TAVARES, Fla.—On a day when USA Basketball was reclaiming its rightful place as Gold medal holder with a convincing win in the FIBA U17 World championship, the long road of the club basketball season was finally winding down. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not over. In fact I’m not sure it’s ever over. However, the Division I recruiting calendar has struck midnight and the new school year is looming around the corner in high schools and on campuses around the country.
The last stop for the Blue Star Travel Teams and a select few additional programs was the Big House in Tavares, Florida for the 10th Annual Blue Star Nationals. In all, 62 teams were on hand in an ultra-impressive facility set west of Orlando on what used to be some old citrus groves. That valuable agricultural setting now hosts nine full hardwood floors as well as a multitude of other athletic resources for the Central Florida area. This weekend it also hosted players from 27 different states, two provinces in Canada and the Chilean National Team as well as over one hundred college recruiters looking to make the most of their last three days on the recruiting trail this summer.
Competition was funneled through 16 pools and ultimately into four brackets wrapping up late Sunday afternoon with the final horn in the highly regarded Red bracket. With both playing their third game of the day, the Wisconsin Lakers faced off with the Next Level Eclipse Blue Star Team out of Kansas. Both teams were slow out of the gate but loosened back up to see the Eclipse take a 33 – 27 lead at the break. The Lakers opened with a 10 – 0 run in the third to force an early time out but the Eclipse responded with a 10 – 2 run of their own. By the end of the third the Lakers held a 47 – 44 margin and were responding to each run that came their way. It was a three point game (55 – 52) with 4:49 to go and just a one point Laker lead (59 – 58) with just 16.1 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for the Eclipse there was no miracle finish and while they did get a look at the end, they fell 60 – 50 to a very scrappy and physical team from Wisconsin.
The Philadelphia Belles – Steidle won their second consecutive event (USJN-DC) cruising to an easy Blue bracket win over another Eclipse team 51 – 17. In the Green Division the championship battle went down to the wire with the MBA Select out of Indiana claiming top honors over a promising young Hoop Dreams team from Florida 59 – 53. The Arkansas Mavericks had the easiest road to hardware in the White bracket final as the Arizona Select, following a dramatic last second semifinal win, had to forfeit while deferring to a tight travel schedule.
To see complete results, pool all-stars, lists of both programs and coaches in attendance, follow the link below to the USJN web site and the post event page for the 10thAnnual Blue Star Nationals.
http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=501
As always we saw plenty of talent in action across the course of the event. Many players we’ve seen several times since April and a few caught our eye for the first time. There were many more standouts we didn’t see and some we may have caught on their best or worst days. Once again, they’re in alphabetical order and who is or is not included shouldn’t be overanalyzed. We’ll look forward to seeing them all in action again down the road but for today here are some of the standout efforts from Tavares.
Natalie Anderson – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing / Guard – Wisconsin Lakers– IUPUI verbal…Versatile and active…Size in the backcourt…Plays with good instincts…Deceiving first step…Range and form are there to spot up…Plays with effort
Ketura Balabyekkubo – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Blue StarOntario– Athletic and quick point guard…Pushes from makes, misses and turnovers…Lefty…One on one skills are sharp…Aggressive on ball defender
Kylee Blacksten – 2020 – 6-3 – Forward / Post– BC Denver – Size and frame…Nice agility for size…Moves well in the halfcourt and running the floor…Can put it on the floor from the trail spot or wing…Good instincts on the defensive end…Could turn up the physical play a degree or two…Primed for big advances
Kiera Brown – 2019 – 5-10 – Wing – Miami Suns– Utility player…Explosive athlete…Makes plays inside and out…Plays with focus and intensity…Leaper…Strong on the glass for height…Can defend #1 through #4…Lots to offer
Kalaya Buggs – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Arizona Select– Challenging defenders with power game…Strength and quickness…Explosive first step…Change of speed is exceptional and mixed well…No reservation taking it among the bigs…Tools are there to make an impact as an on ball defender
Trinity Clinton – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – MBA Select 16– Physically strong guard…Explosive first step…Creates both shots and passes…Decent form and stroke…Cuts effectively to make herself an option
Jordan Codio – 2022 – 5-11 – Wing / Forward – Miami Suns Sunders– Long and lean…Some ballhandling is in place…Fluid in cuts and running the floor…Good body control on the drive…Lots of possibilities
Ashanti Day – 2020 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Blue Star Dallas– Tough…Quick…Can create and improve…Effective jumper off the dribble…Left hand needs some sharpening
Kennedy Dickie – 2019 – 6-0 – Forward – BC United– Much more productive than first impression…Strong and physical with solid skills…Surprising first step…High post drive is effective…Understands her role…Got on the glass…Facilitator
Angela Dugalic – 2020 – 6-3 – Wing / Forward – Chicago Hoops Express– Versatile skill set…Can be productive as a #3 or #4 against top tier competition…Ballskills create penetration…Stepback is there…Fluid stroke with range…Plays with plenty of effort…Brings a lot to the table
