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Stars Shine at NYGHoops Friday Night Lights

OAKS, PA – Without a doubt, the lights were shining brighter than ever in the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center this past Friday night, as Joe Fenelon of NYG Hoops welcomed over 150 players to his latest rendition of Friday Night Lights.

While COVID-19 may have prevented the event from being held in its normal spring time slot, it had no chance at stopping the usual gathering of exciting girls basketball talent from all over the East Coast. Sessions were divided by age groups, and as the night went on, we saw a range of established players as well as potential future stars of the game.

We were happy to be in the building to evaluate all of the talent that NYG Hoops events are known for. Here are a few of the standouts you should know.

Electra Allembert – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – Maryland – Can see that wingspan from a far ways away…Seals for lobs and feeds, and knows how to score it…Took a three so working on stretching the range…Quick tip ins on the O boards…Can still add some muscle to help

Aaryn Battle – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard – New Jersey – Starting to rediscover that quick burst and explosiveness…Powerful, impact guard on both ends…Plenty of steals and rebounds…Leaper…Legitimate two way player

Dayshawna Carter – 2021 – 5-7 – Combo Guard – New York – Electric and physical off the bounce…Patient…Checks the post for feed opportunities…Not afraid to lower her shoulder to create space…Will take some cookies on D…NYC tough kid

Ande’a Cherisier – 2023 – 6-0 – Forward – Maryland – Solid build and has some good size…Gets up to snag the lob and tried some advanced finishes…Soft touch at times…Moves her feet on D…Handles on the perimeter some

Aisha Dabo – 2021 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Georgia – UMass commit is a physical specimen out there…Picks your pocket and takes it the other way to score…Makes it hard for smaller guards to handle the ball in her presence…Huge hands to palm the ball…Three ball was falling

Kyierah Dempsey-Toney – 2021 — 6-2 – Forward – New Jersey – Slender frame, arms go on for days…Gets up to grab lob passes and powers off two to finish…Nice job sliding in to finish off the bounce as well…Lots of buckets in the paint…Face up and drive is pretty quick

Ashley Dickey – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – Maryland – Super athletic…Really a pain to deal with defensively as she is very committed to that side of the ball…Quick and feisty…Nice moves to attack the basket…Pushes tempo

Hope Drake – 2024 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – Virginia – Very smart player for her age…Likes to push her rebounds on her own…Good perimeter skills for her size…Plays in attack mode

Clutch Easley – 2025 – 5-3 – Combo Guard – Pennsylvania – Wheels to get by people off the dribble…Will dish or score herself in the paint…Athletic pressure defender…Game matches the name- clutch

Jocelyn Fogle – 2021 — 5-10 – Forward – Maryland – Stocky in the post with a wide base she knows how to use…Good energy…Powers up and has some hops…Takes the occasional three

Valencia Fontenelle-Posson – 2021 – 5-11 – Wing – New York – Siena commit…Nice long crossover to match the lanky frame as she drives to the rack…Coast to coast in transition…Fast-paced player

Kennedy Henry – 2025 – 5-9 – Wing – Delaware – Will drive and dish or hit the spin cycle to score…Nice footwork to finish put backs inside…Pulled up for three some…See how she grows and develops in coming years

Aniah Jenkins – 2023 – 6-2 – Wing Forward – Maryland – Legitimate beast on the boards…Tons of rebounds out of area and flying through the crowded lane…Can be a bully…Playing volleyball as she knocks away countless shot attempts with ease…Has improved some of the perimeter skills, including the addition of a three point shot…Freak athlete

Kymora Johnson – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Virginia – Smart, strong competitor at the guard spot…Has always had some serious range on the jumper…Natural athlete…Leadership and intangibles are strong traits…On ball defense was very strong here

Morgan Lee – 2022 – 6-4 – Post – Connecticut – Continues to make strides in different areas…Can tell she has been working…Plays as big as she is…Clearly has added muscle to the frame…Moving well…IQ in the post is there…Nice job of making a move, gathering, and finishing

Ariel Little – 2024 – 5-5 – Point Guard – New York – Plenty of swag and sauce to her game…Effective scorer…Also does a nice job of kicking out to shooters when she drives…Shifty handle…Feel for the game is advanced…Young PG from the big apple to know

Alessa Mendoza – 2024 – 5-5 – Combo Guard – New York – Shot creator…Nice, high arching three ball finds the bottom of the net…Solid on D…Did some nice things…Definite scorer’s mentality

Blake O’Grady – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Massachusetts – Drives from the perimeter well for her size…Will take the three…Also went on a nice scoring run in the post…Versatile player who is willing be flexible

Paulina Paris – 2022 – 5-8 – Point Guard – New York – Put on a show…Buckets and assists alike…Flashy but under control…Elevates to hit the J over the outstretched hand…Aggressive…Makes great use of the bounce pass…Stock riser

Milan Paulin – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – Delaware – Long arms and legs so likely to grow some more…Flashed plenty of athletic upside…Already has range to the arc…Gets out in transition often

Reyna Scott – 2022 – 5-9 – Point Guard – New York – Nice size at the PG spot…All the athletic tools for the next level…Pounds the ball and a fluid passer…Gets to the rack but also have to contest her jumper from deep…Still a little more polishing to do to reach her full potential as well

Kristin Sterling –2021 – 5-10 – Wing – Maryland – Athletic bigger guard…Hit multiple trey balls…Tough to contest the shot…Looks the part and plays hard…Consistently runs the floor

Isabella Toomey – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing Forward – Pennsylvania – Bigger wing forward type…Likes to drive and will complete some nice reverse lay ups…Passes the ball the length of the floor no problem…Showed some flashes

Olivia Vukosa – 2026 – 6-3 – Forward – New York – Everything about her is big…Showing the ability to work inside and outside…Three point range…Hits the O boards…Good passer when she faces up, nice job seeing the cutters…A problem on both ends already

Mackenzie Williams – 2024 – 6-4 – Post – New York – Big, strong, and mobile…Required double teams in the paint…Can seal, catch, turn, and finish well…Still developing the more advanced post moves…12 foot range and expanding

Mike Flynn is owner and operator of Blue Star Basketball and U.S. Junior Nationals. He is a National Evaluator and publishes the Blue Star Report which ranks the top 100 high school girls basketball players in the nation. He also serves as Secretary of the Middle Atlantic District AAU, National Chair for AAU Lacrosse, Consultant to Gatorade for girls basketball, member of the McDonald's All–American selection committee, & Consultant for Nike Global Basketball.

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