the bottom to become an instant sensation.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“Initially, I started out at Foster before moving over to Ridge Point my sophomore year,” said Carlisle. “I was a third-string guy and ended up taking over in the fourth game against Hightower. I’ve started ever since.
“The culture is different. They brought me into their family immediately and didn’t treat me as just some new guy. They’ve pushed me to work hard like I was one of their brothers that they’ve known forever, and I’ve fed off of that.”
While he was impressive during his debut, it wasn’t until his junior campaign that Carlisle became a household name, throwing for over 3,000 yards through the air (34 TDs) and tacked on nearly 600 more on the ground (10 TDs), to earn District Offensive MVP honors.
Said performance allowed the University of Houston-commit to truly burst onto the college recruiting scene.
“Coach (Rick) LaFavers would always just tell me to keep my head down, keep working and let all the offers come as they will,” he said. “I knew that God had a plan for me, so I didn’t worry about what everyone else was doing – I just stayed the course, which led me to U-of-H.
“Joining a program that’s being built by head coach (Willie) Fritz, QB coach (Shawn) Bell and the rest of his staff really spoke to me. It means a lot to be in that first recruiting class to come in, while having the city behind my back.”
2024-25 Ridge Point FootballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Ridge Point went 9-3 a year ago, which was highlighted by their fourth-consecutive undefeated district championship.
However, they might be playing with a chip on their shoulders, after being eliminated in the second round of the postseason, in a 31-28 nail-biter against Lamar.
Suffice it to say, the Panthers will be locked in.
“It’s really going to be about us playing our game,” Carlisle said. “We need to do what we do best, which is complementary football –offense having the defense’s back and vice versa. If someone makes a mistake we’ll be there to pick up our brother.
“Obviously, we want to maintain that explosiveness we’ve shown. We want everything clicking by week one, but we don’t want to peak there. That way we’ll be ready for that long playoff run.”
If history is any indication,the Carlisle-led Panthers should remain one of the premier forces to emerge from H-Town this Fall.