OAKS, PA – You weren’t entirely out of place if you needed to grab your hoodie out of your back pack when you walked out of the Greater Philadelphia Exposition Center Saturday evening after a long day of basketball.
Yes, fall was in the air a bit early, and not just with the first football Sunday of the season. For what seems like the first time in ages, club basketball is carrying over into September, the former home of an NCAA Evaluation Period that many in fact do miss. Now, as the pandemic continues into the latter months of 2020, high school basketball seasons are left in limbo.
All across the country, prospects therefore are still out playing on the club circuit. USJN’s Fall Finale East slid in to the Expo Center with the cool fall breeze, featuring a line-up of around 40 teams from all up and down the Mid-Atlantic region. For many programs, we started to see the great annual transition, with the 17U team now featuring the new junior class of 2022’s. There were also plenty of available 2021’s out there, along with some promising underclassmen. Without a doubt, there was plenty to see this weekend.
As always, for full event results and Pool All-Stars, you can access USJN’s post event page here:
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=660
We look forward to continuing our travels as travel season continues into the fall months ahead. While times continue to be uncertain in the age of COVID-19, rest assured that the ball will keep bouncing, and we will continue to follow the action.
And now, here are some of the prospects of note based on their efforts this past weekend.
Paley Adams – 2024 – 6-2 – Forward – Alpha Tier Athletics 15 – Keeps her feet moving…Great wingspan and big hands…Going to pull her share of rebounds…Understands spacing and movement in relation to the actions of her guards…Can push steals on her own
Ryanne Allen – 2022 – 6-1 – Wing – Philadelphia Belles 16 EYBL – Wing guard is back off minor injury and balling out…Multi-faceted scoring threat from the wing…Smooth as a fresh jar of peanut butter into the pull up…Makes the easy plays look easy and just keeps it simple…Due for a big junior year
Farrah Austin – 2024 – 5-9 – Wing/Forward – United NJ 15 Navy – Super long and active on both ends of the floor…Handles it a little to drive…Some wing skills and a jump shot appear to be coming in…Wait and see where she takes it in high school
Marlee Beam – 2023 – 6-1 – Forward – ABC Lightning Performance 15 – Long forward…Nice frame to work with and build out…Finishes well inside…Nice catch and score in motion in transition…Up and under moves off the face had the crowd going…Range to the arc…Starting to push her own rebounds a little bit
Jessica Berens – 2021 – 6-4 – Post – CT Ice 17 – Every bit of 6’4…Keeps her hands up on D, which creates problems for the opposition with that reach…Gets up fine to finish and did so plenty…Can really bury smaller defenders inside and turn to finish…Soft touch on the turnaround jumper but working on the form from about 12 feet out in the short corner
Emily Chmiel – 2021 – 6-3 – Forward/Post – Philadelphia Belles 17 Halligan – Really stepped up defensively against some tough post opponents…Gets out in passing lanes for her size…Smart and plays hard…Range out to the elbow…Solid offensively in the post
Jessica Cooper – 2023 – 6-0 – Forward – Jersey Cardinals 17 – Aggressive and strong on the interior…Has a surefire physical presence…Comes away with some impressive rebounds…Made smart decisions to help her team beat the press…Runs the floor…Expanding post repertoire…15 foot range is coming along
Laycee Drake – 2021 – 5-6 – Guard – Alpha Tier Athletics 17 – UMBC commit can dazzle with a mix of handling, passing, and scoring ability…Sizzle and shake to her game…Behind the head assist to a post on the run…Scores at all three levels…Will surprise you with the ups to rebound…Difference-maker
Hailee Ford – 2023 – 5-10 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 15 Steidle – Bigger guard with a nice, smooth stroke…Good feet to shoot it on the move…Mental aspect of the game has started to really mature…Willing to crash the boards for her team as well
Milla Gnann – 2023 – 5-6 – Combo Guard – ABC Lightning Performance 15 – A standout floor general…Legitimate threat to nail multiple trey balls, so she can play off the ball effectively…Release is quick…Attacks and makes things happen, finding open teammates off the bounce…Embraces and initiates a little bit of contact when she dribbles…Knows how to get open against full court denial
Naomi Gonzalez – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing – Philadelphia Belles 17 Halligan – Plenty of high end athleticism here…Makes some things look easy with the physical ability…Bouncy and fast…Double-double threat…Can affect the game in a lot of ways when she has it going…Covers plenty of ground as she slashes her way to the rim
Lizzie Halligan – 2024 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – Lady Runnin Rebels 14 Hill – Comfortable playing out on the wing or in the trail position right now…Good IQ and understanding showed time and time again…Face and drive is quick and decisive…Went to work in the post with some very advanced footwork…Rebounds strong off two feet
Aniah Jenkins – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Philadelphia Belles 15 Flynn – Has that OMG athleticism…Monster rebounder…Shot the three with confidence here and continues to expand on that part of her game…Dynamic and explosive player…Makes her presence known defending multiple positions
Nacheca Joseph – 2022 – 5-4 – Point Guard – NJ Vols 16 – Smaller in stature but she can ball…Showed the step back…Quick on both ends…Pokes the ball away on D…Can make a couple of clutch shots…Definitely lifts the energy level of her team when she’s out there
Teagan Kamm – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – WNY Lakers 17 Parizek Red – Showed good defensive awareness defending ball screens…Nice hands to reach up and snag away the lob passes…Makes her free throws…Needs to just continue to develop on the offensive end
Katilyn King – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 15 Flynn – Makes timely three’s…Can push or run the floor in transition…Digs in and defense and makes it tough on ball handlers…Game has really grown this summer…Coachable and does the little things
Liliana Kramer – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – CT Storm 17 Caruso – Lefty stretch 4…Ability to work inside some is there, but you have to guard her three point shot…Active and energetic…Will find some offensive rebounds…Showed a little turnaround J in the post
Katie Lebuhn – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – Hoopers NY 17 Searight – Has the build that will catch your eye…Vocal on defense…Runs the floor fine at times…Makes her free throws at a high enough rate…15ft jumper is good…Still some work to do to maximize potential
Chiara MacGillivray – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – Lady Runnin Rebels 17 White – Really knows the game and puts herself into the right positions at the right times…Odds are in her favor to hit a few threes every time out with her stroke as it is…Plays hard…Plenty of intangibles
Ashlyn Marron – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward – Alpha Tier Athletics 16 – Strong and versatile…Protects the paint as a help defender…Can handle to drive some…Also showed some effectiveness with her back to the basket…Finished with either hand
Laine McGurk – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard – Lady Runnin Rebels 15 – Developing shot creator at the guard spot…Lanky and athletic…Has a motor…Smooth pull up game and already shooting the three…Nice jab and attack…Good on ball defender
Brielle Reidinger – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward – United NJ 17 Diamond – Lanky forward with some moves inside to get buckets…Uses the long limbs to her advantage…Will work for that position on the block…Solid in her effort to collect plenty of boards
Abby Sharpe – 2023 – 5-10 – Guard – Lady Runnin Rebels 15 – Promising pull up game…Shot the three with confidence that she carries throughout the flow of the game…Steps back and lets it fly over big defenders…Athletic and a bit of a leaper for sure…Handles with pace and purpose…Cuts without the ball to score…Energy is there on D…All around wing guard to know
Erika Stephens – 2022 – 5-11 – Wing – CBC 17 Walston – Good energy leads to output at the guard position…Pushes in transition and keeps control of the ball and her body in traffic…Skills and instincts are there
