WESTFIELD, Ind.- If you’re talking July evaluation there’s little debate about where you begin your month. When you combine the Nike EYBL and a USJN tournament you’ve got a combination of events that provides nothing but the best for athletes, recruiters, evaluators, media and families. The 15thannual USJN Premier Showcase hosted not only the Nike programs but over 275 teams representing 28 states and even a few from north of the border in Canada.
Exposure was at a premium with over 700 college recruiters from all levels scouring the sidelines looking for the next generation to wear their school colors. Including the Pacers Athletic Center at the Grand Park in Westfield, eight sights provided a comfortable setting for five Blue Star national evaluators to check out all the talent. Today veteran college coaches Rachel Galligan and Blake DuDonis offer up some of the players who caught their eyes during the 2018 USJN Premier Showcase.
To see the USJN post event page for all the participating teams, results, pool all-stars, college coaches in attendance and more, follow the link below.
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=495
For the wrap-up of the EYBL portion of the tournament, click on the link below:
https://bluestarmedia.org/eybl-round-two-sets-up-chicago-nike-grand-finale/
Here are some the players that two of the most knowledgeable evaluators in the gym saw getting their July off on the right foot.
BLAKE DUDONIS
Kenzie Bowers – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – West MI Drive 16 – Combo guard with a good stroke…Doesn’t get fazed easily…Defense is suspect at times but not due to effort…Penetrates and kicks accurately…Keep an eye on
Sania Feagin – 2021 – 6-4 – Post – GA Pearls 16 – Among the elite in her class…Big, long, athletic build with the ability to match…Good hands and already has a solid post game…Shot blocker…Star in the making
Jess Finney – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – AZ Select 16 – Tall, thin shooter who is unafraid to let it fly…Showed off a nice floater game…Still developing but a player you should keep your eye on
Grace Heeps – 2019 – 5-11 – Guard – NY Havoc 17 – Tall guard with range beyond the arc…Solid handles and defender…Words hard…UMass commit
Gabby Hutcherson – 2020 – 6-2 – Wing – Sports City U – Seems to get taller and longer every single tournament…Elite build…Range out to the three point line…Smooth finisher around the rim…Handle is solid but needs to tighten up a bit…Guards multiple possessions…Established top tier prospect who has still yet to reach her full potential
Maya Nnaji – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – MN Suns 15 Coley – Tweener with a great build…Shot still needs consistency but she can hit the three even now…Strong and able to ward off contact while driving to the rim…Guards multiple positions…Rebounds
Kateri Poole – 2020 – 5-9 – Point Guard – New Heights 17 NYC –Has taken her game to the next level…Strong with the ball and gets to the rim consistently…Good passer…Plays with swagger…Scores in bunches
Sara Puckett – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – AL Southern Stars 15 – One of the stars of the tournament…A modern day #4 with the ability to hit outside shots and score inside…Works hard and makes things happen…Needs to get stronger and quicker on defense
Ava Sergio – 2019 – 6-1 –Forward – IL Lady Lightning 17 – Nice build…Has shown impressive moves…Gets to the rim but finishing ability leaves some to be desired…Works hard…Rebounds
Moriah Taylor – 2019 – 5-6 – Guard –AL Southern Stars 17- Very passionate guard…Scores in bunches…Streaky shooter but has the ability to get hot quick…Slashes well…Solid handles
Payton Verhulst – 2021 – 6-1 – Guard – KS Next Level Eclipse 17 – Has taken a big leap forward this year…High basketball IQ…Scores in a variety of ways, both off the bounce and as a spot up shooter…Gets to the paint…A stat sheet stuffer at the next level
Jenna Walker – 2021 – 5-8 – Point Guard – AL Southern Stars 15 – Continues to improve every year…One of the best overall passers seen at the travel level in some time…Plays with an youthful excitement and energy…Needs to become more of a threat scoring the ball
Elle Wedergren – 2020 – 5-9 – Point Guard – All Nebraska Attack 17 – Crafty point guard…Finds a way to score…Finishes around bigger players…Good stroke…Floor general
Shemera Williams – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – WI Playground Elite 17 – Good passing PG…Excellent vision… Gets to the rim…Needs to improve finishing…Causes havoc on defense…Good handle…Shot needs to develop
RACHEL GALLIGAN
