How a Texas A&M Business Professor and a Houston Commodities Trader Built an AI-Powered Elite Baseball Training & Education Academy for the Future

The Bennett School opened in Houston, Texas in August 2025

When Gregg Bennett first walked through the gates of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida back in the early 2000’s, he wasn’t just another university researcher observing the original sports-centered private high school. At the time, Bennett was teaching Sports Business at the University of Florida, but he saw something much bigger - an educational model that blended elite academics with world-class athletic training.

That vision stuck with him.

Years later as a professor at Texas A&M University, Bennett carried the idea of creating a similar academy in Texas, a state with a deep-rooted sports culture and unmatched talent pool. For the last six years, his business plan has sat ready, just waiting for the right opportunity. “I knew what I wanted to build, but I needed the academic piece to complete the puzzle,” Bennett says.

That puzzle finally came together with the launch of The Bennett School under the guidance of the Texas Sports Academy - a new kind of private school that offers student-athletes the chance to pursue excellence both in the classroom and on the field.

Born From a Changing World

The spark to move forward came in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, when students across the country shifted to online learning. Parents began to realize how many hours of the traditional six-hour school day were filled with wasted time, and how much more efficient education could be with the right structure.

“The pandemic showed us what was possible,” Bennett explains. “Students were completing their coursework in a fraction of the time, which freed up space in their day. That’s when I knew we had the academic solution that matched the athletic model I’d been envisioning for years.”

Academic Excellence, Reimagined

At The Bennett School, academics are as innovative as the athletics. Students use the same advanced learning software implemented by Alpha School, designed to accelerate learning and personalize education. The result is a system that allows for 2x learning in just two hours each day - covering all core subjects with individualized attention through AI-powered tools and one-on-one instruction.

The philosophy is simple:

• AI-Powered Learning: Each student receives 1:1 personalized instruction tailored to their strengths and needs.
• Afternoon Training: By completing academics in the morning, afternoons are dedicated to athletic development.
• Maximized Potential: Students achieve more academically and athletically—without the inefficiency of traditional six-hour classroom days.

Built on a Winning Foundation

The school’s athletic program begins with baseball, drawing on the success of one of Bennett’s other businesses - Twelve Baseball – which has become one of Houston’s most accomplished and respected club programs. For years, Twelve has set the standard for player development and achievement. Now, its proven foundation forms the bedrock of The Bennett School’s athletic vision.

“The Bennett School is really the next step,” Bennett says. “We’ve seen what’s possible when young athletes are given the right structure, coaching, and support. Pairing that with an academic model that makes better use of time means students don’t have to choose between excelling in school and excelling in sports.”

A Vision Years in the Making

What makes The Bennett School unique is the depth of thought behind its creation. This isn’t a project born overnight. Bennett’s years of research, planning, and hands-on experience in both sports and education have culminated in a model that feels tailor-made for today’s student-athlete.

“From the moment I stepped onto IMG’s campus years ago, I knew this was something Texas needed,” Bennett reflects. “To finally see it come to life—after all the planning, all the waiting—it’s exciting not just for me, but for every young athlete who will have the opportunity to be part of it.”

A Mother’s Vision: Co-Founder Brandi Dowell Helps Shape The Bennett School

Behind every great idea, there’s often a personal story. For Brandi Dowell, co-founder of The Bennett School and a Houston-based commodities trader, the drive to create a new kind of academic-athletic academy wasn’t just about business—it was about family.

Dowell is the mother of four baseball-loving sons, and she has lived the journey that so many parents of young athletes face: balancing rigorous athletic schedules with the demands of a traditional school day. Her oldest, Fletcher, starred at Lamar High School and is now attending the University of Texas. Her second son, Judson, is a senior at The Bennett School who has already earned the opportunity to play baseball at Texas A&M. Meanwhile, Dash, a freshman, and Watson, a seventh grader, are thriving at The Bennett School, combining their love for the game with an academic model that finally makes sense for them.

A Mother’s Perspective

For Dowell, the traditional six- to seven-hour school day felt broken. Watching her sons sit through long, drawn-out classroom hours, she began to see how much time was being wasted.

“As a parent, it was hard to watch,” Dowell recalls. “I didn’t want my kids to be hostages to a classroom schedule that didn’t maximize their potential. They needed something more individualized, more dynamic - something that matched the pace of their lives as athletes and as learners.”

