NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Over the course of 12 years the annual Battle in the Boro has grown, moved and added the Nike EYBL to maintain it’s profile among the elite events on the club basketball summer circuit. While the talent and teams were once again providing plenty for the recruiters, evaluators, media and fans, the biggest news may well have been off the floor. Next summer the Battle in the Boro will once again find a new home as Tom Insell and company move the event north to the Bluegrass State and the confines of the city of Louisville. Details can be found on the National Exposure Website.
This year’s Battle in the Boro featured over 640 teams from over 40 different states. The action was played on 59 floors including 29 in the Music City Center alone. More so, over the course of the four day tournament over 1000 college coaches from all levels found their way courtside to check out the prospects. The Nike EYBL completed their second round of play during the first three days of the event. You can see records, images and our previous coverage by following the link below.
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/nike-nationals-girls-eybl-final-field-set/
Top honors in the elite Junior Showcase Division were claimed in Wednesday’s final game as Team Penny out of Memphis, Tennessee stretched a two point half time margin into a 70 – 55 championship victory over renowned Sports City U from Ohio. Power forward Antoinette Lewis paced four players in double figures for Team Penny with a 20 point performance. Penetrating guard Tesia Thompson added 14 while long range shooting Selena Pruitt added 13 more and Jireh Washington chipped in 10 of her own. Lewis, Thompson and Pruitt will be seniors this fall while Washington is entering her junior year.
Team Penny 70 Sports City U 55
Sports City’s roster is a who’s who of talent from the Buckeye State including two members of the USA U17 Bronze Medal World Championship team, Taylor Mikesell and Abby Prohaska. Normally a high scoring squad, SCU found the rims frosty in the second half and left the Music City as the Boro Bridesmaids. Speedy 2019 guard Zia Cooke led the way with 14 while Naz Hillmon, Jamir Huston and Abby Prohaska, all 2018’s, each finished with eight in the contest.
For complete pool and bracket results for all nine divisions, follow the link below.
https://basketball.exposureevents.com/70711/battle-in-the-boro/schedule
Blue Star Media was busy in Nashville. Cindy Martin and Stephanie Reed were combing the courts looking for the young and the restless. Cindy offers some quick hitters on that prospect that might be sharing the limelight with a high profile teammate or just coming into her own. She also includes a couple of those high profiles you just have to take note of sometimes. Stephanie was in search of the “Boro Babies” in the 2019 and beyond classes. The next generation is looking more and more promising. Some of the names you know, some you’ll be hearing more from soon.
Cindy Martin
Payton Brotzki – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – CSS UA Bison Elite – Strong, tenacious guard who makes an impact…Can flat out put the ball in the hole…Shoots the three, has a jumper, a floater and can finish with contact inside…Does it all and creates her own looks…Plays with passion
Tiara Chambers – 2018 – 6-4 – Center – BWSL 15U – Athletic center who has ball skills…Can score by just squaring up or make a move by defender if necessary…Has long arms that just seem to go for days…Will force opponents to take bad shots
Mikayla Coombs – 2017 – 5-11 – Guard – FBC Mo 2017 – Smooth, athletic and strong guard…Go to player…Will get by most to get to the rim…Shoots the three-pointer if you defend the drive…Penetrates and kicks if you help on defense…Plays with swagger
Deyona Gaston – 2020 – 6-4 – Center – HTX Fire 2020 – Major athleticism, exceptional body control and ball skills for her age…Long player and extremely agile by the rim…Rebounding machine and shot blocker…Would be tough to find a more talented 2020 center
Bree Hall – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – Cincinnati Angels Basketball Club – Young athletic guard who plays with confidence…Handles in transition and distributes…Quick first step with a sweet crossover…Rebounds, defends and plays strong with her lean body
Naz Hillman – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward/Center – Sports City U – Strong, athletic forward who plays more like a center…Crashes the offensive glass and makes the easy put backs…Adding a counter move would take her game up a level…Plays with power…Impressive showings at the USA Basketball Trials and OGBR Skills Camp…Already highly regarded
Kasiyahna Kushkituah – 2017 – 6-4 – Center – FBC Mo 2017 – Well established powerful athlete with a very long build…Scores or gets fouled when she touches the ball…Wing span is unreal…Rebounds, defends and blocks shots…Impact player both ends of the floor
Melijah Sullivan – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – Essence Black – Strong and aggressive with a thick body build…Dips her shoulder and drives to the rim…Still working on finding her mid-range game
Makaila Woolard – 2017 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – TN Trotters – Skilled player who goes hard on every play on both ends of the floor…Shoots the three or goes all the way to the rim… Puts the ball on the floor hard in traffic to assure she gets her shot off…Low to Mid offers starting to come her way and had a good showing in Nashville
Stephanie Reed
Amira Abdur-Rahim – 6-1 – 2020 – Forward – FBC MO Young Gunz – A Blue Star 30 member whose athleticism and versatility is a foundation for great success to come. Abdur- Rahim has showed she can play hard and run the floor consistently since we last saw her at the Blue Star 30 camp. She is not even close to reaching her potential. With added focus on improving her body control when finishing in transition and decision making ability when playing at a high speed….she will soon be hard to stop.
