PHILADELPHIA, Pa.-The 12th annual Blue Star Elite Invitational did something considered almost impossible just one year ago. The event raised the bar once again for a single day scholastic showcase providing arguably the best “bang for the buck” in high school basketball. Utilizing the campus of Jefferson University once more, the schedule offered up both ranked teams and ranked players to keep recruiters, media and fans busy from start to finish. Over 80 college recruiters took advantage of the opportunity to one stop shop and 20 media members joined them on the sidelines to see some of the “who’s who” in the national conversation these days.

In all, 32 teams from six states and the District of Columbia kept the side by side courts of the Gallagher Center the place to be all day Sunday. While a regionally oriented line-up, any collegiate program with their heart set on recruiting the northeast shortchanged their efforts if they didn’t make the trip to Philadelphia. Those in the gym saw 16 games with an average margin of victory of 13.43 points per game including eight contests with a final difference of a dozen or less. Names like Fudd, Reese, Scott, DeBerry, McLean, Watson and more dotted the underclass lineup. Signees from the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Ivy League as well as others highlighted the senior contingent while three teams ranked among the top ten in virtually every poll including consensus number one Bishop McNamara all took the floor at the 2019 Showcase.

Two divisions of games once more honored the legacies of Jim Munn and Nancy Dougherty along with individual game MVP recognition also in their names. Munn and Dougherty were iconic fixtures on the local landscape who’s contributions to both players and the sport are greatly missed since their respective passing.

Here’s some quickhitters on some of the standout players in Philly. This isn’t necessarily who played “best” or the most productive statistical performers. Our perspective is always from the possibilities for the future at the collegiate level. In that light this small alphabetical list is far from “complete” and reflects just the thoughts of this writer on the day and the play of the athletes seen.

Ryanne Allen – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward/Wing – Archbishop Wood – Size and frame…Feet indicate more growth to come…Somewhat mechanical but has lots of options in her attack…Stroke is sound…Can put it on the floor to a degree…Passed up a few looks she’ll need to take to keep defenders honest…Active defender…Got on the offensive glass…Watch closely.

Destiny Adams – 2021 – 6-3 – Forward – Manchester Township – Size and build of older athlete…Solid…Deceptive first step for size…Can handle it well off high post drives or attack from trail spot…Form is there along with some range…Shot selection is suspect at times…Size and strength allows her to be an impact player on both ends…Just scratching the surface

Alexa Brode – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Central Bucks South – Lefty point guard…Experienced and confident…Hesitation and side to side moves create penetration…Improves her own looks off the dribble…Good body control in traffic…Stroke, form and range are there

Ally Carman – 2022 – 6-4 – Post – Red Bank Catholic – Size and frame are already in place…Nice build for age…Can run the floor efficiently…Post hard…Holds her ground…Wingspan and target…Limited time but had moments…Things are still a thought but will evolve into a reaction over time

Taliya Carter – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Imhotep Charter – Some size with a solid build…Good athleticism…Showing the potential to grow more…Faces up…Quick attack…Finished with contact…Quick release…Has both tools and promise…Watch

Paris Clark – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Long Island Lutheran – Continues strong freshman campaign…Making herself an option in transition and on the break…Demonstrates speed and quickness in her attack…No reservation about taking it into traffic…Elevates on the pull up and floater…Rebounds exceptionally well from the perimeter…Upside and then some

Leilani Correa – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard – Manchester Township – Long and lean in the backcourt…Attacking mentality both in transition or out of sets…Pushes the ball at opportunity…Can deliver the interior pass off the drive as rotations come…Quick release is there on the perimeter shot or the pull up…Length is an asset defensively on ball and one pass away

Promise Cunningham – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – National Christian – Threat on a deep, talented team…Has had a strong season thus far…Needs to continue to mix up her attack rather than settle…Plays with good strength on the perimeter…Can handle size and physical play…Senior still adding to her game

Amari DeBerry – 2021 – 6-5 – Post – Williamsville South – Established top tier post…Showing off more length and agility…Limited productivity…Physical approach needs to move to the forefront to capitalize on potential…Keeps it high…Has challenging scoring options for any defender…Consistency and assertiveness will make them much more effective…Plays with awareness in full court scenarios…Length and agility serve her well defensively…Concedes some fouls going after blocks…Two and half more seasons to add even more to her game

Gretchen Dolan – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Williamsville South – Young but promising guard…Plays with a “feel” for the game…Active…Attacks with effort on both ends…Her game is beyond her age at this point

Azzi Fudd – 5-11 – Guard – St. John’s College – Demonstrating the consistency that sets elite players apart from their peers…Mixed pull up and perimeter jumpers…Not showing any sign of a sophomore “plateau” despite playing with a target on her back…Focus is exceptional on any level

Katie Hill – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing – St. John Vianney – Young wing with nice size and frame…Solid form stroke and range…Shot fake and drive…Handled physical defenders…Good moments

KiKi Jefferson – 2019 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Lancaster Catholic – Putting strength to good use…Attacking mentality…Utilizing change of speed more…Crossover serves her well…Handles contact on penetration…Making solid choices in transition…Will put a body on an opponent defensively…Can be a presence on the boards on both ends…Well suited for the next level

Diamond Johnson – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Neumann Goretti – Explosive performance…Scored in a variety of ways…Confidence fueled her play…Effective off the drive, pull up and spotting up deeper…Hesitation has defenders coming up out of their stance…Accelerates off any move with explosive first step…Made play after play

