Compiled by Fran Burbidge, Joe Costa and Tom Gizzi, Blue Star National Evaluators

CLARK, N.J. – The Blue Star Spring Evaluation Showcase Series tipped off last month with two events on the East Coast at McDaniel College (Md.) and Clark Recreation Center.

The recently created events serve as a prelude to established USJN tournament events allowing student-athletes a to showcase their individual skills without missing time with their travel teams.

The East Coast Clash event saw 50 players from five states, which were evaluated following a session of 1-on-1, 3-on-3, 3 on 3 and 5-on-5 competitions.

The Big Apple event featured 22 players from five states under the watchful eye of Blue Star’s Fran Burbidge.

In Maryland, the event was deep in talent and had enthusiasm and hustle. Highlights included A.J. Davis (2019, 6-1, F, Maryland Belles)—the 1-on-1`winner. Davis is big and strong, runs the floor and can handle the ball well for her size. She also finishes around the basket and competes hard all of the time.

Blue Star will continue the evaluation events throughout in June with events in St. Louis, Toledo, Ohio and Kansas City, Mo.

For more information or to register for a Blue Star Basketball event visit www.BlueStarBB.com.

Quick hitters …

All comments and evaluations were provided by Fran Burbidge, Joe Costa and Tom Gizzi of Blue Star.

2016  

ERIN BAKER (5’9 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Athletic … has a real nice handle…. good shooter with 3pt range

GIZZI: Has touch, blue collar point guard with good vision, leadership on the court, and three point  range. Baker is a pure shooter with the handle of a PG.  Risky defender and her toughness allows for recovery.

GADIVA HUBBARD (5’9 – FORWARD – BWSL)

BURBIDGE: Real good shooter who has nice feel for the game… athletic and plays all aspects of the game

COSTA: Solid, strong finisher inside, competes hard, can score a number of different ways.

EMMA HAHNER (6’0 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Streaky shooter with good range including a deep three point threat.  Can score with back to basket when match up with smaller forwards.  Quick release and high defensive IQ.

CORI BECK (5’7 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Streaky shooter with good range including a deep three point threat.  Can score with B2B when match up with smaller forwards.  Quick release and high defensive IQ.

2017

KHAYLA MITCHELL (5’4 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Streaky shooter with good range including a deep three point threat.  Can score with B2B when match up with smaller forwards.  Has quick release and high defensive IQ.

YASMIN LEWIS (5’9 – GUARD/FORWARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Tough who can score both in the paint and on perimeter.

GIZZI: Hard worker with incredible toughness from the post to three point range.  Handle is developing, one of the toughest defenders on the floor at all times. Great undersized rebounder with strong athleticism.

JAYA GREEN (5’9 – FORWARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Possesses speed with great leaping ability….very good player.

GIZZI: Very athletic, undersized post player that can grab the rim.  Has the ability to control the low post area, block to block, with a developing perimeter game.  Jay has incredible vertical leap evident while rebounding.  She has a true jump shot

LUCI PASSWATER (6’1 – FORWARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Good size with a great feel on blocking shots…good scorer around the basket

GIZZI: True deep low post player with D1 size.  Great drop step with a baby hook attached.  Atwater is a formidable shot blocker on her defender as well in a help rotation.  Runs rim to rim very effectively.

KAYLA BACON (5’9 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Athletic and fast … Good defender and shooter

COSTA:   Athletic, wide base with a long reach, covers a lot of ground, consistent scorer in different ways.

CHYNA LATTIMER (5’9 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Good length with nice mid-range shot who has the ability to get to the basket and finish

GIZZI: Extremely lengthy, athletic scorer from the wing.  Developing three point range, but can get to rim and finish as well as hit the pull up mid-range FGA.

JULIA WOLFREY (5’11 – FORWARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Lengthy wing on the perimeter with great speed, has the ability to finish in traffic and hit the mid-range pull up.  She can defend the 2-5 positions because of her work ethic, coachability, and attitude.

2018

MYAH SAVAGE (5’5 – POINT GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Great anticipation … Quick with ability to penetrate at will

GIZZI: Point guard with very good 3-point range. Has a feel for the up tempo transition game. A good on ball defender with great quickness and anticipation on defense. Good first step allows her to get in the lane almost at will. Finishes well around the basket with floaters.

