KANSAS CITY, Kan.—Every year in the middle of the club season and in the middle of the country USJN offers up the highly regarded Battle at the Border. The 12th annual edition took center stage in Kansas City this past weekend and once again we got a good look at some promising talent on the horizon of girls travel and scholastic basketball.
This time around almost 130 teams featuring players from nine different states made their way to KC for all the action. Champions were crowned among eight separate divisions of play following pool and bracket competition on 16 different floors. As always, it’s not possible for us to see all the prospects in the gym but Blue Star Media and evaluators from multiple national scouting services were on hand from start to finish. Today we offer up a quick look at some of the performances that stood out form the crowd.
For a complete list of participants, results, pool all-stars and the over 70 college recruiters on hand, follow the link below to the USJN web site and the Battle at the Border post event page.
http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=433
Paige Allen – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Della Lamb – Promising young guard…Nice size and athleticism…Works to make herself an option…Cuts hard…Has instincts…Pull up is there…Poise for age…Elevates on jumper…Tools on both ends
Abby Augustine – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – KC Hoops Phenom – Has some game…Lefty…Ball skills…Steps into her perimeter shot…Young with promise
Carly Bachelor – 2019 – 6-1 – Wing – Ohlde Elite – Active…Cuts…Solid build…Can spot up…Runs the floor…Some ball skills
Kylee Blacksten – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Boulder Rockies – Leaner build…Lots of tools at forward and on wing…Active…Ballskills…Creates shots and passes…Gets to the rim…Form is there…Defends
Brittanie Brickhouse – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – TMK Phenom – Athletic combo…Creates off the dribble…Mixes up speed and direction…Passes well on the attack
Payton Brotzki – 2018 – 5-11 – Wing / Forward – All Nebraska Attack – Creighton verbal…Solid size and build…Strong skills and instincts…Works well down low and out on the wing…Reads defenders in the half and full court…Makes plays…Simply productive
Jaiden Bryant – 2022 – 5-9 – Wing / Forward – St. Louis Eagles – Nice build and strength for age…Can work on the wing or inside at this point…Decent ballhandling…First step…Aggressive defender on ball
Brionna Budgetts – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – Della Lamb – Athletic combo…Gets to the rim…Fluid…Makes plays…Hesitation is effective…Explosive first step…Lots of speed with the ball…Gets out in transition…Makes defensive plays
Katelyn Crosthwaite – 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Oklahoma Swarm – Slight build…Ball skills…Hesitation and crossover…Sees the floor…Can deliver the pass on the break and off the drive
Riley Denbow – 2022 – 5-5 – Guard – Knights basketball Academy – Ball skills for age…Penetrates…Has a floater…Can spot up…Young with promise
Catie Eck – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing – Illinois Predators – Nice length on the wing…Sound ballhandling…Made some plays on both ends…Lean build…Moments
Raelene Eddens – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward – Oklahoma Swarm – Length and athleticism…Fluid…has a 15 footer…Decent ballhandling for size…Mid-range and pull up…Some rebounding…Needs to see the ball defensively…Made some plays
Camilla Emsbo – 2018 – 6-4 – Forward – Boulder Rockies – Size and length…Lean build…Active with and without the ball…Can develop her own looks…Threat when facing up…Ballhandling for size…Pull up is there…Length is a plus on defense…Strength needs to evolve…Promising tools
Krista English – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – Blue Star Dallas – Ballhandling and vision…Most effective off the dribble…Shot is somewhat flat but has range…Step back is there
Johnni Gonzalez – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Next Level Eclipse – Attacking point guard…Dynamic ballhandler…Creates and develops options for herself and teammates…Sees the floor on the break…Perimeter shot has a forward element to it…Assertive on ball defender
Jewel Hart – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Della Lamb – Strong…Solid build…Surprising speed…Showed off an effective drive…Gets on the boards…Plays with effort…Will develop
Aaliyah Henderson – 2023 – 5-6 – Guard – Oklahoma Lady Thunder – Athletic…Has speed with the ball…Pushes it from makes, misses and turnovers…Solid…On ball defense…Anticipates well for age…Watch
Zoe Jackson – 2021 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Cy-Fair Shooters – Small but young…Athletic…Lefty…Has range…Step back is there…Sharp passing skills
Jayla Kelly – 2020 – 6-2 – Post – Missouri Phenom – Evolving post…Strong…Deceptive in her ability to move…Physical in her play…Can develop her own looks…High post drive is there…Consistency will be key as she develops
