CINCINNATI, Ohio—The NCAA may build a break into their July recruiting calendar but that doesn’t mean that there’s still not some great basketball to be found.  For the third consecutive year USJN presented an opportunity for up and coming talent to take the floor between the viewing periods by way of the Rising Blue Star Nationals.  This year 43 teams with players from nine different states took to the six courts of Sports Plus in northern Cincinnati for two days of competitive basketball.  When all was said and done three teams claimed titles and some promising young players had their chance on the big stage in front of some of the top evaluators in club basketball.

Cincinnati’s Finest emerged on top of the 14/15 Division with their final round win over the Dayton Lady Hoopstars. The hardware for the 13’s went back to Indiana with MBA Select as they got by the Toledo Focus to seal up bragging rights. The youngest bracket featured the Illinois Lady Lightning holding off a comeback by an Indiana Faith squad in their championship match up to claim the title.

For a list of all the participating teams, results, pool all-stars and more, follow the link below to the USJN post event page for the 2017 Rising Blue Star Nationals.

http://usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=447

Any honest recruiter, evaluator or media member will tell you that there’s nothing they enjoy more than seeing that next group of players on the horizon of our game.  Plenty of promising young talent was in the gym last weekend, some we’ve seen already and a few just beginning to make their mark.  While there were many more standouts than we could possibly include, here are a few of the performers who stood out in Cincinnati.  Keep in mind at these young ages heights and positions are going to change over time as these athletes grow and evolve in their game.

Grace Barnes – 2023 – 5-5 – Guard – All Ohio – Impressive skills…Creates for herself and teammates…Gets to the rim…Stroke is there…Works on ball defensively

Allison Basye – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Capital City Stars – Active and attacking guard…Strong individual skills…Moves without the ball…Works well in traffic…Good court awareness…Cuts without the ball…Has tools

Ava Berg – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Minnesota Suns – Smart at the point…Reads the floor…Ballhandling and passing are strong…Good form and stroke…Keeps defenders honest

Anna Blank – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Flight 12 West – Strong skills and instincts…Can create her own off the dribble…Fluid with the ball…Passing skills in both transition and halfcourt are strong…Form and range are there…Lots of promise

KK Bransford – 2022 – 5-7 – Combo – Cincinnati’s Finest – High profile standout continues to add to game…Perimeter consistency is evolving…Mixing up her attack more and more…Showing more length…Reads the floor in transition and halfcourt well for age…Pull up and floater still strong options…Focused on both ends

Jordyn Cannon – 2022 – 5-1 – Point Guard – Heart of Illinois – Feisty at the point…Sharp ballhandling and passing…Uses both change of speed and direction…Pushed the ball at opportunity

Kendall Clodfelter – 2020 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Dayton Lady Hoopstars – Quick…Skilled point guard…Creates options off the dribble…Reads the floor…Smart decisions in transition…Floater is there off penetration…Controls the floor and pace of the game

Chloe Crawford – 2021 – 5-5 – Guard – Toledo Focus – Shooter…Active is getting herself open…Shooter…Reads and understands screens…Shooter…Has range and Touch…Shooter…Cuts hard…Shooter…Oh yeah, shooter

Morgan Demos – 2022 – 6-2 – Post – Illinois lady Lightning – Good size and frame already…Works at getting up and down the floor…Showed some strong passing at times…Active cutter in the paint…Post skills are evolving…Scraps defensively and on the boards

Chance Gray – 2022 – 5-4 – Guard – Cincinnati’s Finest – Beginning to add size…Creating more and more off the dribble…Lethal if left open…Quick release…Diversity in her game is challenge for defenders…Speed with the ball is huge asset in transition…Quick hands and feet defensively

Audrey Hinrichs – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Chicago Power – Solid build for size…Going to add more size…High post drive is there…Finished in traffic…Runs the floor well

Marlayna Kemp – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward/Post – Showcase Gorman – Has length and agility…Active in the halfcourt and transition…Good understanding of positioning…Looking for high – low options…Agile 