When she connected with Bennett and his long-held vision of bringing an IMG-style academy to Texas, the pieces clicked. Dowell brought not just her personal perspective as a mother, but also her professional acumen and determination as a business leader. Together, she and Bennett built The Bennett School around two guiding principles: academic efficiency and athletic excellence.

Building For Families Like Hers

Dowell’s fingerprints are all over the school’s model, from its focus on personalized, AI-driven learning to the way afternoons are left open for athletic training and development. The approach mirrors exactly what she had been seeking for her own sons - a place where they could thrive both in the classroom and on the field, without wasting energy on the inefficiencies of a traditional school structure.

“Parents like me wanted an option where academics and athletics weren’t in competition with each other,” Dowell says. “At The Bennett School, they work together. Students are challenged, supported, and freed to pursue their goals without compromise.”

From Family Experience to Community Impact

What began as a personal search for a better educational model has now turned into something far greater. With her four sons walking the path she helped create, Dowell has become the embodiment of The Bennett School’s mission: to give student-athletes the chance to maximize their potential in every way.

“It’s not just about my kids,” Dowell says. “It’s about all the families who feel the same frustrations we did, and who want something better. The Bennett School was built for them.”

South Texas Baseball Talent has Already Begun to Enroll

In a bold move that’s turning heads across South Texas and beyond, The Bennett School has already enrolled 31 baseball players into its growing program, signaling a serious commitment to becoming a powerhouse in high school baseball development. Pulling talent from baseball-rich regions like Houston, College Station, and the Gulf Coast, the roster features a mix of high-profile prospects and promising young talent — all under one roof.

The Bennett School’s baseball roster spans graduation classes from 2026 to 2031, with an emphasis on elite 2026 prospects. The 2026 class alone includes 14 players, several of whom are already committed to top collegiate programs, including Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Texas, VCU, and Blinn JC. These players didn’t just show up — they were recruited, committed, and strategically brought in to help shape a competitive baseball culture at Bennett.

“100% of scouts, pro players, baseball agents, and college coaches absolutely loved the concept when I explained it to them, because they know how much more prepared a player will be for the demands of the college or pro game, if that player attends our school and trains with us," said Bennett.  

Top 2026 Prospects Making Waves

Leading the pack is Brandi’s son Judson Dowell, a powerful 6’0”, 205-pound outfielder from Houston ranked #90 nationally, who’s already committed to Texas A&M. He’s joined by Jeffrey-Todd Darden, another elite outfielder from Cypress, ranked #165, and committed to Oklahoma State.

Harper Gates, a smooth shortstop from Tomball ranked #367, also pledged to Texas A&M, gives Bennett a middle-infield presence that’s college-ready. Rounding out the top-tier commits is Karson Reeder, a tall, projectable right-hander with a #427 ranking and a commitment to the University of Texas, who helped lead Tomball high school to the 2024 6A State Championship. He un-enrolled at Tomball and is spending his senior year at The Bennett School.

“This is the best opportunity for me to prepare for the next stage of my life and my dream, and that is to become a professional baseball player,” said Reeder. “Whether that path takes me to college or signing with an MLB team in the draft come this summer, this is about having leverage in order to make the best decision possible.”

Other notable seniors include:

• Graeson Register (RHP, Top 500) – Texas A&M commit
• Braddock Raven (RHP, Top 500) – Blinn JC commit
• Jackson Dippel (RHP, Top 1000) – Blinn JC commit
• Aiden Reed (RHP, Top 1000) – VCU commit
• Troy Alexander (RHP, Top 1000) – Angelina JC commit

That’s nine college-bound players in one class, most of whom also play for top-tier club teams like Twelve, Stix, and Wildcatters.

The Next Wave: 2027 Class and Beyond

While the 2026 class is Bennett’s foundation, the 2027 group is already showing signs of national-level promise. Brent Frosch, a lefty 1B ranked #222, and Jackson Fetters, a strong RHP ranked #470, headline the group. Several others, including Jhett Bubke (C), Tavyn Lonis (OF), Isa Garcia Jr. (1B) and Noah Powell (C) have received “High Follow” designations from scouting services, suggesting they're on the radar of Division I programs.

Isa Garcia Sr. is a coach at TBS and played professionally for the St. Louis Cardinals and collegiately for the Univ. of Houston. He has chosen to enroll his son Isa Jr. at TBS rather than have him continue at St. Thomas high school.

“I was seeing that he was mentally tired every day coming home from St. Thomas, and wasn’t progressing in his baseball development either,” said Garcia Sr. “I feel like the old model of school is becoming a bit outdated and that this model is going to give him the best chance to make it as a baseball player.”  

