COLUMBUS, Ohio—While Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale may have “owned” the NCAA Women’s Final Four and the city of Columbus last weekend, she had some hopeful young players following…not quite so closely…in her footsteps.  Possibly about six years behind her.  It was way back in 2011 when she was first profiled on Blue Star Media after participating in a Fall Evaluation Event in metropolitan Chicago.  Flash forward to Saturday evening and all day Sunday leading up to the Notre Dame – Mississippi State classic for the third annual Elite Girls Basketball National Middle School All American Games.  You just might have gotten glimpse of headliner for a future “Arike”-like Final Four finish.

In just three short years the EGB Middle School All American Games have become a staple of Final Four weekend for athletes, media and evaluators alike.  Once again Elite Girls Basketball and Nicc Jackson assembled a collection of talent from across the country for an early preview of some promising prospects in the 2022, 23 and 24 classes.  With players representing 30 states, the District of Columbia and Canada, over 200 athletes descended on the Buckeye State to line up against many of their talented peers in each respective class.  Off the court, LaChina Robinson also took time out of her busy Final Four weekend to visit and share some thoughts with the athletes providing some first-hand insight on the world of women’s basketball.

While the collegiate recruiters had their hands tied by NCAA legislation, the courtside of Whitehall High School featured the likes of Mike Flynn, Kevin Lynch and Lisa Bodine of Blue Star, as well as Dan Bowmaker from Blue Star Europe.  Dan Olson of Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and ESPN HoopGurlz was on hand as was Bret McCormick of All Star Girls Report, Prentice Beverly of BallN Prep, Joe Fenelon of NYGHoops Report, John McGraw from Insider Exposure, Kameo Williams of Gems in the Gym and Ohio Girls basketball Report’s Tenishia Benson.  Representatives of  Straight Outta Ohio Girlz Hoopz were in the gym from start to finish and streamed the action live with Blue Star’s Travis Ponton on the call throughout the day Sunday.

While the depth of talent in the gym was extraordinary, it should not be forgotten that not one player is a “lock” to be the next Ogunbowale, Durr, Williams or Vivians.  By participating, each athlete was afforded the opportunity to see where they stand against national competition as well as recognize what skills they need to be focusing their workouts on over the Spring and Summer club season.  Parents are reminded that participation in the All American Games is not an accomplishment but more specifically a challenge.  Elite players don’t need congratulated but instead should be reminded that the bar is now set even higher and the commitment required even more demanding.  Recognition comes with expectations and the realization that someone else is practicing when they’re not.  Save the congratulations and pats on the back for the classroom accomplishments.

Yours truly was on hand for all the action and want to share just some of the athletes who had some moments worth noting.  As always, there were many others on hand equally impressive not included so don’t read too much into who is and who isn’t a part of today’s coverage.  With their entire high scholastic careers in front of them or even more, we’re not listing heights or specific positions in most instances.  There’s plenty of time for lots of changes both physically and in the skill department.  One final note, while we normally get our coverage up the “morning after” we took time to enjoy the championship game Sunday evening and traveled home Monday before setting down to catch up.  We apologize for the delay.

Cori Allen – 2023 – Nashville, Tennessee – Strong guard…Runs the floor…Passes well in transition…Quick release on the shot…Showed some speed at times

Rakiyah Beal – 2022 – Detroit, Michigan – Athletic on the wing…Has some ballskills…Gets into traffic in the halfcourt…Fluid in all her movement…Good vertical

Kayla Beckford – 2022 – Paterson, New Jersey – Strong…Refined skills…Quick release on shot…Evolving more to perimeter…Works on defense…Footspeed will need to come

Mari Bickley – 2023 – Tallmadge, Ohio – Nice size and athleticism in the backcourt…Can create her own opportunities…Step back is there and creates space…Decent form on the shot…Aggressive with and without

Madison Booker – 2023 – Ridgeland, Mississippi – Athletic with some length…Can put it on the floor for size…Fluid in her attack…Mixes things up on the catch…Vertical is there on the boards and the defensive end of the floor…Lots of defensive possibilities

KK Bransford – 2022 – Cincinnati, Ohio – Established elite guard…Added size and strength…Quick and explosive…Mixes up her attack off the dribble…Sees the floor on penetration…Range is there spotting up…Working more efficiently in traffic both on the break and off the drive…Becoming more assertive defensively

Jalyn Brown – 2022 – Baltimore, Maryland – Athletic on the wing…Ability is there to slash into traffic…Fluid…Elevates on shots and rebounds…Can defend #3 or #4

