As the wind blows…

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The wind still blows in Indiana.

Hop on I-65 South from the usual Chicagoland home of USJN’s Windy City Classic and you’ll see hundreds of wind turbines dotting the picturesque countryside of the Hoosier state. This July, that wind brought with it some late-July basketball action, as nearly 300 teams convened on the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.

As we’ve seen so far during this very unique summer for club basketball, there were countless COVID-related rules and regulations to control crowd size, encourage social distancing, and promote hygiene. The hallways were split into one way traffic lanes. Teams and spectators were cycled in and out of the halls for their games only. Hand sanitizer was in abundance, and masks and face coverings were required for all non-game personnel.

But as we have also seen so far this summer, the players that want to play, came and played. We saw a mix of established stars wrapping up their last July on the circuit and giving it their all for one more championship. Then, the future was on full display, with a large line up of middle school-aged teams, with young players performing well beyond their years. The timing and setting may have been different, but the level of basketball competition continued a 15 year tradition without missing a beat.

For full results and pool all-stars from Windy in Indy, you can visit the USJN post event page here:

https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=618

Also, the Blue Star Travel Team League had its final stop on its circuit here in Indy as a part of the event, and Blue Star Media has separate coverage of that portion of the action here:

https://bluestarmedia.org/blog/2020/07/31/blue-star-league-races-across-the-finish-line-in-indy/

As we head in to August and approach a fall that is full of uncertainty, all of us here at Blue Star Media wish you and yours continued health, safety, and well-being. We will continue to join you in gyms far and wide, across the world, as we continue to support and promote the girls’ basketball community. In these times and in all times, we are happy to have this game to bring us together and get us through whatever comes our way.

Kyla Abraham – 2022 – 6-5 – Post – Georgia Metros – Big is an understatement, she’s impossible to miss on any court…Plays as big as she is too…Huge hands and feet…Protects the house and changes shots…Double-double all day

Laila Abdurraqib – 2025 – 5-7 – Point Guard – IN United 13 Lampley – Splits defenders like a hot knife through butter…Dangerous off the dribble…Already turning heads…Handles with pace…Really pounds the ball…Already has the build of a high school player…Very nice player

Alondra Arroyo – 2023 – 6-2 – Forward – ABC Lightning Performance – All arms and legs…Still needs to fill out…Nice turn and finish inside…So long…Handles in the open court are a work in progress…Makes herself a nice big target inside and asks for the ball….Lefty…Range stretching to about 15 feet…Deflections and steals in the lane

Asiah Baxter – 2023 – 5-10 – Wing Forward – Nike Lady Gym Rats 16 Hollins – Having a nice summer…Athletic tweener who plays her tail off each time…Physical defender inside…Runs the floor…Will box and board…Did some things in the pick and roll sets

Rylee Bess – 2025 – 5-5 – Point Guard – All Ohio 17 Red – More than held her own against much older competition…Fearless as she just plays her game and does her thing…Fast hands on D…Tight handle…Already able to shoot the three…Has a voice and presence

Azariah Binford – 2021 – 5-3 – Point Guard – All Ohio 17 Black – Quick smaller PG can make some big plays…Saw it in the championship game where she hit some big three balls off the bounce down the stretch…Bodies up on any bigger players trying to post her…Plays full speed ahead

Jasmine Brown – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Example Sports 15 UAA – A locomotive coming down the tracks with the ball…Plays as strong as she looks…Gets that down hill speed in the lane…Has some mid-range game in her pocket as well…Sneaky good passes

Macy Brown – 2023 – 6-0 – Point Guard/Guard – MBA 15 UA Rise – Always adding more to her game…No accident more and more attention keeps coming her way…Tough to stop a lead guard with this mix of size and scoring ability at all three levels…Dips the shoulder to create a little more space and leverage to get into a pull up J…Lefty but capable handling and finish either way…Went five dribbles coast to coast and in a hurry at that…Can also work off the ball…Defends 1-5 if necessary

Alyssa Crockett – 2022 – 6-2 – Wing – Indiana Elite 17 Platinum – Built to play at the highest level of the college game…Skill set to match…Really elevates well…Hard to stop her on the attack, especially at this size…Plays with a ton of energy…Great communicator

Cadence Dykstra – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard – Grand Rapids Storm 17 – Really likes to eat in the mid range area…Hit some tough, off balance, contested shots…Nice, compact shot allows her to get if off against tight D…Battles for her team…See what happens

