BRANTFORD, Ontario—Our world has become so inundated with All-Star games and elite “invitation only’ post season contests that it’s easy to become somewhat immune to the celebratory aspect of such events.  It’s nice however, every once in a while, when it’s just about the basketball.  Remember that?  The reason we go to the gym, turn on the TV or look up scores and results? Somewhere along the line the events themselves started becoming bigger than the actual play itself.  This past weekend the Second Annual Across Border Global Games offered up the chance to simply watch some strong rosters representing the United States and Canada go at it on three different levels.

The youngest match up featured the “Futures” with rosters including players as young as the 2023 class and as old as the 2021 graduates.  The “Underclass” game featured the 2019’s and 20’s while the “Upperclass” was highlighted by the old ladies of the 2018 class.  The USA was represented by players from 17 different states while their Canadian counterparts featured athletes from four different provinces flying the Maple Leaf flag.  While our primary focus with today’s coverage is the younger prospects, the senior class highlighted 17 different Power Five Conference signees and added three McDonald’s All-Americans to the mix to keep things interesting.

In the day’s first game the USA Futures held off the youngest Canadians by a score of 98 – 86. MVP for the red, white and blue was Ta’Niya Latson (2022 – Honolulu, Hawaii) who led the way with 26 points. Leading the opposition was Shayeann Day-Wilson (2021 – Toronto, Ontario) who also finished her day with 26.  An ultra-loaded USA underclass team was out of synch and upset in their mid-day contest as Canada claimed a much deserved 109 – 96 win.  The US had no answer for Merissah Russell (2020 – Ottawa, Ontario) who scored almost at will finishing with 36 and MVP honors.  Taking the hardware for the USA was Jordan Horston (2019 – Columbus, Ohio) who paced the scoring in the loss with 27.  The day’s final game was out of hand early as the USA rolled to a dominating 111 – 61 win over their north of the border counterparts in the Upperclass game. University of Kentucky bound Rhyne Howard (2018 – Cleveland, Tennessee) was name MVP behind her 15 point effort while Utah signee Niyah Becker (2018 – Winnipeg, Manitoba) was recognized for the Canadians with a 16 point output for the day.

By the way, if you would like to see images from a Friday night photoshoot with Ariel Promotions with all the athletes “dressed to impress”, follow the link below.  You’ll see some great images and smiling faces.

http://presentitphoto.com/f250873557

As mentioned above, we’re focusing in on the younger generation with this coverage.  We saw plenty of high profile talent as well as some young and evolving prospects from both sides of the border.  It was a busy weekend.

Isaline Alexander – 2021 – 6-3 – Post – Ontario– Already has plenty of size and strength…Moves well with and without the ball…Had some moments…Skills are apparent but some refinement is needed…Possibilities are there 

Se’Qouia Allmond – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Tennessee– Continues to advance established game…Plays and makes moves at speed…A challenge for any defender…Always on the attack…Can create looks off the dribble or off the pass for teammates…Handled contact well for size…Threads some passes in transition…Assertive on ball defender 

Essence Cody – 2023 – 6-3 – Forward / Post – Georgia– Size, strength and frame…Solid build already…Plays with plenty of effort…Knows how and is willing to mix things up inside…Plays with a sharp awareness for age…Well ahead of players a year in front of her…Watch

Shayeann Day-Wilson – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Ontario– Speed and quickness to spare…Pushes from make, miss and turnover…Change of speed and direction gets her deep again and again…Touch is there from the perimeter…Range forces tight closeouts and opens up penetration…Quick release…Feisty competitor on both ends 

O’Mariah Gordon – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Florida– Well established at the point…Speed and quickness is on par with any on the scholastic level…Perimeter consistency has really come along forcing defenders to reluctantly close out tight…Range keeps them honest…Good elevation pull up and spot up looks…Makes plays on the break or in the halfcourt…Acceleration off her moves is exceptional, particularly the hesitation…Just keeps improving

Mallorie Haines – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – North Carolina– Impressive size and skills at the shooting guard spot…Knows what she’s looking for and works to make herself an option…Quick release is there on the jumper…Range is well beyond the arch…Demonstrated the ability to get to the rim at times as well…More depth to her offensive attack will keep defenders guessing

Lemyah Hylton – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing – Ontario– Lean build…Ball handling and passing are effective…Penetrates…Crossover serves her well…Needs to get release point of her shot up a bit 

Abigail Jegede – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Ontario– Nice size and athleticism in the backcourt…Ability is there to create her own looks…Got to the rim…Lots agility and quickness…Handled traffic well…Anticipated defensively 

Helena Lasic – 2021 – 6-3 – Post – Ontario– Good size…Nice build for age…Frame is there to add strength…Active…Posts up and reads on the catch…Showed a baby hook…A little ballhandling is there 