Jaloni Cambridge – 2024 – Nashville, Tennessee – Athleticism in the backcourt…Attacks and makes plays at speed…Good acceleration on the catch…Form is there but base is narrow…Pull up works for her…Strong on ball defender

Taylor Charles – 2022 – Oswego, Illinois – Nice size for age…Decent length…Mechanical at this point but has tools…Jumphook is there…Some post moves…Watch

Da’Brya Clark – 2023 – Baltimore, Maryland – Fluid, slashing guard…Can go coast to coast…Acceleration is there…Nice crossover gets defenders leaning…Left hand has to develop

Paris Clark – 2022 – Mount Vernon, New York – Speed and quickness with the ball in her hands…Is a factor with and without…Cuts hard and with an understanding of what she’s looking for…A presence on the offensive boards for a guard…Handles contact well for a slight build…Inserts herself into the action

Kelly Cockfield – 2023 – Brampton, Ontario – Slightly built at this point…Ballhandling and passing…Hesitation and crossover serve her well…Strong one on one skills…Narrow base on shot…Works on ball defensively

Diana Collins – 2023 – Lilburn, Georgia – Smooth, fluid and athletic…Acceleration and speed are there with the ball…Strong crossover move…Shot fake and drive…Form is there…Consistency evolving…Active defender

Alyssa Crockett – 2022 – Westfield, Indiana – Some size…Good frame…Decent offensive skills…Can spot up…Shot release is somewhat low…Gets on the glass…Sees the outlet…Physical defender

Kendall Dudley – 2024 – Centreville, Virginia – Has some length with a wing span already…Active with and without the ball…Some ballskills are already in place…Elevates defensively and on the boards

Saniyah Glenn – 2022 – Staten Island, New York – Wiry and athletic…Has some length to her build…Can slash into traffic and finish among the bigs…Runs the floor well in transition…Agile defensively with a good wingspan

Abbie Grace – 2022 – Valatie, New York – Size, frame and strength…Aggressive…Works for position and to be an option…Can spot up with time…Good understanding…Strong on the offensive glass…Sees the ball in helpside defensively

Leah Harmon – 2024 – Clifton, New Jersey – Ballskills…Can slash into traffic…Vision is there off the drive…Pull up is solid in mid-range…Sees the ball one and two passes away

Tionna Herron – 2022 – Desoto, Texas – Length, size and build for the post…Will hold her ground down low…Keeps it high on the catch…Inexperienced but evolving…Things are thoughts rather than reactions but coming along…Watch

Breona Hurd – 2024 – Waynesville, Missouri – Solid and strong with some size already…Lots of effort without the ball to be an option…High post drive is there…Got on the offensive glass…Not afraid to mix it up

Aniya Jackson – 2022 – Queens, New York – Smaller but power guard…Individual skills create options for passes and shots…Change of speed and direction are both there…Can set the pace in transition…Aggressive on ball defensively

A’riel Jackson – 2022 – Brooklyn, New York – Strong and attacking point guard…Plays a power game at the point…Gets deep…Hesitation move serves her well…Accelerates off all moves…Can finish in traffic…Always on the attack

Camille Jackson – 2022 – Chicago, Illinois – Established top tier prospect…Physical and aggressive…Quick and explosive athlete…Picks her spots to attack…All her moves are at speed and challenge defenders…Elevates on her jumper…Showing more patience in reading defenders…Willing to put a body on someone defensively…Impact presence on the boards

Inia Jones – 2024 – Omaha, Nebraska – Strong individual skills with the ball…Can penetrate and pass…Reads…Always attacking…Works well in traffic…Changes direction on a dime at speed

Darianna Littlepage-Buggs – 2022 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Long and athletic build at this point…Gets out and runs the floor…Long strides…Moves well without the ball…Potential to be an efficient defender

Madisen McDaniel – 2024 – Upper Marlboro, Maryland – Small but attacking…Gets to the rim…Makes plays…Good mix of speed in transition…Finished in traffic

Lanyra McGill – 2024 – Lockport, Illinois – Nice size and frame…Had some moments…Methodical at this point but promising…Worked for position…Watch

Paris Miller – 2022 – Hampton, Georgia – Athletic wing…Wiry build…Good acceleration with the ball…Attacks mixing speed and direction…Handles contact on penetration…Length and agility are big assets defensively…Versatile prospect

