MANALAPAN, N.J.—What a difference a year makes.  The 2016 NCAA Fall Evaluation weekend saw a collective of Power Five coaches “boycott” the weekend with a message cloudier than the ones emanating from the White House and halls of Congress.  Flash forward to this past weekend and the 157 recruiters wandering the sidelines of the impressive Sportika Sports Center and it might be safe to assume that the three days in the fall aren’t on life support after all.

The 12^th annual USJN Fall Finale featured 73 teams representing five state and the District of Columbia.  The two day event offered up 142 games on seven floors and 50,000 square feet of hardwood.  The lineup of participating programs provided enough talent to draw a virtual who’s who of college coaches representing every level of play at the collegiate level including the likes of the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, American and Big East conferences to name just a few. While the Fall period can often be challenging for programs that haven’t been on the floor together since July, the sheer number and caliber of individual prospects in the gym guaranteed a weekend in New Jersey was well worth the time.

Here are some of the athletes who wrapped up the 2017 “non-scholastic” schedule with some strong play in Manalapan.

Kadaja Bailey – 2018 – 6-0 – Guard – NYC Heat – St. John’s verbal…Strong effort both days…Mixed up the speed and hesitation in her attack more effectively…Always looking to get to the rim…Handles traffic in terms of getting her shot off…Length of her stride keeps defenders she’s beat from recovering…Elevates and reads off penetration but occasionally gets hung out to dry…Lots of tools defensively…Anticipates well on the weakside of the floor

Mya Bembry – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – NY iExcel – Plenty of length…Very lean build at this point…Runs the floor well…Active player on both ends of the floor…Deceiving speed for size…Can get to the rim off the drive…length makes her an asset defensively as well

Eve Bernardoni – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing – Germantown Lady Panthers – Nice combination of size and skills on the perimeter…Active with and without the ball…Length is an advantage on both ends of the floor…Fluid with an understanding of what she’s looking for on the move…Demonstrated some range

Samantha Brunelle – 2019 – 6-3 – Forward – Fairfax Stars – New club setting…Still had some strong moments despite the usual “transition to a new team speedbumps”…Appears to be adding some more length and strength…Range is now out to “four point” distance…Will need to create more off the drive to keep defenders honest and playing her straight up…Always sets the bar for effort baseline to baseline

Jacqueline Christ – 2019 – 6-2 – Post – Fairfax Stars – Size and frame on the interior…Post hard on the block…Drop step is long, reaching and effective…Knows how to read defenders…Text book play in many ways…Had moments on the offensive glass

Promise Cunningham – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – Fairfax Stars – Solidly built guard…Aggressive in her attack…Has the tools to develop her own options…Ballhandling is sound…Consistency will need to come…Aggressive on the ball defensively

Mo’ne Davis – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Philly Triple Threat – Athletic guard with plenty of speed and quickness…Sound ballhandling skills are in place…Delivers the ball effectively as defenders rotate on the drive…Form is there on her jumper…Weak hand will need to catch up 

Amari Deberry – 2021 – 6-5 – Post – WNY Lady Lakers – High profile already…Length and build are both there…Strength will come with age…Wingspan is an asset on both ends of the floor…Has been coached to a degree already…Post hard and gets wide…Keeps it high on the catch…Has some sound moves in place at this point…Knows what she’s looking for…Comfortable at the elbows or trail spot…Sky’s the limit

Emily Engstler – 2018 – 6-1 – Wing / Forward – New Heights – Limited play but continues to separate herself from the crowd…Worked more from the perimeter this time around……Shot it well both mid-range and spotted up deeper…Was a factor in transition both getting out as well as handling it herself…Physicality and size has her ready for the nature of the game at the next level…Continues to wear her frustrations on her sleeve (officiating) 

Azzi Fudd – 2021 – 5-11 – Point Guard – DC Cadets – Played with roster of high school teammates…Looked to be attacking middle more…Pull up was serving her well…Mixing up her change of speed more and more effectively…Despite her youth uses her body as efficiently as any play on the scholastic level to protect the ball…Focus on the application of skill work is evident each time we see her in action

Mya Grimes – 2018 – 6-0 – Forward – Jersey Cardinals – Strong and aggressive…Attacks on the catch…Sweeps the ball assertively to create space…Won’t back down from contact…Initiates it instead…Decent individual skills in creating her own looks…Played hard but tired quickly…Got on the glass…Goes back up strong on the offensive boards…Can hold her ground on defense