The 2028-31 players may still be early in their development, but they’re part of respected club programs like Twelve, Marucci, Banditos, and Wildcatters. With names like Jacob Hinojosa (SS, 2028) and Dash Dowell (3B, 2029) already drawing attention, The Bennett School is building a deep pipeline that’s designed to compete for years to come.

More Than Just Numbers

What’s remarkable is not just the rankings and commitments - it’s the geographic diversity and club pedigree. Players are coming from Pearland, Tomball, Cypress, Victoria, Katy, and Midland to attend the school, all hubs for serious baseball development. Many of these athletes are alumni of elite travel programs, bringing championship experience and a winning mentality with them.

The Bennett School’s approach is clear: invest early, attract elite players, and provide a developmental environment that mimics collegiate and professional expectations. With 31 players already bought in — including nearly a dozen nationally ranked prospects — the program is sending a strong message to the rest of Texas baseball: This is a school on the rise, and the future is already here.

The Texas Sports Academy: Redefining the Future of Sports-Focused Education

Move over, IMG Academy—there’s a new private school redefining youth education through the power of sports—and it’s growing out of a home base in Austin, Texas. Texas Sports Academy has captured interest among elite athletes as an option and a new pace, not with six-hour academic drudgery, but with a bold, AI-powered model that delivers concentrated learning in two hours and unleashes afternoons for athletic mastery and life skills. As an affiliate in the Alpha School network and powered by the innovative 2-Hour Learning pedagogy, it’s a school that echoes IMG’s vision—but with an educational revolution in its DNA.

Echoes of IMG - But smarter and leaner

Much like the high-performance environment at IMG Academy in Florida, Texas Sports Academy immerses 6-12 grade students in a world where sports fuel character—resilience, teamwork, discipline, strategic thinking—and academics are streamlined to free up time for true passion and physical development. It channels the essence of holistic athletic-educational synergy—but transforms the structure to make it more efficient and youth-focused.

“The core of the Texas Sports Academy is excellence in academics and athletics. Students compete at the highest level of athletics and train four hours a day, so that they can advance to the D1 college level or play professionally," said Arpan Gupta. "At the same time, they receive the best education in the world with Alpha School's AI tutor that allows them to learn at twice the speed of public schools in only two hours a day.”

The 2-Hour Learning Revolution

At the heart of Texas Sports Academy is the powerful 2-Hour Learning model: an AI tutor delivers personalized instruction, enabling students to learn 2× faster in just two hours each morning. What’s left is four hours to pursue sports, arts, entrepreneurship, or life-skill workshops. This isn’t just efficiency - it’s a reimagining of what school can be. 

Alpha School: The ecosystem that powers it all

Texas Sports Academy is not a lone disruptor—it’s part of the broader Alpha School ecosystem, where the 2-Hour Learning model was first proven. At Alpha School, the same AI-driven approach sees students mastering academics at twice the speed, thriving academically (often ranking in the top 1–2 % nationally), and freeing time for life skills and interests. 

Alpha’s unconventional structure replaces traditional teachers with “Guides”—mentors focused on motivation and real-world skills. Texas Sports Academy mirrors that philosophy, integrating coach-mentors who guide both academics and athletics. 

Five locations with upcoming growth across Texas

While the vision of Texas Sports Academy feels futuristic, its footprint is already well established. TSA has launched five campuses across the state, with thriving schools in Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. 

Student-athletes at The Bennett School in Houston - a Texas Sports Academy campus for elite baseball training

The Austin campus serves as the flagship, pioneering the model with strong ties to the Alpha School hometown. In Houston, students gain access to dynamic sports training programs that emphasize teamwork and resilience in a city known for producing elite athletes. The Fort Worth campus anchors the Academy’s growth in North Texas, expanding opportunities for young athletes in one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan regions. And in San Antonio, TSA is already serving families seeking an alternative to traditional schooling—offering both rigorous academics and world-class sports development under one roof.

