OVERLAND PARK, Kan.—When you’re hosting a club schedule that features over 50 USJN events it seems only appropriate that you make a mid-way stop in the middle of the country. For the 13thconsecutive year the Battle at the Border has set up shop in the heartland providing teams, coaches and fans a great setting for some competitive basketball.
This time around 164 teams (the largest turnout to date) made their way to metropolitan Kansas City to compete for crowns in nine different divisions. Those rosters featured players from 16 different states making it one of the most diverse events for a tournament of its size. Once again the Drive 5 Fieldhouse with its six floors was the epicenter of 22 total courts seeing action over the course of the weekend. While the Division I recruiters are still “grounded” by the NCAA until the July Evaluation Period, almost 100 coaches representing Divisions II, III, NAIA and the JC’s were courtside to see all the action. Champions claimed hardware in four younger age groups as well as five separate pool / brackets for the 17’s. Images are below of all those teams who went home from Kansas City with a smile on their faces.
To see a complete list of participating teams, college coaches in attendance, results, pool all-stars and more, follow the link below to the USJN post event page.
http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_allstar_new.php?which=490
There was plenty of diversity in the age and potential of talent in the gym this weekend. Here are just some of those players who offered up some moments worth noting in the 13thAnnual USJN Battle at the Border.
Brynlee Arnold – 2022 – 6-3 – Post – All Nebraska Attack– Combination of size and mobility…Runs the floor…Active…Cuts hard without the ball…Reads on the catch…Can finish…Lefty
Carly Bachelor – 2019 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Ohlde Elite– Active…Plays with effort…Has some size to go with skills…Can put it on the floor some…Form is sound…Didn’t shy from contact
Brooke Berry – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing – Colorado Premier– Deceptive athletically…Makes herself an option…Young but assertive…Shot is off the shoulder to a degree…Tools are there
Aunica Brown – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Oklahoma THSS Elite– Solid, physical build…Strong in her attack…Penetrates both to score and pass…Great acceleration off the move…Assertive on ball defensively
Brionna Budgetts – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Missouri Running Angels– Dynamic and athletic guard we’ve seen in the past…Has the tools both physically and skill wise…Also possesses strength most guards don’t have…Creates her own looks…Change of direction and elevation make her tough to defend…Must become more of a factor without the ball…Stands to much…Could be an impact player more consistently
Darianna Buggs – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing/Forward – Oklahoma THSS Elite– Size and athleticism…Active with effort…Decent strength as well…Ballhandling is better than first impression…Floater is there off the drive…Great mix to her attack…Can score off the drive or post up…Strong effort on the offensive glass…Watch closely
Paige Craft – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – KC Dream– Wiry point guard…Mixes up both speed and direction…Can attack both directions…Smart with skills…Reads the floor…Floater is there…Played just one day
Katelyn Crostwait – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – Oklahoma Swarm– Nice mix of size and skills in the backcourt…Leaner build offset by aggressive attack…Strong ballhandler…Sees the floor…Passing is intuitive…Good length defensively with lateral footspeed
Dayjsha Fanning – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Kansas TMK– Small but athletic at the point…Looking to attack on the catch…Some ballhandling and passing skills are there…Had some moments
Jessa Gilyard – 2022 – 5-8 – Wing/Guard – Oklahoma PWP– Wiry guard…Has some speed…Gets out in transition…Long build…Active on ball defender
Tori Hamiltion – 2020 – 6-5 – Post – Missouri Lady Jets Sparkz– Plenty of size…Decent build…Strength will need to come for consistent production…Can run the floor…Active in making herself available…Reach is an asset defensively…Has possibilities with continued work
Morgan Hansen – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – South Dakota Attack– Good length and athleticism…Active…Gets out and runs the floor…Works hard with and without the ball…Good shot fake and drive…Can finish with contact despite lean build…Decent form
Shanti Henry – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Next Level Eclipse– Attacking ballhandler…Hesitation move serves her well…Finds her way to the rim…Solid choices in transition
Jenna Hopp – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard/Wing – All Nebraska Attack– Nice skills and instincts for age…Aggressive…Can spot up…Very active without the ball…Can get to the rim…Lots of tools and possibilities are in place…Intuitive
Alayzha Knapp – 2019 – 6-2 – Post – Oklahoma Swarm– Strong and agile…Power #4 or post up #5…Smooth and fluid in all of her movement…Speed and strength are there for size…Elevates…Jump hook is in place…Keeps it high on the catch…Lots of physical tools to be an impact defender…Well suited for the next level
Maddie Krull – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – All Nebraska Attack– Active…Plays with lots of effort…Makes herself a factor…Smart…Sound ballhandling…Crossover is there…Aggressive defender…Makes plays
