LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The first step was Waukegan, Illinois in 2016. Another group was added in 2017 taking the floor in the Gaylord Center located in National Harbor, Maryland. This time around we’re in “Sin City” and it’s a safe bet that “what happens in Vegas” most likely won’t stay in Vegas.
Including a large majority of the 2016 and 2017 Blue Star 30 participants, over 100 highly regarded and very promising prospects accepted invitations to be a part of the 2018 edition of this elite event in Las Vegas. While the Division I recruiters are still “grounded” by the NCAA until next week, you can bet they’re paying close attention to the names they know and even some of those they don’t as coverage flows out of the Tarkanian Center.
To see day one coverage from Las Vegas, follow the link below.
https://bluestarmedia.org/blue-star-30-las-vegas-day-one/
The advent of Blue Star 30 raised the bar to new heights for select invitational events. Each and every participant was carefully evaluated and selected by Mike Flynn with the help of all those in the Blue Star, USJN, Blue Star Media and Blue Star Europe families. The talent level extends well beyond just the athletes themselves. Headed up by highly regarded skills instructor Dr. Anthony Pappas, the likes of Mary Klinger, Teri Morrison, Yvonne Sanchez, Kristen Cole and many more roam the sidelines with resumes’ including USA Basketball, the McDonald’s All-American Game, NCAA head and assistant coaching experience as well as a litany of championships at multiple levels. Flynn’s own Blue Star / USJN staff also carries credentials of actual hands on coaching experience unequaled by any group working across the landscape of girls grassroots basketball. The elite players of Blue Star 30 are surrounded by insight and real world perspective that will help elevate their games leading into the next chapter of their basketball careers.
Adding to that mix Thursday was Las Vegas Aces point guard Lindsay Allen. The second year WNBA player, a Notre Dame graduate, has also added a season of professional play in Russia to her long list of accomplishments and had some thoughts, ideas and answers for those players hoping to one day follow in her footsteps. On tap Saturday is the gold standard for color analysts in women’s basketball Debbie Antonelli. Nobody behind the microphone has more respect among “true” basketball people than the former North Carolina State Wolfpack standout who played for the legendary Kay Yow. It’s a return engagement for Antonelli as she was on hand last year in National Harbor for Blue Star 30 2017. Making Saturday even more educational as well as entertaining will be an evening watching the Lindsay Allen, A’ja Wilson, Kayoa McBride and the rest of the Aces take on Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks. Following the game Odyssey Sims and Alana Beard of the Sparks will spend some time with the Blue Star 30 athletes.
The 3 on 3 qualifying tournament presented by Metropath that began Wednesday evening wrapped up Thursday morning with two teams claiming crowns in their respective divisions. Each earns the right to move on to USA Basketball qualifying next spring by way of their success in Vegas this week. The team of Olivia Cochran (2020-Georgia), Madison Hayes (2020-Tennessee), Treasure Hunt (2020-Tennessee) and Raven Johnson (2021-Georgia) claimed one share of the qualifying bragging rights. Earning their own ticket to move on was the team of Greta Kampschroeder (2021-Iowa), Ines Piper (2020-France), Ally VanTimmeren (2021-Michigan) and Payton Verhulst (2021-Kansas). The two squads faced off in a “for fun” match up to earn Blue Star 30 honors with Cochran, Hayes, Hunt and Johnson coming out on top.
