Blue Star 30s shine in Tampa

TAMPA, FL – The 5^th Annual Blue Star 30 Camp invaded sunny Tampa, Florida last week, bringing together over 70 young women from all over the United States to compete, learn, and carry on the legacy of the 30 sisterhood.

Even in a year of COVID changes that saw the camp pushed back to the fall, it was abundantly clear from the first night of FIBA 3X practice that this group was deep, talented, and meant business. With four days of basketball skill work, competitions, 1 on 1, 3X, traditional 5 on 5, and Blue Star 7 play, the event is always a marathon, not a sprint. It tests not only the skills and physical endurance of each athlete, but also the mental approach to the game and how these youngsters respond to coaching, elite competition, and challenges.

As in past years, players were selected from a range of tournaments, showcases, clinics, and the national circuit of Rising Blue Star Camps. Nearly every player who received an invite was able to attend, even if they were limited by injury.

The camp staff in Tampa was just as elite as the player roster, with a strong list of former and current college coaches, standout high school and club coaches and trainers, and new this year, a contingent of Blue Star 30 legends who have continued their journeys into high school. It was the energy, leadership, and mentorship from those players- Jada Williams (2023, Missouri), Emma Risch (2023, Florida), Courtney Ogden (2023, Georgia), KK Arnold (2023, Wisconsin), and Samantha Wagner (2023, Texas) that gave the camp an added spark and showed the new crop of talent what being a 30 is all about.

Also in abundance was an overwhelming national media presence, and Baller TV streamed the event throughout each day to thousands of watchful eyes, including a “Who’s Who” list of college coaches at the top of the women’s game. From mass TikToks, to boomerangs on Instagram, to professional photography and highlight reels on Twitter, the 30’s left a huge footprint on the women’s basketball social media world, and had plenty of fun doing it.

Blue Star owner Mike Flynn delivered great instruction and feedback to players and parents alike, sharing stories of Blue Star Camp legends of years past, as well as trends and key talking points for the future of women’s basketball. More than 20 players in attendance came with their mothers who were college basketball players themselves, several of whom were Blue Star campers once upon a time themselves. Celebrating the growth of women’s basketball through the generations is so important, and these experiences last a lifetime.

Seeing wide-eyed young hoopers, confident and focused, but having never met a single person in the group leave with a family of new friends, many of whom may very well end up playing against each other in an NCAA Tournament, or as we’ve seen, go off to college together, that’s one of the most beautiful things about the game of basketball. It brings us together, and unites us with strong bonds formed of our passion, dedication, service, sacrifice, growth, and success. The Blue Star 30 sisterhood is stronger than ever, and for these young ladies, Tampa will be one of those memories not soon forgotten.

Fantastic in the front court

We’ve seen elite and versatile bigs don the Blue Star 30 uniform over the years. When it came to the 2020 camp, the conversation clearly began with a pair of impact 2024 prospects, Joyce Edwards and Justice Carlton. Edwards turned in perhaps the most stellar performance of the camp on both sides of the ball, even winning the 1 on 1 championship. The 6’2 South Carolinian has a can’t miss physique and physical presence, and while the ability to own the paint on both sides of the floor is dominant, it’s what she does out away from the basket that had evaluators talking. Perhaps the best comparison would be to a locomotive as she’s full speed ahead pushing the ball in the open court and getting to the basket. Defensively, not only is she altering and rejecting shots, but she consistently pokes the ball away from the small, quick guards flawlessly. Look for her to continue the long line of impressive interior players for the FBC program. Carlton has a post game that is as big time as her size. Her soft hands and great footwork inside led to plenty of baskets and plenty of boards. She’s a powerful player out of Texas, and you heard the crowd shouting out, “Nice move,” nearly every time she got the ball in the post. Cy-Fair has a legitimate beast of a player here.

Another FBC prospect that can rule the paint is 6’3 post Ella Hobbs. The back to basket skills set is so advanced before every playing a high school game, and in a setting that is at times dominated by playmaking guards, Hobbs would rattle off 8-10 points in a hurry just cleaning up dump offs. Roisin Grandberry (Illinois Lady Lightning) is a big time athlete already, and seems poised to be one of the next big things out of the Chicago area. She worked extremely well with her guards in the pick and roll game, and the ball literally sticks to those huge mitts of hers as she catches and finishes. Her mobility on the defensive end and overall focus on the floor will continue to pay dividends. She was key for her team that won the FIBA 3X qualifier. Another Midwesterner to know early is 6’2 2024 face up forward Dominique Mack out of Nebraska. The length is there, and the ability to attack the rim or even get into a pull up jump shot is quite good already, even against the elite competition. Team Thad out of the Memphis area was well represented by 6’3 athlete Rachel Griffin, who plays hard and flies through the air in a crowd to come up with a ton of tough rebounds. She already possesses some skills out on the wing, and when she starts to hit the weight room, opponents beware.

