ST. CHARLES, Mo.—With two weekends of NCAA evaluation basketball behind us you would think the club circuit would have hit the cruise control button. Never one to sit back and enjoy the ride, USJN put things into high gear and moved full speed ahead this past weekend in metropolitan St. Louis for the 10th annual Gateway Challenge.
Utilizing 17 courts, the tournament featured almost 140 teams with players from 10 different states making up their rosters. The high regard for the event was evidenced by the over 60 college recruiters, evaluators and media on hand for all the action. When all was said and done champions were crowned in eight different divisions of play. Check out the post event page for results, pool all-stars and a listing of the college coaches on hand by following the link below to the USJN web site.
http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=425
As always, it’s difficult to see all the talent on hand but here’s a look at some of the prospects who caught our eye over the course of the 2017 USJN Gateway Challenge.
Paige Allen – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Della Lamb Gauntlet – Physically strong athlete…Can be explosive…Effective individual skills…Willing to work inside…Lots of potential
Natalie Anderson – 2019 – 5-11 – Guard – Wisconsin Lakers – Versatile perimeter threat…Active with and without the ball…Can attack and create shots or opportunities for teammates…Stroke and range…Makes plays on both ends…Anticipates off the ball defensively
Aijha Blackwell – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard – Team St. Louis – Explosive and dynamic guard with size…Physical strength combines with skills making her difficult to defend…Can convert off the drive, pull up or perimeter shot…Change of direction gets her past defenders…Has moments of domination…Unfortunately has moments of disappearing as well…Everything is in place…Up to her
Emma Chapman – 2019 – 6-3 – Forward – Phenom Mid-Mo – Post with length…Active…Works hard…Can be deceiving…Productive at times…Upside
Cynaa Coleman – 2021 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Knights basketball Academy – Lots of quickness and speed…Pushes the ball at opportunity…Gets to the rim…Decision making needs sharpened…Young
Sydney Dukes – 2020 – 5-2 – Point guard – Phenom STL – Dynamic young point…Penetrates…Efficient in traffic…Pushes the ball off turnovers…Acceleration
Lindsey Dullard – 2020 – 6-1 – Wing – Illinois Rebels – Left handed…Nice size and build on the perimeter…Good decisions…Appears to be well coached…Anticipates…Solid form on her shot…Lots of tools and promise
Jayla Everett – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard – Phenom Napheesa – Wiry, athletic guard…Attacks in transition and halfcourt scenarios…Individual skills get her to the bucket…Form and elevation are there on her jumper…Nice length on defense…Strong club season so far
Makenna Fee – 2019 – 6-0 – Forward – Indiana Flight – Nice size and frame…Active and aggressive…Has the evolving tools to play away from the rim…Some ballhandling but needs refinement…Got on the offensive glass…Good moments
Abby Feit – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing – Normal Warriors – Lefty…Effective off the drive…Does play upright at times…Form is sound…Versatility in scoring
Ysabella Fontleroy – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing/Guard – Phenom Sugg – Elite prospect…Size and athleticism…Length with perimeter skills…Can get to the rim…Gets up on her jumper…Has depth to her attack for her age…Will need to embrace consistency of effort to truly tap into potential…Watch closely
Hayley Frank – 2019 – 6-2 – Forward – Mo Valley Magic – Skilled and active…Advance understanding of the came…Can create her own off penetration or posting…Diverse face up moves from the high post or around the rim…Very active without the ball…Impressive awareness…Step back is there…Watch closely
Kelly Gallagher – 2018 – 5-10 – Wing – Chicago Lockdown – Active wing with some length…Lean build…Ability is there to penetrate…Demonstrated an ability to finish in traffic
Erin Golden – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Illinois Rockets – Plays with lots of effort…Lefty…Active with and without the ball…Shot needs some attention…Creates opportunities for herself
Gretchen Graff – 2018 – 6-2 – Post – Blue Star St. Louis – Has the size and frame…Runs the floor well…One dribble drive…Can spot up…Gets on the boards
Madison Hackstadt – 2018 – 6-0 Wing/Guard – Illinois Predators – Active…Offers some size in the backcourt…Some penetration…Pull up is there
Alea Harris – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – All Ohio Xpress – Athletic and attacking…Strong lower body…Developing ballskills make her a threat off the drive…Had some moments
Khaliah Hines – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Della Lamb Gauntlet – Athletic guard…Strong one on one and ball skills…Low release on her jumper
Jordaynia Ivie – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard – St. Louis Eagles – Athletic guard…Can play at speed…Ballhandling and passing are sharp for age…Lots of effort on both ends…Narrow base on her jumper at this point
