LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The Blue Star Nationals had close to 100 colleges coaches in attendance for the NCAA certified event representing 12 different conferences. The invitation only event had several talented young ladies from teams representing the following states California, Illinois, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Below are several that stood out.
2015
The one good thing I love about my job, if you want to call this work, is that I get to travel and the one place I always wanted to visit is Paris. Well unfortunately, my travels haven’t taken me to Paris, France but fortunately for me I was afforded the opportunity to watch 6 foot Paris Strawther from Las Vegas, Nevada. Strawther just recently started back playing basketball after understandably stepping away for nine months after losing her mom to breast cancer. Strawther’s game shows little rust on her athletic frame with long arms that she uses to grab hard to reach rebounds. She runs the floor and finishes well off the break, Strawther has a decent command of her dribble and makes good decisions. She has a decent low post game as well as a nice 3 point stroke. Strawther showed the ability to defend multiple positions effectively. She plays with a lot of energy and needs to add strength. All the tools are there and with continued develop Strawther’s has a chance to be a mid to high major prospect.
When your father is a basketball coach at a major BCS program and you happen to play the same sport that he coaches the pressure alone can make or break you. The 4 a.m. wake up calls for morning workouts could be too much but not for Round Rock, Texas native 5-9 Lashann Higgs daughter of Texas Assistant Coach George Washington. Higgs is an explosive combo guard with great hops and excellent ball handling skills. She has long arms and an athletic build that Higgs uses to her advantage to torment opposing player on defense. Higgs rebounds extremely well regardless of her position and she has a ultra fast first step that will get her past most defenders in route to attacking the basket. She is an excellent passer with not so surprisingly a high basketball IQ to go along with great court vision. Higgs does a tremendous job getting in the paint and finishing at the rim. Once Higgs perfects her perimeter shooting stroke she will have the complete package and pardon my pun a shot at being a special player.
Athletic post player are a commodity especially when your a program that likes to play an uptempo style of basketball. If your a program looking for such a player I suggest you keep your eyes on 6-2 Jordan Hosey from Pearland, Texas. Hosey has long arms and speed and agility to defend multiple positions, she displayed the ability to defend in the post and be a solid on ball defender on the perimeter. Hosey rebounded the ball well at both ends and showed that she can push the ball on the fast break. She is a good leaper that finishes in paint. Hosey has a nice stroke but must continue to develop her low post and midrange game. Otherwise, Hosey has the potential to be a solid mid to high DI prospect.
2014
Chatrice White the 6-3 post from Shelby, Nebraska is your classic blue collar big, she fights and bangs in the low block. White runs the floor well for her size and she hits the boards with reckless abandon. White plays tough hard-nosed defense on the post and she makes her opponent scrap and earn every point. White has a nice low post game on the offensive end and a nice stroke out to 14 feet. She also likes to face up and put the ball on the floor to attack the rim where she finishes well with contact. White is a quality big a a definite DI recruit.
It’s always good to see improvement and growth from a player coming back from injury and rehab. This is the case for Dayton, Ohio native 6-1 Makayla Waterman who had a scare in a earlier game. Waterman has appeared to turn the corner after witnessing her performance in the Blue Star Nationals Championship game versus CSS Bisons a team that had beat Waterman’s Sports City U squad in the spring by 2 points at the Windy City Classic. Waterman’s came out like a player on a mission attacking the paint and finishing in traffic as well as knocking down a couple of smooth midrange jumpers. Defensively, she played with toughness locking down her opponent and banging the boards with teammate 6-2 Alyssa Rice. Waterman set the tone that the outcome of this game would be entirely different. The final score Sports City U 69 and CSS Bison 39. Waterman energy and attack mentally was contagious and helped propel Sports City U to resounding victory. Hopefully, Waterman’s performance will be a springboard for her to continue her pursuit on the road to recover.
Las Vegas is known for gambling, taking risk and chances. Las Vegas very own 5-11 point guard Cherise Beynon is a player worthy of taking a chance on. Beynon is an athletic guard with good handles as well as a good passer with good court vision. She rebounds her position and Beynon pushes the ball and finishes well off the break. She is a good on ball defender and is willing to take the charge and dive for loose balls. Beynon’s range extends out to 3 point line. She has a good basketball IQ and she communicates well with teammates. When it comes to Beynon’s game it wouldn’t be a gamble or risk for her to play at a mid to high DI program. Check her out I’m sure you’ll give her a chance.
Michelle Nwokedi the 6-2 high energy prospect hails from Missouri City, Texas. Nwokedi is an intriguing player, she is long and athletic with decent ball-handling skills and loves to run the floor. Nwodeki is a excellent on ball defender and is a force and shot blocker in the low post. She has the skills to face up and attack off the dribble.
2013
I witnessed a rarity in the women’s basketball game courtesy of 6-0 A’lexus Harrison from Baltimore, Maryland. Harrison was whistled for a goaltending violation after a failed tip dunk attempt waving off her teammates lay up had it been a dunk contest I would have given her a score of 7. Unfortunately, for Harrison this being an Olympic year the Russians judges may have downgraded a her attempt considerably. Harrison played extremely well throughout the tournament, the Maryland commit reaffirmed her status as one of the best athletes in her class. She used her quickness, speed, explosive power and leaping ability to get the paint and finish at the rim. Although Harrison’s jump shot is still a work in progress, she showed that she can knock down the midrange shot and occasionally stroke it from behind the arc. Constancy on the perimeter is the missing piece to Harrison’s otherwise complete game.
Whenever I walk in the gym the first thing I tend to gravitate to are the post players and 6-5 Kelsey Lang from The Woodlands, Texas has a polarizing presence. Lang has a college ready body with a nice array of low post moves. She can score with either hand in the paint. Lang does a decent job running the floor transitioning from offense to defense and vice versa. She is a solid physical defender on the low block and closes out well on the wing. Lang battles for position and rebounds well at both ends. I really like her size and game. Definite BCS caliber prospect.
