Blue Star League races across the finish line in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – With July once again racing across the finish line, it was time once again for the Blue Star Travel Teams to conclude their summer circuit and crown their champions.

While the summer of COVID-19 provided some obstacles for teams and clubs with travel restrictions and quarantine orders, there was still business to be settled on the court, and USJN’s Windy in Indy 2020 was the destination for a large portion of the 40+ Blue Star Travel Team affiliates.

On the rising senior circuit, dubbed The Blue Star League, it was Ohio United and the Dayton Lady Hoopstars who reigned supreme out of their 11 team divisions to set up a big showdown for Sunday’s championship contest. A balanced team effort engineered by gritty point guard Ivy Wolf (Miami OH University commit), strong three point shooting, and great play inside from 2021 prospect Dana Rose helped Dayton knock off a talented Ohio United club, 48-39. United is loaded with underclassmen, headlined by 2022 6’3 wing/forward Ayanna Patterson and 2023 lead guard Sole Williams, so one can expect them to be a contender once again next year. In the battle of second place squads, it was the Illinois Lady Lightning 17 Platinum under Coach Mike Seberger that closed their league play with a victory, topping a very game Team Factory squad out of Nebraska, 56-46.

The Blue Star Travel Team Junior League featured a lot of younger high school players from the various Blue Star Travel Team programs. This age bracket provides some of those players who are soon to arrive on the top circuit. Heart of Illinois and Team Factory’s 16U teams made it through league play unscathed, priming us all for a match-up of undefeated adversaries on Championship Sunday. In a well-coached, well-played final, Heart of Illinois emerged victorious, 54-51, behind standout versatile 2022 prospects Katie Krupa (Harvard commit) and Ella Lune. Take nothing away from the solid 2022 back court duo of Mya Larson and Bailey Kissinger.

Last, but certainly not least, in the Rising Blue Star League, it was Heart of Illinois once again taking a victory lap. Even with the champion already decided, the closing game featured a rematch from an exciting Friday afternoon match up that ended on a buzzer beater. The champion Heart of Illinois 14 National took on the Wisconsin Lakers 13U. Once again, this one did not disappoint, and came down to the closing moments as the Lakers reversed fortunes and held on 39-37 to close the weekend. There were plenty of players on the floor who are just scratching the surface of their basketball playing days. For Heart of Illinois, the guard play was outstanding all weekend, led by Alayah Sprattling, Mya Wardle, and Kamryn Heider. Wisconsin’s roster is all 2025 prospects, and keep an eye on twins Amy and Anna Terrian, along with forward Makenna Christian.

Now, in honor of the completion of another year on the Blue Star circuit, here are some of the top performers from some of the Blue Star Travel Team affiliates who played in Indianapolis. We saw many more than the ones mentioned, but as always, here are a few names to know.

JJ Barnes – 2025 – 5-7 – Guard – Wisconsin Playground Elite 14 – Hooper…Nice scoop pass in traffic to a cutting post player…Great athlete…Loves to work in the high post area and create all sorts of mismatches…Some old school to her game…Accelerates quickly with the ball in her hands

Faith Burch – 2021 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Ohio Xtreme 17 – Cleveland State commit…Nice wingspan helps on D in a big way…Versatility to like as she’s not fearful of working in the paint…Wants to get to the cup…Good defensive communication

Lexie Carlsen – 2024 – 5-6 – Guard – M14 Hoops 14 – Stock riser heading in to high school years…Surprises you with some nice ups…Can string makes from beyond the arc…Gets to the rack when she has to…Great energy…Playmaker on the defensive side of the ball

Brooke Carlson – 2024 – 5-8 – Point Guard – M14 Hoops 14 – Mature beyond her years at the point…Nice job of maintaining floor spacing…Great footwork to navigate traffic and finish…Will hurt you from three and pull up if you go under on the ball screens…Excellent intangibles…Flies around defensively in the press

Ariyana Cradle – 2026 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Ohio United 12 – Slices and dices through traffic with her dribbling…Has a presence and willing to speak up…Hustles on D and has a nose for the ball…One to pay attention to

Kate Dennis – 2021 – 6-1 – Guard – Illinois Elite 17 – Does a little bit of everything…Size and length at her position helps…Attacks with pace and intent…Catch and shoot is there…Ohio commit

