BLOOMINGTON, Minn.—With 10 years in the record books and a growth of five times over from the inaugural field, the annual North Tartan Summer Jam has evolved into a staple of the June travel basketball calendar.  This year’s edition wrapped up Sunday after three days of play among the 255 participating teams.  Eight states were represented among the rosters with bracket play being the order of the day among 17 divisions.

While the Division – I coaches are still grounded to campus until July, the rest of the recruiting world was out in force with over 50 different recruiters roaming the sidelines of all 21 courts throughout the weekend.  Even two recent Gold Medalists from the USA U16 FIBA Americas championship squad were back in action with their club teams demonstrating why both were key components to the Red, White and Blue reclaiming the top of the podium in Buenos Aires.

Bragging rights in the highly regarded Lake Minnetonka Division went to the host North Tartan EYBL squad by way of their 52 – 35 win over the Minnesota Stars in Sunday’s final.  The Fairfax Stars made the trip north for the second year in a row and claimed the very competitive younger Lake Leech Division with a 20 point margin in their championship match-up.  The White Bear Lake Division featuring another line-up of next generation prospects went to the North Tartan Ninth Grade squad with their 47 – 35 win over the Minnesota Fury.  To see a complete list of participating teams and results in all 17 divisions, follow the link below.

http://www.tourneymachine.com/Public/Results/Tournament.aspx?IDTournament=h201611041654077600663e2c3be0243

As always there was plenty of talent in the gym and we got to see both established and up and coming prospects.  Here are some of those who stood out in the Twin Cities last weekend.

Sommer Blakemore – 2018 – Point Guard – Minnesota Fury – Quick, athletic point…Speed with the ball…Floater is there…head is down to a degree on shot release…Quick hands defensively

Paige Bueckers – 2020 – Guard – North Tartan 9^th – Playing elite level basketball…Focused…Continues to improve…Length with ballskills…Creates both shots and passes…Lean but handles contact…Deceptive speed with the ball in her hands…Floater serves her well…Wingspan defensively 

Kadie Deaton – 2019 – Guard / Wing – Team Wisconsin Select – Active with and without the ball…Reads the floor…Patient…Can slash

Brehna Evans – 2018 – Point Guard – Purple Aces – Leaner build…Ballhandling and passing…Strong individual skills…Can finish…Defense could be sharper 

Azzi Fudd – 2021 – Combo – Fairfax Stars – Continues to play at an elite level…Diversity in her attack keeps expanding…Stronger and handling contact…Square and elevating more on pull up…Reads are sharper every time out…Anticipating more defensively…Assertive on ball…Fluidity is showing in all aspects of her play 

Sharon Goodman – 2020 – Post – Cadets – Physically strong…College frame…Works on both ends…Can run the floor…Works hard for position and can keep it……Will flash for hi-lo looks…Some things still a thought rather than reaction…Should evolve

Jada Gyamfi – 2022 – Forward – Kingdom Hoops – Nice size and frame for age…Sound athletically…Active with and without the ball…Can finish…Will need to work more around the rim…Promising

Sam Haiby – 2018 – Guard – North Tartan EYBL – Athletic guard…Lots of speed and quickness…Cut…Strong individual skills…Crossover is there…Makes plays

Heaven Hamling – 2018 – Guard – Minnesota Stars – Aggressive guard…Nice ball skills…Sees the floor…Passing in transition…Scraps

Zoe Hardwick – 2018 – Post – Metro Stars – Solid post…Works for position…Strong…Deceiving ability to run the floor…Reads and attacks…Decent touch around the rim

Annika Person – 2018 – Post – North Tartan 11^th – leaner post…Active…Cuts hard…Keeps it high on the catch…Sound post moves…Strength?

Jacyln Jarnot – 2018 – Guard – Minnesota Stars – Size on the perimeter…Smart…Skills are there…Upright at times…Nice length defensively

Ashley Joens – 2018 – Guard – All Iowa Attack EYBL – Decent size on the perimeter…Can develop both shots and passes…Reads on penetration…Feeds the post…Pull up is consistent…Step back is there…Assertive defensively

Tessa Johnson – 2023 – Guard – North Tartan 7^th West – Young guard…Ballhandling…Pushes it…Smooth fluid stroke for age…Range is there…Plays with effort 

Liz Karlen – 2020 – Post – North Tartan 10^th EYBL – Size with good strength…Could grow…High post drive…Knows what she’s looking for…Drop step is there…Works…Gets on the boards…Having moments 

Lexi Kraft – 2019 – Guard – All Nebraska Attack – Makes plays…Sharp individual skills…Change of speed and direction…Lefty…Spot up with quick release…Sees the floor

Grace Larkins – 2021 – Guard – All Iowa Attack 9^th Nike – Wiry build…Attacking guard…Strong ballskills and instincts…Reads on penetration…Inserts herself into the action…Scraps…Anticipates on defense

McKenna Minter – 2020 – Guard – All Nebraska Attack – Solid and attacking…Creates her own looks…Handles contact…Sees the floor on penetration…Makes plays

Theresa Mbanefo – 2018 – Forward – North Tartan EYBL – Athletic forward…Lots of tools…Just tapping in…Runs the floor…Length is a factor on both ends…Good instincts…Some passing…Greatly under recruited…Worth a close look

Lindsey Olson – 2019 – Wing / Forward – Minnesota Suns – Nice length…Active with…Needs to be more active without…Works defensively…Had moments 

Sara Scalia – 2019 – Guard – North Tartan 10^th EYBL – Length at guard…Attacks off the dribble…Reads the floor…Makes herself an option without the ball…Pushes from make, miss and turnover…Strength will come

Annika Stewart – 2020 – Post – Dakota Drillers – Physically strong…Good size and length…Will step out…Wide base on perimeter shot…Not afraid to mix things up…Plays smart…A little mechanical but effective…Just scratching the surface 

Malu Tshitenge – 2019 – Post – Fairfax Stars – Size and athleticism…Playing much more assertive…Making herself an option…Active both on the break and in the halfcourt…Becoming more of a factor on the glass…Reacting quicker on both ends…Watch closely 

Alyssa Ustby – 2020 – Forward / Wing – Minnesota Fury – Nice length…Lean…Moves well…Has some ball skills…Has tools defensively…Developing

Ashtyn Veerbeek – 2018 – Forward / Post – All Iowa Attack – Size, frame and strength…Active in the halfcourt and full…Some ballhandling…One and two dribble drive…Comfortable to 15 feet…Runs the floor…Got on the glass…Nebraska verbal

Shateah Wetering – 2020 – Forward – All Iowa Attack 9^th Nike – Active forward…Lefty…Can put it on the floor…Long stride…True #4…Gets out on the break…Sees the floor defensively

Lauren Ware – 2020 – Post / Forward – Dakota Drillers – Size…Build…Frame…Nice athleticism…Plays with plenty of effort…Makes herself an option…Reads well on the catch…Post moves are coming…Length makes her an impact defensively as well…Good feet on close outs…Gets out in transition…Major upside

Emma Wittmershaus – 2018 – Forward / Post – Team Wisconsin – Lean…Active…Worked for position…Got out in transition…Needs to be more physical

Taylor Woodson – 2023 – Wing / Forward – Minnesota Survivors – Solid and strong for age…Good size…Can develop her own looks…Crossover is there…Agility is there in traffic…Accelerates off her moves…All the tools…Watch

Zoe Young – 2019 – Combo – North Tartan EYBL – Established top tier prospect…Physically strong and explosive guard…Change of speed…Acceleration off move…Passing in transition…Perimeter consistency needs to evolve…On ball impact defender