Zakiyah Johnson – 2025 – 6-0 – Wing – Kentucky Premier 16 Cann – Continues to impress and rises to the occasion against any competition…Can go out and bury three or four trey balls in a game…Has some of the physical make up of a college-bound senior already…Finds success on the drive as well…Rejects a shot, collects the change, and takes it the other way for a bucket very often

Nayo Lear – 2022 – 5-9 – Combo Guard – Example Sports 17 Wolfpack – No doubt on the athleticism here…Ball handling extraordinaire…Hit the three ball…Plays really well for extended stretches…Definitely a gamer…Expanding market at this point

Gabriella Lutchka – 2022 – 5-11 – Guard – Michigan Premier 17 Gold – Bigger wing guard…Very capable as a three point shooter…Two way player…Bumps cutters on D…All around player, knows what she’s doing out there

Addy McLeod – 2023 – 5-5 – Guard – Illinois Aristocrats 17 – Still a little slight in stature but she can hoop…Sets it free from deep…Will also drive and finish in some crowds…Steps back into a good mid-range shot as well…A little bit of bounce to her…Playing up a couple years, see what happens

Kamara Mills – 2024 – 5-8 – Guard – IC Ballers Elite 14 – Range on the three is deep and the release is timely…Natural athlete…Had some very nice moments so one to see again down the line

Evan Pittman – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – Example Sports 16 UAA – Ducks in hard…Then goes to work with some nice post moves…Solid offensive rebounder…Still some room to grow her game over the next couple of years…Promising prospect

Anna Richards – 2024 – 5-8 – Combo Guard – Michigan Premier 14 Blue – Play-making combo guard…Wingspan for her position…Finishes over and around defenders…A threat from the arc already…Nice passes in traffic…Understands pace and space

Arianna Seawell – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – Hoopers NY 17 – A true power forward…Gets into the paint and finishes strong off two feet…Plays as strong as she looks…Huge hands help on the boards…Nice, strong outlets passes to her guards…A little right hand heavy on the finishing…Can be a handful in the paint

Jordan Speiser – 2025 – 5-11 – Wing/Forward – Kentucky Premier 16 Cann – Great frame to work with…Ball skills at that size and at this age is a dangerous combination…Communicates and plays with a sense of maturity…Hard to bump her off the ball…Doesn’t look out of place against older kids

Chloe Spreen – 2024 – 5-9 – Guard – Nike Lady Gym Rats 17 EYBL – Playing at a very high level against rising seniors and still hasn’t hit high school yet herself…Scores a multitude of points in a multitude of ways…Forces plenty of turnovers in the press with that length…Willing to post smaller opponents…When she catches and releases in motion, it’s very likely to have the desired result…Capable passer in the ball screen action

Destiny Thomas – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing – Kentucky Premier 17 Milby – Young athletic wing…Did some nice things playing up a couple years…Can create some havoc on D in the press…More high level gears with this one that she hasn’t even found yet

Zennia Thomas – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – All Ohio 16 Lavender – Ducks in and makes herself a nice big target in the post…Nice hands on the catch…Versatile on D…Will play out on the wing and attack the rack too…Improving the shot would raise the roof higher

Makayla Timpson – 2021 – 6-3 – Forward – Georgia Metros – Fits the billing of a freak athlete…A machine on the boards…Powers up around the glass to finish…Plenty of lay-up opportunities…Can also hit some tough pull up jump shots…Kind of floats through the air for a while…Swats away shots…A force to be reckoned with

Roxy White – 2025 – 5-10 – Wing – Example Sports 14 Black – Already showing herself to be a match up nightmare…Shoots the three with a quick release…Posts up as well…Wreaks defensive havoc on opposing guards…A name we will hear a lot more in the future

Gabby Wilke – 2024 – 6-0 – Forward – Wisconsin Impact 14 – Boxes out and competes on the boards…Catch and score lay ups on the move…Shot blocker…Nice job calling out ball screens…Posts and continues to relocate and reposition for leverage

Lilly Williams – 2026 – 6-2 – Post – Michigan Mystics 13 Smith – Hard to miss out there at this age…Solid rim runs…Already big enough if she doesn’t grow anymore…Seals well and can go up and catch the lobs…Has some personality on the court…Just getting started

Staci Williams – 2023 – 5-7 – Combo Guard – ABC Lightning Performance – Has some real straight line speed with the ball in her hands…Nice burst to get up and steal or deflect high passes…Length aids defensive prowess…Throws some nice fluid passes, even with one hand…Game continues to expand

Rachel Wirts – 2024 – 6-2 – Forward – Indiana Elite 14 Xcel – Has some size…Flashed some soft touch on the finish…Good passer and decision maker with the ball in the middle of the press break…Keeps moving on both ends