These seven campuses signal that the Texas Sports Academy isn’t just a bold idea—it’s a proven, expanding network reshaping what education and athletics can look like for the next generation of student-athletes in the great state of Texas. A Day in the life: Accelerated academics, extended excellence

Imagine a school day where: Morning (2 hours): Students tackle core academics via adaptive AI tools, achieving concept mastery at their own pace with 1:1 support from mentors. Grasping material 2–5× faster is not unheard of. Afternoon (4 hours): The campus shifts into high gear—sports, life skill workshops, and personal growth take center stage. It’s not just about athletic prowess, but character, grit, and self-discipline fostered through dynamic training and coaching. Athletic spaces and coaching culture Texas Sports Academy transcends traditional PE. With facilities like parkour gyms, rock climbing walls, and pro-style athletic spaces, it’s designed for movement. Former professional athletes drive the programming—coaches bring mentorship, resilience lessons, and real-world experience to each session. Proof and promise Backed by Alpha School and the 2-Hour Learning model, Texas Sports Academy benefits from documented results: accelerated academic growth, high national rankings, and adaptable learning that suits every student's pace and passion. A model built to scale - Opportunities for coaches One of the most exciting aspects of Texas Sports Academy is its potential for growth through local leadership. TSA actively invites coaches and mentors who are passionate about youth development to launch their own campus. By combining their expertise in athletics with TSA’s proven 2-Hour Learning model, coaches can create a powerful environment where students thrive academically and athletically. Interested coaches can begin the process by filling out an application on the Academy’s website. Texas Sports Academy stands as a model for next-gen schooling: where academic rigor meets athletic ambition; where AI makes learning lean and expansive; where childhood is given space to learn, sweat, fail, succeed, and grow—all in a single, revolutionary program. It’s like IMG Academy, but smarter, lighter, and built for the future.

New AI-Powered School Disrupts Houston Baseball Landscape

By Dave Fanucchi

In a move sending shockwaves through Houston-area public and private high school baseball circles, Karson Reeder—a University of Texas commit and one of the region’s top prospects—announced he will forego his senior year at Tomball High School to attend The Bennett School, a new academy and untested model built on AI-driven academics and professional-level baseball training. The school's website says that it is based at Baseball USA, the well-known Houston field complex and training facility located off the Sam Houston Parkway, that has partnered with Marucci, a leading baseball bat and equipment company for Major League Baseball.  

Reeder, the son of longtime coach Russel Reeder, is leaving behind a traditional high school program and his upcoming senior season at Tomball - where he was part of a 6A UIL State Championship Team in 2024 and the 6A UIL State Runner-Up in 2025. The transfer underscores both the draw and the controversy surrounding The Bennett School: a program that compresses academics into a two-hour daily schedule, maximizes athletic development, and pitches itself as a launchpad to either future bigger dollar NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities at the college level, or potential early MLB draft pick signing bonus money that can easily reach into the $$ millions. Reeder is just one of several high-profile commitments fueling questions about whether The Bennett School is disrupting high school sports by luring away elite talent.

A Recruiting Class Before Playing a Game
The Bennett School has already landed multiple high-profile baseball athletes for its inaugural classes:|

• Class of 2026 (Seniors):
* Karson Reeder (Tomball, TX) – Texas commit
* Harper Gates (Tomball, TX) – Texas A&M commit
* Jud Dowell (Houston, TX) – Texas A&M commit
* Aiden Reed (The Woodlands, TX) – VCU commit

plus numerous other players that are uncommitted to college programs as of yet. 
 
• Class of 2027 (Juniors):
Numerous players - many with ties to the Twelve Baseball club program out of College Station. The connection to Twelve Baseball—a nationally recognized travel-ball powerhouse—suggests that The Bennett School is not just filling rosters but actively building a recruiting pipeline of elite players from across Texas.

The Texas Sports Academy Model
The Bennett School is powered by the Texas Sports Academy, which markets a radical approach: “What if your child could crush academics in just 2 hours and spend the rest of their day improving at their sport?” The school’s carefully structured day looks like this:
• Morning Academic Mastery: Two to three hours of AI-powered personalized learning covering all core subjects, completed by noon.
• Afternoon Athletic Excellence: Professional-level training with coaches who’ve competed in the MLB, NFL, NBA, and Division I programs.
• Life Skills Development: Late afternoons focus on public speaking, financial literacy, leadership, and career preparation—developing what the program calls “complete student-athletes.”
Texas Sports Academy claims its model allows kids to “accomplish twice as much” compared to traditional six-hour school days.

Branded as a “Player Development Prep School”
The Bennett School brands itself as more than just an athletic academy, describing its vision as a “player development prep school.” Its mission statement emphasizes preparing aspiring and elite athletes for their futures by “fostering positive player development through a holistic approach that nurtures mind, body, and spirit.” In practice, that means balancing AI-driven academics with athletic training, life skills, and leadership development — positioning itself as an all-encompassing pipeline for both personal growth and athletic success.