The point guard show

The 2020 season did not need a pilot episode. There were PG’s in the gym in Tampa that could absolutely go. We could literally run out of ink writing about 2024 baller Zamareya Jones. “Z”, as she is so aptly nicknamed, is not to be slept on, ever! Following up on an impressive summer with FBC, Jones is yet another example of big things coming in small packages. The roster says 5’5, but she jumps and scraps and battles like she’s a foot taller. All of the tricky handles and high end gears match up with her competitive spirit that was on full display as she led her team to a FIBA 3X qualifier title. The three ball is splash, and she fought for plenty of steals and loose balls. Philadelphia Belles flashy floor general Lauryn Swann was back for her second year of 30 camp, and looked like a veteran out there. She shot the ball extremely well here, and it was fun watching her play with bigs who can handle her nifty passes off the bounce. Swann was joined by another returning camper and fellow ‘24, the highly-regarded Tennessee standout Jaloni Cambridge. So good and steady, shining at the little things you have to pay attention even to notice, we might as well knight her “Jaloni the Jet” with her nearly unstoppable attacking in transition. She can hurt you from the outside with the jumper, and she is very good at finding ways to feed the hungry posts on the block.

LA Sneed hails from the Lone Star State and has a big game to match. The Texas Flight floor general continues to soar with a combination of handles and a competitive drive. While she knows when to be patient, she can also be a big time bucket-getter in stretches, and she clearly learned and matured as a 2025 player surrounded by older vets. Another Texas native to know is Neenah George, a 2024 player from the Cy-Fair program. If you like big, strong PG’s who can put the ball in the basket, George is for you. On top of that, she has an amazing personality and energy about her, the type of kid that college coaches are going to love getting to know and talking to on the phone. Athena Tomlinson may be a little small in the height category, but this 2024 West Coast lightning bolt looks like she could throw up plenty of reps at the NFL Combine. The lefty shot creator from the Cal Sparks organization came off as very coachable, and seemed to learn a lot about her shot selection and playing her position even better during the event. Speaking of lead guards who can score, BTR out of Oklahoma was once again heard from at Blue Star 30 with 2025 Sania Richardson. Even at 5’4, she had no issue showing off three level scoring, featuring a consistent trey ball and a patented floater. No doubt she is a gamer who makes things happen in the big moments.

Or make it a combo

As the game of basketball becomes positionless, we have seen the guard position in and of itself go through that transition over the past few years fairly quicky. How many club teams have multiple players who can push it in transition, or bring it up and get into the offense? Having guards who can handle, pass, and score is a must, players who do a combination of these things well. 2024 combo guard Madi Hawk (Team B-Wright, Tennessee) is once such player. While she’s always proven to be quite the marksman from three, Hawk’s ability to get to the rack against the speediest of defenders was on display early and often in Tampa. She’s a very blue-collar person, on and off the floor, so expect her to never be content and to just keep working. While her scoring ability is going to be coveted heavily, she can handle the point just fine if need be. Another player who has expanded her game, and almost embraced a full transition to preferring the point is Brooklyn Shamblin. As she enters her freshman year out in California, teams will constantly need to know where this lefty sharpshooter is. She showed the ability to string makes from deep beyond the arc as always, but her point guard skills have greatly expanded since our last time catching her. Shamblin always plays hard, and has the presence, IQ, and communication skills to thrive on the ball. Standing at 5’9, Angelina Smith (2024, Bollingbrook Panthers) has the size and shooting ability to play out on the wing off the ball. Her step back game and overall work in the mid-range helped her advanced to sudden death overtime in the 1 on 1 Championship. She’s difficult to guard off the bounce and collects her share of and 1’s.

