By Joe Costa
Blue Star Basketball kicked off its 2013 series of Rising Blue Star Evaluation Showcases with an event held in West Deptford, N.J. on Sunday September 8th. Over 50 of the area’s top level 6th through 9th grade talent from six different states were on hand for this year’s Mid-Atlantic Showcase. Drilled by Skills Coordinator Jimmy Dillon of Hoops 365 they also had the opportunity to be evaluated by staff from Blue Star Media.
“We used an aggressive ground game to entice most of the best players in the area to attend this event” says Skills Coordinator Jimmy Dillon. “We talked to their AAU/Travel team, High School, Jr. High coaches, parents, scouts, college coaches; anyone we thought could tell us who the best players were or lead us to them.”
“The results were very impressive” added Dillon.
The Rising Blue Star series continues in the coming weeks with events in Arlington Va., Long Island N.Y. and Williamsburg Va.
The showcase was loaded with talent but as always the stars shined bright. The brightest of those stars might have been Shaileen Woods (2018 / 5-7 / PG / Fairfax Va.). Woods has all the moves and an ability to finish but more impressive than her bag of tricks is an attitude and mental approach to the game that makes her far more advanced than her 8th grade age level. She is a natural born leader that instantly takes command of her situation and surroundings in turn leading confidently by example and encouragement. The staff matched her against several of the showcase’s best defenders and Woods attacked them all fearlessly, physically and mentally.
Quick Hitters
2017
Jaala Henry (6-3 / F / Riverdale Md.) – Has no idea how good she can be…All the tools with an opportunity to be a super star…Needs to take the last few steps to get there
Tenisha Pressley (5-9 / G / Wenonah N.J.) – Solid swing guard…Has a great first step…Lives low in the dribble
Olivia Martino (5-9 / G / Lanham MD) – Deceptive in every aspect…Crafty…Has the upper body strength to finish…Quietly scores, rebounds and defends…May be ready to make some noise
Jada Smith (5-10 / G-F / Philadelphia Pa.) – Gifted athletically…Beginning to develop good instincts…Ability is there to quickly get from rebound to finish…Needs improvement on jump shot and decision making
2018
Janiyah Bridgers (6-2 / F / Linden N.J.) – Solid…Uses her body well…Gets good position…Handles the ball well for her size…Next step is adding a multi-facetted face-up game.
2019
Lauren Ross (5-7 / G / Media Pa.) – Quick and athletic…Gets up and down the floor faster than most but pulls back…Should have more faith in her talent…Basketball IQ and increased range for jumper need attention
Alexis Greffen (5-6 / PG / Portsmouth R.I.) – Coachable…Reads the floor as well as teammates…Makes the correct pass…Finishes at the basket…Has range on her jumper
Alisha Lewis (5-0 / PG / Wallingford Pa.) – Killer double-cross…Fearless player and passer…Intense competitor…Goes and gets the ball…Quick feet…Understands the game…Sees things most players do not
2020
Elizabeth Martino (5-6 / G / Lanham Md.) – Covers ground quickly…First step and handle are scary…Big time competitor who can finish…Going to be special
Joesph Costa – Joe has been with Blue Star for 13 years and serves as a Program Consultant and National Skill Development Coordinator. Coaching the Pittsburg Rockers for over 10 years; he helped produce two national championships and over 75 scholarship student athletes. Additionally Costa has coached both girls and boys on the high school level as well as serving as a floor coach for several Nike camps and skills academies. He currently resides in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
