AUGUSTA, Ga.– With picturesque Augusta as a backdrop, the 8th annual Blue Star Nationals-Invite Only tournament helped wrap up July recruiting and, as always, did not disappoint. Along with being the only tournament in the area that consistently started games at their scheduled times, the talent inside the Marriott Convention Center was abounding. With four courts located under the same roof, and a fifth for younger teams just minutes up the road, the Blue Star Nationals featured programs from 27 states, as well as one from Canada. College coaches from nearly every Division I conference were in attendance for the three-day event.

For a list of all participating teams, pool All Stars, college programs in attendance and more, follow the link below to the USJN post event page:

http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_schools_new.php?which=386

Being one of the last tournaments of July, every team in attendance already had a long resume’ of games and travel miles under their belts, making the notable performances from individual players all the more impressive. With all the action happening under one roof, we got an opportunity to get a good look plenty of promising talent. Here are the players that really stuck out.

Isabella Allen- 2018- 5’11- Guard- CO BC Denver- Athletic slasher who gets to the rim regularly and uses length to finish…Knocks down open shots

Caitlin Bickle- 2018- 6’2- Forward- AZ Select- Modern day stretch 4 player…Steps out and hits threes consistently…Displayed some nice footwork in the post…Bothered a bit by more athletic players, but tough kid who will battle

Mackenzie Blazek- 2018- 6’2- Forward- IN Flight- Tough kid who can finish at the rim with contact…Runs the floor hard…Needs to add strength, but rebounds well and works hard

Daliyah Brown- 2018- 5’7- Guard- Chicago Hoops Express- Strong, combo guard who isn’t afraid to initiate contact…Rebounds well from perimeter…Pushes the ball well in transition with both dribble and pass 

Delaynie Byrne- 2018- 6’3- Forward- CO BC Denver- Tall, stretch player who can really knock down the three…Rebounds and runs extremely well…Finishes around the rim

Nikki Cardano-Hillary- 2017- 5’7- Guard- TX TeamXpress- Super tough kid with deceptive quickness and strength…Shoots the ball well in set shot situations; also elevates in mid-range game…Defends well…Possess good handles but isn’t always the most effective with them

Peyton Carter- 2017- 5’7- Point Guard- CO Rockies- Crafty, heady PG…Spots up and knocks down shots well behind the line…Creates well for herself and her teammates… Not fast, but finds a way to get around defenders and into the paint…Knows how to run a team

Kayla Caudle- 2019- 6’2- Forward- IL Elite- Has some strength that is displayed when pursuing rebounds…Can knock players out of position and get the ball…Ability to attack from the hi-post and score, but still has work to do on offensive game

Taylor Chavez- 2018- 5’9- Guard- AZ Select- Thin frame…Good shooter who doesn’t mind taking big shots…Finished at the rim with both hands in traffic… the ball on defense and works hard early…Needs to add strength to bang, but doesn’t back down from contact

Deja Church- 2017- 5’10- Guard- MI Crossover- Top level talent…Creates her own shot at ease…Very athletic and strong…Posts up smaller guards and finishes over them…Rebounds well…Nice looking stroke

Gabby Connally- 2017- 5’7- Guard- TX TeamXpress- Has shown tremendous improvement…Superb athlete who gets into the paint whenever she wants…Elevates on shot; really gets up off the floor…Very good handles

Sidney Cooks- 2017- 6’4- Post- IL Midwest Elite- Remains one of the elite in her class… Will post up and hold position…Tough to move her off the block…Can handle the ball…Attacked several times from the perimeter to finish at basket after crossing over or going between legs…Has a nice stroke…Defends well 

Leilani Correa- 2019- 5’11- Guard- Jersey Cardinals- Long, great body…Can handle the ball and score in a lot of different ways; uses her athleticism to put the ball in the basket…Keep an eye on this one; she is set to make a big leap

Madison Covington- 2017- 5’11- Guard- TX TeamXpress- Athletic guard who finishes well around the rim…Shot needs a little work but not a ton…Rebounds well

Finese Dickson- 2017- 5’7- Point Guard- IL Midwest Elite- Small, but quick with really good handles…Creative in getting her own shot…Able to score off crossovers, step backs, and more…Can to get to the rim with her quickness