Two Paths for Baseball Talent
At Baseball USA, The Bennett School offers a tiered baseball curriculum:
• Elite Baseball Development Program (Grades 5–8): Focused on fundamentals, advanced techniques, mental game development, and conditioning.
• College Prep Baseball Program (Grades 9–12): A recruitment-driven track with showcase events, advanced analytics, and direct connections to college programs nationwide.
Paired with the compressed academics, athletes are promised the chance to train year-round at a level typically reserved for college programs.

High-Profile Coaching Staff
The school has already secured well-known names in Texas baseball circles:
• Russel Reeder (Player Development/Academic Guide): A 26-year classroom teacher and coach, former professional pitcher, and former head coach at Magnolia West High School.
• Scott Moore (Baseball Coach): A former Oakland A’s draft pick and Top 50 prospect who later coached at Episcopal High School and with Twelve Baseball.
The addition of Karson Reeder—Russel’s son—provides the program with immediate visibility, and also controversy, as a Division I–bound athlete leaves a powerhouse public program to gamble on a new academy.

The NIL Promise - At a Distance
It is not clear whether the Bennett School brokers NIL deals for its baseball players who choose to attend college, but its model does emphasize preparing athletes for bigger opportunities at the collegiate level. The implication is clear: by attending Bennett, players may be better positioned to command high-value NIL contracts once they reach NCAA competition. This future-facing pitch is already drawing athletes away from public and private schools, raising concerns about recruiting and competitive fairness.

What Students Give Up
Despite the appeal, the model comes with tradeoffs:
• Diploma Uncertainty: It remains unclear whether Bennett graduates will earn a state-recognized diploma or transferable credits.
• No traditional social experience: Students forgo the social experiences of a typical high school, as well as proms, UIL sporting events, and a graduation ceremony.
• Unknown Competition: Without an established district or league, it’s unclear who Bennett’s teams and athletes will compete against, and if the athletes will even form a team to represent the school. It is likelier that the group of players will simply play a “club” or “travel” baseball schedule against other club teams or just continue to compete with Twelve.
These uncertainties leave families weighing short-term athletic gains against long-term academic and social costs. 

By pulling in prospects like Reeder, The Bennett School is already shaking the foundation of Texas high school baseball. Supporters see it as an innovative blend of academics and athletics that prepares players for the realities of modern recruiting. Critics argue it risks professionalizing teenagers and hollowing out the high school experience.

A Blueprint or a Warning?
Whether The Bennett School becomes a trendsetter or a cautionary tale, its presence at Baseball USA represents a seismic shift: AI-powered academics, professional training, and the lure of future NIL money now competing directly against traditional high schools for top talent. And with players like Karson Reeder making the leap, the rest of Texas high school athletics is paying close attention.

Dave Fanucchi is a freelance sportswriter covering Houston-area high school and college athletics and is a former Sports Editor for Houston Community Newspapers. He also serves as a play-by-play announcer for Texan Live. He can be followed on X at @davefanucchi. 

Rori Harmon & Kyndall Hunter Have Secured Their Place in Cougars History

Girls Basketball Guards Should be Regarded Among the Top Cypress Creek Student Athletes Ever & the All-Time Greats in Cy-Fair ISD Athletics

Harmon (left); Hunter (right) - Photo Credit Dave Fanucchi

We are just about halfway through the 2020-21 High School Basketball season, and both the boys and girls teams are rounding into form. Coaches are fine-tuning their lineups and strategies, while continuing to build their offenses and train for a playoff run. But Cypress Creek Girls Varsity Coach Jennifer Alexander is already three steps ahead of every other team her squad plays. All she needs to do is have her senior guards Rori Harmon and Kyndall Hunter, and their three senior starting teammates step out onto the court, and winning is all but a done deal.

In my over 12 years of personal experience covering high school athletics in Cy-Fair ISD either as the Sports Editor for Houston Community Newspapers or as a Play-by-Play announcer for Texan Live & TSRN, it has been an extremely rare occurrence when we’ve known the outcome of district games before they happen – when the athletes on one team are so much far and away better than everyone else, that they have zero chance of losing. But that is the situation we are currently witnessing with the Cy Creek Girls Varsity Basketball Program.   

