WAUKEGAN, Ill.—The first annual Blue Star 30 has brought together not only some of the premier young prospects from the US and abroad, it also features some of the most respected and credentialed instructors you’ll find working with players on the scholastic level.  As we mentioned in our previous coverage, Dr. Anthony Pappas and his staff lay claim to over a combined 150 years of head coaching experience and are providing in-depth and detailed skill work in all aspects of the game.

For a quick look at each of the participants the staff is working with follow the link below to Saturday’s post.

http://www.bluestarmedia.org/next-blue-star-30/

With that level of talent and that caliber of coaching you’re bound to see some promising performances in this first-of-its-kind setting.  Keeping in mind that the class range of participants extends from 2020 to 2022, there’s a bright horizon in the gym.  Here’s a quick synopsis from the first two days of work for each member of this special group.

Amirah Abdur-Rahim – Marietta, Georgia – 2020 – Forward – Long, lean athlete…Smooth and fluid…Wingspan is big asset defensively…Can put it on the floor to a degree…Reactionary defender rather than proactive…Needs to be more consistently assertive …Lots of potential

Jade Blasgrove – Barendrecht, The Netherlands – 2021 – Wing / Forward – Sound athlete…Room for physical growth…First step is there from the high post or wing…Reads defenders…Rough edges but tools

KK Bransford – Cincinnati, Ohio – 2022 – Point Guard – Dynamic young point…Wiry build…Quickness plus…Looking to attack…Knifes through traffic…Lateral speed and active hands on defense…Major promise

Kalaya Buggs – Compton, California – 2021 – Point Guard – Physically strong…Solid build…Decent ballhandling…Can get into traffic…Spot up range…Aggressive on ball defensively

Maddie Burke – Doylestown, Pennsylvania – 2020 – Guard – Well established…Deceptively strong with some size at guard…Can create her own…Gets up on the pull up as plus the deep jumper…Tools to be physical defensively…Top tier

Kayla Cooper – Frederick, Maryland – 2020 – Forward – Aggressive and strong…Attacking mentality…Plays with lots of effort on both ends…Can get to the rim…Not afraid to mix it up…Has maturity in her play

Caroline Ducharme – Milton, Massachusetts – 2021 – Guard – Slight build…Has some length and room to grow in the backcourt…Can slash and develop her own looks off the dribble…Impressive instincts…Watch closely

Daylee Dunn – San Ramon, California – 2020 – Guard – Active in the backcourt with good length to her size…Has the ballhandling to penetrate in the halfcourt or transition…Perimeter shot needs some refinement for consistency…Quick footwork defensively

Elauna Eaton – Jonesboro, Arkansas – 2020 – Guard – Active and quick guard…Nice size…Lefty with strong individual skills…Showed some range at times…Relies on the dribble somewhat too much at times

Shanice Flitton – London, England – 2021 – Forward – Great size and build…Demonstrated some mobility with and without the ball…Efficient around the rim…Not afraid of physical play

Azzi Fudd – Arlington, Virginia – 2021 – Combo – High profile prospect…Mixes up her attack off the dribble…Reads defenders and making better choices…Fluid stroke with good elevation…Physically cut and strong defender

Jada Grannum – Mississauga, Ontario – 2020 – Post – Great size and build…Decent athleticism…Moves well without the ball…Sound post moves with some rough edges…Plays with effort

Rain Green – Baltimore, Maryland – 2020 – Point Guard – Well known…Attacking point guard…Strong ballhandling and passing skills…Gets deep in the paint at will…Can change direction on a dime at full speed…Comfortable taking it at the bigs

Treasure Hunt – Chattanooga, Tennessee – 2020 – Wing / Guard – Continues to advance her game…Good size and athleticism at the wing or big guard spot…First step has length and creates options for her…Handles bigger defenders as they rotate…Defends

Jayla Kelly – Chesterfield, Missouri – 2020 – Post – Big bodied post with great size…Willing to mix things up on both ends of the floor…Posts up hard…Quick first step for her size…Can get off a contested shot against opposing bigs…Passed the ball well at times

Katelyn Levings – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – 2020 – Forward – Nice length with a lean build…May be a “true” #4…Can put it on the floor to a degree…Sees the court and anticipates well off ball defensively…Strength will need to come

Ariel Loiter – Singapore – 2020 – Point Guard – Focused and skilled…Smart player with a good understanding of the game…Refined ballhandling…Smooth stroke…Needs to be challenged to sharpen application of skills…Effort is no issue

Natalija Marshall – Brooklyn, New York – 2020 – Forward – Long, lean and athletic…Had lots of moments…First step…Strong ball skills for size…Good crossover off the drive…Has both a pull up and floater…Could be more physical on defense

Elizabeth Martino – Lanham, Maryland – 2020 – Guard – Continues to earn her reputation…Aggressive and attacking on the catch…Makes herself an option on the break but creates her own in the halfcourt as well…Reading better off the drive…Doesn’t need much room to exploit defensive mistakes…Consistency will be key

Kirsten McGrath – Hamilton, Ontario – 2020 – Point Guard – Lefty point guard…Textbook ball skills…Smooth fluid stroke on the spot up…Rushed at times when contested…Aggressive on ball defensively but needs a bigger cushion on close outs

Jordyn Merritt – Plano, Texas – 2020 – Wing / Forward – Great combination of size and athleticism…Constant motion…Effective off the drive from the high post or trail transition spot…Gets on the boards…Lots of versatility on the defensive end

Julianna Okosun – Broendby, Denmark – 2020 – Post – Eye catching size and build…Willing to work…Has not been challenged at this level of play…Things are evolving but still a thought rather than a reaction…Keep watching

Sydney Parrish – Fishers, Indiana – 2020 – Guard – Continues a great spring and summer…Depth of offensive attack challenges any defenders…Quick catch and shoot with lots of range…Ballhandling is efficient and gets her deep in traffic…Much better athlete than first impressions…Among the elite

Khylee Pepe – Long Beach, California – 2021 – Guard / Wing – Physically strong at the #2 and #3…Methodical but productive with the ball in her hands…Patient on the catch…Solid choices…Physical defender but needs to give the quicker guards some space on the catch

Kateri Poole – New York, New York – 2020 – Point Guard – Guard with the tools to create options for herself and teammates…Not afraid of rotation from opposing bigs…Interior passing is sharp…Must become more of a factor without the ball in her hands…More there than she’s showing

Angel Reese – Randallstown, Maryland – 2020 – Forward – Lean, long and very athletic…Plays with an assertiveness…Impressive speed with the ball for her size…Spot up shooter who can get off the floor…Active and productive defensively…Just tapping into lots of potential

Alexis Stewart – Hamilton, Ontario – 2020 – Guard – Combo with sound skills…Looks for opportunities to penetrate…Upright at times on her drive…Decent form on shot…Needs to anticipate more on both ends

Cameron Williams – Chicago, Illinois – 2020 – Wing / Forward – Nice athleticism and build…Agile and fluid both with and without the ball…Cuts hard…Tools are there to defend…Willing to work down low or away from the rim…Lots of versatility