CHARLES, Mo.—The NCAA Spring Evaluation Period is now comfortably in the rearview mirror and the 2018 club basketball schedule is moving full speed ahead into one of the busiest schedules in recent memory. Washington and the financial wizards examine Wall Street for indicators of the health and wellbeing of our fragile economy. However, it’s the smart person who looks to landscape of girls travel basketball for their forecast. This time of year they always get a healthy report that people know how to invest their time and money…in basketball. It’s a “Blue Chip” and teams and players are beginning to see their stock rise.
As one of over 50 USJN events in 2018, the 11thAnnual Gateway Challenge brought together 132 teams representing 11 different states. While the Division-I recruiters are back in their cages and restricted to campus until July, the D-II, III, NAIA and JC folks were out in force with almost 70 coaches roaming the sidelines of 20 busy courts including the impressive Hyland Arena on the campus of Lindenwood University.
When all was said and done nine different teams emerged from pool play to conquer their bracket and take home some hardware for their weekend efforts. Scroll below to see images of those championship teams, players and coaches. For additional information including a complete list of participating teams, attending college coaches, pool all-stars, results and more…follow the link below to the USJN web site and the Gateway Challenge post event page.
http://usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=480
Of course, in the end, club ball is about performance, execution, and the advancement of skills for the 2018 – 2019 scholastic season. We’re always looking for those players who offer up a strong effort on the big stage and here are some who did just that in St. Louis this past weekend.
Mya Allen – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Kansas SHOtime– Strong and aggressive guard…Looks to attack and develop her own looks…Change of speed and direction gets defenders committing…Made plays
Paige Allen – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard –Missouri Running Angels 17 – Athletic and penetrating guard…Impressive acceleration on the catch…Change of speed works well for her…Can finish with contact off the drive…Consistency on pull up will need to come
Aijha Blackwell – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – Missouri Team St. Louis Red– Dynamic athlete…Strong and assertive…Tools are there to create her own looks and options…Attacks with authority…Willing to give it up off the drive…Can make decisions on the drive or in the air…Fluid stroke is there on the jumper…Quick defender on the ball…Top Tier of the class
Brionna Budgetts – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Missouri Running Angels 17– Continues to advance her game…Athletic and attacking…Pushes it in transition but will also work off the dribble in the halfcourt…Explosive first step still serves her well…Handles defensive rotations as they come her way…Left hand needs to catch up…Active on ball defender
Bailey Burns – 2023 – 5-6 – Guard – KC Roots 13– Athletic and fluid…Utilizes the hesitation move…Acceleration is there…Jumper is solid for age…Pull up is efficient as well…Looks to have some physical growth in front of her
Paige Craft – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – KC Dream 15 Webb– Strong ballhandling and passing skills…Good concepts…Change of speed…Gets to the rim…Improves both shots and passes…Tools are there
Denali Craig-Edwards – 2023 – 5-10 – Forward – Heart of Illinois 15– Young forward…Nice size and build for age…Aggressive in her play…Showed some individual skills with the ball at times…Played with effort
Alyssa Crockett – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – Indiana Elite 16 Gold– Size with a lean build…Should grow more…Solid skills…Good vision and passing instincts…Overuses the bounce pass…Moves well without the ball…Could look for her own options more often to keep defenders honest…Decent lateral footspeed defensively for size
Tamia Davis – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – NC Carolina Waves– Athletic guard…Plenty of quickness on the attack…Can “turn the corner” at speed…Hesitation serves her well…Jumper and spotting up are effective…Makes plays
Izabel Deangelo – 2019 – 6-3 – Post – NC Carolina Waves– Limited playing time but has a depth of tools…Long and lean…Fluid with the ball in her hands…Exploits her length and reach…Soft touch on a fall away…Jump hook is in place as well…Can run the floor with the guards in transition…Only going to get better at an elite level
Mariah Dickerson – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – Indiana IE Swish 15 Scheidecker– Solid built forward…Works hard for position on both ends of the floor…No reservation about physical play…Baby hook was there
Taleah Dilworth – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Missouri Team St. Louis Future– Athletic point…Lots of speed with the ball…Pushes from make, miss or turnover…Looking to create…Could be more active without the ball
Lindsey Dullard – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward / Wing – Illinois Rebels United 17– Nice size to go with a good skill set…Solid ballhandling and passing for age and position…Plays with effort…Works hard on defense…Sound on ball
Abby Feit – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Illinois Rebels United 17– Evansville commit…Left hander…Size and length…Constant activity…Works hard to make herself an option…Cuts with intent…High release on her shot…Gets on the glass…Solid depth to her game
Allison Fitzgerald – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – Mo. Knights Basketball Academy 15– Size and length…Evolving skills…Runs the floor…Active offensively without the ball…Refinement is coming…Tools are in place
Nyah Ford – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Illinois Evolution Elite 17 Brooks– Point guard with both quickness and speed…Navigates traffic in transition and halfcourt…Pushes at opportunity…Spots up with sound touch
Khaniah Garner – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Baylor Basketball Orange– Young, athletic forward…Plays aggressively and with strength…Attacking on the catch…Slithers in traffic…Can pass well off penetration…Made some major plays
Chelsi Giesige – 2020 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Indiana Flight 17 Storm– Impressive guard…Strong IQ combines with sharp ballhandling and passing…Reads on the attack…Form is there both spotting up or off the pull up…Crossover serves her well…Lots of promise