Brooke Carlson is another player from the Chicago area to know in the class of ’24. The range and shooting ability is there to play the two, but believe it or not, she’s a player who seemed to stand out more and seem more involved and comfortable playing the point. Carlson is a smart and skilled player from the M14 program to watch. Staying in the upper Midwest, Illinois Elite has quite the combo guard in 2024 Kloe Froebe. The larger, athletic guards were there to challenge her, and she found a way to rise to the occasion and figure it out. She’s got the savvy and the competitiveness that any coach wants on their team, with the ball skills and shooting ability to get the job done on the floor. If you’re looking for an exciting, multi-faceted guard who can fill it up a little bit, Morganne Postell of Ohio Elite is talking that talk. Her game is starting to reach new heights, featuring smooth handles and the uncanny clutch ability to make things happen. There is ice in her veins as she lets the three ball fly as well. Chloe Spreen, a 2024 guard for the Lady Gym Rats, has already earned plenty of respect and attention at the EYBL level, and all of her strengths were on full display here. Spreen is a serious scoring threat, especially when she gets down into the lane, where she will jump stop to finish or even find turnaround jumper opportunities. She has no qualms with pushing in transition, or running the floor for scoring opportunities herself.

Surprise party

First and foremost, from the first evening session of camp, it was very clear to the players, coaches, and onlookers that the Blue Star 30 camp is just different, and everyone is here because they can flat out hoop. There are always some players in attendance though who seem to come out of nowhere and surprise us. Maybe they are a little less heralded on social media, or come from areas not especially known for basketball. In Tampa, that conversation has to start with 2024 guard Allie Turner, of Blue Star St. Louis. A silent assassin whose results were screaming loud each and every session, she just continued to make things happen. Turner keeps it simple, but is also ultra-skilled. Perhaps her most recognizable skill is just her ability to make shots- contested pull ups off the crossover, deep three’s off the catch, or shots on the move going away from the basket. She was crowned the three point shooting champion of camp, going 18 of 25 in a highly contested shootout round. If you hadn’t heard this name before, write it down. Another player who can shoot the lights out stands at 6’2, and is only a 2025. Kaelyn Carroll of the Bay State Jags made an impression early in often. Big, skilled wing players who can bury the three and also put it on the floor are always in demand. She is learning to create her own shot with off the ball activity, such as setting and coming off screens too. Watch out! ZaKiyah Johnson plays the beast position and has exploded on to the national radar this summer for Kentucky Premier. Only a 2025, she gets everything out of her strong 5’11 frame and then some. Even as a bigger wing, it is hard to find a player that uses their body and strength better in the screen and roll game. The ability to get to the basket and shoot the three with regularity makes her a match up nightmare for all. Nasi Simmons (Massachusetts, MCW Starz) is a hungry 2024 guard who more than held her own against the best of the best in Tampa. You can tell this kid stays in the gym and is constantly honing her offensive skill set. On top of that, she will get up and guard anyone without a second thought, so she’s going to battle on both sides of the ball.

Shooters shoot

Who doesn’t love a knockdown shooter? We’ve already mentioned some of the top shot makers in attendance, but there’s plenty more to cover. Ryann Bennett (2024, Cal Sparks) adjusts her feet on the move to get her shot off pretty quickly. The blow by speed off the bounce is there if you get too close, and she does a nice job of asking for and then utilizing ball screens. Keeping with an earlier trend of tall, long 2025 shooters, Maya Makalusky checks all of the boxes out of the Hoosier state. Another Lady Gym Rats star in the making, Makalusky can rattle off six, eight points in a row with a dangerous deep ball. She stays shot ready and knows when she’s open. Good use of the shot fake also helps, and she is starting to discover some burst off the bounce as the handles improve. A 2024 stretch four who has already put herself on the map, Breonna Hurd has continued to chip away at the surface and find some new facets to her game. The Missouri native is becoming a very capable shooter, and her developing aggressiveness and assertiveness is starting to shine through. There’s some power in her handles, and in her play inside, so she isn’t going to be just a shooter at all.

Who’s up for wings?

The Blue Star 30 Camp is known for having a collection of tall, long, athletic wing players that are starting to go on to play at the highest levels of women’s college basketball. The next crop of players in the pipeline continued that rich tradition in Florida. At 6’1, 2024 Taliyah Parker is as versatile as they come on offense and defense. The strength and elevation are high level with this Oklahoma standout. Blowing by defenders to the rim and pushing coast to coast in transition are her specialties, along with a mid range game that gets better and better. Defensively, she is more than willing to guard all over the floor. Jordan Speiser left quite an impression at this position as well. A 2025 player who also hails from Kentucky Premier, Speiser can be lethal driving to the basket, and the footwork yields an arsenal of finishers. If you want to take that away, she will make you pay with the money ball from the outside. Knowledge of the game and the fundamentals stood out throughout the event, too. Similarly good off the bounce in particular is 2025 guard Skyla Tuthill of the SC 76ers. Tuthill makes those around her better with a whole bag of elite passes to pull from. Her feel for the game is outstanding, and she’s a silent scorer as well.