Amy Dilk- 2018- 5’10- Point Guard- IN Flight- Attack-minded point guard…Handles the ball and gets into the paint looking to score, but has the awareness to pass when necessary…Has a good stroke

Kira Emsbo- 2018- 6’3-  Post- CO Rockies- Very long…Alters/blocks shots well, especially as the secondary defender…Good screener who picks well then rolls hard

Camilla Emsbo- 2018- 6’3- Post- CO Rockies- Rebounds well…Alters/blocks shots at a high level…Great hands; if the pass is remotely close to her, she catches it…Still a bit raw in post but shows flashes

Mckenzie Forbes- 2018- 6’0- Forward- AZ Select- High profile strong forward with a great build…Can really handle the ball…Scores in numerous ways…Rebounds well… Pushes the ball in transition off of rebound…Contact doesn’t bother her…Can struggle defending quicker players…Constantly communicates; a great leader

Vannessa Garrelts- 2018- 5’5- Point Guard- IL Elite- Good set shooter…Passes well in transition…Very unselfish with her decisions…Worry about her defensively with stronger guards

Alyssa Geary- 2018- 6’3- Post- IL Elite- Lean 5-player who needs to add strength…Runs well in open court…Alters shots…Offensive game is developing…Definitely some potential here

Camille Gray- 2018- 6’0- Guard- NJ Team Miller Lightning- Strong build…Handles the ball well even with contact…Active on defense…Shot needs a little work but knocks down open set shots

Nyah Green- 2019- 6’0- Guard- San Antonio Finest- Well established elite level player…Incredibly athletic and has a great handle…Creates her own shot at will…Has a good looking stroke…Still has time to get better, but already able to play at the next level

Julia Hoefling- 2019- 6’0- Post- Cincinnati Heat Premier- Hard working post with ability to attack from hi-post…Doesn’t mind contact and is able to finish even when being bumped…Good looking stroke

Taylor Irons- 2017- 6’3- Post- IL Meanstreets- Good length which she uses to alter shots…Great build and moves well…Offensive game is raw but lots of potential

Naomi Johnson- 2017- 5’9- Guard- Blue Star St. Louis- Active on defense…Dangerous in the open court…Gets to the rim well…Outside shot needs work 

Morgan Jones- 2018- 6’1- Wing- GA Metros 17- Scores in a variety of ways…Can post up smaller guards and finish, or attack from the perimeter and score at the rim… Very athletic

Melissa Leet- 2017- 6’5- Post- WI Playground Elite- Big, strong body…Very good passer out of post…Still needs developing offensively…Rebounds well and alters shots on defense

Emma List- 2017- 5’10- Guard- CO Rockies- Lefty with a nice stroke on the perimeter…Posts up smaller guards…Finds a way to get to the paint with a variety of moves

Brynna Maxwell- 2019- 5’11- Guard WA Northwest Magic 15- Doesn’t pass the eye test, but can really play…Very thin…Possess a good handle; will lull you to sleep, then hit you with a crossover and pull-up from mid-range…Shot looks good…Keep an eye out for this one 

Meghan Mclaughlin- 2018- 6’3- Post- Philly Belles Falconiero- Big, strong post player who moves well for size…Shot blocker…Rebounds well…Lacks athleticism… Raw offensively but has potential 

Kamaria McDaniel- 2017- 5’9- Guard- MI Crossover- Quick guard who attacks both ways and scores in the paint…Runs well in transition…Outside shot is inconsistent 

Diamond Miller- 2019- 5’8- Guard- NJ Team Miller Lightning- Very athletic who causes opponents trouble on defense…Handles the ball and gets to the rim…Form on shot looks good but results are inconsistent…Cuts well and rebounds the ball… Effort drops when fatigued…Tons of potential but already very good

Olivia Nelson-Ododa- 2018- 6’5- Post- GA Metros 17- Continued her great summer…Long and lean with loads of potential… Elite shot blocker with a huge wingspan… Isn’t scared to put the ball on the floor if she needs too… Developing offensive game but already has some flashes of greatness and displays a good looking stroke… Clearly one of the best players in her class

