HERSHEY, Pa.—If you’ve done something for 16 years and continue to have success time after time then chances are you more than entitled to lay claim to “getting it right”. The 16th annual USJN Hershey National Showcase featured the second largest field in the history of the event and provided a stage some very promising young prospects emerging on the basketball horizon. Over 220 teams made their way to Central Pennsylvania and represented 15 different states, D.C. and Canada. The action took place on 16 floors in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center as well as two courts each at Central Dauphin and Central Dauphin East High Schools.
Four days of play culminated in Tuesday’s championship contests crowning winners in seven different age groups. When all was said and done in the 16 / 17 bracket bragging rights belonged convincingly to the Philadelphia Belles EYBL 15 team playing up an age group by way of their 47 – 31 win over the Central Pa Elite 17 squad. Following the lead of their club mates, the 2020 Belles team moved up to lay claim to the 15 year old division edging the Keystone Karma 46 – 44. The 14U bracket saw the Chantilly Elite from Virginia take home the hardware with a four point win over Team Pennsylvania. Team Pennsylvania’s 13’s had more luck claiming top medals with a hard fought 55 – 53 victory over Mid-Penn Motion. Philly Triple Threat grabbed the 12 year old title with a 44 – 29 winning margin over the Mid-Atlantic Magic. In the 11 year old bracket Exodus took down the Maryland Belles 45 – 31 while the 10’s belonged to the MCW Starz via a 27 win over the New jersey Sparks.
To see photos of all the championship teams, scroll to the bottom of this article.
For a complete list of participants, results, pool all-stars and the over 40 college recruiters, evaluators and media on hand, follow the link below to the USJN web site and the Hershey National Showcase post event page.
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=437
As always, today we’re taking a look at some of the standout performers in Hershey and will have additional coverage later in the week from Joe Costa and Travis Ponton. Check back with Blue Star Media throughout the upcoming July NCAA Evaluation period for extensive coverage from across the country.
Dajanae Bannon – 2019 – 5-10 – Forward – Central Pa. Elite – Undersized but assertive forward…Athletic and strong…Plays with intensity…Can get to the rim…Throws her body into defenders…Decent touch from 15 feet…Showed off a step back
Latonya Berry – 2020 – 6-3 – Post – Philadelphia Belles Steidle – Continues to develop…Size and frame are in place…Skill set is evolving…Has rudimentary post set…Keeps it high on the catch…Consistency has to come…Decent form on mid-range but will fall away at times…Plays with effort…Lots of tools and promise
Anna Camden – 2019 – 6-2 – Post – Philadelphia Belles EYBL 15 – Coming into her own…Playing with a focus and plenty of effort on both ends…Solid build and strength and a willingness to use them…Can produce on the block, mid-range and from the high post…One and two dribble drive…Making plays on both ends…Simply works
Maya Cwalina – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – NYC Lady Bulldogs – Lots of skills combines with lots of skills…True “Euro” player (Poland)…Strong fundamental arsenal and an understanding of how to apply them…Keeps it high on the catch down low…Reads the floor on the square up in the high post…Strong passing skills…Sound form…Ability is there to improve either a pass or shot…Runs the floor well…Can trigger the break or fill the lane…Total upside is there
Amaya Douglas – 2020 – 5-10 – Wing / Guard – Pennsylvania Panthers – Has some length and athleticism…Ballhandling is there to create her own…Cuts hard to get herself open…Downfloor passing in transition is sharp…Could be more active on the weakside…Added depth to her attack will challenge defenders more
Olivia Fasick – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Central Pa. Elite – Smart, thinking guard…Strong ballhandling and passing skills…Creates with change of speed and direction…Always reading on the break and in sets…Can deliver the ball off the drive…Footspeed on defense needs some sharpening
Courtney Furr – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing / Guard – Columbia Ravens – Nice size and length on the perimeter…Lean build but possesses decent mobility…Ability is there to slash to a degree…Floater and pull up both are sound…Showed some range as well…Deceiving vertical
Leah Harmon – 2024 – 4-10 – Point Guard – North Jersey Blast – Young and skilled…Quick and athletic…Limited size due to age…Develops opportunities for herself and teammates off the dribble…Active with and without the ball…Form is there from the perimeter…Navigates traffic in full and half court
Katie Hill – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Jersey Shore Elite – Attacking guard…Has some size…Ball skills…Touch is there on the floater…Potential is there to grow…Active…Needs defense to catch up with offense
Kate Hollifield – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Carolina Elite…Young but hardly a secret…Has skills and instincts…Creates both shots and passes…Can get to the rim off a strong hesitation or crossover…Uses both hands well putting it on the floor or around the rim…Can handle traffic and contact…Interior passing is sharp…Makes herself a factor…Advanced for age
