HERSHEY, Pa. – For the 17thyear, USJN and the Hershey National Showcase returned to the nation’s Chocolate Capital . Over 240 teams made the voyage to central Pennsylvania to stake their claim on the courts at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center. One of the more unique venues and settings on the summer circuit, there was plenty of time not only for basketball, but for fun at Hershey Park as well.
As always, full event results and poll All-Stars can be found on the post event page here:
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=494
Just like the aisles of area candy shops, the lineup was stocked with plenty of variety for whatever you crave. Some of the regions top, established upperclassmen got after it in the older divisions in front of over 50 college coaches. Then, you turn the corner and the selection changed to a huge helping of future stars who are still just in middle school.
Here are a some of the standouts who did their thing in Central Pa. this weekend.
Ariana Alleyne – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – Baltimore Cubs 17 – Fast with the ball…Made some strong passes in transition…Lowered her shoulder to finish with defenders riding her…Can hit the mid-range pull up jumper
Alayna Arnolie – 2022 – 5-8 – Point Guard/Guard – NOVA 94 Feet 14 – Gets into triple threat naturally…Utilizes the jab to create space…Scores off the pull up or off the bounce…Nice first step to the cup creates an opening…Laser focus…Turns turnovers into points on the other end
Aaryn Battle – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – Philadelphia Belles 13 King – Potential athletically out the gate…Probably destined for the wing long term…More comfortable working in the high post right now…Bangs against the posts on defense…Attack mode in transition…Can score it on her own…Extra power gear…Will hit the three ball
Natalie Berry – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – MD Lady Hoopmasters 17 – Scrappy point guard…Ability to hit from outside or take it to the basket…Showed some real grit against some athletic defenders
Joniyah Bland-Fitzpatrick – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – CT Playmakers 14 – Driver…Showed off some nice finishes around traffic…Vocal at times…Some hops on the boards…Can become a legitimate problem in transition…Also showed makings of an impact defender down the line
Shay Bollin – 2023 – 6-2 – Forward – Bay State Jaguars 14 – Complete young player…Does a lot of things well…Has a face up and drive skill set…Can hit a little runner in the lane…Shoots the three already…Runs the floor every time…Gets up to board and jumpstarts the transition game
Kiley Capstraw – 2022 – 5-11 – Guard – NJ Belles 14 Masonius – Moves without the ball within the flow of the offense naturally…Smooth pull up jumper…Ball handling skills are advanced…Long reach and high energy on defense…Willingness to battle for the ball
Khaya Carter – 2024 – 6-0 – Post – MD Belles 12 Shabazz – Young post…Impact level performer in the paint so far…Solid legs…Soft hands to catch and finish…Relocates in relation to the driver…Makes herself available for a dump off
Michelle Chahwan – 2023 – 5-5 – Point Guard/Guard – SI Bulldogs 13 – Strong guard…Scores off the bounce in a variety of ways…Nice split of secondary defenders…Plays with fire…Nice finishes in some congested areas…Hard to bump off the ball
Schuyler Coles – 2024 – 5-5 – Guard – Team PA 12 – Stockier young guard…Made shots from different places…Trey ball and mid range jumpers were effective…Uncanny shot making ability is deceptive…Interesting prospect
Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – NJ Belles 14 Masonius – Versatile offensive game…Can hurt you with the shot or off the bounce…Tends to favor the drive more right now…Has a nice face up game in the high post
Carryn Easley – 2025 – 4-5 – Point Guard/Guard – Philly Triple Threat 11 – Smaller, quick combo…Zippy passes plus refined handles…Problem defender in the press…Obvious she plays the game a lot…Anticipates some things well at this age
Autumn Edison – 2025 – 4-10 – Point Guard – MD Lady Shooting Stars 12 – Smaller point…Shakes up defenders and hits the runner in the lane…Shoots it really well…Hits the three already…Size didn’t limit scoring…Can be feisty on defense as well
Naomi Gonzalez – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – PA Lady Rens 14 Myers – Versatile player…Showed ability to shoot and dribble well at this stage in her development…Tight, elusive handle in traffic…Has some jets and the closing speed is real…Will run down the ball handler in transition and prevent the lay up
Kate Grainger – 2023 – 5-6 – Guard – Syracuse Royals 13 – Wing span…Ball handling and scoring ability…Change of pace and direction with the ball is beyond years…Can string makes from three…Very comfortable with the ball in her hands
Sydnei Harmon – 2021 – 6-2 – Post – MD Lady Mystics 17 – Younger post…Good frame…Can block some shots…Gets good position above the block…Makes herself an available target…Good lateral movement