Tia-yanna Jackson – 2019 – 6-5 – Post – Baylor Basketball – Continues to evolve…Has the tools to put herself among the elite…Impact player on both ends of the floor…Agility and reaction time serve her well…Can run the floor with the guards when fresh…Wingspan and elevation makes her a factor in multiple ways…Offensive attack needs further refinement…Spends too much time away from where she can be most effective…Only limits are her own
Samya Johnson – 2021 – 5-9 – Forward – St. Louis Eagles – Solid and strong…Some ballhandling…Plays with effort…Can spot up…Sharp passing skills…Promising future
Jayla Kelly – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward/Post – Phenom Sugg – Power game…Aggressive on the catch around the rim…Physically strong…Handles contact offensively and defensively…Hits the boards…Has rough edges to smooth out
Micah Linthacum – 2019 – 6-3 – Post – Phenom Mid-Mo – Size and frame…Plays with lots of effort…Text book play on the post…Can be mechanical but remains productive…No reservations with contact on either end…Understands the game and “what’s next”…Can be efficient in half and full court
Rakeea Mables – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Chicago Xtreme – Has the size and frame…Can hold her ground…Rushes things on the catch at times…Showed a glimpse of a jump hook…Important summer in front of her
Bethany Macklin – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Indiana Showcase – Strong ball skills…Crossover is there…has a pull up to call upon…Passes the well in transition…Stroke is there as well
Kate Martin – 2018 – 6-0 – Guard – Blue Star St. Louis – Nice size and build on the perimeter…Ballhandling lets her create both shots and passes…Fluid off the drive…Elevates on the pull up…Stroke is there…Sees the floor in transition…Could be more active without the ball…Verbal with Iowa
Jaida McCloud – 2020 – 6-0 – Wing/Guard – JEMS Jewels – Has size on the perimeter…Athleticism is there but with limited strength at this point…Can put it on the floor to create both shots and passes…Showed plenty of agility…Shot is out front to a degree…Length is a big plus on defense…Consistency of effort will serve her well as she develops…Lots of possibilities
Sonya Morris – 2018 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Phenom Napheesa – Attacking point…Step back is there off crossover…Accelerates off all moves…Forces the action…Choices could be sharper
Summer Stoewer – 2018 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Normal Warriors – Has strong ball skills at the point…Good instincts and reads…Can create some plays off her attack…Decent form on her shot
Amaya Stovall – 2018 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Phenom Napheesa – Speed and quickness…Pushes the ball from make, miss and turnover…Creates off the drive…Reads well on penetration…Hesitation is effective tool…Spot up stroke is there…Assertive on ball defender
Asia Strong – 2018 – 5-10 – Forward – Baylor Basketball – Strong, physical forward…High post drive is there…Can finish around the rim…Will mix it up defensively…Looks to be still adding to her game
Katie Rohner – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Wisconsin Lakers – Smart and skilled…Attacks…Gets to the rim…Form is there on her jumper…Tweaked an ankle
Paige Robinson – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – Central Illinois Storm – Attacking guard…Looking to create off the dribble…Fluid stroke is in place…Had some moments
Jaime Ryan – 2018 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Chicago Lockdown – Strong ballskills…Fluid in her attack…hesitation is strong…Smart…Reads the floor…Distributes the ball almost to a fault…Capable scorer who could look for her own more often
Antwainette Walker – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Illinois Rockets – Elite athletic guard…Strong individual skills…Gets to the rim…Needs to reel it in at times…Could be a strong on ball defender
Maddie Walsh – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Wisconsin Lakers – Long and lean…Active forward…High post drive…Reads the floor…narrow base on perimeter shot
Sereena Weledji – 2018 – 5-11 – Guard – Les Chats – Physically strong guard…Aggressive off the drive…Handles contact well…Effective first step…Good on ball defender…Made plays
Hannah Williams – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Chicago Xtreme – Small but aggressive point guard…Attacking mentality on virtually every possession…Gets deep in the paint…Can finish among the bigs and with contact
Kelsie Williams – 2018 – 5-10 – Forward – Blue Star St. Louis – Power game…Always attacking…Tweener…has some ball skills…Has versatility…Makes herself factor
Zankia Williams – 2018 – 6-1 – Post – Westside Wolves Elite – Power player…Aggressive on the catch and the rebound…Strong one dribble drive…First step is deceiving…Willing to create and play with contact…Clears space when the shot goes up…Consistency will be critical moving forward
Sidney Wilson – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Les Chats – Fluid, lean athlete…Some length…Ability is there to slash…Quick attack on the catch…Could be more physical defensively
Maya Wong – 2020 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Illinois Rebels – Strong ballskills…Change of speed and direction are superior…Crossover can be lethal of hesitation move…Reads on the attack…Solid passing and shot selection decisions
BRACKET WINNERS