Anne Awour – 2020 – C – IL Midwest Elite 16 –Very long…Raw center still coming into her own… Moves well up and down the floor…Hands need to continue to be developed…Soft touch around the rim… Shot blocker with tremendous length… Good timing… Getting more physical in time
Ally Becki – 2021 – PG – IN Elite 16 Gold– Lanky guard…Sees the floor well… Always looking to push tempo…Handles it well in traffic…Good court vision…Vocal Leader on the floor…Plays with some flare to her game…Good speed… coring mentality overall
Sophie Bussard – 2019 – Guard – IN Nike Gym Rats 17 Rose Gold –Consistent shooter…Nice release and follow through…Good footwork on the catch…Can play off a curl and plays well off screens…Skilled guard…Advanced IQ…Tough mentality
Khalis Cain – 2020 – F – NC Team Carolina All Stars 17 Cox– Raw but athletic forward…Still coming into her own…Most effective around the rim…Works for positioning down low…Goes after rebounds hard…Catches high and finishes high…Alters a lot of shots…Not afraid to be physical
Kate Clarke – 2020 – G – IN Indy Magic 16 Andrus Blue Star – Long guard…Good frame…Will continue to get stronger…Can run the point or play off the ball…Has advanced mid-range pull up…Nice shot and release…Skilled Athlete with big upside
Mia Davis – 2023 – Guard – AZ Premier 15 –Advanced skillset for her age as a combo…Strong frame with long arms…Driver first who handles it well…Aggressive and strong first step…Can finish with contact at the rim and good body control…Plays hard…Hesitation dribble and head fakes and shot fakes are advanced…Nice shot and mid-range ability
Asia Donald – 2023 – G – IN Hamblin Hoops 14– Athletic guard…Takes great pride on defensive end of the floor…Loves to fly around and pressure the ball…Nice frame for age…Driver…Has a major upside if she can continue to work on shooting the ball
Makenna Fee – 2019 – Forward/Guard – IN Flight 17 Duke– Solid frame…Versatile player capable of playing inside and out…Can stretch the floor with ball handling skill and shooting ability…Down low, has a nice turn-around jumper and plays physical…Appears to be overlooked and has continued to improve each summer
Khera Goss – 2020 – G – IN Gym Rats 16 –High level athlete…Long…Defends well and covers a lot of ground…Can guard multiple positions…Offensively a driver first…Plays well in the high post from a scoring/passing standpoint…Highly active…Strong motor
Grace Larkins – 2021 – G – IA All Iowa Attack 16 –Aggressive guard with long arms…Gets it to the rim going either way…Does not shy away from contact….Has a nice hesitation and understanding of getting by someone…Plays very hard
Claire Neff – 2020 – F – PA Philly Belles 16– Strong basketball frame…Good length…Can face up and play with her back to the basket some…Versatile scorer who can get it to the rim some…Can shoot it…Highly competitive and vocal leader on the floor…Plays hard and tough from a physicality standpoint
Cavina Rickards – 2019 – G – NY New Heights 17 NYC – High level athletic guard…Tremendous ability to elevate and mid-air body control…Good shot from pull up…Always perusing the basketball…Strong rebounder and gets a hand on almost everything….Strong defender with active hands…Disruptive and covers a lot of ground with athleticism
Grace Schmidt – 2022 – Forward – WI Lakers 14 White –Long athlete with basketball build… Secures rebounds well…Understanding of low block footwork and fundamentals…Ducks in across defender’s face and finish well with no dribble…Good hands…Ability to handle it some… Finishes well around the rim…Solid outlet passer with good vision
Kallyn Stumbo – 2020 – G – IA All Iowa Attack 16 –Smart combo guard…Can shoot the ball…Leader on the floor…Big, solid frame…High basketball IQ…Makes hustles plays…Plays Tough…Overall skillset is strong…Ability to get by someone…Good court vision… Strong passer
Toniah Williams – 2022 – PG – WI Playground Elite 14 Young –Smaller but athletic…Quick guard…Loves to push the ball…Handles it well in traffic…Able to shoot it off the dribble…Can get it to the rim…Likes to be flashy with the ball…Lefty…Skilled…Young and gets frustrated easily
Mackenzie Wood – 2019 – F – IN Nike Gym Rats 17 Rose Gold –Nice basketball frame…Strong…Plays hard in spurts…Needs to keep being more consistent…Has a nice mid-range jumper from short corner and high post… Active on the glass…Ability is there to be a tremendous rebounder
And they both liked what Kateri offered up!
Kateri Poole – 2020 – PG – NY New Heights 17 NYC– Big, strong guard…Tremendous court vision…Looks to advance the ball on the pass and push tempo…Delivers pin point passes and crafty…Handles it very well…Capable of scoring it many different ways…Can shoot the ball very well with nice shot and release…Gets it to the rim and finish with contact…Good body control
