AUGUSTA, Ga.– Lisa Bodine and Prentice Beverly offer up a few more of the standouts from the seventh annual Blue Star Nationals. Competition featured 48 teams representing 26 states including eight teams from Nike sponsored programs. Twelve pools led to three separate bracket champions. Almost 400 individual coaches represented more than 200 universities over three days at the Augusta Convention Center.
Follow the link below to earlier coverage of Blue Star Nationals.
http://bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/945-7th-annual-blue-star-nationals
For complete results, pool all-stars and other post event information, follow the link below to the USJN web site.
http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_photos_new.php?which=267
Briana Sullivan – 6-0 – 2015 – Fairfax Stars – Sullivan has a blue collar game that basketball purist will appreciate. She is the classic “tweener” who is has the physicality to be successful down low but also has the athletic ability to play away from the basket. She creates match up problems because she can pull her defender away from the basket and score with an 8-10 foot jumper, she can also score off the bounce with her ability to create space with her dribble. Sullivan brings a tremendous amount of energy to the court and demonstrated that she is willing and able to do what it takes to make her team successful. – LB
Natalia Bruening – 6-3 – 2016 – West Coast Premier – Bruening has a long build with a nice wing span. Although she is thin she handles herself well in the paint, whether she is going up to snatch a rebound off the glass or blocking a shot. She runs the floor in transition and keeps her hands ready to catch the ball and get to the rim. Bruening has a nice upside and will be a welcome addition to a college roster. – LB
Tamara Henshaw – 6-0 – 2016 – Blue Star Florida Elite This 6 footer showed a lot of versatility with her ability to play the 3 or the 4 position. Her back-to-the-basket moves are advanced, she understands how to set up to receive a pass and is decisive when she executes a pivot move. She is quick on her feet and goes up strong when she is laying the ball up. Coaches with appreciate her ability to see the floor pass out of double teams in the paint. Henshaw is attentive on defense, she stays on her toes and is agile enough to get to the perimeter and close out shooters. – LB
Devon Adams 6-3 – 2018 – NY Belles – Although she was one of the youngest players in the tournament, Devon Adams handled herself well against club circuit veterans. Adams has a great set of hands which allow her to keep the ball secure. With her back to the basket on offense she uses her lower body to get position and squares up to the ball ready to catch. Right she is strong enough to back her defender down the lane and score from the low block. With attention to overall conditioning Adams has the chance to be have a great career as a true center. – LB
Ahyiona Vason is a feisty player that has all the intangibles that coaches love. The 5-4 point guard attacked the rim and either produced in the paint or dropped dimes to her teammates. The 2016 grad did a good job running the floor and finished well off the break. She also displayed a nice tear drop floater in traffic. Defensively, Vason did an excellent job jumping into the passing lanes as well as creating havoc defensively on perimeter. Simply put, she finds a way to make plays to help her team win. This is small guard with a big heart and a knack for making big plays. – PB
The movie The Perfect Storm comes to mind when you watch 2015 Nikki McDonald go to work on the floor. The right combination of things comes together for her at just the right time making the 6-0 wing a handful for opposing teams. McDonald’s size and basketball aptitude were on full display this past weekend in Norcross. The multitude of drills provided plenty of opportunity to see the vast array and very deep set of skills that are at her disposal. She created off the dribble and was effective in traffic both on the shot or pass. She knocked down multiple treys coupled with consistency gives McDonald a complete package. Defensively she made plays while being aggressive on and off the ball. – PB
