STOCKHOLM, Sweden—While the actual competitive level of play in the Blackeberg Basketball Cup may not have offered the 2019 Blue Star 30 team a cutting edge challenge, there were still plenty of lessons to be learned and observations to make following five games in Stockholm. Anytime a legitimate “elite” team is assembled you’re going to see insightful and revealing characteristics of the players regardless the level of competition they might face. Add in the caveat of just a seven player roster and there’s going to be an even greater level of intimate accountability, even in a 50 point blowout.
The Blue Star 30 team rolled through the Blackeberg Cup competition without being challenged on the scoreboard. Their margin of victory across five games was a gaudy 90.6 points (buoyed by a 150 point scoring eruption on Saturday) leading to a convincing 110 – 40 win in Sunday’s Championship Game against Spanga Basket. It was the fourth time in five games Blue Star 30 topped the 100 point barrier. Ironically, the title match was the most competitive contest the US team faced in pool or bracket play. In front of a full house, the 30’s traded buckets early with Spanga and even trailed by a point midway through the first period. Ultimately, it was a 17 point margin after one, 31 at the half, 44 at the end of the third followed by a 30 – 17 final period effort to lead to the 70 point win. KK Arnold (Germantown, Wisconsin) was named player of the game in the final while Emma Risch was tabbed as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as presented by former Georgia Tech standout and Swedish National Team player Danielle Hamilton Carter.
Earlier in the day Risch, Arnold and their five teammates rolled past Mabas BBK to punch their ticket to the final. Malbas opened in a zone and paid dearly going down 26 -2 after one period and by halftime had given up 50 points. In the end the combination of the prolific scoring from Blue Star 30 and the inability of Malbas to connect on even open looks that allowed the lead to stretch to a commanding 96 – 10 semifinal win.
Across the course of the event all seven players offered up elite level play regardless of opponent and score. They each also provided multiple glimpses of the direction they’re taking their already advanced games. This group responded well to each other on and off the floor coming together to produce some impressive play and teamwork over the course of five games. Making the players around you better has always been a defining description of the athletes that have risen to the top tier among their peers. This group may be young and not ready for the absolute foolishness of rankings yet their efforts in Stockholm had each of them creating and improving options and opportunities for their teammates. While the scoring numbers bordered on the obscene, many of those defining moments came on the defensive end of the floor. When the depth to an elite players skill set extends to both ends of the court you know you’re watching something special. Below are images from Sunday’s two games as well as some brief observations of the Stockholm Seven.
To see our coverage from Friday and Saturday, follow the links below.
https://bluestarmedia.org/blue-star-30-invades-sweden/
https://bluestarmedia.org/blue-star-30-two-games-254-points/
KK Arnold has both the physical and basketball skills to challenge any defender. The speed and quickness are there and very obvious but the ability to makes moves at virtually full speed magnifies their impact. Few players can navigate traffic the way Arnold does once she gets deep into the paint. Even as she weaves among rotating defenders she sees the floor and has the ability to either finish or deliver the interior pass for a teammate’s simple finish. Her form and range require closing out on the catch in turn setting up her penetrating attack on scrambling defenders. While she can control the game from the point on the offensive end, as an on ball defender she’s applying pressure and creating offense from defense. There is the occasional risk taking reach but many more pay off than those that bring the whistle.
It’s not often you feel like you’re watching a player evolve in front of your eyes but it always seems that way with Jadyn Donovan on the floor. The dynamic athletic skills are legitimate and well documented already but their application is more and more refined each time out. It would be difficult to pigeon hole Donovan into a position at this point as she’s not remotely done growing and continues to add both perimeter and interior assets to her game. Always a factor on the boards, she elevates above the crowd and reads the ball well on both ends of the floor. She can finish with contact but will go up again and again battling players with much more size and bulk. It would be nice to see her look for the 15 footer more as the form and touch are there but the jumper seems to take a backseat to penetration and aggressive interior cuts. Defensively she’s a coach’s dream and can play virtually any spot in any scheme.
The only 2024 graduate among the Blue Star 30’s in Stockholm, Kendall Dudley has already proven herself an adept penetrator and scorer. With good size and strength on the perimeter she’s a challenging match up for opposing defenses with her ability to muscle it inside and handle contact to finish. Add to that some always improving individual skills and defenders better possess some quick hands and lateral speed as well. Dudley is playing with more and more patience while picking her spots well. On the pull up she goes up strong and can connect efficiently from the mid-range with eye catching elevation. Standing out even more this time around was her strong and effective on ball defense. Dudley worked at containment and recovered well off quick moves by smaller defenders time and again. Even more impressive was her embracing the role and forcing some quick passes that led to multiple turnovers.
Courtney Ogden has already embraced the trend in a college game that is looking for more physical guards. Already possessing good size and strength, the Atlanta native has no reservations about taking the ball in among the bigs and rolling the dice. Setting up that attack is a solid mix of shot fakes, refined ballhandling and a deceptively quick first step. Don’t mistake that for her not being willing to take the perimeter shot. The tools are there and she’s demonstrated more than once that she can get on a roll. Ogden has a scorers mentality and is looking for her options on the catch. Occasionally she’ll have her made up already taking her into defensive pressure but the tools are also there to get herself out of trouble. Defensively she’s assertive on the ball and has the mobility to take away passes and force opponents backdoor without options.
It’s hard to call a multifaceted player like Emma Risch “quiet” but she’s taking your heart from the tip and before you know it she’s hurt you in the scoring column, on the boards and defensively. The Florida resident is an impact player in multiple ways and on both ends of the floor. Her range and touch have to be respected and require closing out on the catch. Her physical strength is still evolving but she’s handling contact off the drive more and more providing relief from those overplaying her on the perimeter. She’s got some length of her own and can create and enjoy some clean looks even among rotating bigs in traffic. Risch’s impact defensively come from good instincts and anticipation. She has good vision and positioning that allows her to get more than her share of touches and steals. It’s also hard not to note her effort without the ball offensively and on the weakside defensively “quietly” making herself a factor in any game.
Long established and highly regarded Sammie Wagner continues to show off one of the most versatile games for anybody in the class. The size and strength are there and willingly used with consistent success. Go big on her and she’ll step out to three point range and light you up all night long. Put a smaller guard on Wagner and she’s going to get to the rim and more often than not, get to the line as well. Her penetration is more fluid and refined while getting her to the rim time and again. If the help comes she calls on a very impressive vertical that helps her rise above the crowd and knock down the pull up with ease. Defensively she’ll battle for position down low or get in a stance and take away penetration from players thought to be quicker. Setting her apart even more is the consistent intensity and effort. Few bring it on every play on both ends as Wagner does. She’ll take contact, get up and come back for more.
Jada Williams has long been an artist with social media and she’s evolving into one as a point guard as well. Oh, she’s been among the best in the class but the depth to her attack has grown and efficiency of her play is becoming a nightmare for defenses. Quick with the ball, her individual skills allow her to create, develop and improve both shots and passes. While she’s scoring more, it’s also apparent she’s looking more and more to set up and serve her teammates better looks of their own both in the halfcourt and transition. This time out the consistency of her perimeter shooting and range were on display to the dismay of opposing teams. On occasion the shot selection looks like modern art but more often than not her decision making is serving her and her team well. On the ball defensively she can dig in and harass opposing ballhandlers with both quick feet and hands. Williams is the kind of players that’s simply going to make plays.