Makenzie Helms – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – New Heights – Continues her elite play…Strong ball skills keep defenders guessing…Quick release and range force close outs on the catch…Great understanding of defenders and their reactions…Looks off her passes both in the halfcourt and in transition…Ability is there to get her shot off effectively in traffic…Very deceptive and very lethal 

Katherine Hill – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Jersey Shore Elite – Versatile, young guard…Impressive combination of size and skills for age…Finds her way into the paint again and again…Knows what she’s looking for off the drive…Promising 

Sevval Istanbulluogi – 2019 – 6-2 – Post – Maryland Belles – Impressive size and frame…Plays with effort and physicality…Demonstrated some ability to put it on the floor…Has some tools…Consistency will have to come

Victoria Keenan – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – United New Jersey – Wiry, quick and athletic guard…Showed plenty of speed both in the halfcourt and in transition…Acceleration serves her well…Connected from the perimeter both spotting up and off the jumper…Scored in streaks…Will need to be much more active without the ball to keep defenders honest…Quick on ball defender

Layla Laws – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – New Jersey Belles – Young with some length…Very lean at this point…Active and fluid in her movement…Moves without the ball…Had a few moments

Alisha Lewis – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Philadelphia Belles – Really coming into her own…Playing with confidence and patience…Knows her options and reads the floor…Deceivingly strong physically…Mixes up her speed and direction on the attack…Passes have zip on them…Making strong choices both on passes and shots…Step back serves her well on the perimeter…Nice form and touch…Assertive defensively on the ball 

Jasmine Lyles – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Jersey Cardinals – Lefty…Athletic guard…Has some strength as well…Showed speed and quickness with and without the ball…First step is sharp…Watch

Faith Masonius – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Philadelphia Belles – Intensity and effort…Plays physical and no holds barred…Ability is there to make plays both off the drive or off the cut…Consistent presence in the middle of the action on both ends…Scoring consistency has to evolve to capitalize on opportunities that she’s creating…Defensive game is becoming an asset against any opponent

Chetanna Nweke – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward/Wing – Germantown Lady Panthers – Nice size and strength…Potential is there to grow…Has some solid ball skills in place…Can create her own options…Physical tools let her work inside…Took it in transition a couple of times…Plays with energy…Lots of upside

Kateri Poole – 2020 – 5-9 – Combo – NY Scanlan – Top tier prospect who keeps advancing…Physically strong…Attacking mentality…Creates both shots and passes off the dribble…Ball skills are exceptional…Utilizes “misdirection” both with her eyes and the ball…Strong interior passing off the drive…Stroke and range are there to keep defenders tight and closing out…Mature element to her game despite her age 

Alexsia Rose – 2020 – 5-5 – Point Guard – NY iExcel – Physically strong, young point guard…Aggressive with the ball in her hands…Hesitation and crossover are both advanced for age…Sees the floor in transition and can deliver the ball…Will need to go both ways to keep defenders guessing…Strong on ball defensively

Maggie Shipley – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing/Guard – VA Matrix – Making some plays…Nice size on the wing with some solid skills…Ability is there to create off the drive…Can handle it on the break as well…Sees the floor in transition…Plays with lots of effort

Olivia Snyder – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing – Philadelphia Belles – Good size on the wing…Deceptive athlete…Plays with a solid first step and the strength to handle physical defenders…Gets off the floor around the rim and on the pull up from mid-range…Aggressive cutter without the ball…Floater had its moments as well…Challenging match-up for the opposition…Works

Malu Tshitenge-Mutombo – 2019 – 6-3 – Post – DC Cadets – Continues to evolve…Post moves are becoming more instinctual…Patience is beginning to show on the catch…Making much more efficient reads…Touch and finish still need continued refinement…Effective presence on the boards, particularly offensive…Vocal and imposing presence on defense 

Jordan Wakefield – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Maryland Belles – Solid size and build…Good athlete…Could use an element of “explosiveness” to go with it…Handles contact well off the drive…Jumper is sound up top with a narrow base…Lots of possibilities

Alexa Wallace – 2018 – 5-7 – Combo – Long island Renegades – Very athletic guard…Shoed some strong individual skills…Gets to the rim…Acceleration is there on the catch…Made some plays

Sydney Wood – 2018 – 6-0 – Guard – DC Cadets – Northwestern verbal…Attacking mentality with the ball in her hands…Length of stride and first step create penetration…Handles contact well around the rim off the drive…Pull up is there…Plenty of speed with the ball on the break…Jumper is off the shoulder to a degree…Understands cutting, angles and reading defenders