Carley Duffney – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – Wisconsin Purple Aces 17 – South Dakota commit always puts up numbers…Lots of drives end with the basket plus one with her physical finishing…Vocal…Knows how to play…Uses the up and under inside…Just goes hard the whole game

Braelyn Even – 2026 – 5-9 – Guard – Cincy Heat Premier 13 – Advanced skill set and understanding puts her on the map in a big way…Anticipates well on defense, leading to tons of steals and deflections…Moves without the ball…Threads the needle with passes…Jump shot is still a bit of a project but she can hit a contested pull up at times…Literally all over the court it seems like…Hard to believe how young she is

Gracie Grzesk – 2024 – 5-10 – Wing/Forward – Wisconsin Purple Aces 14 – Consistent and versatile player heading into the high school years…Communication with the ball screen defense is there, and she can fight through screens herself…Scored in different ways, including attacking in transition and posting up…Good deny defender out on the perimeter…Helped her team to a championship game appearance

Alaina Harper – 2022 – 6-3 – Forward – Wisconsin Lakers 17 White – Takes 2-3 dribbles to start the break off a rebound…Finishes inside…Showed the ability to go up and get rebounds in crowded areas

Aniyah Heavens – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Northwest Magic 17 Huff – Tough kid…Likes to drive and can finish through some contact…Some swag to her game…Wants to break down defenders off the dribble…Will challenge people on D as well

Destiny Jackson – 2025 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Illinois Elite 15 Gold – Quick little PG…Can really get hot and run off multiple 3’s in a row, so definitely shoots it well enough to play off the ball…Mid range game is smooth and fluid for age…Shoots it with a hand up no problem…Lots of confidence and awareness…Hang time to finish despite size

Bailey Kissinger – 2022 – 5-8 – Combo Guard – Team Factory 16 National – Skilled combo guard…Nice scoop finish on the drive…Speaks to her teammates when she has the ball…Also vocal on D…Complete player at point guard…Transition passes on point…Lefty…Shot still working but did hit the pull up

Katie Krupa – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – Heart of Illinois 16 – Recent Harvard commit…Standout player who is built for the 4 but drives and shoots with the top guards…Pushes with pace…Very effective inside and out

Ella Lune – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing Forward – Heart of Illinois 16 – Has those go-go gadget arms…Made some nice step through moves in the post…Will fake hand off and spin to attack the rack…Nice showing…Face up forward for the next level

Alexis Maridis – 2024 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Illinois Lady Lightning Bronze – Small in stature but does some nice things…Nice rotation on the shot and she will get up her share of jumpers…Vocal at the point…Has the ball on a string…See if there’s a growth spurt

Karly McCord – 2022 – 6-2 – Post – Team Factory 17 National – Pick and roll kid…Good size…Super long legs…Moves fine…Still room to develop…Will duck in and seal big inside

Mykayla Moran – 2022 – 6-4 – Post – Indy Magic 16 – Big post with a college-ready frame…Solid mobility but didn’t see her do a ton offensively…Keeps it high to try to finish…Potential to level up still with this size

Alyssa Neumann – 2025 – 5-11 – Forward – Northwest Magic 13 – Taller youngster who is starting to add and grow her perimeter skills…Goes coast to coast with the ball some…Plays hard…Pulls her share of rebounds…Putting things together and trending in a good direction

Ayanna Patterson – 2022 – 6-3 – Wing/Forward – Ohio United 17 Jeter – Gets up by the rim to pull down a bevy of rebounds…Grown woman business out there…Guard like handles are elite…One of the best players in any gym she’s in…Triple double threat is real

Halli Poock – 2023 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Team Iowa 15 Elite – Solid athlete at the PG spot…Attacks with a purpose…Vocal and plays position…Likes to elevate off 2 feet to finish…Nice hesitation and blow by…Nice player…Shot still needs work but can hit a 3…Slick with the ball

Narrie Powers – 2024 – 6-1 – Forward – Wisconsin Playground Elite 14 – Nice looking interior player at this age…Cuts hard to score…Will shoot that trail three…Good activity rate…Definitely one to watch

