IJAMSVILLE, Md. – Each summer, with the July Evaluation Period winding down and the start of the school year fast-approaching, some of the nation’s premier high school programs gather in the mountains of Frederick County for the annual Best of Maryland Basketball Tournament.

Steve Pisarski and his staff work tirelessly to bring in some of the best teams in the U.S. and even add some international flare, providing coaches, evaluators, and fans with unique match ups in a team setting in contrast to other club events during the month.

This year had a mix of familiar foes such as St. Rose (NJ), Ossining (NY), and St. John Vianney (NJ), as well as some new additions in Benson Tech (OR), Homestead (IN), and Jeffersonville (IN) and some world-wide worthy opponents like City of London Academy (England) and St.-Laurent (Canada).

In the championship, Ossining defeated Homestead 71-55 to take home the hardware in a game that featured some elite prospects.

Speaking of prospects, here are some to know from this year’s Best of Maryland event. 

Mackenzie Amalia – 2020 – 5-5 – Guard – Blackhawk – Robert Morris commit…Scoring guard…Deceptively quick…Scores in flow of the offense and reads her cuts well…Will pull up for three points if given space…Utilizes her jab well 

Sadaja Bonner – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard – Lady Lancers (St. John Vianney) – Versatile weapon in all facets of the game…Goes up and gets the lob…Uses back screens all day…Attacks the basket…Can double clutch in the air to finish or draw contact…Hit the three ball as well 

Kristen Clemons – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Sacred Heart Academy – Frame and wingspan…Likes to back defenders down off the dribble…Can be relentless in the paint…Goes up with wide elbows to protect and finish over the top…Mobile jump shooter in the 15 foot and 3 point ranges 

Lashae Dwyer – 2021 – 5-8 – Point Guard/Guard – Celtics (The Patrick School) – Extremely athletic…Hang time on the finish is there…Tip drill put back on her own misses…Tough through the leg step back for three…Doesn’t mind initiating contact 

Ciera Ellington – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard – Benson Tech – Big lefty guard…Impressed with athleticism and scoring ability…Great build…Picks your pocket in passing lanes…Strong enough to battle in the paint…Likes the transition game

Nan Garcia – 2020 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – Jeffersonville – Scores in bunches in a variety of ways…Demonstrated a nice stroke…Gets up for some tip in attempts on offensive rebounds…Jump stops through opponents to finish…Freezes defenders and then blows right past…Blocks shots and saves the ball to teammates

Sydney Graber – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – Homestead High School – Wing forward type…Shoots the three…Stronger build…Has a good understanding of her role and the flow of the offense…Rebounds and scores in the paint…Lefty…Good footwork on the finish…Can handle it in transition 

Aubrey Griffin – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard – Ossining High School – Elite combination of natural traits and ability developed…Scorer at all levels…Gets up and slaps the glass on lay ups… Gets to the line…Anticipates defensively one pass away 

Aniyah Hall – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – Glen Oak – Likes the face up game…Shot fake and drive from the perimeter…Has some hops…Looks for the high low…Accelerates with the ball…Gets up for steals in the full court press…Elevates for lob as well…Doesn’t mind banging inside defensively 

Ashlee Harris – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – Sacred Heart Academy – Crafty, vocal combo…Little shake off the bounce to knock down the three…Explosive out of the hesitation…Gets her teammates involved 

Kailah Harris – 2019 – 6-1 – Post – Ossining High School – Footwork on point in the paint…Will release and step around other posts for steals…Will pull up for the jumper…Effort is there on defense 

Ashana Hinds – 2019 – 5-4 – Point Guard – City of London Academy – Smaller point guard…Good floor general…Leadership intangibles…Has put in time to develop handles…Hit the three 

Lauren Lithgow – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Purple Roses (St. Rose) – Army West Point commit…Smooth wrap on the move to evade defenders…Vocal lead guard…Sets the tone for her team

Ornella Bereneice Niankan – 2021 – 5-10 – Forward – St.-Laurent – Good stroke…Some lateral speed…Can get by defenders off the bounce…Vocal…Good energy…Working her in the high post…Likes to step out to the wing to rip and drive

Ayanna Patterson – 2022 – 6-3 – Forward – Homestead High School – Scored in the paint early and very often…Defended all five positions no problem…Had her way on the drive 

Justine Pissott – 2022 – 6-1 – Guard/Forward – Caseys (Red Bank Catholic) – Long limbs…Agile…Handles and court vision of a guard…Spends most of her time on the wing on offense…Hit the three attacking off the ball screen…Very interesting young prospect out of New Jersey 

Mia Jaye Sarkodee-Adoo – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – City of London Academy – Noticeable size and body…A little bouncy…Will take the three…OK finisher…Can run forward and backward up and down the court…Very active…Still adjusting to a different pace…Solid performance 

Madison St. Rose – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – Lady Lancers (St. John Vianney) – Lanky young lefty…Primarily a perimeter player…Worked in paint a little as well…Shoots the three some off the bounce…Can play some point…Versatility helps her stay on the floor…Game is showing early maturity

Caramina Tanedo – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – St. John’s College High School – Lefty wing player…Has grown and started to add to her frame…Shot from three looks good…Good effort defensively 

Grace Van Slooten – 2022 – 6-2 – Guard/Forward – Notre Dame Academy – Nice length…Mobility is there…Range to the arc…Working on finishing through and around defenders…Uses pivot foot and can finish over the shoulder…Shot blocking presence…Brings it up on her own…Moves her feet to guard perimeter players…Varsity experience at a young age