Last week, Texan Live asked me to call the Lady Cougars home game on the broadcast as they took on 17-6A rival Jersey Village. Cy Creek entered the game with a 18-0 record and as the #1 ranked team in the state, while the Falcons were 15-0 and ranked #7. Under Covid-19 protocols, they gym was as full as allowed, and the coaches made it their Senior Night.

The game was never close. Harmon and Hunter controlled the tempo, pushed the ball up the court at a pace that no team in 17-6A can keep up with, and the Cougars dashed out to a 25-6 lead, cruising to a 92-31 win. Yes, you read that right. Cy Creek won the game by 61 points, against the 7^th ranked team in the State. Hunter scored 28 points, Harmon had 10 and post player Taylor Jackson added 16. Every player listed on their roster scored points.

Rori Harmon brings the ball up court - Photo Courtesy Houston Chronicle

This team only has one goal this year – WIN the 6A State Championship. Each game is one step closer to getting them back to San Antonio, for what would be the third time in their four high school years. As freshmen, Hunter & Harmon shocked the Houston-area and led the Cougars to their first ever Regional title and appearance at State. They went 34-5 overall but lost in the semifinals to Plano. They had another incredible year as sophomores but stumbled in the Regional title game when Harmon was playing on a banged-up ankle.

As juniors, they reeled off 40 straight wins, but with Harmon unavailable for the state title game, Duncanville handed them their only defeat of the season. Just that success alone – reaching the State 6A Basketball Championships twice – makes them the top two girls hoopsters in the history of the school. And you could argue they are already the two most successful team sport athletes in Cy Creek history, although it’s difficult to name one ahead of the other. This is all before we see what they are able to accomplish in the next 2 months, to finish this season.

The victory over Jersey Village pushed Harmon & Hunter’s overall win-loss record at Cy Creek to an astonishing 129-12. When you begin to discuss the all-time greats in girls basketball within Cy-Fair ISD, it begins with Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike of Cy-Fair HS, and the two State Championships they delivered in 2008 & 2010. Hunter and Harmon are not at that level, but they are the next closest thing.

Kyndall Hunter shoots a jumper - Photo Courtesy Houston Chronicle

Erica Ogwumike & Nancy Mulkey led Cy Woods to a state title in 2015, but that team was a one-year wonder, and those two players’ individual varsity careers and numbers don’t compare. Didi Richards led Cy Ranch to State in 2017, and Cy Falls made it there in 2012, but both teams lost in the semifinals. That’s pretty much all there is history-wise within the district, that you can put in the discussion bucket with what the Cougars have done and are continuing to do.

“I think Rori and Kyndall transcend the gender conversation, and you can just call them the best backcourt and two of the best players in the district – boys or girls,” said Houston Chronicle High School Sports Reporter Adam Coleman. “They are being referred to as the top ranked high school girls basketball backcourt duo in the nation right now. That’s the level of talent you are seeing.” How often are two guards from the same school afforded a scholarship opportunity to play at the next level, both to a major Division 1 program like the University of Texas? That is rare indeed.      

Cypress Creek has had a handful of graduates become pro athletes - football players Cameron Fleming and Sam Adams come to mind. Baseball player Paul Janish played a couple of seasons in the major leagues. Girls wrestler Amanda McAleavey just recently won back-to-back individual State titles in her weight class. Many others have earned collegiate scholarships to compete. But no other Cougars have ever accomplished four years of sustained success and placed their teams in the State Championship spotlight, more than Harmon and Hunter have.

I don’t know how many points or assists Rori and Kyndall have each accumulated to this point, but it is their collective talent that is most impressive. If you’ve not seen them play in person, or you are a parent of a Cy Creek student, do yourself a favor and make it over to the gym one night to watch them perform, before the season ends. You don’t want to miss school history right in front of your eyes.   

The Five senior players & student manager - Cy Creek Class of 21 - Photo Credit Dave Fanucchi

    

Senior Class of ’21 Leaves Their Mark on Cypress Creek Volleyball Program

When the core group of nine senior volleyball players walked off the court Monday night at the Merrell Center in Katy, they saw their impressive and often times challenging prep careers as Lady Cougars come to an end.

In the Area Round of the UIL Playoffs, Cy Creek ran into the 6^th ranked 6A team in the state in Seven Lakes, and the outside hitting of Under Armour All American Ally Batenhorst. Not many teams in the greater Houston Metro area have an answer for her talent, and the overall unit that the Spartans run out there. The Cougars battled and fought hard, going out by giving it their best effort as this group has always done. Nothing to be ashamed of – heads held high.

