LYNWOOD, Ill.-With the first of two Spring NCAA recruiting weekends looming just around the corner, club ball is already hitting its stride across the country. This past weekend USJN hosted a quartet of separate “Qualifiers” with a combined turnout of over 200 teams taking the floor in Kansas City, Indianapolis, Kansas City and right here in Chicagoland. Winners in each division earned admission to another USJN Tournament as well as Prime Time Pool Placement should they make their way to D.C. in July for the longest running and highest regarded open club event on the schedule, the 32nd Annual USJN National Championships.
The spacious Southland Center and it’s 10 wooden floors played host for the Midwest action in Lynwood just south of the Windy City. One thing the facility couldn’t help with was the sudden and drastic change in weather between Saturday and Sunday leading to an eye catching accumulation of snow between the first tip and the final buzzer. While the flurries were falling outside the fastbreaks went uninterrupted inside as 88 teams from three states got the chance to fine tune their games beginning with pool play Saturday morning.
Though most clubs already have an event or two under their belts, it’s still “early season” basketball and many of the teams are just beginning to find their way with execution and timing. At the same time, there’s always aspects of individual performances to evaluate in terms of skill advancement over the past season, physical growth and understanding of the game. Plenty of evaluators were in the gym as well as non-D-I coaches looking for both familiar and new faces on their recruiting radars. Here are some of the players that offered up some strong play this past weekend in Lynwood during the 7th Annual USJN Midwest Qualifier. At the bottom you’ll also find group images of the teams who took home bragging rights in their respective divisions.
To see the USJN post event page for all the participating teams, results, pool all-stars, college coaches in attendance and more, follow the link below.
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=530
Anne Awour – 2020 – 6-5 – Post – Midwest Elite – A continuing work in progress…Lots of length…Wingspan gives her a presence…Physical tools are there but refinement is not…Obvious potential keeps you watching
Kamorea Arnold – 2023 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Wisconsin Impact – Already on the radar…Attacking mentality is well established…Looking to push at every opportunity…Can make plays at speed comfortably…Sees the floor and navigates traffic…Can create her own off the drive…Assertive on ball defender at times
Lenee Beaumont – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard – Chicago Power – Continues to standout and show tremendous promise…Plays with awareness on both ends…Good instincts allow her to set up passes on the break and out of sets…Only going to get better
Amanda Behrend – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – Chicago Power – Nice size and length…Lean build but young…Not afraid to get in the middle of the action…Plays smart and patient for age…Sharp passing skills are evolving…Deceptive with the ball in her hands…Mixed up her attack
Courtney Blakely – 2021 – 5-5 – Point guard – Midwest Elite – Small but attacking point guard…Showed an ability to make plays at speed…Good body control on the drive and in traffic…Made good reads but also had her mind made up too early on occasion
Kennedy Blakely – 2024 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Hamblin Hoops – Advanced young point guard…Ballskills are exceptional for age…Pushes from make, miss and turnover with plenty of speed…Strong down floor passing on the break…Good instincts for interior passing off the drive…Makes plays…Only going to get better…Keep watching
Jayda Bowen – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Lady Meanstreets – Dynamic young guard…Left handed…Ballskills allow her to get into the paint at will…Mixes her speed and direction well…Stepback creates lots of separation…Got up on her jumper…Relies on the dribble too much…Consistency will come with age…Lots of tools already
Capria Brown – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Example Sports – Previous verbal with Xavier…Athletic and individually skilled guard…Speed and quickness with the ball made her tough to contain…Body control is there off the drive…Elevates at the rim and on the pull up…Tools are there for a “true” jump shot…Has to become more active without the ball…Quick hands and feet give her impact potential as an on ball defender
Taylor Charles – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward / Wing – Midwest Elite – Has added some size…The agility continues to impress…All the tools are eye catching…Consistency and strength are now keys to take advantage of them…Limits will be the ones she sets on herself
Trinity Duckworth – 2020 – 5-0 – Point Guard – Example Sports – Diminutive point guard…Speed and quickness offset lack of size…Acceleration is there off the move…Crossover to stepback serves her well…Nice touch as well as plenty of range to force defenders to close out honest…Does over dribble at times…Active and assertive on the ball defensively
