BOWIE, Md.—As the July recruiting period disappears into the 2017 rearview mirror we once again had the chance to enjoy an event rising above the cesspool and carnival of self-promotional and financial enhancement efforts. The 7th annual Rites of Passage presented by Lisa Bodine and the Godmother Sports Foundation is an invitation only event for elite level prospects just beginning to make their marks on the recruiting stage of women’s basketball. This past May the 35 “invited” athletes to the USA Basketball U16 trials featured 10 Rites of Passage alums. Over the years four ROP participants have gone on to wear red, white and blue and one even wore the national colors of Puerto Rico. The exclamation mark on the Rites résumé are the two individuals who heard their name called on the night of their respective WNBA draft.
This year the Rites of Passage welcomed 68 athletes representing 16 states and the District of Columbia. The roster featured 39 players from the 2021 graduating class, 22 from ’22, 4 from 2023, and 3 more from ’24. The media and scouting services were out in force as always and the players on the floor offered up a glimpse of the promising future on the horizon of high school and club basketball. Of course, in a one day event we see some folk’s best minutes and others we might catch their less than successful ones. Whether we included them in this article or not, keep in mind that all the athletes invited were hand-picked and each has already shown the possibilities coaches like to see. We’re passing on listing heights based on current age, potential for growth and the wishful thinking of some of the numbers provided up front.
Kayla Beckford – 2022 – Forward – Paterson, N.J. – Solid build…Works from the high post…Can create off the drive at times…Plays with strength…Has mechanical moments…Evolving…Footspeed on defense has to come
Gianni Boone – 2022 – Guard – Washington, D.C. – Wiry build…Athletic…Should grow…Slithers in traffic…Vertical is there…Rebounds from the perimeter…Out of control in a few instances…Lots of possibilities
Isuneh Brady – 2022 – Forward / Post – San Diego, Calif. – Size, build and frame…Will grow more…Lefty…High post drive works for her…Lots of tools…Just beginning to apply…Can post or play up high
Erica Caldwell – 2021 – Guard – Charlotte, N.C. – Athletic and attacking…Maintains dribble off the move…Hesitation moves sets up her jumper…In and out move…Fall away is in place…Explosive at times…Consistency needs to come
Gia Cooke – 2022 – Point Guard – Clinton, Md. – Slashing guard with plenty of speed and quickness…Crossover is effective…Leaves defenders standing with her acceleration…Can penetrate and make the smart pass on the move…Low release on her shot at this point
Kennedy Fauntleroy – 2022 – Guard – Upper Marlboro, Md. – Athletic and attacking…Ballhandling and passing are solid and effective…Active without the ball…Cuts hard…Somewhat forward on the shot
O’Mariah Gordon – 2021 – Point Guard – Sarasota, Fla. – Continues dynamic summer…Speed and quickness with the ball are on another level…Pushes the ball at every make, miss and turnover…Sees the floor and is willing to give it up…Defenders struggle to contain her penetration…Jumper was looking sound…Quick hands and feet serve her on both ends of the floor…Elite
Abbie Grace – 2022 – Forward – Valatie, N.Y. – Solid and strong…Some size…Textbook skills…Pounds the ball off the dribble…Good vision and court IQ…Going to develop…Watch
Leah Harmon – 2024 – Point Guard – Clifton, N.J. – Attacking point guard…Always looking to improve her looks or those of her teammates…Strong use of hesitation dribble…Efficient stroke forces tight close outs…Makes plays in transition or off penetration
Jordaynia Ivie – 2021 – Guard – St. Louis, Mo. – Constant attack…Comfortable among the bigs off the drive…Passing is sharp off penetration…Active cutting without the ball…Plays with good instincts…Finishes with contact
Camille Jackson – 2022 – Guard – Chicago, Illinois – Continues to define herself among the elite in her class…Dynamic athleticism now comes with more strength…Slashes by both quickness and size…Can deliver interior passes off penetration…Mixing up speed and direction more and more…Starting to do more than with the perimeter looks
Aziaha James – 2021 – Guard – Virginia Beach, Va. – Has length…Ability to slash is there…Lefty…Sound form and touch on the jumper…Active with and without the ball…Defends aggressively one pass away…Lot of promise