SAVANNAH SIMMONS (5’11 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Has great size 3pt shot n ability to create.

COSTA: Up and comer, big guard with good vision, handles the ball and gets to the hoop quickly.

GIZZI: Point guard with developing vision in the open floor. Adept at getting in the lane to score and/or create for her teammates. Has a nice floater as well as 3-point range. Matchup challenge for smaller guards with the ball. High basketball IQ, with developing leadership skills.

SHAILEEN WOODS (5’6 – POINT GUARD – BWSL RICHMOND)

BURBIDGE: Tough … plays with passion … good handle and shot

COSTA: Leads her team, will make the open three, sees the floor and delivers to the open player.

TANIA HILL (5’9 – GUARD – SO. MD LADY NEPTUNES)

BURBIDGE: Tough lefty … defends well and looks to involve her teammates

ISABEL STRIGEL (5’10 – GUARD/FORWARD – PIEDMONT LADYVIPERS)

BURBIDGE: Runs floor well … good defender who sees the floor well

YANNI HENDLEY (5’6 – GUARD – PHILLY TRIPLE THREAT)

BURBIDGE: Athletic and quick… good competitor who runs floor well

ANIYAH CARPENTER (5’8 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Smooth combo guard with a scorer’s mentality. She has a very good mid -range game. Aniyah is a hard to stay in front of with an array of cross overs and change of speeds. She thrives in the transition game with or without the ball. Finishes extremely well at the basket with either hand.

JA’LYN ARMSTRONG (5’7 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Explosive off guard with exceptions athletic ability. Excels in the open floor with her great speed and driving ability. Attacks the basket without fear against all competitors. Can guard any of the guard positions from the 1, 2 and 3. Has a non-stop motor while on the floor. With her great leaping ability, she’s a very strong rebounder in traffic.

EVE AMMONS (5’10 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

COSTA: Finishes hard, runs the floor, understands the game from multiple spots on the floor.

GIZZI: Long forward with extremely long and active arms. Nice mid-range game. Works extremely hard on defense. Uses her quickness in her face up game to blow by defenders. Gets tons of loose balls as a by-product of her high motor.

2019

MIKAYLA DANIELS (5’7 – POINT GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Good defender who has the ability to score off the bounce

GIZZI: Excellent on ball defender.  Confident point guard with solid mid-range game.  Has developed an excellent floater.

MOLLY MCALEER (5’8 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Good shooter with 3-point range who has a high basketball IQ.

COSTA: A deadly shooter, she knows the game and does the right thing with the ball, her feet continue to get better.

GIZZI: Excellent shooter with long range and quick release.  Good on ball defender.

KATIE FABBRI (5’6 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Great shooter and athletic.

KRISTIN HUGGINS (6’0 – FORWARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Nice mid-range game, good size but needs to improve her quickness.

KOLBY BROWN (5’8 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Blue-collar player, can get to the rim and finish, runs her lanes on every play

ADRIANNE (A.J.) DAVIS (6’1 – FORWARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

COSTA: Big, powerful, finishes strong, can handle the ball well for her size, runs the floor.

GIZZI: High D1 frame, very strong and physical, great hand and very dominating on the boards.

ALEAH NELSON (5’4 – POINT GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Real good player who is quick and explosive … excels in transition.

COSTA: Quick up and down, never ending motor, confident and great court vision, sees the open man 2 moves before she opens up.

GIZZI: Very quick and unbelievable handle; can break defenders down very easily and get to the rim. Excellent range on her shot.

BRIANNA FORBES (5’8 – GUARD/FORWARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Raw athlete with hops, can finish at the rim.  Has developed an outside shot with range

TAYLOR GEIMAN (5’11 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Great size w/high basketball IQ… Plays well in transition and facing the basket.

COSTA: Big rangy wing player, quick first step, finishes hard and drains the three.

GIZZI: High IQ; very talented, has a very good handle and excellent range on her shot.

2020

CLAIRE NEFF (5’8 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Long wit nice handle … plays hard

GIZZI: Long wing that can handle it, shoot it, & pass it. She is really good from 15-17 feet, with her ability to knock down that shot and drive it both ways, defenders have to pick their poison. Her length make her a good defender.

KAYLA COOPER (5’10 – FORWARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

BURBIDGE: Good size w/good handle and quickness.