Maddie Krull – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – All Nebraska Attack – Ballhandling and passing…Works well in transition…Works well in traffic…Decent form on the shot
Rylee Langerman – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Oklahoma Swarm – Active and fundamental guard…Plays with effort on both ends…Crossover serves her well…Passes well on penetration…Attacks on the catch….Makes herself a factor in transition…Makes plays
Eylia Love – 2020 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – Missouri Phenom – Athleticism and length…Decent ballhandling…Impressive first step…Impact in half and full court…Floater is there with good vertical…Feeds the post…Gets on the glass…Tools are there to defend
Laura Macke – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – Ohlde Elite – Active player…Nice size and instincts…Decent ballhandling…Efficient off the cut…Smart and reads…Touch pass…Scraps defensively…Low release on perimeter sho
Kalynn Meyer – 2020 – 6-2 – Post – Ohlde Elite – Promising interior prospect…Has size and frame…Active…Runs the floor…Works effectively in both high and low post…Willing to play physical…Clears space on the boards…Getting strong coaching…Watch closely
Mckenna Minter – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – All Nebraska Attack – Good athlete…Active with and without the ball…Can put it on the floor…Sharp passing instincts…Hesitation is there…Reliable pull up…Makes plays
Joy Montgomery – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Arkansas Mavericks – Wiry build guard…Good speed and quickness…Sharp ballskills…Can create her own
Machia Mullens – 2020 – 6-1 – Wing / Forward – Have Ball Will Travel – Nice size on perimeter…First step is effective…Got to the rim off the drive…Will post up but with limited options… Strength will need to com
Mariah Murdie – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward – Ohlde Elite – Athletic forward…Agility on both ends of the floor…Will post but lacks strength…Effective passer from the interior…Can make some plays
Sydney Nilles – 2020 – 5-7 – Guard – Kansas United – Penetrating guard…Interior passing is strong…Sees the floor in transition…Reads defenders
Mikayla Parks – 2022 – 5-6 – Guard – Oklahoma Lady Thunder – Nice ball skills…Penetrated…Good understanding of the game…Pushes it…Works hard with and without the ball
Vanessa Polk – 2022 – 6-1 – Post – St. Louis Eagles – Size with ideal frame…Strength is there for age…Works to post up…Willing to work…Gets on the boards…World of potential
Joan Reiber – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Les Chats – Attacking point guard…Change of speed and direction…Strong passing on the break…Deceptive with the ball…Showed some range…Scrappy defender
Arielle Sargent – 2019 – 6-0 – Forward – Precision Athletics – Lean forward…Works hard with and without the ball…Deceptive speed…Works her way inside…Has some sound skills…Wingspan in defense
Brionna Scott – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Oklahoma Swarm – Some size and athleticism…Could grow…Creates off the drive…Delivers the ball on the break…Needs to play more physical
Kylie Scott – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Blue star Dallas – Strong and athletic guard…Mixes change of speed and direction…Can create her own looks…Pushes the ball at opportunity…Sees the floor…Pull up is there…Has the tools to be a strong on ball defender
Saniah Tyler – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard – St. Louis Eagles – Dynamic athlete…Has individual skills…Can create both shots and passes…Demonstrated speed in both the halfcourt as well as on the break…Emotional at times…Assertive on ball defender…Limits are up to her
Payton Verhulst – 2021 – 6-0 – Guard – Next level Eclipse – Promising combination of size and skills…Understands the game…Creates off the dribble…Form is there from the perimeter…Active without the ball…Very deceiving look to her at this point…Just scratching the surface…Better each time out
Sereena Weledji – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward – Les Chats – Solid size…Impressive strength and athleticism…Continues to add to her game…Versatility…Explosive first step…Most effective off the drive…Can finish but has the floater…Perimeter shot is a work in progress…Physical on defense and the boards…Plays with effort
Alecia Westbrook – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward / Post – Della Lamb – Has size and build…Athleticism is there…Runs the floor…Works hard on the block…Aggressive drive from the high post…Gets on the boards…Physical defender
Sydney Wilson – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing – Les Chats – Lean athlete on the wing…Ability is there to slash…Makes an impact in transition…Effective from perimeter with time…Deceiving on defense…Not done evolving
Rickie Woltman – 2019 – 6-3 – Post – Incarnate Word Academy – Has the size and build…Strength is there…Works to post or cuts had in the paint…Capability for finishing low or from maid-range…Tools are there…Struggles with consistency…Critical summer
Below are the championship teams from the 12th annual USJN Battle at the Border.