Raven Johnson – 2021 – Guard – Atlanta, Ga. – Decent size for age to go with strong athleticism…Lean build…Impressive one on one skills…Creates both shots and passes…Shot selection interesting at times…Assertive defender
Teonni Key – 2021 – Forward / Post – Cary, N.C. – Lefty with size and length…Stride covers ground…Can get to the rim off the drive…Adequate ballhandling for age and position…Strength will need to come…Runs the floor
Julianna Laguna – 2022 – Combo – Staten Island, N.Y. – Attacks…Sees the floor…Sharp ballhandling in transition…Decent form on shot…Active without the ball
Madisen McDaniel – 2024 – Point Guard – Upper Marlboro, Md. – Small but very young point guard…Strong ballhandling and passing skills for age…Penetrates effectively with both a change of speed and direction…Vision is there on the break and off the drive…Sets up passes
Hailey Morris – 2021 – Guard – Ruckersville, Virginia – Stockier point backcourt threat…Deceiving…Quick release on her shot…Finds a way to get her looks both spotting up or off the drive
Kiyomi McMiller – 2024 – Point Guard – Frederick, Md. – Limited action due to previous commitment…Advanced skills continue to set her apart from classmates…Physical maturity beginning to show and provide benefits…Challenging for any on ball defender…Mixing up her attack more and more as time goes by
Jayla Oden – 2021 – Guard – Windsor Mill, Md. – Wiry and quick guard…Making herself a factor on virtually every possession…Looking to create at every opportunity…Slashes into traffic without fear…Perimeter look is a slight two hander at this point…Has all the tools on defense with focus
Paris Paulina – 2022 – Point Guard – West Nyack, N.Y. – Ballhandling is there…Gets to the rim…Acceleration off the move…Quick ballskills and attack…Deceiving and efficient…Slashes both on the break and in the halfcourt…Lets it fly from the perimeter
Bianca Pendleton – 2022 – Forward – Accokeek, Md. – Thicker build…Physically strong…Handles contact…Boards…Improvement is showing…Keep watching
Sherese Pittman – 2021 – Wing / Forward – Richmond, Va. – Wiry with length…Deceiving first step…Stronger than first impression…Has some ball skills…Pull up had its moments…Has a presence on the glass
Mila Reynolds – 2022 – Wing / Forward – South Bend, Ind. – Continues to exploit size and length…Perimeter form and stroke are sound…Too quick to settle for jumper at times…Productive on the glass…Active defender with decent weakside vision
KiKi Rice – 2022 – Guard – Bethesda, Md. – Slight guard…Solid athleticism…Can handle the ball on the break…Not afraid to get bounced around inside off the drive…Strength will need to evolve
Reigan Richardson – 2021 – Wing – Harrisburg, N.C. – Size, build and athleticism…Strong threat off the drive…Utilizes both hands…Change of direction serves her well…Explosive first step…Finishes well at the rim
Saniya Rivers – 2021 – Guard / Wing – Wilmington, N.C. – Wiry with length on the perimeter…Strong individual skills with the ball…Explosive acceleration off the drive…Navigates rotating defenders to finish in a crowd…Reach is a major asset on defense
Koi Sims – 2021 – Forward – Glen Burnie, Md. – Size, frame and strength…Willing to play physically…Reads defenders on the catch and drive…First step is long and effective…Utilizes shot fakes…Makes herself a presence on the boards
Kayla Thomas – 2021 – Post – Beltsville, Md. – Length and frame…Just coming into her own…All the physical tools are there…Good strength…Mechanical at moments but making sound choices…Defends…Anticipates
Ally Van Timmeren – 2021- Forward – Allendale, Mich. – Lefty with size and strength…Can work away from the rim or on the interior…Baseline attack is there…Will make herself a factor in transition as well…Hesitation dribble gets her to the rim off the drive…Can hold her ground defensively…Solid on the boards
Yonta Vaughn – 2022 – Guard – District Heights, Md. – Athleticism in the backcourt…Ball skills help her create her own opportunities…Form is there both on the pull up as well as spotted up on the perimeter…Navigates traffic with ease
Jada Walker – 2021 – Guard – Richmond, Va. – Skilled guard…Fluid in her attack…Handles defensive congestion off the dribble…Form, stroke and range are there…Has the ability to connect from deep…….Consistency will need to evolve