Senior Hitters Kat Betancourt, Maya Bhaidasna, Olivia Black, Charnae Houston & Kiara Thomas; Setters Hannah Hale & Madi Wheeless; and Defensive Specialists Avery Evans-Brooks & Hallie Shepherd all started their prep careers on the Cougars hardwood during Hurricane Harvey. They ended it during a worldwide pandemic. They are Head Coach Reagan Smith’s first group of players that she’s had in her program for all four years, since she took over in 2017.

Smith tweeted after the loss Monday night: “Tonight didn’t go our way, but we find joy and hope in celebrating the legacy that our nine seniors leave behind. Our kids are resilient, tough, hardworking, and a group that will make all of our tomorrows better. I am so proud of our Cougars!”     

Through an entire season of Covid Protocols and mask-wearing practices, Smith and Junior Varsity Coach Laurie Junewick guided the program to overall winning records at both the varsity and JV levels, and a 3-0 Bi-district playoff victory over Lamar. The group stayed disciplined, as they made it onto the court for all of their scheduled games and avoided having to forfeit or re-schedule any of them due to player Covid issues. That is success in and of itself.

Betancourt led the team with a .280 hitting % this season, converting 251 of 289 attack attempts. She added 119 kills and 30 blocks. Wheeless and Hale and were remarkably consistent and steady influencers, each contributing over 400 assists and 160 digs. Thomas led the squad with 379 digs and 44 service aces.

Despite losing so much talent to graduation, the future remains bright for the Lady Cougs. Junior hitters Lindsey Kriendler and Kayla Richardson will return as starters after each compiled huge numbers this year. Kreindler led the team in attacks (823) and kills (320) and had a .265 hitting % while also adding 41 service aces and 22 blocks. Richardson was second with 255 kills and had a .234 hitting %. Junior Joy Shalagan will also return as a setter.

Sophomore Middle Ashanti Butler saw plenty of court time and led the team with 42 blocks, and sophomore Gabby Espiricueta contributed 150 digs as a Libero. The Cougars have several more players in the Class of ’23 that should contribute, including Defensive Specialist Emma Fanucchi, Middle Sofia Grimm, Hitters Mailyn Harris & Cami Stephens, and Setter Grace Krohn. Those players all spent the season playing on the JV but practiced and played with Varsity in the playoffs.   

Look for the Lady Cougars to continue their steady play and winning ways next year, as they battle for a 4^th consecutive playoff berth in District 17-6A. The Core Nine from the Class of ’20 reached that goal each of the last three years, collecting Bi-district post-season victories in 2018 & 2020.         

Cy Creek Fab Five Stay in Texas After Hunter Commits to the Longhorns

Time sure flies when you're in high school. It seems like yesterday when I sat down to interview five freshman female athletes at Cypress Creek HS that were making headlines, and had earned roster spots on varsity teams in their respective sports. I referred to them as the "Fab Five" of the Cougars' Class of 21. 

Ayden Bridges - Soccer - Univ. of Houston
Rori Harmon - Basketball - Univ. of Texas
Kyndall Hunter - Basketball - Univ. of Texas
Jordan Peno - Softball - Sam Houston State
J'Naiya Thomas - Softball - Univ. of Houston

Well, now they have all become seniors, and as their last seasons at the high school level are about to begin, all five have earned that next step in their student-athlete careers - an opportunity to play in college. 

With Hunter's announcement on Sunday, October 4 that she was committing to the University of Texas, it completed the group's special place in Cy Creek athletic history - all five girls will remain in the State of Texas. Hunter will be joining her teammate Rori Harmon in Austin to play for the Longhorns. 

"To have two kids that changed the face of the Cy Creek Girls Basketball program for the past three years both wanting to continue their journey as teammates at the next level is really special," said Cy Creek Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Jennifer Alexander. "What makes me most happy is both Kyndall and Rori know they made the right decision for themselves individually. Coach Schaefer and his staff at Texas will continue to develop them as great people and great players, and that is exciting. But that will be after we finish what we started here at Cy Creek - we have one more thing to go and get." 

That one thing of course, is a State Championship. Harmon and Hunter have led the Lady Cougs to the State Final Four twice already, as freshmen in 2018 when they were defeated in the semifinals, and last year in 2020, when they lost the State Championship game.

Bridges has been a star on the soccer field since her freshman campaign, leading the Lady Cougs in scoring. Last season, she and her teammates were on the verge of a playoff berth, before the Coronavirus shut things down. But she is also looking forward to one final run for Cy Creek, before she heads downtown to UH. 

