Back in the mix with Best of Maryland

FREDERICK, MD – One of the best parts of this summer’s basketball schedule, and there have certainly been many, has been the return of some of the events, venues, and traditions we are used to in the girls’ basketball world. One such event is the Best of Maryland, back after a COVID hiatus in 2020 to close out July with a bang.

Some of the nation’s top high school programs were represented in the annual event, which has a summer league type of feel and is full of plenty of talent. It’s no secret why many of these programs are in the postseason hunt in their various states year in and year out. Even with some teams missing pieces away with their club teams, or not having barely practiced or even played together much this past season, there was plenty of quality basketball action over the course of three days.

22 teams converged on the Hood College campus for this year’s rendition with their eyes on the prize of a championship. The final 4 featured Sacred Heart Academy (KY) who fell to Paul VI (VA) by 11, 44-33 in a low scoring affair. That set up the Panthers to face off against South Bend Washington (IN) who defeated fellow Hoosier state rival Homestead (IN) 62-44.

In the finals, Paul VI and their experienced, battle-tested core of 7 seniors was too much for the talented South Bend squad, taking home all the marbles in a 69-50 victory. Paul VI was led by 2023 6’2 forward Louis Volker in the championship game, who put up an eyebrow-raising 28 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way.

For full results and event coverage of this year’s Best of Maryland, check out their website:

https://www.bestofmd.net/

Now, let’s profile some of the teams in attendance and check in on some of the top players who closed out their month of July on a high note!

Archbishop Wood made the trek down from the suburbs of North Philadelphia, and Coach Mike McDonald had a majority of his roster available to get some work in. Tough tone-setter Bri Bowen, a 5’10 2022 scrapper of a wing, flat out competes. Bowen brings that competitiveness and rigor that a lot of coaches seek out at the next level. 2023 forward Kara Meredith has made good strides this summer, stretching the D with the occasional three and showing the willingness to post, face up, and drive. Also in the 2023 class for Wood, you will find 5’6 off guard Ava Renninger, who can hit the three and just knows how to play. Her instincts are beyond her years, so keep an eye on her.

Hailing from Indiana, Carmel High School has honed its skills at Best of Maryland before. This upcoming year’s squad will be paced by 2023 post Mackenzie Thomas. Her combination of size and mobility leads to plenty of scoring opportunities in the paint, as well as a collection of offensive rebounds. Coach Erin Trimpe’s squad also features a pair of promising young guards in 2025’s Isabelle Shepherd and Taryn Fisher. Fisher is well on her way to becoming quite a catch as a quick combo guard who can knock down the three a bit.

Central Dauphin made a nice run to the Elite 8 at this event. Niagara commit Marlie Dickerson a 2022 5’11 wing gets buckets off the bounce, first and foremost. She uses her pivot foot well and stays patient, while also playing in attack mode. 2022 5’6 guard Megan Cavoli is good with the ball, and can make shots all over the floor. She hit a big pull up coming off the ball screen down the stretch to tie a game, so there’s some clutch to her. 2024 wing Alexis Ferguson had a nice showing as well, with a good mix of length and athleticism making her a nemesis of the lazy passes.

Central PA power Delone Catholic seems poised for a playoff push this winter, and it’s the seniors that a steering the ship. The 2022 backcourt duo of Abby Jacoby (Lock Haven commit) and Giana Hoddinott pack quite the 1-2 punch. Hoddinott may not be committed, but she has earned more and more attention as the spring and summer have worn on, as a tough-nosed scoring option at the guard spot. Their classmate Maggie Hughes does the dirty work inside, consistently boxing out to be a presence on the glass, and being physical with opponents to get open. 2024 6’1 Forward Ella Hughes shows promise as well, a chip off the old block as they say, when looking at her older sister.

Homestead High School out of Fort Wayne, Indiana features one of the top high school players in the country in 2022 UConn commit Ayanna Patterson. The 6’3 wing/forward is as dynamic and scary as they come, and she can put a team on her back and get it done. 2023 wing/forward Alison Stephens was the go to second option when they needed a bucket here, with multiple three’s in various games. Senior Maggie Keinsley is a bit undersized at the forward spot, but don’t tell her that. She’s a solid interior defender, who is active in the ball screen game on offense.