Jess Finney – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Arizona Select– Continued impressive summer effort…Attacking and converting…Deceptive vertical allows her to be effective in traffic…Took some contact and still finished…Perimeter consistency opened up more penetration options…Aggressive and assertive in all aspects…Lateral speed and quickness defensively helps her contain opponents…Advancing each time out
Anijah Grant – 2019 – 6-2 – Forward – FGB Central Florida– Established…Strong…Athletic…Works hard to be an option…Hit the boards…Showed a mid-range touch…Physical defender but is reactive rather than proactive…Lots of tools
Kaybriana Hallman – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – West Michigan Drive– Long…Lean…Athletic…Moves well…Gets on the boards…Wingspan serves her well on both ends…Vertical is there…Runs the floor…Strength will have to come
Savannah Henderson – 2022 – 6-1 – Wing / Forward – FGB Hoop Dreams 14– Length and athleticism…Fluid…Versatility in her skill set…Active in the halfcourt or getting out in the lanes…Good grasp of her role…Agility and length provide the tools to be an impact defender…Strength will evolve with maturity
Stefanie Ingram – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – FGB Hoop Dreams 14– Dynamic athlete…Quick and attacking with the ball in her hands…Change of speed keeps defenders guessing…Always assertive…Makes plays
Alyssa Jimenez – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing / Guard – BC Denver– Smart…Good size on the perimeter…Lean but not hesitant in traffic…Floater worked for her…Length is there on defense
Maddie Krull – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – All Nebraska Attack– Continues to be one of the better all-around guards…Depth of skills sets her apart…Plays with intensity and focus…Can improve her options or those of teammates…Hustle plays belong to her…Good basketball IQ
Brionna McBride – 2019 – 5-11 – Guard – Boulder Rockies– Physically strong…Athletic at the guard or on the wing…Can develop her own options…Handled contact on penetration…Good ballskills but somewhat loose with it at times…Can make things happen
Brianna McDaniel – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – Chicago Hoops Express– Young top tier prospect…Good size and strength already…Can develop and improve her own options…Slithers in traffic…Nice touch on the jumper…Only going to get better and better
Maggie McGraw – 2019 – 5-11 – Wing – Kingdom Hoops– Iowa State verbal…Lean build…Some length on the perimeter…Active with and without the ball…Can spot up or create her own looks off the drive…Efficient scorer…Worked efficiently in traffic
Natalie McNeal – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Wisconsin Lakers – Smart and skilled…Plays with intensity…Looking to exploit off the dribble…No reservations with physical defense…Makes plays off the drive…Sees the floor…Competitor
Chandler Prater – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Next Level Eclipse– Kansas commitment…Athletic guard…Combines both speed and strength…First step is lengthy for size…Slashes into the paint…Finishing with contact…Perimeter shot is a work on progress
Keimari Rimmer – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing – Chicago Hoops Express– Aggressive and athletic…Makes plays…Attacks the rim physically…Goes up in traffic with authority…Lefthander…Crossover at full speed…Perimeter shot is off the shoulder to a degree
Tavia Rowell – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – BC United– Grand Canyon verbal…Lefty…Active guard…Can create her own looks to a degree…Works hard without the ball…Reads defenders…Vision on the drive needs sharped some…Makes plays
Maddie Scherr – 2020 – 5-11 – Guard – Kentucky Premier– Skilled and consistent…Smart with a good application of her skills…Physical strength much greater than first impression…Good choices…Can post up well for a guard…Works on defense…Impact contributor on both ends
Brooke Schramek – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Illinois Lady Lightning– Wisconsin verbal – Solid size and build…Textbook skills…Cuts hard and with intent…Gets out and runs the floor…No issues with physical play…Facilitator within the offense
Sydney Shaw – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Miami Suns– Continues to set herself apart from the crowd…Learning to make herself available…Form and range are there to keep defenders honest…Can get to the rim…Handles rotations with floater and pull up…Let frustration show on occasion
Antreese Shelton – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – MBA Select 17– Length is there…Lean build is in place…Can spot up on the perimeter…Efficient both with the shot or pass from the high post…Will put it on the floor but upright to some degree right now
Aaliyah Stanley – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Miami Suns– Eastern Michigan commit…Exceptional speed with the ball in her hands…Quickness can cross up defenders of all sizes…Acceleration off any move leaves opponents standing…Controls the tempo of the game…Strong on ball defender
Payton Verhulst – 2021 – 6-1 – Swing – Next Level Eclipse– More depth and more consistency each time out…Scoring in a variety of ways…Much more aggressive cutting…Delivering some sharp passes…Reads lead to good choices on pull up or attacking the rim…Defensive challenge for opponents
Shemera Williams – 2019 – 5-7 – Point guard – Wisconsin Playground– Dynamic offensive threat…Can score on the perimeter or off the drive…Explosive with the ball…In and out a challenge to defend…Makes changes in traffic on penetration…Much more focused than last we saw…All the tools
Kaiya Wynn – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing – Kentucky Premier EYBL– Exceptional athlete…Smooth and fluid…First step and speed serve her well…Physical player…Knows how to use her strength…Focused on both ends of the floor
Zoe Young – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Kingdom Hoops– Maryland commit…Still standing out from the crowd…Aggressive on the catch…Utilizing contact to her advantage…Range and touch forcing match ups to close out…Physical attack on the drive…Simply makes plays