COSTA: Solid, quick and great post moves for a 7th grader, finishes strong inside, want the ball.

GIZZI: Physically mature for a 2020, very quick first step and great hands, nose for the ball.

ARIANA FRAZIER (5’10 – FORWARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: A long athletic forward with surprising speed and explosiveness with the ball. Shows the ability to defend three or four different positions extremely well. Pretty good shooter from 15 to 17 feet, with a nice step back jump-shot.

ALEX SAWYERS (5’1 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: A smart active guard with a really good crossover that get her into the lane. Really good defender on the ball & off the ball, works hard to keep the ball in front of her. She plays as hard as any player on the floor.

DESTINY RYLES (5’0 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: A small quick guard that is hard to keep in front, her quickness and speed makes her hard to guard. Can finish in a number of different ways, and can shoot it with range. Her quickness makes her a player no ball handler wants to see.

GRACE TAYLOR (5’4 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: A strong, athletic lefty wing that can play and finish with contact. Her athleticism & explosiveness allows her the beat defenders. Defensively is really good on the perimeter and with her strength she can defend bigger players.

JULIA WILLIAM LONG (5’5 – GUARD – MARYLAND BELLES)

GIZZI: Plays under control and extremely effective when she is on the floor. Good jump shooter in the catch & shoot and one dribble pull up situations. Moves well on defense on & off the ball and knows where to be.

More Quick Hitters from the Big Apple event …

— Evaluations by Fran Burbidge

2016

Haley Blankenship (5’7 – VA Vogues): Real nice lefty who runs the floor and has a good feel for the game. Good shot which extends out to the three point range.

Christin Butters (5’4 – VA Vogues):  Athletic guard who has a good handle to go along with a nice shot. Runs and sees the floor well.

Stephanie Giardina (5’6 – NJ Team Sharp): Plays the game with energy. Constant motion n hustle. Decent handle who runs the floor well.

Taylor McNair (5’6 -CT Impact): Good defender who runs the floor well.  Athletic who plays hard and has a good handle with a feel for the game.

Clara Novalis (5’9 – VA Slam City): Real good understanding of game. Has good range on a really nice shot. Finishes well with both hands and competes.

Meaurie Pickett (5’10 – N.Y. Castle Knights): Good player who runs the floor and finishes well. Has a nice shot and good moves and is tough competitor.

2017

Morenike Akinrefon (5’8 N.Y. Castle Knights): Strong and athletic who runs the floor .Has good hands with decent handle. Sees floor well.

Frances Barr (5’7 – NJ Team Sharp): Strong with good “hops”. Has nice hands and finishes well. Tough competitor.

Maya Lee (5’9 – CT Impact): Needs to look for her shot a little more as she has nice size, strength and hands. Runs the floor well.

Stephanie Sabido (5’11 – N.Y. Castle Knights): Runs floor well. Good hands n passer. Has nice feel for game with a decent shot.

Jourdin Thomas (5’5 – N.Y. Riverside Hawks): runs the floor well. Has a nice handle to go along with a good shot.

2018

Elise Bousquette (5’9 N.Y. Castle Knights): Runs floor well. Plays hard and with toughness, solid post moves who finishes well and can also knock it down from the perimeter.

Linnaea Leister (5’7 – PA In the Zone): Good player with a nice shot. Runs floor well and finishes with both hands. Has a nice understanding of the game.

Amanda Mobley (5’7 – PA In the Zone): Really good player with nice handle. Runs the floor well and scores both from the perimeter and off the bounce.

Jaeonna Sutton (5’5 – N.Y. Belles): Athletic and quick; a real nice feel for the game. Has a good handle and nice shot and sees the floor well.

2020

Heaven Figueroa (5’6 – N.Y. Gauchos): Quick with a good handle and shot, sees the floor well, good scorer who plays hard.

Callie O’Brien (5’3 – N.Y. New Heights): Good feel for game. Nice passer who plays hard and has a real good shot.

2021

Juliana Kost (5’6 – N.Y. East Coast Panthers): Real good shot who can knock down the 3 with consistency

Janel Moore (5’0 –N.Y. New Heights): A youngster with a nice shot and handle who competed well with the older players.

Naijah Vann (4’11 – NY New Heights): Competed well with the older girls. Has a nice handle with a decent shot and runs floor well.