Tory Ozment- 2018- 6’0- Forward- GA Metros 17- Tall wing who can shoot it…Solid defender who is only going to get better…Strong…Lots of potential here 

Jennifer Parker- 2017- 6’1- Post- TX TeamXpress- Undersized post who rebounds well…Has a great build and length…Can finish in the paint through contact

Kate Petrovic- 2019- 5’11- Wing- Blue Star Houston Elite- Strong, good build…Ball handling isn’t fancy, but she finds a way to get to the paint regardless…Shot looks good but still has some inconsistent results…Can guard multiple positions defensively

Lexie Pritchard- 2018- 5’10- Guard- OR Fast Nike- Good shooter…Can get to the paint going both ways…Possesses solid handles 

Sammie Puisis- 2019- 6’1- Wing- Cincinnati Heat Premier- Stock is rising every tournament…Shoots the ball well and gets hot in a hurry…Didn’t start off tournament great, but turned it on and got better every game…Can put the ball on the floor and attack…Major upside

Mia Rosener- 2017- 6’2- Post- IA Kingdom Hoops- Lanky, finesse player who uses length well to alter shots…Needs to add strength in order to be more effective…Raw offensively…Rebounds well

Lauren Satterwhite- 2017- 5’7- Guard- AZ Select- Quick, left handed guard…Nice looking stroke from the perimeter but with inconsistent results…Very active on defense… Very athletic…Slashes to the rim well

Caroline Stover- 2018- 6’3- Post- MA Bay State Magic Elite- Big frame…Has range out to the three…Strong, but lateral quickness is suspect and struggles with quicker players…Needs to demand the ball more because she does good things when she has it 

Taitlyn Trenshaw- 2017- 5’3- Point Guard- IN MBA Select- Sneaky quick point guard…Runs team well…Directs traffic and is vocal…Good set shooter 

Kayleigh Truong- 2019- 5’9- Guard- Blue Star Houston Elite- Creative with the ball; plays with flare…Quick, has a floater game with both hands…Handles under pressure… Good set shooter…Stock rising quickly with her and her twin sister, Kaylynne

Kaylynne Truong- 2019- 5’8- Guard- Blue Star Houston Elite- Good shooter who elevates on jumper…Creative with ball and handles well in tight situations…Can finish in paint with variety of shots…Stock rising quickly with her and her twin sister, Kayleigh

Oghenerouna Uwusiaba- 2017- 6’3- Post- GA Metros 17- Nigerian native…Strong, well-built post player…Uses length well on defense…Works hard on both ends… Offensive game is raw…Tons of potential

Cristeon Waters- 2017- 6’0- Forward- Blue Star St. Louis- Tweener who can hit the outside shot and attack a bit…Athletic player who rebounds well

Cynthia Wolf- 2018- 6’3- Post- IA Barnstormers- Tall and lean…Finishes around the rim well…Does a good job of getting post position, but lacks strength to hold it for long…Good passer out of the post 

Allie Wooldridge- 2018- 6’1- Wing- IA Barnstormers- Uses her length to finish around the rim…Handles the ball with confidence…Doesn’t have fancy ball handling but gets the job done…Can hit the three…Rises up in the mid-range game

Halle Wright- 2018- 6’0- Forward- OR Fast Nike- Big framed stretch 4…Has deceptive speed and finishes at the rim with contact…Came up big in championship game with two old-fashion three point plays at a pivotal part of game…Plays with passion and works hard

Jada Wright- 2017- 6’2- Post- IL Lady Meanstreets- Next level frame…Really good footwork in the paint…Rebounds well, then gets up the court in transition…Very strong and still has room to get better

Zaria Wright- 2017- 5’8- Guard- MI Crossover- Left handed guard with good strength…Scorer’s mentality that can fill it up, but lacks consistency…Will dominate in stretches then disappear…Conditioning needs improvement; once it does, consistent effort should improve…Has the potential to be very good

Bendu Yeaney- 2017- 5’8- Guard- OR Fast Nike- Stole the show in championship game…Next level body and strength…Very active defender in both half and full court… Attacks the rim strong and is unaffected by contact…Shot looks good…Works hard and doesn’t seem to tire out