Tatiana Jones – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard – Peak Skills Storm – Guard with size and strength…Explosive with the ball at times…Can attack off the drive or the cut…Sees the floor in transition…In and out…Change of speed…Needs to become a factor without the ball…Has moments on defense…Critical time
Carrie Jornlin – 2018 – 6-3 – Forward / Post – Black Rock Fury – Lots of size and agility…Demonstrated some ballhandling from trail spot and elbows…Willing to take the 15 footer…Needs to work around the rim more with her size…Has some physical tools…Strength will be critical
Meghan Kenefick – 2020 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – Virginia Vogues – Has size on the perimeter…Nice ballhandling and passing skills…Deceivingly light on her feet…Interior passing…Active without the ball…OK form…Showed fatigue…Had some strong moments
Julie Kulesza – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles Steidle – Skilled guard with decent size…Pushes the ball…Ballhandling and passing are there…Sees the floor on the break and off the drive…Handles contact on penetration…Creates tempo…Scraps defensively
Josiah Lacey – 2020 – 6-0 – Wing – Philadelphia Belles EYBL 15 – Taking game to the next level…Length and athleticism…More and more active with and without the ball…Creating more off the dribble…Fluid on the cut and the drive…Hitting some jumper with elevation and touch…Wingspan and lateral speed makes her a strong defender in any scheme…Gets off the floor and has the tools to be an impact on the glass
Lindsey Lawson – 2020 – 6-3 – Forward – Syracuse Nets – Long, lean, young forward…Has agility and can run the floor…Active offensively…Needs to find efficiency in her game…Wingspan serves her well defensively…Strength will come
Ava Learn – 2021 – 6-1 – Wing – Philadelphia Belles Peterson – Nice size and build on the wing…Active and smart for age…Finds a way to make plays…Form is there on the shot…Can get to the rim with contact…Lots of promise for age
Kiyomi McMiller – 2024 – 5-0 – Point Guard – OSA Sharpshooters – Well established already…Ball skills are among the sharpest for any class…Looking older but still slight build and size due to age…Change of speed and direction are lethal…Creating and improving options in traffic…Pull up is evolving…Step back is creating more separation
Diane Nicholson – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles Gerson – Textbook combo…Strong ballskills and passing…Gets into the paint and can create shots and passes…Had some solid moments
Meghan O’Brian – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Chantilly Elite – Forward with some length…Lean build…Reads on the catch…Making smart choices…Showed some ability to put the ball on the floor…Agility is there defensively…Just getting started
Lauren Park-Lane – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Philadelphia Belles EYBL 15 – Continues to elevate her game…Dynamic and skilled point guard…Has both speed and quickness to spare…Consistency of perimeter shot is making her an even tougher match up…Smooth and fluid with the ball…Mixes up her attack better than ever…The confidence and maturity are setting her apart…Making those around her more effective…Active on ball defender
Isabella Perkins – 2021 – 5-6 – Guard – Virginia 023 Feet – Promising skilled guard…Ball skills improve both shots and passes…Form, touch and range are there…Consistency will need to come…Cuts hard with and without screens…has tools…Watch
Lauren Pettis – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward – Central Pa. Elite – Size and build are there…Willing to play physical…Gets herself in the middle of the action…Needs to refine her skill set to finish more efficiently…Major impact player on the glass…Plays with effort
Zyan Reynolds – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Maryland Comets – Size and frame…Moves well…Decent athleticism…Some ballhandling is there…Defense needs some attention on and off the ball
Ashlynn Shade – 2023 – 5-4 – Point Guard Sky Diggs Elite – Young instinctual point…Active with and without the ball…Ball skills are there already…Effective use of change of speed already…Strong passing both in transition and in the halfcourt…Gets to the rim…Lots of promise
Morgan Skinner – 2019 – 6-0 – Forward – OSA Sharpshooters – Athletic with length…Has the frame for the next level…Active without the ball…Not afraid to mix things up…Can create her own from the elbows and wings
Dejah Terrell – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward / Post – Team Pennsylvania – Has size, frame and strength…Extensive wingspan…Young in terms of experience…No reservations with physical play…Had moments both down low and from the high post…Can put it on the floor to a degree…Perimeter shot is a work in progress…Makes her presence on the glass felt…Only going to get better
Angelica Velez – 2023 – 5-2 – Point Guard – Exodus – Skilled young point…Ability is there to create her own looks…Gets to the rim again and again…Crossover gets her into the paint time and again…Good body control for age…Needs to protect the ball at time on penetration
Lexi Weger – 2018 – 6-3 – Forward / Post – Virginia Vogues – Has the size frame and build…Tools are there to work away from the rim…Lefty…Can create her looks off the dribble or cut…Pick and pop threat…Sees the floor and can make good passing decisions…Understands the game…Verbal to Princeton
Ahmya Woodyard – 2018 – 5-2 – Point Guard – Central Pa. Elite – Quick and attacking point guard…Limited size doesn’t limit production…Plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Pushes the ball…Transition passing is there…Pull had some moments
