Connect with us

Travel

D.C. Fall Finale – More Color

By Joe Costa

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md.–With 74 Teams from seven states and the District of Columbia gathered in a familiar place with a “NEW” name, the USJN Fall Finale is worth one more look back.  NEW 24, the renamed Capital Sports facility, played host to the final USJN NCAA evaluation event of the club season.  Graduation classes ranging from 2014 to 2020, rosters containing both committed and non-committed players and power teams like BWSL Richmond, the Fairfax Stars, Philadelphia Belles and Cardinal Crusaders (Riverdale Baptist) competed for two days in an open event that provided some noteworthy performances.

Be sure to follow the link to Fran Burbidge’s Friday night coverage of Fall College Showcase that ran previously on Blue Star Media.

http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/584-2013-fall-college-showcase-dc

Below we take a look at some of the Saturday and Sunday standouts. 

Quick Hitters

2014

Essence Brown (5-7 Point Guard – MD Team Sol Elite)…Good ball control…Great court vision…Keeps dribble low…Quick first step

Camille Gallagher (6-0 Forward – NC Carolina Belles / Blue Star Carolina)…Great range…Prefers the 3 ball…Left hand across the lane finish…Mixes it up with bigger players

2015

Avery Locklear (5-8 Guard – NC Carolina Elite)…Makes good basketball decisions…Finishes when she takes the shot

2016

Kayla Hinderlie (6-0 Forward – MD Germantown Lady Panthers)…Physical…Quick…Can jump out of the gym

Adria Strothers (5-4 Guard – VA Hard2guard)…Play maker…Great court vision…Explosive off the bounce and at the hoop

Ceyanna Harrison (6-4 Forward – NC Carolina Elite)…Quick to the basket…Finishes at the rim…High post game

Kiersten Elliott (6-0 Forward – PA 4 Seasons Hoops)…Size and coordination…Court awareness…Learning how to play the wing

Alexiss Griggs (6-0 Forward – PA 4 Seasons Hoops)…Quick hands…Most comfortable in the high post…Creatively finishes around the basket

Alisha Kebbe (5-11 Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles Nike Burbidge)…Strong in the scoring area…Runs the floor with intent…Good anticipation defensively

2017

Alexis Hueston (6-0 Forward – BWSL Richmond)…Shot blocker…Strong post presence…Can step outside to hit the jumper

Alexandra Parsons (5-5 Point Guard – BWSL Richmond)…Defensive ball hawk…Drive and kick…Good range on her jumper

Kennedy Beale (5-8 Guard – BWSL Richmond)…Scorer’s mentality…Attacks the basket…Good mid-range jump shot…Lock down defender

Racheal Lia (5-5 Guard – BWSL Richmond)…Three point shooter…Reads defenders and knows how to get open…Mid-range game

Aaliyah Dunham (5-5 Point Guard – WV Rising Star Athletics)…Solid ball handler…Quick…Attacks the hoop

Rhea Smith (6-2 Forward – WV Rising Star Athletics)…Plays physical…Prototype basketball body…Powerful with the ball

Olivia Martino (5-10 Forward/Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles Nike- Hilf)…Strong…Attacks the hoop hard…Looks to score…Developing perimeter game

Cara Judkins (6-3 Forward – MD Germantown Lady Panthers)…Plays hard…Physical…Establishes position…Runs the floor…Finishes around the rim

2018

Rachael Stovall (6-3 Forward – VA TPLS Christian Academy)…Three point range and beyond…Physical defensively…Moves well off the screen

Shaileen Woods (5-6 Point Guard – VA Fairfax Stars)…Leader…Reads ball screens like a college player…Finishes from anywhere.

2019

Lauren Ross (5-6 Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles Nike- Hilf)…Plays strong against older competition… Doesn’t rattle…Creates defensive opportunities

Chloe Chapman (5-5 Point Guard – VA Cardinal Jr. Elite)…Great 1 on 1…Controls the floor…Attacks the hoop in transition

Olivia Tucker (5-8 Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles 2018 Blue Star)…Great range for her age…Plays all out, all the time

Kiyana Jefferson (5-4 Point Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles 2018 Blue Star)…All over the floor…Competes for every loose ball…Coachable…Good range on her jump shot

2020

Elizabeth Martino (5-9 Guard/Forward – PA Philadelphia Belles 2018 Blue Star)…Athletic as any…Coachable…Loves the game…Great instincts

Joe Costa has been with Blue Star for 13 years now serving as a National Evaluator and Director of the Rising Blue Star program.  Coaching the Pittsburgh 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 & collegiate levels plus served as a floor coach for several Nike All American Camps and Skills Academies.  He currently resides in Savannah, Georgia.

Mark Lewis is a national evaluator and photographer for Blue Star Basketball as well as the lead columnist for Blue Star Media. Twice ranked as one of the top 25 Division I assistant coaches in the game by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), he logged 25 years of college coaching experience at Memphis State, Cincinnati, Arizona State, Western Kentucky and Washington State. Lewis serves as a member of the prestigious McDonald’s All-American selection committee as well as the Naismith College Player and Coach of the Year committees.

Advertisement

Latest Articles

Advertisement

More in Travel