Stephania Kulesza – 2021 – 6-0 – Guard/Wing – Conrad School – Once again impressed with some strong moments despite loss…Combination of size and skills allows her to create her own options…Handles it in transition herself…Sees the floor…Decent passing…Perimeter shot is still out in front of her to a degree

JoJo Lacey – 2020 – 6-0 – Wing – Westtown – Attacking more…Utilizing additional strength effectively…Makes herself a threat in multiple ways…More and more efficient in traffic…Form is there from the perimeter to keep defenders honest…Can defend several positions within a variety of defensive schemes…More to come

Faith Masonius – 2019 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Manasquan – Gold standard for effort…Continues to play a physical and attacking game…Creating more off the dribble…Relentless in looking for options…Embraces physical play…A presence on both ends of the floor…Gets on the boards…The player you want to play with rather than against

Mir McLean – 2020 – 5-11 – Forward – Roland Park – Still providing dynamic play…Effective around the rim…High post drive was there…Appears to be looking for more options away from the low post…Exceptional on the boards and defensively…Only next level question is what position

Destiny McPhaul – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – West Catholic – Young, athletic guard…Lots of speed with the ball…Ballskills are there…Hesitation works well…Solid passing on penetration and on the break…Offensive boards for a guard…Quick hands defensively

Nile Miller – 2022 – 5-11 – Wing – Paul VI (NJ) – Young athlete with length…Smooth and fluid both with and without the ball…Can put it on the floor and improve options…Deceiving speed…Length is an asset on both ends…Good depth and potential

Olivia Mullins – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Rutgers Prep – Solid guard…Surprising strength…Nice speed…Quickness is there off the drive…Acceleration is impressive…Active and cutting hard without the ball…Makes herself an option

Kaitlyn Orihel – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Archbishop Wood – Solid guard for age…Skill set has depth…Can develop her own looks or options for her teammates…Reads the floor…Can spot up with some range…Plays with instincts…Makes plays

Justine Pissott – 2022 – 6-2 – Wing/Forward – Red bank Catholic – Young with lots of size and length…Could add size…Ballskills are solid for size and age…Overused the dribble at times however…Active…Understands the game…Decent form on shot…Strength isn’t there but will come with age and maturation…Lots of promise

Angel Reese – 2020 – 6-3 – Forward – St. Frances Academy – Continues to show herself as the most college ready player scholastically…Showing off a depth of attack around the rim…Finding her own looks but developing and delivering passes off penetration…Shares the ball almost to a fault…Elevates and finishes in traffic…Effort is there on loose balls…Perimeter consistency will still need to evolve to force close outs from opponents

Lauren Ross – 2019 – 5-7 – Combo – The Shipley School – Athletic guard…Makes plays both in transition and in the halfcourt…Creates and improves options…Change of speed is a true weapon…Distributes the ball…Quick hands and feet defensively

Madison St. Rose – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – St. John Vianney – Young guard…All legs…Lefty…Upright to a degree off the dribble but can create…Had moments off penetration…Length is an asset on the defensive end of the floor

Madison Scott – 2020 – 6-2 – Guard/Wing – Bishop McNamara – Assertive with an elite skill set…Size, skills and athleticism speak for themselves…Pace and intensity multiplies their effectiveness…Playing with intensity that is contagious for teammates…Content to make the play herself or set up others…Taking her game to a new level with few peers

Sydni Scott – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Cardinal O’Hara – Athletic young guard…Lots of speed and quickness with the ball…First step is lethal for age…Fluid stroke spotting up on the perimeter…Gets in a stance defensively…Assertive on ball

Erin Sweeney – 2020 – 5-10 – Wing – Archbishop Carroll – Active and assertive…Some ballhandling in place…Pull up is there…Works hard without the ball…Got on the offensive glass…Weak hand needs to evolve

Celeste Taylor – 2019 – 5-11 – Guard – Long Island Lutheran – Finding her range again…Aggressive in her attack…Got the pull up going early…Elevation is elite among perimeter players…Has shown dynamic possibilities on the defensive end of the floor…Consistency will come

Jada Walker – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – New Hope Academy – Sophomore setting the tone for a talented team…Controls the pace of the game in transition and half…Mixing up her attack more…Change of speed and direction keeps defenders guessing…Floater had some moments…No hesitation taking it into traffic…Quick and harassing on ball defender

Kylee Watson – 2020 – 6-4 – Forward/Post – Mainland Regional – Highly regarded prospect has added and refined…Much more assertive in creating rather than just taking…Quick on the attack…Making good reads…Gets to the rim from high post or transition trail spot…Perimeter shot is showing noticeable progress…Body control, strength and conditioning set her apart from the crowd

Taylor Webster – 2020 – 5-11 – Wing – Georgetown Visitation – Showing more each time out…Can create both passes and shots…Improves options off the dribble…Good vision…Sound passing as defenders rotate her way…Solid build serves her well defensively…Contributes with depth to her game

Kourtney Wilson – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Bethlehem Catholic – Dynamic young guard…Ballhandling and individual skills are sharp…Crossover gets defenders off balance…Knows what she’s looking for on penetration…Gets both the shot or pass off in traffic…Quick and assertive on the ball defensively…Lots of possibilities in place