BROOKLYN, N.Y.-February may well be the “slow” period in the basketball schedule as the varsity teams have moved into league play and their stretch runs towards state competition, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some exposure options for the next generation of players in the gym. For the second year in a row we made our way to Brooklyn and South Shore High School for the Serious Hoops New York – New Jersey Showcase Jamboree. Last year’s inaugural event provided a glimpse of many promising young athletes representing some highly respected clubs and the 2019 edition wasn’t too far behind its predecessor.

Making the event even more attractive to the athletes and their families is the fact that it doesn’t come with a price tag. Not many opportunities are available to prospects and their families these days that don’t require a check or a trip to the ATM as part of the pre-game ritual. Saladin Reese and Serious Hoops once again provided the setting, officials and national level media for some “Express Lane Evaluations” over the course of a single day in the Big Apple. Both 7th and 8th grade teams were in action serving up an opportunity for a quick preview of some players we’re sure to see again this coming Spring, Summer and beyond.

With the continuing growth of the middle school market in terms of both showcases and tournaments, athletes are getting a shot at putting themselves on the radar at a much younger age. At the same time it also raises the bar and creates expectations that aren’t always a beneficial addition to an already challenging landscape. At these young ages, there are plenty of prospects we’ve already seen and many, many more we’ll be catching in action down the road. Please don’t read more than what’s written into who and who is not included in today’s coverage. It’s a safe bet that someone not even on hand will be making a name for herself in another gym sometime very soon.

That being said, here are a few of the standouts from Sunday’s Serious Hoops Event in Brooklyn. As always they’re listed alphabetically and we’re intentionally leaving out heights since more often than not, those listed qualify as modern fiction and at this age…they’re only going to grow!

Zhara Adeyemi – 2023 – Guard – New Heights – Lots of speed and quickness…Individual skills allow her to create her own options…Navigates traffic off penetration…Strong guard

Taryn Barbot – 2023 – Guard – Brooklyn Stars – Cut, athletic guard…Sees the floor…Active player with and without the ball in her hands…Nice touch but slight forward motion on shot…First step is there with plenty of speed to capitalize…Assertive on ball defender

Zoe Brooks – 2023 – Guard – New Jersey Sparks – Physically strong guard…Plays an attacking power game…Aggressive with the ball in her hands…Works well with contact on the drive…Can finish…Passing is there in the halfcourt or on the break…Soft touch on the floater…Body control for age…Follow through needs some attention…Advanced for age

Julia Corsentino – 2023 – Guard – New Jersey Belles – Guard with some size and good build…Ballhandling is efficient…Hesitation move is there…Attacking mentality…Handled contact off the drive…Good on ball defender

Aiyanna Culver – 2024 – Point Guard – Top Notch – Limited size but plenty of speed and quickness…While over-dribbling quite a bit, the skills themselves are there…Crossover is low and quick…Change of speed serves her well…Delivers the ball well as helpside rotations come…Lefthander can hit the pull up…Aggressive with the ball in her hands

Taylor Derkack – 2024 – Guard – New Jersey Belles – Some length for age in the backcourt…Ballskills are sound and used instinctively both in transition and the halfcourt…Vision is solid off penetration and the break…Reads the floor…Form and stroke are there as well some range…Active with and without the ball…Lean build but strength will come

Aalyah Del Rosario – 2023 – Post – Exodus – Improves each time out…Has both the size and frame…More and more active on both ends…Still needs additional consistency…Understands what she’s looking for…Offense is now moving towards more reactionary than overthinking…Appears to be wanting the ball more…Can be as good as she is willing to work for

Sidney de Voogd – 2023 – Post – New Jersey Demons – Lots of size…Solid frame with good solid build for age…Methodical but obvious what she’s looking to create or capitalize on…Some post moves are sound and efficient…Can get defenders out of their stance…Effective hi-lo vision will serve passing well…Had some boards…Only going to advance

Ciara Forbes – 2023 – Point Guard – Riverside Hawks – Limited size…Skills help her develop and exploit options…Plenty of speed with the ball…Passes it well in transition…Good instincts