Pino & Thomas both had their softball seasons cut short last year, but they had accomplished enough to earn their chances at the next level. Pino will head to Huntsville and play for the Bearkats, while Thomas will join Bridges downtown at Houston. Maybe those two friends can become roommates as Houston Cougar athletes, after they are finished being Cy Creek Cougar athletes.   

One thing is certain. It all looks to be like another exceptional year for the Fab Five in the Class of '21 at Cy Creek. Watch for these ladies to make one last splash! 

    

Freshman Brad Jackson Emerges As Top QB Option for Cypress Creek Cougars

Highly Ranked Class of 24 Prospect Throws Four Touchdown Passes in his First Varsity Game 

By Dave Fanucchi - Texan Live Play-By-Play Announcer

Cypress Creek Head Coach Greg McCaig wasn't sure what he was going to get from a young and inexperienced roster Saturday night, when his varsity football team opened this Covid-protocol season at Pridgeon Stadium. But after his squad's 48-35 loss to Klein, he did get a clear cut answer. 

The Cougars returned just two starters on offense, and two more on defense after a highly successful core group of players that led the Cougars to back-to-back regional semifinal playoff appearances, all graduated. That included quarterback Julian Uwadia. 

So, since camp opened this year, everyone around the Cougar program has been wondering who might become the next signal caller for the Cougars. Candidates listed as QB's on the team roster include seniors Travis Alonge and Austin Diaz, Junior Carson Purdes, and Freshman Brad Jackson. All four saw action in the team's informal scrimmage against Foster last week. 

It's not often here in Texas that you see a freshman even listed on a 6A high school football varsity roster. Just the fact that Jackson made the Varsity team is impressive, because obviously the Cougar coaching staff saw some things that they liked from Jackson over the summer.  

When all four got a shot Saturday night, it was Jackson that emerged from the discussion as the clear cut top option for McCaig. The youngest of the four lead the Cougars on 4 of their 5 scoring drives vs Klein. 

Alonge started on the Cougars' first possession and went three and out. Jackson was then inserted after Cy Creek quickly trailed 14-0, and showed no signs of nervousness. He moved the Cougars down the field and calmly found slot receiver Brazos Gadler on a 3rd & goal from the 6, for his first career varsity TD pass. 

Highlights Here from ABC's Joe Gleason on Twitter 

Then on the Cougs next possession, Jackson wasted no time finding WR Ryan Nguyen down the right sideline, and Nguyen took it to the house for a 69-yard touchdown.  

Purdes and Diaz were each given opportunities to start a series, but Cy Creek failed to put any points on the board. Purdes was able to move the ball into Klein territory, and that drive resulted in an 11-yard TD run by Khalil Watts (my call of the play on Texan Live) to make it 24-21 Klein at the break.

In the third quarter, Diaz went three and out. Alonge also got a second series, but it went nowhere. 

So Jackson started the fourth quarter and finished a drive by finding receiver Cole Hess in the end zone for a score, to pull within six at 34-28. After Klein padded the lead again, Jackson followed up on their next possession by hitting Gadler on a crossing route, and the speedster broke free down the sideline for a long TD catch and run that made it 41-35. 

With five minutes to play, the Cougar defense forced a fumble deep in their own territory, and got the football back with a chance to win the game with a touchdown. But Jackson made his only mistake of the night, throwing a ball over the middle into coverage that was intercepted. It was a big ask for a freshman QB, to lead his team down the length of the field to win a game. 

Jackson - who is ranked 13th among Class of 24 quarterback prospects in the State of Texas by QB Hit List - simply outplayed his older competition at the position. Despite being young, Jackson clearly emerged Saturday and should see most of the snaps for Cypress Creek, as they continue to rebuild and develop their young core group of players.

After the game, Jackson tweeted: "It was fun tonight to go out there and play. We came up short, but we see potential to get better. We will get right back to work on Monday." 

The kid just understands the position at a higher level than the other three QB's on Cy Creek's roster, and he has the leadership qualities that you look for in a quarterback. And there's no comparison when it comes to his passing accuracy and his ability to read progressions and defenses. The future is indeed bright at the QB position at Cy Creek, for what looks to be the next four years.   

Cy Creek (0-1) next takes on Klein Cain (0-1) on Friday, October 2 at 7 pm at Klein Memorial Stadium.