Angela Dugalic – 2020 – 6-4 – Forward – Chicago Hoops Express – Continues to add depth to her game…Versatility challenges defenders…Efficient both down low and away from the rim…Can develop and improve her own options as well as those of teammates…Plays with good instincts and understanding…Release is high on her shot making it tough to contest…Active…Cuts hard to be an option in the halfcourt and transition…Lateral speed on defense is exceptional for her size…Elite
Brooklyn Gray – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – Rockford Heat – Physically strong young guard…Solid build…Strong individual attack with the ball in her hands…Can get to the rim…Plenty of speed in transition…Explosiveness needs to catch up to a degree
Kayla Green – 2020 – 5-2 – Point Guard – Mac Irvin Fire – Small but explosive guard…Crossover and hesitation are sharp and effective…No problems in traffic despite size…Touch and range are there…Attacking mentality…Quick on ball defender
Lauren Hall – 2021 – 5-10 – Combo – Chicago Power – Good size in the backcourt…Plays with intensity and focus…Smart, sees the floor both offensively and on the defensive end…Makes herself a factor…Good reads put her in the middle of plays time and again…Handled contact well and came back for more…Has been well coached…Lots of depth to her game
Brianna Hill – 2023 – 5-11 – Wing – Example Sports – Young, highly regarded prospect…Athletic with some strength for age…Could add some growth…Individual skills allow her to create some…Can take it coast to coast…Left hand needs to catch up…Just scratching the surface
Halle Idowu – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – Example Sports – Power game…Physically strong…Agility to put it to use…Active and attacking…One and two dribble drive covers plenty of ground…First step is long…Hit from 15 feet…Could be dominant on the boards with focus
Skylar Jones – 2023 – 5-10 – Wing / Forward – Mac Irvin Fire – Lots of length and athleticism…Will continue to grow…Active and aggressive on both ends…Demonstrated some sharp individual skills…Got to the rim with and without contact…Attacks the glass and protects the ball…Showed a rare defensive focus for a player her age…Well established already with tools in place…Keep watching
Tasia Jordan – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Chicago Hoops Express – Athletic guard…Can create her own looks off the dribble…Speed and quickness are there with the ball in her hands…Gets out in the lanes in transition…Effective on the glass from the backcourt…Can make plays
Emma Ludwig – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Illinois Lady Lightning – Young guard with tools and confidence…Makes good decisions…Plays with an awareness of defenders and teammates…Instincts lead to some sharp passing…Decent form and touch but low release point on shot at this point…Lots of possibilities
Darrionne Rogers – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Mac Irvin Fire – DePaul verbal…Strong individual skills…Can recognize and exploit defensive weaknesses…Physically strong and uses body to protect the ball on the drive…Pull up is on a dime with good elevation…Range forces tight close outs leading to more penetration…Needs to set her teammates up more to keep defenders honest
Lindsey Rogers – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward / Post – The Truth – Solid build…Aggressive and active on both ends…Lefthander…Textbook skill set…Reads on the catch…Deceptive first step…Can take it to the rim…Both efficient and effective…Good choices with the ball in her hands away from the rim…Puts in the work defensively and on the glass…Understands the game
Ana Rosenberger – 2024 – 6-0 – Post – Chicago Power – Very young but promising interior prospect…Nice size and frame already…Potential for more growth is there…Moves well…Has a basic post move repertoire…A little mechanical right now but just finishing 7th grade…Will smooth out with age and physical maturity
Brooke Schramek – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Illinois Lady Lightning – Wisconsin verbal…Combination of size and skills…Can improve both shots and passes off the dribble…Effective in traffic with contact…Mobility gives versatility on both ends of the floor…Quick outlet and good vision to trigger break
Mary Stroebel – 2024 – 5-5 – Guard – Wisconsin Impact – Young guard with some sharp skills…Appears to have a players mentality…Good feel for defenders on the attack…Rushes at times but can create…Plenty of awareness for age…Watch
Cameren Williams – 2020 – 6-3 – Post – Mac Irvin Fire – Frame and build for the college game…Works for position and wants the ball down low…Goes up strong…Protects the ball…Consistency is evolving…A presence on the offensive glass…Showed a couple of high post drives…Pays attention to what’s going on around her…Added strength at the next level could set her apart
Makiyah Willliams – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Chicago Hoops Express – Fluid and physically strong forward…Lefty…Picks her spots…Had moments from the elbows off the drive as well as working for options on the block…Didn’t back down from physical play…Was a presence on the glass
Jordan Wood – 2023 – 6-3 – Wing – Midwest Elite – Has size and perimeter skills that fit…Comfortable away from the rim but has tools to take it…Lean build gets bumped on the drive…Fluid on the attack…Has both the form and the range…Agility is there on the defensive end to combine with the length…Strength will be a necessity but should come with maturation
BRAGGING RIGHTS