Paul VI made the short drive up I-270 across the state line from Virginia, and took the hardware back with them three days later. Gritty 2023 forward Louis Volker, the aforementioned, just outworks and “out-toughs” opponents. She can be lethal in the high post off the attack or with the 15 footer. Fiona Hastick is heading into her senior season having won more than her share of games, and that mentality is in her fabric. Manhattan commit Alyssa Costigan can say the same, a skilled asset out on the wing at 6-feet tall. 2023 6’0 wing/forward Jada Jackson has athletic potential and seems to have take some steps forward this summer too, giving Coach Scott Allen quite the mix heading into this upcoming season.

Red Bank Catholic is a staple of Best of Maryland over the years. Coach Joe Montano was missing his two senior studs here, as Ally Carman (Boston College) and Justine Pissott (Tennessee) were down in Augusta. But that didn’t stop this group from doing what it tends to do, win basketball games. Two more Carman sisters, 2023 Emma Carman and 2025 Tessa Carman came ready to rock. Both are strong built and able to contribute in the paint or with the three ball. Tessa particularly impressed with her ball handling and passing. The power she generates off the bounce is noticeable. If you are into shooters (who isn’t!!?) 2023 Casey Prior and 2025 wing Christina Liggio flexed some scoring prowess from deep as well.

Checking in from Colorado for another go around at Best of Maryland, Coach Carl Mattei and Regis Jesuit is a group that is used to doing things at a high level, and all of the winning that comes as a byproduct. The rising seniors set the bar for this group. Madden McHugh, a 5’6 point guard is clearly experienced heading into her final stanza, a true leader on the court with a nice three-point touch. Classmate Jordan Jones brings a wealth of energy on the wing, vocal and athletic too. They will clear it out for her and let her go get a bucket. The last rising senior to catch our eye was 6’0 forward Joy Ezeh, who has a great motor, boxes out consistently, defends, and showed the face up game out in the short corner. 2024 combo guard Coryn Watts had a nice showing for her age as well, so she is poised to carry the torch into the future.

Coming off a state championship this past season, Sacred Heart Academy out of Louisville, KY is a force to be reckoned with under Head Coach Donna Moir. Rising seniors Alex Wolff and Josie Gilvin are certainly poised to help them climb the mountain again this year. Gilvin can play the guard or forward spot, at 5’11 with a nice frame and a shiftiness with the basketball. The crossover is impressive and she makes good, strong passes. Her production on defense and on the boards is not to be overlooked either. Wolff does a nice job inside, garnering plenty of lay up opportunities as she battles for position and then elevates up off the floor well. A little further down the line in the 2024 class, be on the lookout for 5’8 guard Claire Russell and 6’2 post Angelina Pelayo. Russell in particular is a naturally strong guard who sees the floor and knows where to go with the ball, so there’s potential to go around.

Seminaire Saint-Francois made the trip down from Quebec and advanced to the Elite 8 of the event while boasting a roster of all rising sophomores and freshmen. 2024 6’2 forward Oceane Paradis is one to know from north of the border. It’s still rather early for her, but you have to love the way she gathers offensive boards and goes back up to score them, and with her frame, you know she is only going to get better and she continues to mature physically. 2024 6’0 wing Anais Trempe also is perplexing. There’s some real burst with the ball here, and the size helps her pull her share of rebounds. The 2025 class is solid too, with strong forward Lea-Rose Denis leading the charge with a maturity to her game.

South Bend Washington came in and marched all the way through to the title game. It’s no surprise that the Reynolds sisters led the way either. Mila, Amiyah, and Kira Reynolds are not new names on a national level. The oldest of the three, Mila is headed to the University of Maryland after this upcoming senior year, giving the Terps a stretch four who can knock down the three or power her way to the rim with some pristine footwork. She goes hard in the paint, point blank period. Amiyah is spending a lot of time at the point guard position these days, and she is really pushing the ball and making decisions with pace and precision. She’s discovered more of that mean streak and killer instinct, so look out. Kira is still scratching the surface but already impressing as she starts her high school years, while looking like she’s about to be in college already. The youngest of the sisters gets to the basket often, splitting defenders along the way. Naturally she pushes her own rebounds and even got several and 1’s going coastal. One more elite prospect to watch here is 2023 5’8 point guard Rashunda Jones, a baller in her own right, with the handles and speed to be dangerous, along with a strong commitment to the defensive side of the basketball. She’s a big piece to the puzzle for any team.