Nile Miller – 2022 – Woodbury, New Jersey – Some size…Frame is there to add to…Gets out and runs the floor well…Some ballhandling but used too much…Has tools but still evolving…Created her own some

Alexia Mobley – 2022 – Reynoldsburg, Ohio – Length and athletic build…Lean at this point…Can create her own to a degree…Works well in traffic around the rim…Could be more physical at times…Runs the floor on the break or in transition defense…Lots of possibilities

Paulina Paris – 2022 – Congers, New York – Sharp ballskills…Pushes it at opportunity…Always attacking…One on one skills are there…Good use of mixing speed…Nice touch on passing…Assertive defender

Taliyah Parker – 2024 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Length and athleticism…Good lateral speed…Sound ballhandling and passing…Gets out in transition…Needs to be more active without the ball

Ayanna Patterson – 2022 – Fort Wayne, Indiana – Size, length and athleticism…Smooth and fluid both with and without the ball…Can create off the dribble but upright to a degree…First step is quick and lengthy…Elevates with body control…Gets on the boards on both ends…Length and agility serve her well defensively

Ny’Ceara Pryor – 2022 – Baltimore, Maryland – Tiny but quick and explosive…Simply makes plays…Speed and quickness on both ends…Pushes the ball…Down floor passing is strong…No fear getting into traffic or the paint…Ballskills are sharp at speed…Can spot up

Amiyah Reynolds – 2023 – South Bend, Indiana – Lean build with smooth athleticism…Sound ballskills…Can slash into traffic…Crossover gets her deep into paint…Has both pull up and floater…Decent passing skills…Strength with come with age

Mila Reynolds – 2022 – South Bend, Indiana – Size and strength already…Smooth and active both with and without the ball…Strong understanding of her skills and how to apply them…Can score efficiently both on the perimeter or in the paint…Range keeps defenders honest…Makes herself an option…Could play more physical

Emma Risch – 2023 – West Melbourne, Florida – Some length…Decent individual skills…Can create her own…Nice form and touch…Relies on the dribble too much at times

Cheyenne Rowe – 2023 – Ajax, Ontario – Nice size for age…Solid frame with an understanding how to use it…Agility is there without the ball…Effective around the rim…Shot fake is developing…Got on the boards…Plenty of effort on both ends of the floor

Kyah Smith – 2023 – Richmond, Virginia – Athletic, smooth and fluid with the ball in her hands…Knows how to develop her own looks…Individual skills are sharp…Floater is efficient…Pull up is sound…Quick hands and feet on the defensive end

Madison St. Rose – 2022 – Parlin, New Jersey – Lefty…Length…Fluid in her movement…Has some speed on both ends…Can spot up…Tools are there to be an impact defender

Lauryn Swann – 2024 – Teaneck, New Jersey – Guard with some ballskills in place…Plenty of speed with it in her hands…Pushes the ball…Crossover…Mixes up speed and direction…Overdribbles at times

Isabella Tanedo – 2022 – Laurel, Maryland – Smaller but strong guard…Pushes the ball…One on one skills are there…First step can be explosive…Knocked down the pull up…Passes well in transition…Needs to improve options for teammates off penetration

Sammie Wagner – 2023 – San Antonio, Texas – Size and build for age…Has some post moves…Dropstep is there…Mid-range touch out to 15 feet…Runs the floor…Can play physical…Left hand?

Xamiya Walton – 2024 – Chicago, Illinois – Small but solid…Mixing up her attack…Reads well…Gets out in transition…Form is there…Active on ball

Marley Washenitz – 2022 – Fairmont, West Virginia – Smart and active in the backcourt…Strong ballskills…Crossover is utilized well…Reads defenders…Good form and stroke are there on the shot…Good position defender…Footspeed will advance

Judea Watkins – 2023 – Los Angeles, California – Young combination of size, athleticism and skills already…Has some physical strength…First step is long and quick…Good body control for age…Handles the ball confidently off the dribble and on the attack…Gets on offensive glass…Makes plays on both ends…All the tools

Kourtney Wilson – 2022 – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – Solid and athletic guard…First step is there…Can create off the dribble to a degree…Gets off the floor on her shot…Could be more patient at times…Was active on ball defensively…Had some strong moments

Amelia Wood – 2022 – Wynantskill, New York – Nice size and build for age…Plays with effort…Out in transition on make, miss and turnover…Works to be an option…Can spot up with good range…Tools are there off the drive…Deceiving vertical…Will mix it up defensively