Chicago, Ill. – The 2018 Rising Blue Star ship continues to sail full speed ahead, checking in with turnouts in a trifecta of cities in week three.
The weekend kicked off with a huge contingent in Kansas City. The first time event drew a crowd of promising up-and-comers from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. America’s heartland is no stranger to great women’s basketball action and some the promising stars of the future were in the gym.
Sunday’s calendar featured two more highly-anticipated stops including Oklahoma City as well as the Windy City of Chicago. Blue Star Media has witnessed an exciting pool of young talent developing in Oklahoma over recent years and it was good to get another look. In Chicago, several of the region’s top clubs were represented and Blue Star’s Blake DuDonis made his way down from Minneapolis to see what they had to offer.
If you’ve missed any of our RBS coverage the past few weeks, follow the links below for a look at earlier stops.
https://www.bluestarmedia.org/rising-blue-star-begins-extensive-fall-schedule/
https://www.bluestarmedia.org/rising-blue-star-week-two/
If you haven’t caught a Rising Blue Star Camp yet, there’s a possibility we may still headed to a city near you. Here’s the RBS website with all the information on upcoming event.
Next weekend, RBS journeys to two new stops, but for now, here are some of the players who sure did catch our attention this past weekend!
RBS KANSAS CITY
Maryn Archer – 2023 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – Kansas United – Impressive young player…Skill set and IQ well beyond her years…A natural with the ball in her hands…Rises up and hits the jumper…Complete playmaking ability
Kyrah Brodie – 2022 – 6-4 – Forward – Missouri Phenom – Skill set at this size and age is tremendous…Speed and mobility…Can face up and drive from the top…Has a developed a pull up jumper…Footwork and understanding of the game are advanced for age
Addyson Brown –2024 – 5-11 – Forward – Kansas United – Nice build…Gets up on lay ups…Long stride…Big feet…Gets good position inside…Calls for the ball…Rebounds well…Has the build and skill set of a #4 player
Mykayla Cunningham – 2023 – 5-6 – Guard – Ohlde Elite – Long and quick…Covers ground with the ball…Good energy…Speedy without the ball as well…Long crossover…Working on step back…Quick and long on defensively…Uses her length and speed on both ends
Amari Dydell – 2024 – 5-5 – Guard – KC Gold Elite – Athlete…Emerging versatility as a scorer…Shot the three off the dribble…Slashes her way to the rim…Still learning spacing and movement without the ball…Coachable
Jamari Ervin – 2024 – 5-7 – Point Guard/Guard – KC Gold Elite – Tough and fearless for size and age…Gets knocked down and pops right back up…Jump shot is a weapon…Great rotation…Range extending to the arc
Anonda Ford – 2025 – 5-7 –Guard/Forward – Next Level Eclipse – Huge hands…Palming the ball…Shot blocking presence…Has the look of a gamer…Just scratching the surface…Likely a wing guard long term
Breonna Hurd – 2024 – 6-0 – Forward – Arkansas Mavericks – Strong build already…Pounds the ball on the dribble…Good speed in the open court…Handling it in transition at times…Will take the three…Moves well…Skills continuing to expand
Emma Ingersoll-Weng –2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard – All Iowa Attack –Big time athletic tools…Quick feet…Quick release on the jumper…Hit the three often…Creates a volume of shots…Jumper is tight and compact
Tasia Johnson – 2022 – 5-7 –Guard – Missouri Phenom – Long and athletic…Nice hops…Tough to guard one on one…Soft touch floater…Has some glide when she gets in the air…Versatile scorer
Jenica Raine Lewis – 2024 – 5-4 – Guard – 360 Select – Upside as a scorer showing…Attacks well off screens…Very focused on the court…Has a presence
Ke’Ayla Madison –2023 – 5-4 – Guard – All Iowa Attack – Speedy…Ability to change direction quickly…Three point range off the bounce…Utilizes the jab and shot fake…Shot creator
Emajin McCallop – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – Next Level Eclipse – Speed with the ball in the open court…Long for a guard…Prefers the drive but will also pull up…Demonstrated willingness to post smaller guards…Offensive glass for a guard…Moments
Reese Messer – 2025 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – Next Level Eclipse – Thriving playing either guard spot…Has flash but also efficient with the ball…Stroke is there off the bounce…Fundamentals on point
Kendall Puryear – 2024 – 5-10 – Forward – KC Future – Nice, long frame to fill out…Coachable…Makes eye contact…Strong…Has 15 foot range off the bounce…Long on defense and keeps her hands up…Can spin back and go up and under to finish
Aubrey Shaw – 2025 – 5-10 – Guard – Next Level Eclipse – Athletic…Lefty wing…Pull up jumper is smooth and easy…Sees the floor…Can zip the ball around quickly…Bright future
Kirston Verhulst – 2025 – 5-2 – Guard – Next Level Eclipse – Showed advanced decision making…Consistent shot maker…Doesn’t hesitate if she sees the rim off the catch…High effort…One to know
Jada Williams – 2023 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Missouri Phenom – Dynamic with the ball…Plays with drive and desire…Competes…Work ethic is there and sets her apart…Well established already…Best yet to come
RBS CHICAGO (Blake DuDonis)
Kamorea Arnold – 2023 – 5-7 – Guard – Wisconsin Impact- Special player…All-around game…Handles are excellent…Gets where ever she wants to go…Has range past the three point line… Quick…Changes speeds well…Works hard…Chance to be big time
Lenee Beaumont – 2023 – 5-7 – Guard – Chicago Power- Strong passer…Good, quick and decisive with the ball in her hands…Long and thin build…Scores in a variety of ways
Mackenzie Hare – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard– The Truth- Deadeye shooter…Extremely quick release…Not explosive but can handle the ball…Creates her own shot… Comfortable when being pressured…Makes good decisions…Potential
Elise Heneghan – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward – Chicago Power- Strong stretch #4 player…Three point range…Works hard for rebounds…Getting position in the post but still needs to develop her low post game
Emma Lebeck – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward– Purple Aces- Sneaky good #4 player…Range to the arc…Good footwork on curls and in post…Ball handling is fine…Needs to continue to improve…Steady player who works well in a team…Watch
Brianna McDaniel – 2022 – 5-10 – Forward– Chicago Hoops Express- Powerful forward…Ability to take over the game…Strong with the ball and in the post…Hard to move her down low…Next level build…Great in the open court…Impressive athlete
Vanessa Wimberley – 2025 – 4-9 – Guard – Illinois Elite- Young guard…Exception ballhandler already…Fast…Does a good job of covering ground despite her size…Works hard…Should have no problem developing range on her shot as she matures physically