Ta’Niya Latson – 2022 – 5-7 – Combo – Hawaii– Elite prospect…Young in age only…Aggressive and attacking with a strong individual skill set…Gets to the rim on the break or off halfcourt play…Crossover is lethal…Plenty of quickness in her first step…Assertive in traffic with the ability to handle contact and physical defenders…Major tools are in place

Latasha Lattimore – 2021 – 6-4 – Forward – Ontario– Long, lean and athletic…Makes you look…Smooth and fluid motion in all she does…Moves well around the rim but from the high post as well…Deceptively quick for size…Form is there on the 15 footer…Nice step though move is available on the block…Impressive body control in the paint…Needs to be more active without the ball…Nothing but potential

Karoline Striplin – 2021 – 6-2 – Post – Alabama– Size and frame are there…Good agility for size…Can be active at times both around the rim and on the perimeter to a degree…Strength and physical play are still evolving but will come…Makes good reads on the catch…Will become much more efficient as it becomes a reaction rather than a thought

T’yana Todd – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – Ontario– Athletic…Solid build at guard…Has some length already…Individual skills are sharp…Good first step…Low release on shot at this point

Ju Ju Watkins – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – California– Highly regarded already despite youth…Length and athleticism serve her well…A true “instinctual” player…Reads, reacts and makes plays beyond her years…Can create shot and passes…Could slow down a bit at times but experience and maturity will take care of that…Top tier

Samantha Brunelle – 2019 – 6-3 – Forward – Virginia– Highly ranked and regarded…Versatility is there in her game and her approach…Can play multiple roles and contribute in multiple ways…Could look for her own more often at times but distributes well none the less…Inside – out threat challenges defenders…Can run the floor with the guards in transition…Consistency should settle down for her

Chloe Chapman – 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Maryland– Long established elite point guard…Showing some additional strength…Plays at a different speed than the opposition…Penetrating more…Creating both her own options and improving those around her…Jumper continues to smooth out…Hands and feet defensively are on a different level 

Zia Cooke – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Ohio– As dynamic with the ball in her hands as anyone…Sharp, quick and low ballskills frustrate defenders…Elevates off penetration at the rim and on the pull up…Sets the pace of most games…Occasionally gets caught up in a one on one scenario…Passing off penetration keeps defenses on their toes and not packed in…Aggressive on the ball defensively

Micah Dennis – 2019 – 5-9 – Combo – Ontario– Solid build…Sees the floor…Creates and improves…Plays with intensity…Handled some contact…Spotted up well…Mixed up her game to keep defenders honest…Worked on defense

Makayla Ennis – 2019 – 6-1 – Wing – Ontario– Long lean and wiry (but adding strength)…Has added consistency to her game…Ability is there to slash and create…Has plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Can turn the corner off a screen…Pushes the ball at opportunity…Active on ball defender…Anticipates on the weakside 

Jordan Horston – 2019 – 6-2 – Combo – Ohio– Impressive Spring continues for her…Attacking more and more…Consistency is evolving…Using both her size and athleticism to exploit match-ups…Beginning to look for her own more…Big plus…Involves teammates in transition and half…Physical tools are there to be an even more elite defender

Rickea Jackson – 2019 – 6-3 – Wing / Forward – Michigan– Continues to play some of her best basketball…Depth to her game sets her apart…Smooth, fluid and quick off the drive…Can finish at the rim (literally) or is just as efficient on the pull up…Length and agility on defense makes her a commodity in virtually any defensive approach…Fun to watch except from the other bench

Kaydan Lawson – 2020 – 5-11 – Guard – Ohio– Combination of size and skills…Added strength is serving her well…Handling contact efficiently…Creating her own looks off the dribble…Has a good awareness of her teammates on penetration…Adds something to her game each time we see her…Important summer looms

Roxane Makolo – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Quebec– Solid built guard…Physical and aggressive in her attack…Unorthodox at times but continually makes plays…Can spot up with time 

Donna Ntambue – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Quebec– Sound athlete…Lefty…Active on both ends of the floor…Puts herself in the middle of the action

Merissah Russell – 2020 – 6-1 – Guard – Ontario– Size and solid build in the backcourt…Uses both strength and athleticism to attack…Mixes up both speed and direction…Hesitation gets defenders out of their stance…Can handle contact and finish at the rim but the floater is there as well…Pull up is fluid…Experience shows in her game…A proven commodity…Can play with and against any level

Deanna Tuchscherer – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – British Columbia– Good size and build…Has depth to her skills…Can work low or step out…Form is there on the perimeter look…Willing to throw her body into someone…Works

Aerial Wilson – 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Ontario– Well known point…Experience shows in her play…Vision is there in halfcourt as well as on the break…Awareness…Pushes from make miss and turnover…Willing to set up teammates and improve their options…Strong IQ…In command