By Fran Burbidge
The NCAA Fall Non-Scholastic Evaluation weekend is loaded with events and despite the somewhat pathetic example of our federal government; plenty of work was getting done in the nation’s capital last week. Both Blue Star and USJN offered up events tipping off with the Fall College Showcase Friday evening as a precursor to the Saturday and Sunday’s USJN Fall Finale. Over 60 athletes showed off their stuff in front of 35 Division I coaches. Here are some quickhitters on a few of the athletes that caught the eye of the Blue Star Staff on the first day of a very busy weekend.
2014
Amber Baker – (5’8 guard – Germantown Lady Panthers)…Plays hard…Nice stroke…Three point range
Kiara Colston – (5’7 guard – DC Heat)…Unselfish…Good passer…Knows how to score
Lexi Bruno – (5’7 guard – Philly Belles)…Tough…Quick…Unselfish…Good handle
2015
Payton Hauck – (5’9 guard – Love Elite)…Strong…Tough…Runs floor well…Plays big for size
Katie Goodwin – (5’9 guard/wing – Fairfax Stars)…Enjoys playing the game…Tough…Competes
Ky’asia Stanford – (5’6 guard – Philly Belles)…Quick…Athletic…Runs the floor well…Gets to the rim
Brittany Martin – (5’7 guard – Triple Threat)…Good handle…Quick…Can score getting to rim or with the three
Alexiss Griggs – (5-9 guard/wing – Pa. Four Seasons Hoops)…Quick…Still learning…Attacks the rim…Finishes well
2016
Kayla Hinderlie – (6’1 forward – Germantown Lady Panthers)…Runs floor well…Tough…Active
Taylor Baltimore – (5’5 point – PWC Va.)…Good handle…Distributes well…Nice “feel” for the game
2017
Olivia Martino – (5’9 guard – Philly Belles)…Nice handle…Runs floor well…Rebounds…Scores effectively…”Quiet” stat sheet filler
Myia Spivey – (5’5 point – All Star Lady Ballers)…Plays “older”…Nice handle…Runs floor well
Alaya Matthews – (5’7 guard – Columbia Ravens)…Tough…Good handle…Gets to the rim
2018
Robbi Allen – (5’7 guard – All Star Lady Ballers)…Strong…Athletic…Scorer…Advanced play…Has tools to be special
Shaleen Woods – (5’6 guard – Fairfax Stars)…Great handle…Court sense and leadership…Tremendous potential
2020
Elizabeth Martino – (5’7 guard – Philly Belles)…All the skills are in place…One to keep an eye on
Fran Burbidge is no stranger to the gym, club basketball or Blue Star. The Philadelphia native brings a wealth of experience that includes college, high school as well as club basketball. In that time, Burbidge has coached two consensus National Players of the Year, eight McDonald’s All-Americans and six USA Basketball participants. Along the way he has collected two high school state titles, one AAU national championship, eight AAU top 10 national finishes and over 10 Mid-Atlantic AAU crowns. Burbidge is the proud father of three along with one granddaughter.