Summer Henderson – 2023 – Guard – Brooklyn Stars – Fluid athlete…Quickness and speed are in place…Cuts hard to make herself an option…Works smart to produce in traffic…Made some plays

Hannah Hildalgo – 2023 – Point Guard – New Jersey Sparks – Small, wiry guard…Strong athleticism…Hesitation to change of speed is effective…Can get deep in the paint…Pushes the ball at opportunity…Quick hands and feet on the defensive end

Racky Kane – 2023 – Forward / Wing – Top Notch – Eye catching size and build…Agile with a solid frame…Versatility allows for both penetration and posting…Narrow base on perimeter shot…Not hesitant to mix it up inside…Needs to make herself an option off the cut

Zahra King – 2023 – Guard – Riverside Hawks – Dynamic left handed guard…Can be explosive on the catch…Mixes up her speed and attack…Length of stride challenges defenders to recover…No issues in traffic…Can finish or make the smart pass off penetration…Plays beyond age

Marianna Lee – 2024 – Guard – New Heights – Young…Lots of speed with the ball in her hands…Gets past her defender with ease…Had some moments…Shot is ???

Saniyah Lester – 2023 – Forward / Wing – New Heights – Solid and strong for age…Nice size in the backcourt…Physical on the drive to the rim…Form is OK at this point…Will need to be more active without the ball…Has tools

Hope Masonius – 2024 – Guard – Team Flight – Continues to advance her game…Aggressive and attacking…Looking to get to the rim…Crossover and change of speed are strong assets…Making plays in traffic…Got on the offensive glass…Leaves it on the floor

Yahmani McKayle – 2024 – Guard – Top Notch – Young and attacking…Can create her own looks…Sharp change of direction…Hesitation gets defenders rising out of their stance…Weak hand needs attention

Kayliegh Montanez – 2023 – Wing / Guard – Havoc – Long and very lean…Deceptive ballskills are available…Another lefty…Agile and fluid on both ends…Despite slight build not hesitant about getting physical or on the floor…Came up some offensive boards…Tools

Magan Schuermann – 2023 – Wing – Havoc – Has some strength…Plays with an attacking mentality…Multi-skilled…Made some plays offensively and defensively…Could evolve
Julia Schutz – 2023 – Forward / Wing – NJ Lady Titans – Involved in almost every play…Active with and without the ball…Some ballhandling is there…Can get to the rim…Deceiving passing skills…Runs the lanes in transition…Plays with effort on the either end and the glass…Interesting possibilities

Paige Sevrain – 2023 – Forward / Post – New Jersey Demons – Eye catching size and frame…Physically strong for age…Lefthander…Has some depth to skill set…Lots of things still thoughts rather than reactions but evolving…Can face up…One and two dribble drives are options…Coachable during games…Works

Devyn Quigley – 2023 – Combo – Team Flight – Nice length and athleticism on the perimeter…Should be adding more height…Good vision and decision making…Fluid with and without the ball…Crossover gets her past opponents…Lateral speed is there defensively…Tools on both ends of the floor

Kimora Taylor – 2023 – Forward / Post – Top Notch – Plenty of size, length and athleticism…Wingspan adds to her presence already…First step is deceiving for her age and size…Can run the floor with the guards…Mechanical at times in the post but also can occasionally attack on the catch…Lots of possibilities

Angelica Valez – 2023 – Combo – Exodus – Attacking guard…Depth of skills with the ball in her hands…Hesitation and then re-attack…Has both floater and the pull up jumper…Rushed at times but patient at others…Has the tools to be an impact defender…Consistency will be critical…Plenty of promise

Emma Wagner – 2023 – Guard – Team Flight – Had moments…Lefty…Some individual skills are in place…Can spot up or attack off the catch…Watch

Faith Williamson – 2025 – Point Guard – NJ Lady Titans – Young and slight…Ultra quick for age…Plays at speed…Can penetrate despite lack of size…Anticipates defensively…Great vision on the weakside