GAMES
RANKINGS
Shadow Creek's Courtland Cloud (UTSA commit)
SAY LESS: To Shadow Creek's Cloud, Winning Is the Only Statement That Matters
It was a brief moment, but one that spoke volumes about the personality of Shadow Creek's now-senior guard.
Confident. Fearless. Unapologetically herself.
For Cloud, the statement carried a little extra weight. After establishing herself as a phenom in the private-school ranks at St. Pius X, she transferred to Shadow Creek ahead of the 2025-26 season, stepping into an environment where expectations were already sky-high.
As it turned out, she fit right in.
“It was competitive from the moment I got there last year,” Cloud recalled. “There are a lot of players with plenty of stars, offers and looks from colleges. It’s a great environment to grow and perfect your game because you’re constantly being pushed to another level. Shadow Creek was the move.”
The featured standouts of the 2026-27 Shadow Creek Lady Sharks basketball team.Photo by Carmen Agnew (VYPE)
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The decision paid dividends.
Cloud averaged 15 points and seven rebounds, collecting District 22-6A Offensive MVP honors and TABC All-State recognition. More importantly, she helped propel the Lady Sharks to their first UIL State Semifinal appearance.
Yet individual accolades have never been the driving force behind her tenacity.
“I just want to win,” Cloud said. “I’m always going to have that energy and intensity in me. So, when I’m really on one, it’s just a crazy feeling that’s hard to describe. I want to channel that into being there for my teammates, showing up when they need me and getting the W for my coach.”
Her abilities on the court have also put the collegiate stage within reach. In late September, Cloud announced her commitment to UTSA — a decision further solidified by her official visit.
“I got to watch them practice, and the intensity was on another level,” she said. “I was itching to get out there and practice with them. Everything about it just felt like my type of game and a family environment I could see myself being part of.”
Still, Cloud recognizes that making the leap to college basketball will require more than sheer athletic ability.
Photo by Carmen Agnew (VYPE)
“There are times when I need to lock in mentally and slow everything down,” she explained. “I can get really pumped up during games, so it’s about finding that balance and learning to control myself better on the court. I also want to keep working on being a better teammate and becoming more vocal.”
Away from the court, Cloud has already found an outlet for slowing things down.
Fishing.
Whether she's heading to Galveston with her uncle or finding a nearby pond, the pastime offers a welcome contrast to the adrenaline of basketball.
“It’s very calming, and honestly, I need that sometimes,” she admitted.
As Cloud approaches the closing chapter of her high school career, the perspective she's gained along the way is perhaps best reflected in the advice she'd offer her younger self.
“Keep the main thing the main thing,” she said. “If you want to do something, do it the right way and give it everything you’ve got. Stay locked in, keep your people close and stay close to God.”
Her next destination may be decided, but Cloud isn't finished writing her story at Shadow Creek.
After all, she's already asked the question.
Now, she has one more season to give everyone an answer.
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Cypress Springs' Makenzie "The Ansah" Jackson
THE ANSAH: Behind the Goggles, Jackson Finds Her Spotlight at Cy Springs
Add in the nickname — “The Ansah” — and Jackson's unmistakable swagger comes into full view.
Her confidence isn't without substance, either.
It didn't take long for Jackson to make her mark at the varsity level. In her first year with the Panthers, she secured District 16-6A MVP distinction and a spot on the TABC All-State team — an impressive haul for a freshman. The numbers were equally compelling, as she averaged nearly 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals per game.
Yet her introduction to basketball was far more modest.
“The journey started in the driveway, where my dad put up my first basketball goal,” Jackson recalled. “I actually played soccer at first, but once I started hooping and scoring — even against the boys — my mom was like, ‘Okay, she's a natural athlete.’ That's when we started taking basketball seriously.”
Photo by Matt Powell (VYPE)
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Of course, making a name for herself so early has brought an entirely new level of recognition. And while Jackson has embraced the spotlight, she's still learning to navigate everything that comes with it.
“There's definitely pressure when it feels like everyone is watching you,” she said. “It's almost like having a target on your back. But at the same time, it's kind of cool knowing that I have people's attention. I'm usually a shy, nervous person, but I'm getting used to that feeling and realizing just how big my name is starting to get.”
That reserved personality offers an intriguing contrast to the confidence Jackson exudes whenever she takes the floor.
Away from basketball, Jackson has an artistic streak. She's learning piano, taking art classes and frequently spends her free time drawing. She also draws inspiration from LSU standout MiLaysia Fulwiley, while finding a different kind of motivation in one of her favorite anime characters.
“Naruto is at the top of my list because I feel like I can relate to how driven he is to fight for his dream,” she explained.
Jackson has some considerable dreams of her own.
After helping Cypress Springs claim its fourth consecutive district championship and reach the Region II Final last winter, she's determined to push the Panthers beyond that threshold. A McDonald's All-American selection by her senior year is another benchmark she's set for herself.
“But I also want to win State,” Jackson emphasized. “This year, I feel like my teammates and I have a point to prove. I'm coming in with the mindset of eliminating everybody in front of us, and we can't let anybody get in our way.”
The featured standouts of the 2026-27 Cypress Springs Lady Panthers basketball team with head coach Taneisha RogersPhoto by Matt Powell (VYPE)
And those signature goggles? They're more than an accessory.
“I actually can't see when I'm not wearing them,” Jackson said with a laugh. “Plus, they keep other players from poking me in the eyes when I'm driving to the basket. I wear glasses 24/7, so if I can make them look cool while I'm playing, that's fine with me.”
For someone who's still adjusting to being recognized everywhere she goes, Jackson has certainly developed a look — and a name — that's difficult to forget.
The Ansah is only getting started.