Aliyah Boston- 6-2- 2019 – Forward/Center – IExcel – Solid body forward who runs she floor well and has long arms that allow her to grab rebounds outside of her proximity. She has a soft touch in the paint and showed her ability to knock down free throws after finishing with contact. Boston has an impressive back to basket game and will spin middle off the bounce to finish with ease
Zia Cook- 5-9- 2019 – Point Guard – Sports City U- We have followed Cook for a while and she has not let up. Her ability to be explosive while maintaining a low center of gravity makes her very hard to stop at times. Cook’s three point shot off the bounce looks just as solid as her spot up jumper.. Her ability to create assists is due to her innate ability to see the play unfold before it happens. Keep your eyes on this one.
Elauna Eaton- 5-9 – 2020 – Combo Guard – AR Mavericks Elite – Eaton is as tough and fearless as they come. She will shoot a pull up three at a moment’s notice from deep or will penetrate and euro step for a strong finish in the lane. We’ve seen the same performance multiple times this summer and this Blue Star 30 members’ stock is continually rising.
Emily Engstler – 6-1 – 2019? – Wing – NY Belles – Engstler’s name was floating around the courts and throughout the hall because she was just that impressive. She has a nose for the ball and the ability to dominate and SNATCH rebounds on both offense and defense. Engstler can also guard one through four and play all positions on the floor.
Azzi Fudd- 5-10- 2021 – Guard – Fairfax Stars – Fudd is one of the younger Blue Star 30 members we have been following for quite a while. She helped lead her young team while playing up in the sophomore division. Fudd’s strength, athleticism, and skill were not deterred playing against her older peers. She will continue develop and the sky is the limit.
DeYona Gaston- 6-4 – 2020 – Guard/Forward – HTX Fire 2020 – Gaston is dominate inside and outside of the paint. Her athletic build and versatile skill set places her above many she lines up against. She showed the ability to go coast to coast off a one handed rebound and finish with contact. Gaston had college coaches heads shaking on the sideline and for good reason.
Alasia Hayes – 5-6 – 2019 – Point Guard – TN Flight 2020 – Hayes is another athletic, highly skilled point guard that many know as Anatasia Hayes little sister. Hayes’ game is all but little and she has deceptive speed, elevation and strength to create for herself and teammates. She is a BIG TIME player.
Mckenzie Helms- 5-7 – 2019 – Guard- New Heights – Helms is a tough guard who has a solid pull up jumper from mid-range. She can also shoot the three and will slash to get easy baskets around the rim.
Jayla Hemingway- 5-11 – 2019 – Combo Guard – TN Flight Silver – Hemingway is a high motor, strong player who competes relentlessly on both ends of the floor. She is a smart player that that uses quick footwork, timing and skill to maneuver around opponents in the paint and finish at the rim.
Elizabeth Martino- 5-10 – 2020 – Guard – Fairfax Stars – Martino never fails to put on a show. Her versatility and smoothness is rare to find in her class. She can shoot off the bounce from just about anywhere and showed the ability to play just as hard on both offense and defense. As Martino continues to gain strength she will be a force to reckon with.
Sidney Parrish – 6-1 – 2020- Guard – Sky Digg 2020 – Continues to have a banner summer. Parrish once again held her ground and dominated within her age group. The consistency in her high level of play proves just why she is one of the top prospects in the class of 2020.
Katerina Poole- 5-8 – 2020 – Point Guard – New Heights 14U – Poole is a Blue Star 30 member who has earned attention from college coaches since the 8th grade. She is a gym rat who proved she deserved all the attention she continues to receive. Poole showed her ability to consistently get to the rim and finish with contact. Her poise is beyond her years and her ability to knock down the three and mid-range shot is priceless for her skill set. She’ll need to be more vocal on both ends which will raise her stock even more.
Maddie Scherr- 5-9 – 2020 – Point Guard – Kentucky Premier – Scherr will be the another big name player coming from the Kentucky Premiere program. She has poise, skill and the athletic ability to control the offensive tempo while creating off the bounce in the paint out to the three. Scherr’s use of the euro step in traffic is a sight to see.
Randi Thompson – 5-9 – 2019- Guard/Wing- North Texas Lights Out – Thompson is a rim runner who can play outside in, rebound with the strongest and has great foot work and body control when finishing in the paint. She has an automatic jump shot out to 10 feet. Thompson’s stock will continue to rise.
Zoe Young- 5-10 – 2019- Point Guard – North Tartan 10TH Grade EYBL- A finalist for the U17 USA team, Young has poise and instinctive awareness that allows her to create for herself and teammates with ease. Her shot mechanics can improve, but she did hit some big shots off the bounce from mid-range to three. Young has a high IQ on and off the court and an exemplary parental support system.