Rayah Kincer – 2022 – 5-8 – Wing – Faith Kincer – Decent size and solid build…Active on both ends…Can put it on the floor to improve shot or pass…Played well with contact…Made plays

Katie Krupa – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward – Heart of Illinois – Has length…Could add more height…Good speed for size…Active option on offense…Got out in transition…Low release point on shot…Has tools

Kierstyn Liming – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Capital City Stars – Lefty…Solid ball skills…Attacking mentality…Loads up on shot but nice touch…Active option without the ball…Competes

Emma Ludwig – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Illinois Lady Lightning – Point guard with some size for age…Created off the dribble…Crossover serves her well…Interior passing off the drive was effective…Had some strong moments

Lovie Malone – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – We Got Next – Athletic and strong…Attacking mentality…Can develop her looks off the dribble…Distributed the ball on the break at times…Needs to become more effective without the ball in her hands

Margo Mattes – 2023 – 5-7 – Guard – Cincy Pride – Size for age at guard…ballskills…Attacks on the break and in half…Has range and form…Willing to get in a stance and defend…Good moments

Kaitlyn Moeller – 2021 – 5-10 – Wing/Guard – Toledo Focus – Size and length for age…Can create her own by putting it on the floor…Reads with good choices…Posted up at times…Got out in the lanes on the break…Hit the glass…Could just be scratching the surface

Amara Palmer – 2022 – 5-8 – Wing – MBA Select – Lefty on the wing…Created dome penetration…Able to post up as well…Understands angles for age…Shot fake and drive are there…Perimeter consistency will have to come

Lalia Phelia – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Cincinnati’s Finest – Established player…Active and aggressive on both ends…Makes herself an option…Creating more off the drive…Strong presence on the glass…Will mix it up defensively…Can defend three spots on the perimeter

Triniti Ralston – 2023 – 5-6 – Point Guard – All Ohio – Quick…Lots of speed with the ball in her hands…Penetrates time and again…Makes plays…Needs to be more active without the ball

Leah Riley – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Cincy Thunder – Assertive offensively…Ballhandling is solid…Sees the floor…Good form spotting up and on pull up…Cuts hard to get open

Jordan Rogers – 2021 – 5-10 – Wing/Guard – Cincinnati Heat Premier – Nice size on the perimeter for age…Attacks on the catch…Handles contact on the drive…Lots of effort with and without the ball…Form is there but narrow base on shot…Has tools

Kaliyah Sain – 2023 – 5-9 – Wing/Forward – Team Iowa – Good size on the perimeter…Nice form and stroke…Sound ballhandling…Moves well with and without the ball…Shows plenty of versatility…Should grow more

Emma Shumate – 2021 – 5-11 – Wing- Cincinnati’s Finest / Future Premier – Emerging prospect…Lots of tools…Size on the wing…Can create off the dribble…Not strong yet but handles contact…Reads in traffic…Can get her shot off among the bigs…Just getting started…Played with two teams

Bailie Stephens – 2022 – 5-6 – Guard – MBA Select – Scrappy and competes…Good ballskills…Sees the floor…Delivers the ball on penetration…Improves her teammates options 

Faith Stinson – 2022 – 5-10 – Forward – Capital City Stars – Has some size for age…Active in the paint…Decent footspeed for size…Showed some ballhandling but is upright to a degree…15 footer is there…Moments

Afton Tatia Thomas – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing/Forward – Illinois Lady Lightning – Strong and athletic…Most likely destined for the perimeter…Already has some ballhanding in place…Good first step…Gets to the rim…Not afraid to mix things up…Involved on both ends of the floor…Was a presence on the glass at times

Kaia Woods – 2021 – 4-10 – Point Guard – Toledo Elite – Dynamic athleticism…Physically strong and cut for size…Creates both shots and passes off the dribble…Chang of speed and direction are strong…Stroke is there…Elevates on jumper…Aggressive on ball defender…Tools offset size

Jada Yeater – 2022 – 5-8 – Wing – NW Magic – Athletic and strong…Plays with an aggressive approach on both ends of the floor…Attacks off the drive…Can create her looks or improve those of her teammates…Handles contact…Strong on the glass from the perimeter