The Spartans of Sparta High School has a very impressive 2023 class to look forward to for a couple more years. The headliner is usually 6’1 wing/forward Brynn McCurry, who is as versatile offensively as they come. You can tell she developed that strong foundation inside and kept adding to her game and creeping out more and more, leaving you with a very complete player. 2023 point guard Ally Sweeney makes some pinpoint passes, and is very smooth and fast with the handle. Tending to make the right decisions is her forte, and while she can hit the three, she doesn’t shoot more than her team needs her too. The last rising junior we want to mention is 5’9 guard Bailey Chapman. You have to like the wingspan and she puts it to use on D. Using the jab step, she is able to create space and driving lanes, and she also sprints the floor to score in transition.

Whenever St.-Laurent comes down from Canada, you expect a certain brand of basketball to be played. The discipline, execution, and athleticism of the players is well-documented. 2024 forward Sandrine Wemeni Kameni flashed some real potential, setting a nice, big ball screen and rolling hard to the hoop. Also on the interior, keep an eye on a 2023 duo, Seyna Diggs and Terissa Lavoile Brice. Diggs has a very smooth three-point shot at 6’2, and she showed the willingness to duck in and post hard as well. Brice wants to live in the paint, and has the footwork to thrive in doing so. One backcourt player to get eyes on is 2024 guard Angelina Mbengo, as plenty of schools are already doing so. Mbengo is a great athlete, and showed the hang time to double clutch in the air to score.

The Trojans of St. Thomas Aquinas are well known for their tenacity in New Jersey. Coach Joe Whalen has to be excited about the future with so many young players already finding their way into his line up. Leah Crosby is quite an intriguing athlete and only a rising freshman. At 5’9, she is able to play inside and out, at least for now, but we will see if she adds a couple inches to stay inside. Crosby doesn’t bask down against anyone and is already a good perimeter defender and driver on the offensive end. 2024 point guard Amerillis Shubick is playing a lot of point guard already, and cutting her teeth against older competition is only going to help down the road. Shubick is a playmaker, with some impressive dump-offs off the bounce and three point range a step or two beyond the arc settling in.

Western PA was in the building this year, as Coach Doug Chuzie brought his Villa Maria Academy squad down to compete. It’s hard not to start with the outstanding young 2024 wing, Jayden McBride, who is very much keeping with the family name and reputation with her play on the court. Her future is so bright and she’s still just getting started. Fellow ’24 Lena Walz is an athletic 5’10 lefty on the wing. You see her working for position and leaping up to get rebounds, and with a nice pull up game to boot, and you know good things are ahead. And no team is complete without the upperclassmen who set the example, and this team has a pair of 2022’s in Daniela Shaughnessy and Carissa Dunham who control the remote control. Shaughnessy is a do it all player, tough all day, playing bigger than her size is listed. Dunham is a leader at the point, but shoots it more than well enough to play off the ball as well, and she’s steady and consistent as they come.

Nevaeh Cable – 2023 – 5-7 – Guard – Toledo Notre Dame – Solid with the ball and has some quickness…Nice step back, really gets separation to get it off…Pull up is a go to weapon

Kiaraly Cabrera – 2023 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Barron Collier – Playmaker for her squad…Can create scoring opportunities for herself and for others…Willing to take some chances with the ball and they tend to pay off…Defense is solid…Had a nice four point play

Katie Collins – 2024 – 6-1 – Forward – Manasquan – Forward to look at in her class…Hit the 3…Scores on the move inside…Defends multiple positions

Allison Daniels – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Millenium – Quick with the ball…Playmaker…Comfortable pulling it off ball screens…Slasher…Good airborne passes…Three is an option

Shea Donnelly – 2025 – 5-6 – Guard – Manasquan – Heady young guard…Can pass, dribble, shoot, so you know she works…Shot the three with a hand in her face, no worries

Adelaide Jernigan – 2025 – 5-9 – Guard – Bishop McGuinness – Lanky lefty…Still working on the jumper but will take it…Likes to drive with dominant hand…Something there, just needs to keep working…Not shy out there at all

Caroline Orza – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – Walt Whitman – Strong built guard…Hits the three…Physical…Pulls up when neccessary

Andrene Thomas – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Millenium – Solid on the boards and taps rebounds to herself…Shoots the three and follows her shot…Catch, turn, and score with some ease…Has the build