Continuing down the menu for more options, Maryland Belles 2024 standout Talayah Walker has some speed with the ball, and initiates her share of contact as she drives to the rim. Walker has those quick, repetitive hops and plenty of physical gifts. No doubt she took plenty away from this week. Fellow Maryland Belle Tatum Greene continues to turn the corner as a player. Greene has started to fill out the frame in recent months, which has only added to her offensive efficiency and overall output. Big, timely three point shots are starting to become commonplace, and off the dribble, she gets into the lane, elevates off one foot, and drops it over the top of any big defender with either hand.  Micah Cooper is a 2024 lefty from Texas, and is already making a name for herself with Cy-Fair. A rangy defender, there is real potential here for her to be an impact player on that side of the ball. While she likes to drive it all the way, the pull up jump shot is becoming a go-to as well, and she is built to compete at the highest level.

Keep the beat going

Countless other players showed well in spurts and different sessions against ridiculous levels of competition. Taylor Barner, a 2024 guard from North Carolina, represented the Tarheel state well. With that long frame, we would be surprised to see another growth spurt before it’s all said and done, and her handles and decisive change of direction off the bounce are more than encouraging. Another athletic guard to pay attention to is 2024 Paris Bradley from Texas. Bradley has a more quiet demeanor, but don’t let that fool you when the ball is in play. Driving is her forte, and she has a nice little runner in the range to go along with plenty of defensive upside. Speaking of upside, Jaidyn Harper (2024, Virginia) and Jordan Hunter (2024, Alabama) share in more than just their initials. A GTS Fusion standout, Harper is a “do whatever it takes” type of player with a good, fundamental approach. Harper isn’t going to make a ton of mistakes out there, and to the contrary, she is doing a lot of the little things you want to see from a young guard. Hunter is a player from the Alabama Southern Starz organization that is journeying down a road that leads in the right direction. Her ability to push in transition and stop and pop when the occasion calls is only going to get better with age and maturity. She’s tough on defense and able to rebound it some at the guard position.

Kendall Sneed is yet another Texas guard who is well on her way. Expect her to be the type of player who is going to get behind the wheel and drive all day. Sneed takes care of the basketball, and can double as a serviceable point guard against top flight defenders. FBC United’s Jazmin Thornton is a 5’10 lefty with a ton of athletic potential. Pulling up for three isn’t a foreign concept for her, and she battles for her team. Another star in the making from the southeast is 2024 point guard Trinity Vance. Vance has a bright future as a table setter as well as a scoring lead guard who can hit the gas pedal in the open floor and even nail the step back three. She’s learning to play through the ups and downs of the game that come with competing against this type of competition. Hope Masonius of the New Jersey Belles represented the namesake very well. Cut from the same cloth as her older sister, this 2024 guard is steady, unphased, skilled, tough, smart, and balanced. You better be ready for the ball out there with her, as she with fire off some amazing, unexpected passes that will be hard to fathom in terms of how they made it there. Expect her to put points on the board in a variety of ways, and do all of the little things that don’t show up in the box score.

Looking to the future

Each year, it’s the 8^th grade class that tends to have the heaviest representation and garner a lot of the spotlight. One of the unique aspects of the Tampa camp with a slightly larger roster was the opportunity to see more younger players get the opportunity to flex for the future. Lola and Jaylah Lampley are not twins, although their size, build, and versatile skill sets are nearly identical most of the time. Jaylah (c/o 2025) is the older sister, but Lola (c/o 2026) is very similar in her ability to thrive against older competition. Both have an array of guard skills, big time ups, jump shooting ability, and defensive versatility beyond their years. Destiny Jackson is a 2025 point guard who has built a reputation on her streaky hot shooting and flashy handles, but in Tampa, it was her grit and intensity on defense that really stood out. She came up with several steals and dove on the floor for loose balls regularly. Another 2025 who continues to add to her game is Tennessee’s Tyler Jones. Standing at 5’9 and bringing plenty of athleticism to the table, the Arkansas Banshee wing plays in attack mode and utilizes some advanced finishes. Aubrey Shaw returned to Blue Star 30 for her second appearance, and she has gotten stronger and continued her maturation, much to the notice of some pretty big time suitors. Built like a forward out on the wing, Shaw covers a ton of ground, and can reach and stretch her way around traffic, with her body on one side of the rim in the air and the ball coming out of her hand on the opposite side for the reverse lay in. Her shooting ability at this size is also not to be ignored. The Essence program has a very elite prospect in 2025 wing forward Johanna Potter. This kid is extremely coachable and took something away from every session. Strictly more of a face up forward up until this summer, don’t be surprised to see her out on the perimeter more in the future. As long as she doesn’t abandon her roots inside, she will be a force. Madison Francis is a 6’1 2025 wing out of the Rochester, New York region. Rebounding in traffic looks easy when you have hops like hers. The elevation on the jump shot comes easy, and she proved herself to be an option at different positions on the floor. Oklahoma’s Keeley Parks has basketball in her blood, and has really expanded her backcourt skills in the past year. The Trae Young Elite prospect can more than hold her own out on the wing, and it’s easy to predict there is more to come with her as the years pass. Kentucky Premier forward Leah Macy is just a tough, gritty kid who does everything you want to see from a forward. She sets nice, big screens, knows how to play, and puts herself into the right place at the right time. Macy shoots the ball well on the move out on the perimeter, so the skills are in a good place.

