MASON, Ohio—In the midst of the July NCAA recruiting insanity it’s become a comforting side trip and detour to check out the annual Rising Blue Star Nationals.  For the fourth consecutive year, the evaluation spotlight shifted to the young, promising and ultra-talented next generation just around the women’s basketball recruiting corner.  While the Division I coaches are cooling their heels before the second July segment there was still plenty of action to be seen in southern Ohio as 42 teams descended on Courts for Sports in Mason.  Programs from nine different states and Canada made up the 2018 line up that featured players predominantly in the 2022, 23 and 24 classes.  There were also a few a year or two younger and a high profile 2021 in the gym as well.

The two day event crowned five champions for their success in pool play and a panel of eight coaches and national media (six with extensive Division I experience) chose a group of all stars for some extra play Sunday afternoon.  One on one competition saw Emma Shumate (2021 – Ohio Future Premier)outdistanced two other standouts to post the most points and claim top honors among the all-stars.  The additional games also allowed for further evaluation by the staff with some promising young athletes facing off with each other.

Bragging rights among pools A and B went to Ohio Futures Premier with their 66 – 37 win over the Chicago Power out of Illinois.  The C and D hardware went home with the Cincy Heat Thunder – Boyd as they took down the Dayton Lady Hoopstars – Rittinger 52 – 44.  The Maryland Belles – Watson got past the Western PA Bruins 50 – 33 for the top spot in pools E and F.  A 38 – 30 win over Michigan’s Hudson Elite gave the Ohio Lady Dream the G and H trophy while the Indiana flight completed the weekend with a  61 – 31 win over the Maryland Belles Shabazz for their pool I and J crown.  Images of the Rising Blue Star All Stars as well as those championship teams are below and you can use the following link to view the USJN post event page for results, pool all stars and more.

https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_photos_new.php?which=503

Obviously with such young players evaluations are a bit shorter and based on both where their game is at this point as well as what their play might be projecting for the future. While we enjoyed seeing them in action in Mason, we’re looking forward to seeing the progress and advancement in their play across the coming years.  For the most part we’re not listing their heights due to the fact it will most certainly change with maturation and many were somewhat fictional. Imagine that!  As always, they’re listed alphabetically and their inclusion or exclusion shouldn’t be read into by the overly paranoid or ridiculously subjective.  They’re young, so let’s not lose perspective quite yet.  There’s plenty of time for that down the road.

Leah Abribat – 2021 – Guard – Ohio – Cincy Heat Premier 15 Johnson– Smooth with the ball…Can develop her looks off the dribble…Change of speed and direction…Fluid jumper…Crossover…Strength will come 

Audrey Annee – 2024 – Guard – Indiana – Flight 12 Klem– Ballhandling is sharp…Attacking mentality…Looks to create off the dribble…Has the range to spot up…Made plays

Lenee Beaumont – 2023 – Guard – Illinois – Chicago Power– Wiry guard…Attacks off the dribble…Shot fake is in place…Not afraid to take it into traffic…Mixes up her speed on the break and in halfcourt 

Taliyah Beckford – 2023 – Guard – Ontario – Mississauga Monarchs 13– Athletic guard…Wiry build…Can slash and create…Works well in traffic…Handles contact 

KK Bransford – 2022 – Guard – Ohio – Cincy Finest 15 Black– Adding size and strength…Change of speed serving her well…Stutter step setting up defenders…Makes plays at full speed…Pull up has high release…Keeps her dribble on the step back…Tools are there to be impact on ball defender 

Audrey Carrico – 2022 – Point guard – Kentucky – Premier 14 Flaig– Slightly built point guard…Strong ballskills…Sees the floor…Makes good choices…Instinctual…Has range…Will grow

Savannah Curry – 2024 – Guard/Wing – Maryland – Belles Shabazz– Athletic in the backcourt…Some size already…First step is there…Has speed with the ball in her hands…Can finish in traffic…Lots of promise 

Brylee Delano – 2024 – Guard – Indiana – IE Swish 13 Kessler– Solid build…Smart player…Some ballhandling…Active…Shot fake and drive

Kendall Dudley – 2024 – Guard/Wing – Maryland – Belles Watson– Already established…Length and athleticism for age…Creates both shots and passes…Slashes into the paint…Can elevate among the bigs…Not shy in looking for opportunities…Nothing but major possibilities

Kloe Froebe – 2024 – Guard – Illinois – Predators 13 Froebe– Strong skills…Understands the game…Active with and without the ball…Gets to the rim…Can turn the corner aggressively on the attack…Puts herself in the middle of the action…Watch

Chance Gray – 2022 – Guard – Ohio – Cincy Finest 15 Black– Well known guard…Showing physical growth…Mixing up her game more…Form and stroke continues to set her apart…Gets up on her jumper…Setting up passes more efficiently…Transition passing…Advancing her game

Aniyah Heavens – 2022 – Guard- Washington – Northwest Magic– Power type of guard…Physical player…Pull up is there…Good stroke…Can deliver the ball off penetration…Mind is made up too soon on occasion…Tools are there to do more defensively 

Kamryn Heider – 2024 – Guard  – Illinois – Heart of Illinois 12 National – Decent skills and instincts for age…Sharp passing effort…Attacked both ways…Got on the offensive boards