Cindy Martin comes to Blue Star after nearly two decades in the women’s game, serving as the head coach at Youngstown State University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She also served as an assistant coach at West Virginia University and as an assistant JUCO coach in Florida. At IUP, Martin led the way to back to back NCAA appearances and two straight PSAC conference championships. She was named Russell Athletic/WBCA Regional Coach of the Year and helped the program advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Martin played for the University of Florida helping the Gators advance to the Sweet Sixteen. She presently resides in Ohio coaching travel basketball, and performing skill training.
Stephanie Reed has joined the Blue Star family in 2016. Following a storied playing career where she was named runner-up for NAIA National Player of the Year in 2005, she served as an assistant coach at both Texas State and Kansas State University. Stephanie is the daughter of long time men’s collegiate and professional coach, Andy Stoglin. She resides in Kansas.
2016 Battle in the Boro All Star Teams – Selection Committee Chair Bob Corwin
Joanne Allen-Taylor, 5-6, point guard, 2018, AD Elite – Peterson (Houston, Texas)
Fransesca Belibi, 6-1, power forward, 2019, Mile Hi Magic Gold (Centennial, Colorado)
Payton Brotzki, 5-10. small forward, 2018, CSS UA Bison Elite (Springfield, Nebraska)
Christianna Carr, 6-0, shooting guard, 2018, 43 Hoops Carr (Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
Zia Cooke, 5-9, point guard, 2019, Sports City U (Toledo, Ohio)
Gabrielle Crawford, 6-3, power forward, 2018, Memphis Elite – Daniels (Cordova, Tennessee)
Cymone Goodrich, 5-11, small forward, 2017, X-Citement Joi (Matteson, Illinois)
Destiny Harden, 5-11, small forward, 2017, Mac Irvin Godfather (Chicago, Illinois)
Bianca Jackson, 6-0, shooting guard, 2017, FBC Mo 2017 (Montgomery, Alabama)
Tameria Johnson, 5-5, point guard, 2017, Jacksonville Lady Rams 11th (Ocala, Florida)
Sayawani Lassiter, 5-11, point guard, 2017, Boston Showstoppers (Dorchester, Massachusetts)
Jasmine Massengill, 6-0, point guard, 2018, FBC United Hunt (Harrison, Tennessee)
Braxtin Miller, 5-10, point guard, 2017, Cincinnati Angels Blue (Centerville, Ohio)
Abby Prohaska, 5-10, small forward, 2018 ( Sports City U (Liberty TWP, Ohio)
Tesia Thompson, 5-9, shooting guard, 2017, Team Penny Pruitt 2017 (Memphis, Tennessee) MVP
Jireh Washington 5-7, shooting guard, 2018, Team Penny Pruitt 2017 (Memphis, Tennessee)
Lyndsey Whilby, 5-11, small forward, 2017, Wp Celtics (Powder Springs, Georgia)
2016 Battle in the Boro Sophomore Showcase Division All-Tournament Team
Aliyah Boston, 6-2, center, 2019, iExcel Horton 15U (Worcester, Massachusetts)
Jakia Brown-Turner, 6-0, guard/forward, 2019, Team Takeover 15U Nike (Temple Hills, Maryland)
Maggie Connolly, 5-7, point guard, 2018, Comets – McFadden (Wilmington, Delaware)
Emily Engstler, 6-1, power forward, 2018, NY Belles – DeLuca (New York, New York)
Azzi Fudd, 5-10, shooting guard, 2021, Fairfax Stars 15U Showcase – Fudd (Arlington, Virginia)
Ciaja Harbison, 5-6, point guard, 2018, KY Premier – Milby (Louisville, Kentucky)
Glenisha Harkless, 6-0, point guard, 2018, Essence Silver (Jacksonville, Florida)
Dara Mabrey, 5-6, shooting guard, 2018, Exodus 15U Nike (Belmar, New Jersey)
Allison Mayeux, 5-11, small forward, 2018, Tennessee Flight Silver 2018 (Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
Kayla Mershon, 6-3, power forward, 2018, North Tartan Nike 10th EYBL (Chanhassen, Minnesota)
Javyn Nicholson, 6-3, center/power forward, 2019, FBC Black (Lawrenceville, Georgia)
Jordyn Oliver, 5-11, small forward, 2019, Texas United Nike 15U (Prosper, Texas)
Sammie Puisis, 6-0, forward, 2019, Cincinnati Heat Premier – Sanders (Mason, Ohio)
Samantha Schultz, 5-10, forward, 2018, Riverside Hawks Green 15U (Kings Park, New York)
Tyia Singleton, 6-2, center, 2018, Essence Silver (Winter Haven, Florida)
Zoe Young, 5-10, guard, 2019, North Tartan Nike 10th EYBL (Urbandale, Iowa) MVP