Amanda Roach – 2022 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Michigan Mystics 16 Ruh – Sleeper alert…Kid that just makes things happen, especially off the dribble…Clutch is the word…Has the ability to score herself or make the right read when the help comes…Calls out the offense and really takes the lead…Threw the pass fake and then stuck the three, ice cold…Really good weekend for her

Dana Rose – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Dayton Lady Hoopstars 17 Premier – Wonderful showing in the Blue Star Travel Team League title game…Strong moves inside…Driver from the wing…Changes pace on her cuts so well to get open…Scores in the flow of the offense…Short corner catch and attack into a reverse lay in

Madisyn Saracco – 2023 – 5-10 – Wing – IL Lady Lightning Platinum Martinez – Likes to bang in the post…Some upper body strength she knows how to use…Can move her feet on D…Handles to drive or pull up on the perimeter

Molly Scott – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Dayton Lady Hoopstars 16 – Good size and frame…Works in post…Faces up in the high post…Will duck in and score in the high-low game too…Still figuring some things out but a productive player

Ameia Smith – 2024 – 6-1 – Forward – Ohio Xtreme 14 – Soft hands and taps rebounds to herself with the reach…Solid finisher…Can’t miss size…Seeks out rebounds and able to elevate and go get them

Lauren Sollom – 2022 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Michigan Mystics 16 Ruh – Expect her stock to hit a steep incline the way she’s playing lately…Snagging passes with one hand to finish in transition…Perfectly apt for the wing…Sprints the floor…Put on a transition lay-up display on more than one occasion…Wiling to set screens and roll into a post position…Shot is coming along nicely, especially in the free throw line area

Alayna Soukup – 2022 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Illinois Elite 16 – Makes things happen at the PG spot…Gets her teammates in a position to score…Does some nice things

Alayah Sprattling – 2024 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Heart of Illinois 14 National – Always has been a wizard with the ball…Like how she shows patience coming off ball screens…Willing to feed it inside…Uses the dribble to create passing opportunities…Continues to mature…Hit a big game winner off the drive in the closing seconds

Amy Terrian – 2025 – 5-7 – Guard – Wisconsin Lakers 13 White – Long and strong for her age…Active defensively…Can handle and attack well in transition…Likes to push tempo and makes sound decisions…Shot looks good…Contains well on D, even the quick smaller point guards

Jaden Tucker – 2024 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Ohio United 14 Wallace – Plenty of quickness and yet very patient at the point…Working on the pull up from the extended range…Keeps the offense moving…Chance to be a nice player

Kanyla Tyler – 2024 – 5-6 – Point Guard – West Michigan Drive 14 Copeland – Tons of quickness on display…If you put her on the foul line she will make you pay…Can get on a roll with the drive and go to work for lengths of time…Great performance in a championship game

Carlie Vick – 2022 – 6-2 – Post – Blue Star St. Louis 16 – Ball really sticks to her hands on the catch, even on difficult passes…Then turns and finishes…Steps out on the catch well…Does a variety of work in the post offensively…Good passer

Bella Ward – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Ohio United 17 Jeter – Really competes and bangs down in the paint…Coaches seeking a forward with a motor, here’s an answer….Will face up away from the basket and drive…Cleans things up inside…Runs floor…Strong showing in championship game was telling

Mya Wardle – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – Heart of Illinois 14 National – Still needs to fill out come high school but has a nice frame to go with a pretty diverse skill set…Gets by people off the bounce and has developed a tool belt of finishes…Reads situations well to make some split second decisions…Makes the players around her better…Tough competitor

Arieonna Ware – 2021 – 5-11 – Guard – West Michigan Drive 17 – Good build…College ready physically…Driver…No issues with contact as she goes to the rim

Brandi Washington – 2024 – 5-2 – Point Guard – MN Crossfire 13 – Gets to the rack frequently…Plenty of trips to the foul line and makes them…Smaller right now but some time to grow…Has a little glide to her game…Starting to find her voice as a PG

Ivy Wolf – 2021 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Dayton Lady Hoopstars 17 Premier – Miami (OH) commit is as tough as the come at the point…Really makes her team go…Just keeps playing, totally unphased…Scored on the drive…Left it all out there in a championship victory

Dejah Yankaway – 2025 – 5-9 – Forward – IL Lady Mean Streets 14 – Lanky athlete inside…A forward for now but would need to grow to stay inside…Still raw but does some high end movements…Hard to overlook at times