Halena Hill – 2023 – Point Guard – PA – Western PA Bruins– Speed and quickness…One on one skills…Reads then attacks…Quick attack…OK stroke and touch 

Audrey Hinrichs – 2022 – Forward – Illinois – Chicago Power– Decent size and strength…Active and aggressive…Ability is there to work on the block as well as from the high post…Mixes up her attack…Not hesitant to play physical…Strong on the glass…Made hustle plays 

Kymora Johnson – 2023 – Guard – Maryland – Belles Watson– Strong guard…Has skills…Instincts on the attack…Good feel for the game flow…Can accelerate…Gets defenders out of their stance…Low release at this point on jumper

Ume Kennedy – 2024 – Post – Maryland – Belles Shabazz– Height and physical build…Good agility for size…Understands how to exploit strength…Posts hard…Post moves are there but refinement is still to come…Could do a lot

Lauren Klem – 2024 – Point Guard – Indiana – Flight 12 Klem– Small but ultra-competitive…Strong and efficient ballskills…No reservations in traffic despite limited size…Change of speed gets her into the paint…Quick release…Nice touch 

Kendall Knisely – 2022 – Guard – Ohio – Dayton Lady Hoopstars 15 Black– Feisty guard…Reads defenders…Solid ballhandler…Gets to the rim…Floater is there 

Ashley Lauffer – 2023 – Guard – Indiana – The Family– Physically strong guard…Can create shots and passes…Change of speed and hesitation…Got to the rim

Margo Mattes – 2023 – Point Guard – Ohio – Dayton Lady Hoopstars– Strong skill set…Knows what she’s looking for and how to create it…Improves both shots and passes…Tools are there to get to the rim…Vision and awareness is solid for age…Efficient in transition and halfcourt

Alexia Mobley – 2022 – Wing/Forward – Ohio – Future 15 Premier Mobley– More impressive play…Active approach makes her a difficult match up…Can and will post…Agile and assertive away from the block…Reach and vertical help her finish in traffic…Understands how to cut and what to look for…Length is major defensive asset…Impact player on both ends of the floor

Kyla Oldacre – 2022 – Post – Ohio – Cincy Finest 15 Black– Legit 6-5…Athletic and agile…Solid frame…Deceptively mobile…Can get out and run the floor…Lots of tools in place already…Good understanding of her role…Post tools are evolving…Refinement is just around the corner…Sky is the limit 

Amara Palner – 2022 – Guard – Indiana – Hoosier Elite 14– Athletic…Nice strength and length for age…Smooth and fluid…Lefty…Crossover works well…Elevated at times 

Makaela Quimby – 2023 – Guard – Maryland – Belles Watson– Athletic and aggressive…Constantly on the attack…Has both speed and quickness…Form is there spotting up or off the pull up…Makes things happen off penetration…Plays with confidence 

Madison Rochelle – 2021 – Guard – Ohio – Cincy Finest 15 Black – Athletic and aggressive guard…Active with and without the ball…Creates off the dribble…Pull up is effective…Gets out on the break…Has tools

Sidney Rogers – 2023 – Point Guard – Illinois– Powerhouse Select 13– Small point guard…Decent ballskills…Good court IQ…Stepback is there…Form is solid 

Grace Roland – 2023 – Post – Illinois – Lady Lightning 13 Columbia– Size and frame…Posts up…Good understanding of angles for age…Has had some post coaching already…Patient on the catch…Moves are still a thought at this point but have promise 

Mira Schwanke – 2022 – Guard – Illinois – Chicago Power– Versatile guard with some length…Lean build…Sound skill set…Sees the floor and improves both her options as well as her teammates…Strong passing skills off the move…Floater is there…Crossover is effective 

Emma Shumate – 2021 – Wing/Guard – Ohio – Future 15 Premier Mobley– Continues to impress each time out…Length and skills in the backcourt…Mixes up her attack…Can get to the rim or pull up as help comes…Narrow base on shot but decent form…Fluid in all she does…Could grow more

Alayah Sprattling – 2024 – Point Guard – Illinois – Heart of Illinois 12 National– Athletic in the backcourt…Plenty of speed and quickness…Keeps her dribble on change of speed…Gets to the rim and elevates…Has the range to spot up…Good footspeed on defense

Abi Tarrant – 2021 – Guard – Ohio – Toledo Elite 14 Black– Scrappy guard…Sound ball skills…Can develop her own looks…Lefty…Shot fake is in place…Boards well for perimeter

Jasmine Timmerson – 2023 – Point Guard – PA – Western PA Bruins– Point guard with speed to spare…Penetrates…Sees the floor…Strong passing skills in transition…Can spot up…Assertive on ball defender

Caroline Vaughn – 2023 – Guard – Illinois – Heart of Illinois 13 National– Smart guard…Reads the floor…Improved her options…Can go coast to coast…Deceptive first step…Aggressive on the defensive end

Noel Weathers – 2022 – Forward – Ohio – Cincy Finest 14– Has size and build…Gets on the boards…Solid with strength for age…Has tools and potential

Sole Williams – 2023 – Guard – Ohio Cincy finest 14– Wiry athletic guard…Quickness is there…Quick change of speed and direction with the ball…Keeps defenders guessing…Overdribbles at times…Nice form and touch