Ryley Goebel – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Team Iowa 14 Blue– Long and lean young forward…Active on both ends…Moves well and with purpose for age…Has some ballhandling in place…Shot fake is there…Creates her own looks…Anticipates defensively…Good vision on the weakside
Johnni Gonzalez – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Next Level Eclipse Blue Star– Constant attack…Feisty competitor…Penetrates to create and improve both her own and teammates options…Deceiving speed with the ball…Assertive defensively…Quick hands
Tiayanna Jackson – 2019 – 6-6 – Post – Baylor Basketball Navy– Established prospect who continues to advance her impact…Plays with effort on both ends…Makes herself a factor…Depth of skills continues to grow…More and more comfortable creating her own options…Passes it well…Quick outlet off the glass…Active presence on the defensive end…Good vision and rotation…Shot blocking threat
J’lessa Jordan – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Missouri Team St. Louis Future– Athletic…some length…Fluid…Plenty of agility…Has tools
Jordyn McClellan – 2022 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Missouri SEMO Sizzle 14– Smart point guard…Reads the floor…Solid ballskills…Sharp passing instincts…15 footer is there…Has promise…Watch
Anna McKee – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – Blue Star St. Louis 15 Renken– Slight and lean guard…Active…Smart player…Good stroke and form…Had some moments
Khamya McNeal – 2020 – 5-7 – Guard – Wisconsin Playground Elite– Strong physical guard…Sharp ballhandling skills…Looks to attack and get to the rim…Sees the floor…Strong passing on the break
Tamara Nard – 2019 – 6-3 – Post –Illinois Lady Reign 17 Energy – UMKC commit…Solid build and size…Scraps for position on both ends of the floor……Mid-range game is there offensively…Strong presence on the glass…Quick and lengthy outlets to trigger break…Makes herself a factor time and again
Abby Patterson – 2020 – 6-5 – Post – Missouri Team St. Louis Gray– Size and frame are legit…Wingspan…Runs the floor well for size…Good agility defensively on the weakside…Can be defensive presence…Work in progress with lots of possibilities…Offensive attention will pay off
Sydney Ryan – 2022 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Tennessee Starz 16– Some size…Sound ballskills…Crossover is there…Reads the floor…Had moments
Celia Satter – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – Illinois Rockets 17 Ondik– Wiry build…Some length…Can put it on the floor to a degree…Upright at times but can penetrate…Cuts hard
Lilly Schilling – 2021 – 5-10 – Wing / Forward – Missouri Running Angels– Sound athlete…Plays a smart game…Active with and without the ball…Form is good…Pull up is in place
Katie Scott – 2020 – 6-2 – Post – Yanders Law 17 Morlan– Size and solid…Has been coached…Some skills are in place…Position player
Emma Shaffer – 2019 – 6-1 – Post – Ohio Midwest Takeover– Deceiving but impressively effective post…Physically strong with good feet…Understands positioning on both ends of the floor…Can clear space to post up or to get on the glass…Finishes down low…Protects the ball on the catch…Moves her match-up off the block…Provides some strong play…Look twice
Diamond Stokes – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Illinois Lady Reign 17 Energy– Eye catching size and build…Lower body strength is there…Could add some size down the road…Agility is there…Runs the floor well…Can work in the high post or on the block…Showed off a baby hook…Lefty
Kennedy Taylor – 2021 – 6-2 – Post – KC Dream 15 Webb– Size with strength…Has agility to go with it…Young power player…Gets out and runs the floor…Hi-Lo passing is there…Offense is still more a thought than a reaction but it’s coming
Tiana Timpe – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard / Wing – Wisconsin Lakers 16 White– Long, lean and wiry…Good side to side moves off the dribble…Can create her own looks…Fluid both pulling up or spotting up…Will fill out
Alayna Townsell – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – Kansas Les Chats– Strong with good size on the wing…Active in creating or improving her options…Can get to the rim off a deceiving first step…Can spot up effectively…Mechanical at times but in the end productive…Looks off her passes…Gets on the glass
Ellie Vazzana – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing – Blue Star St. Louis 15– Some size on the wing…Has some ball skills…Active without the ball…Handled contact off penetration…Form is there…Could be more physical on the defensive end of the floor
Payton Verhulst – 2021 – 6-1 – Guard – Next Level Eclipse Blue Star– Elite prospect…Has added both size and strength…Versatility is hallmark of her offensive game…Can create off the dribble…Just as effective with the perimeter looks…Learning to use the added size and strength in the paint…Not backing down from physical play…Deceptive vertical serves her well on the boards…Puts herself in the middle of the action
Carli Vick – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – Mo. Knights Basketball Academy 15– Size and build for age…Will grow some more…Moves well…Gets out and runs the floor…Strong on the offensive boards
Marisa Warren – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Blue Star St. Louis 17– DePaul verbal…Athletic and aggressive point guard…Lefty…Looking to make plays off penetration…Pull up and floater are both there…Handles contact…Assertive defender…Competes
Elana Wells – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Illinois Hoop Dreams– Young point…Solid and strong for age and size…Plays with confidence…Change of speed serves her well on the break and off the drive…Gets to the rim…Creates shots and passes…Individual skills are there…Watch closely
Dynastee White – 2021 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Louisville Lady Dream 15– Athletic point…Always attacking…Crossover is sharp and effective…Lots of speed with the ball in her hands…Assertive on ball defender
Urya’ Williams – 2023 – 5-2 – Point Guard – KC Roots 13– Athletic and attacking point guard…Young but confident…Can create both shots and passes…Gets her shot off in traffic…Change of speed and direction are developed for age…Lots of promise
Maya Wong – 2020 – 5-8 – Combo – Illinois Rebels United 17– Ball skills are there…Plays with good instincts…Develops her looks and improves passing angles…Creates
