LOUISVILLE, KY – The 2017 Apache Paschall Memorial Showcase invaded the Kentucky Expo Center for two days of July basketball action. Hosted the Insider Exposure crew, the annual event honors the memory of a man who impacted many lives through our game, and the level of play certainly did that memory proud.
Teams from all over the country, as well as from Canada, were in the building, in and out of town, coming and going between events before and after. Each year, the Apache Memorial provides a great opportunity for these groups to compete on these “travel days” between events and provides match ups and exposure opportunities for some different clubs.
Here are some of the players who caught our eye and many others with their efforts in Louisville.
Brylee Bartam – 2019 – 5-8 – 2019 – Guard – Tampa Thunder Team Dupree — Great shooter…Hits it off the jab to create space…Defends…Handles well for position
Dane Bertolina – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Team Phoenix Busby — Hustles and plays hard…Has a confidence about her out there…Good ball handler…Can absorb contact as she scores on the drive…Takes the deep three without hesitating
Ashlynn Brown – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – Toledo Thunder Johnson — Stretch four with three point range…Rebounded well on the defensive end…Flashes through the post…Got good position inside…Comfortable putting it on the floor
Peyton Carter – 2019 – 6-1 – Post – FGB Team Delicia Washington — Nice size inside…Sits down and battles for position down low…Boxes and seals well…Powers up through the contact
Emmanuelle Felix – 2021 – 5-6 – Guard – Become One 2021 — Quick trigger from three point range to match her quick feet…Adjusts well on the move….Can get up into the ball handler on defense…One to know from north of the border
O’Mariah Gordon – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Florida Future — Can flat out go…Not tall but has tremendous leaping ability…Gets to rim at will, especially in transition…Change of pace and explosion is elite…Flies around making plays on defensively…Two way point guard
Amber Hawkison – 2018 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Ice National 17U — Good with the ball…Can freeze defenders then blow by them…Works her way through traffic…Has some flash and ups…Good court vision
Gabby Hutcherson – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Ohio Lady Hoopsters 2020 Elite — Size and length to go along with athleticism…Nice turn around jumper in the paint…Also hits the three and 15 footer on the move…Rebounder and shot blocker around the rim
Tineya Hylton – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Become One 2021 — Slices her way through defenses…Gets to the rim…Finishes through contact…Patience at the point…Understanding of her position is beyond her years…Zips the ball through and around defenses
Essence Marshall – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – SC 76ers Silver — Long guard on the wing…College ready build…Pull up jumper is there…Gets a lot of scoring opportunities…Creates for herself…Scores in transition building speed downhill…Gets on the floor
Chloe Moore – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Lady Silver Foxes — Lefty scoring threat…Nice length on the wing…Can hit the three…Favors left hand drive…Hustles
Tiena Neale – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – A Game Canada — Skilled versatility…Long arms and quick enough to guard the perimeter…Can handle in the open court…Scores in the post using good footwork
Janay Outten – 2021 – 5-3 – Point Guard/Guard – Florida Future — Nice handles…Smart with the ball…Utilizes jab moves…Pull up jumper is smooth…Nice young combo guard
Eniya Russell – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Power Move Black 2020 — Long athlete on the wing…Knockdown shooter…Elevates and gets it off with ease…Gets to rim and finishes…Nice wrap around and dump off passes…Snatches rebounds…Pushes tempo the other way
Jordan Strange – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard – SC Future 11th — Tall, long scoring guard…Scores at all levels…Step back three is good…Good defender…Blocks shots
Kiya Turner – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – FGB Team Delicia Washington — Good size at the point…Buried the open three…Decision making skills are a plus…Will hit the boards…Good flow with the basketball…Knows how to use screens…Can turn the corner with regularity
Amari Wright – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – FGB Team LaDazhia Williams — Quick PG…Gets up and floats to finish…Good job running the offense…Can also go get a bucket herself
Aryana Young – 2021 – 6-1 – Post – I-90 Elite 8th Grade – Big…Fast…Great build…Speed to chase down opponents in transition defense…Good hands…Understands use of pivot foot in the high post or when she rebounds
Travis Ponton first joined the Blue Star family in 2016, and brings with him a decade of women's basketball coaching experience across multiple levels. A 2018 WBCA Thirty Under 30 Award recipient, his most recent stint was on the bench as an Assistant Coach at LIU Brooklyn. He's also served on the staff at Loyola University, Charleston Southern, Southeastern Louisiana University, and Mount St. Mary's. As a successful high school coach for four years in Virginia, Ponton had a hand in helping over 30 athletes take their game to the college level. With a degree in Journalism from Radford University, he has also previously worked with WTVR/CBS 6 Television in Richmond. Ponton still calls central Virginia home.