There’s even more to love in the younger age groups. 2026 5’4 combo guard Heaven Sneed has a bright future. The talented West Virginia Thunder product has really grown her mid-range game, getting into the pull up without much problem. 2026 forward Kelsi Andrews has a college-ready frame at 6’2. Andrews is physical in the paint and makes that presence known on both ends, but she’s also able to shoot the three pointer at this age. Expect to hear her name for years to come, as she made a big impression here. Capping things off, the youngest player in camp was a 2027 in 6’0 wing/forward Lauren Hassell. Hassell is just starting this journey, but already has all the natural ability, size, and length, and like many of these players, comes from a basketball family. Running the floor like a gazelle and physical on the attack, perhaps the biggest eye catcher is how well she’s already shooting the ball. The elbow jumper is becoming automatic, and she is stretching it to the arc in a hurry.

Down, but not out

Several players attended camp injured, either unable to participate or limited to certain things. As competitors, they were clearly itching to get out and play, but without a doubt, they still got a lot out of the 30 experience. We’ve noted 2024 guard Ava Watson of Georgia frequently over the years. While she was not clear to go up and down, she put on quite a shooting display in the three point competition. Also, she is to be commended for her energy and engagement, going above and beyond and helping coach her team even though she couldn’t play. This kid knows the game and may have coaching in her future after her career is over. 6’0 wing Darriana Alexander suffered a minor injury on the first night of 3X play, much to our disappointment too, because she can flat out play. Even in limited action, the West Virginia Thunder standout flashed all the things that have big time college programs paying plenty of attention. The rest of camp she remained locked in, and we can’t wait to see her improve and grow in her final year of middle school. Kennedy Hall is another 2025 who was limited by injury this year. A second year 30 camper, the Team Takeover product is one of the most intriguing prospects from the vaunted DMV region in any class. Hailing from the host state of Florida, 2024 forwards Gianna Corbitt and Kayla Nelms were in the building but inactive for the most part. Both are names to know from the Miami area as they head into 9^th grade.

Making room for three more

Last, but certainly not least, three exciting young players were added to the Blue Star 30 Camp on the final day, following standout performances at the Blue Star All-American Camp happening across the hall. Lexi Blue (6’0 wing, FGB, Florida), Inia Jones (5’6 guard, NHE Girls, Nebraska), and Cameron Rust (6’2 forward, Lady Rivals Platinum, Rhode Island) worked hard and earned a special, unplanned but totally necessary honor of being named the three newest members of the 30 sisterhood. Blue was phenomenal as a scorer out on the wing all week, with a great frame and a nice stroke from deep. Jones is a strong, elusive combo guard who can score or play floor general all the same. Rust shined all week with some good ball skills and interior move set as a true power forward type. Mike Flynn announced all three players as the newest Blue Star 30s, providing yet another feel good moment and recognizing the opportunity that evaluators are also watching players, no matter where they are.

Closing time

So there you have it, our thoughts on some very talented young players, most of whom have yet to even appear in a high school basketball game yet, but already leaving their mark and staking claim to their plot of land on the women’s basketball frontier. It is events such as these that truly grow our game. Watching young women lead, build up, support, promote, and challenge each other, and grow up on the court right before our eyes, that’s what this is all about. The relationships and lessons learned along the way are important. As we tune in to watch the OG 30’s compete on their college teams this fall, and search for the next class in the coming months, we are reminded that the ball brings us all together and unites us in our love for it. Basketball is the best game in the world, and more and more, women are getting their stage to do what they do, raise their voices, and be the future they have been dreaming about. The game is in good hands.