Jaidyn Harper – 2024 – 5-6 – Guard – Fairfax Stars 12 Bibbee – Lanky driver from the wing…Creative finisher with either hand…Long on defense…Knows how to get open without the ball…High work rate
Keira Henrich – 2024 – 6-1 – Forward – District One Bball 12 Trebelev – Rim runner type…Upper body strength for her age…Will face the basket on the wing or in the high post…Plays hard and shows some toughness…Aggressive cuts helped her draw contact and get to the line
Alainna Hopta – 2022 – 5-6 – Guard – York Thunder 14 – Speed and fluidity with the ball in her hands…Ability is there to guard virtually every possession…Willing to bang on defense with the post players…Will take the deep three…Creates space with her step back
Jaylah Lewis – 2019 – 5-2 – Point Guard – Baltimore Cubs 17 – Moments on the defensive end of the floor…Already has a low center of gravity…Sits down and digs in to guard people…Steals by the bunches…Scores in the mid-range but needs to expand her range and consistency as a shooter to level up…Good intensity and a gamer’s mentality
Emma Liedke – 2023 – 5-11 – Forward – CT Sound 14 – Strong young forward with noticeable ups…Does some of dirty work…Contests shots in the paint as well as on the perimeter…Bit of a floor general on the back side of the zone…Plenty of room to grow her game
Jaila Lilly – 2026 – 5-7 – Forward – MD Belles 11 Outen – Athletic rim runner…Has long arms and legs…Likely to keep growing…Raw but can run and finished…Can catch it in the post, turn, and score
Amaya Lucas – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – VA Belles 16 – Reach and wingspan…Physical and athletic advantages well…Lefty can score in the paint or off the dribble…Handles in the backcourt are developing…Needs to refine her shooting touch to expand her game
Maylei Noreika – 2024 – 5-4 – Guard – Mid Penn Motion 12 – Hit a couple threes from a few steps behind the arc…Works on her ball handling…Smart, hard-playing kid…Plenty of time to add lots to her game
Dallas Pierce – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – DE TLP Basketball 14 – Physically imposing with build…Some elusiveness to her handle especially…Decision making on point with the strength to deliver good passes…Scoring prowess is the next thing to tackle
Jaela Reid – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – MD Belles 14 Giblin – Showed the ability to get up and snatch rebounds with one hand…Three point range…Uber athletic…Nice vertical to go along
Jordyn Reynolds – 2024 – 4-8 – Point Guard/Guard – Philly Triple Threat 12 – Lots of speed to spare…Will shoot the gap and be gone to the other end in a flash…Wants to get to the rim in transition…Inside shoulder contact doesn’t bother her…Tight, low handle in confined spaces…Developing passer as well
Madeline Rice – 2023 – 5-7 – Guard – VA Belles 14 – Mid-range jump shots are her forte…Also scored from further out and closer…Good mix of finishes at this point in her development…Has some hops that help
Ava Sawi – 2024 – 5-5 – Point Guard/Guard – Fairfax Stars 13 – Showed a tendency to push in transition…Can finish with either hand off either foot…Good body control…Vocal…What you want out of a young point guard
Isabella Schwabe – 2019 – 6-1 – Post – ASD Athletic Club 17 – Lefty post…Did some scoring in the screen and roll game…Finished some dump offs…Works to get open…Puts a body on somebody…Consistent effort all weekend
Caroline Shiery – 2022 – 6-2 – Post – Team PA 14 – Uses her size and mobility well…Lots of the basics inside…Strong and knows how to use it…Utilizes the crab dribble to back defenders down…Can finish some over the shoulder
Chaniya Taylor – 2024 – 5-11 – Forward – Power Move 12 – Imposing size and length…Runs the floor with acceleration…Boards it…Will finish more in the paint as she matures and gets stronger
Kennedy Ume – 2024 – 6-1 – Forward/Post – MD Belles 12 Shabazz – Big and physical presence…Lateral mobility is there…Active feet…Utilizes pivot foot in the paint to find a lay-up opportunism…Will improve offensively if she stays on track…Draws double teams…Gets on the floor and rips the ball away from opponents
Laura Williams – 2024 – 5-11 – Forward – Fairfax Stars 12 Bibbee –Could play at the high school level already with her build…Long stride…Gets position in the high and low post areas…Pulls the rebound, keeps it high, and goes right back up…Good post to post defender
Layla Wright – 2025 – 5-8 – Forward – The Family 11 – Bouncy young athlete…Can grab the ball, gather herself, and go back up with it…Takes it on her own in transition with some evident burst…Shoots a pull up…Can play a little point
Meghan Yarnevich – 2025 – 5’10 – Guard/Forward – Power Move 12 – Long and strong for age…Has the look and game of an older player…Good enough handle to push on her own…Tall enough to pass over the top of traps…Mean streak on defense led to some impressive blocks and steals