Rylee Langerman – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Oklahoma Swarm– Versatile and assertive…Solid depth to her ballhandling and passing…Can take it herself in transition…Mixes direction with a sharp crossover…Gets through traffic on the break or penetrating in the halfcourt…Form is sound from the perimeter…Always plays with effort
Mya Larson – 2022 – 5-3 – Point Guard – Nebraska OSA Crusaders– Floor leader…Improves looks off penetration and sharp passing…Attacks without hesitation…Handles traffic well despite limited size…Great reads…Can spot up with range…Quicker than first impression…Knowledgeable of pace of game
Carli Libhart – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Missouri Team Blackout– Young point guard…Strong ballhandling and passing skills…Understands her role…Sees the floor and reads defensive shifts…Scraps…Anticipates off the ball defensively
Emily Lingle – 2022 – 6-1 – Post – South Dakota Attack– Young post…Some size…Solid build…Has some post moves to call on…Thoughts are becoming reactions…Potential
Myae Mason – 2019 – 5-10 – Wing/Forward – Arkansas Mavericks– Undersized power forward…Quick and aggressive…Lefthander…Stroke is there…Not hesitant to mix it up inside…Will take on the bigs…Makes things happen
Taylor McCabe – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Nebraska OSA Crusaders– Impressive young guard…Plays with good instincts and reactions for age…Well coached…Ballskills are there to develop options of her own or teammates…Reads defenders and cuts efficiently for age…Quick release on shot…Only going to continue to advance her game
Aiden Moxness – 2021 – 6-2 – Post – Kansas Elite– Size…Frame to add strength to…Mechanical to a degree but had some moments…Got on the boards at times…Promise is there
Imani Perez – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – Colorado Premier– Long and lean…Young but maturing both physically and in her game…Agile for size…High post drive is there…Can pass the ball a bit…Form is there from 15 feet but somewhat compact…Gets on the glass…Keeps it high…Will need to become more physical and add strength…Lots of possibilities
Stephanie Peterson – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Boulder Rockies– Ballhandling and passing skills…Reads the floor on the break and in the halfcourt…Change of direction is efficient for her…Delivers the ball in transition…Jumper is sound…Uses a little length on defense
Chandler Prater – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – Kansas Elite– Athletic and physically strong guard…Can create both jumpers and penetration off the dribble…Mixes up her attack…Hesitation gets her past assertive defenders…A factor setting up or on the break…Sharp interior passing…Shot is off the shoulder to a degree and has a forward motion at times…Strong defender…Takes away options
Emma Ronsiek – 2020 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – South Dakota Attack– Nice size…Solid build with good mobility…Works on both ends of the floor…Has ball skills to create her own or improve options for teammates…Can post up or step out…Decent stroke…Puts herself in the middle of the action…Contributor on both ends
Emily Ryan – 2020 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Kansas Chaos– Natural and instinctual point guard…Fluid with the ball in her hands…Plays with vision and awareness in transition or sets…Patient…Change of direction sets up both passes as well as her own options…Reads defenders and their rotations…Calls on the floater and pull up off her own penetration…Leaner build will need some more strength to handle physical defenders
Kylie Scott – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Blue Star Dallas– Strong guard…Explosive first step…Strong moves…Side to side attack…Gets up on her jumper…Decent touch…Needs to make herself more active away from the ball…More tools than she’s showing…Quick hands and feet on the defensive end…Consistent effort could set her apart
Aubrey Shaw – 2025 – 5-7 – Guard – Next Level Eclipse– Athletic and long for age…Moves well with and without the ball…Smooth and fluid…Cuts hard…Lefty…Nice stroke…Good vertical at this point in time
Kennedy Taylor – 2021 – 6-2 – Post – KC Dream– Nice size and frame…Good athleticism…First step is there…Posts hard…Active…Young with possibilities
Sanaih Tyler – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Incarnate Word– Athletic and strong guard…Continues to add to her game…Lower body explosiveness…Change of direction is sharp and sudden…Can improve both shots and passes…Form on shot is sound but pulls the string on follow through on occasion
Payton Verhulst – 2021 – 6-1 – Guard – Next Level Eclipse– Saturday only…Continues to advance and add to her game…Smooth and attacking…Looking to create and improve both shots and passes…Handling physical contact effectively on penetration…Using her body to protect the ball going up inside…Elevating more on jumper…Shows something more each time out
Katie Wagner – 2020 – 5-10 – Wing/Guard – Ohlde Elite– Young combo…Solid ballskills… Tools are there to create…Over dribbles at times…Can make plays off the drive…Had a moment or two
Alecia Westbrook – 2019 – 6-2 – Forward/Post – Missouri Running Angels– Size and strength…Impressive mobility as a forward…Depth is there in her skill set…Should be more of a factor on the block when match-ups dictate…Smart…Active on both ends of the floor
Shania Wilson – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Arkansas Mavericks– Works to be an option…Can post up hard and hold her ground…Physically strong…Quick and versatile for size…Has some ballhandling in place…Can attack the rim…A presence on the offensive glass…Aggressive both ends
Emma Yungenberg – 2022 – 5-10 – Forward – Ohlde Elite– Deceiving speed…Aggressive cutter…Attacks on the catch…Physically strong for age and size
