CHICAGO, IL – Summer basketball made its long-awaited return to the Windy City as the 1st leg of the July NCAA Evaluation period carried us up I-65 for USJN’s Blue Star Nationals.
The event featured many members of the vaunted Blue Star League who brought their full programs, 14U and up to the Chicago suburbs to compete and to be seen. With a competitive pool play structure that crossed the Blue Star League’s normal Divisional structure, we were treated to some unique match-ups that had yet to be seen this club season. There were even several teams who stepped up and competed against older competition, such as the Philadelphia Belles 16U squad that played up and fought to the end in the championship game against All Ohio Xpress with plenty of big eyes watching!
For full event results and Pool All-Stars, here’s the link to the post event page:
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=735
And shout out to the teams that took championship banners back home from Blue Star Nationals 2021!!!
All Ohio Xpress 17
WI Elite 16 Johnson
Tri-County Hoopers 17
Dayton Lady Hoopstars 17 Premier
Michigan Premier 15 Blue
Iowa Kingdom Hoops 15 Elite
Candice Dupree 16 Phenoms
New England Crusaders 17 Platinum
Wisconsin Playground Elite 14 Smith
We had a whole team of evaluators and media staff in attendance from start to finish. Here are just a handful of the players that caught our eyes over the three day event.
Queen Adams – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – GA Pearls 16 National – Intriguing athletically…Can defend the 1-4…Pogo stick hops…Plenty of versatility here
Makayla Arnold – 2023 – 6-4 – Post/Forward – GA Pearls 16 National – One to watch from a program that’s used to producing bigs…Physically imposing and starting to assert her will…Runs the floor well…Developing as a back to basket threat
Donyeil Bolton – 2022 – 6-3 – Post – Chicago Hoops Express 17 Silver – Huge post…Don’t let the size fool you she can move…Good instincts…Size is the big sticking point right now
Leah Brown – 2023 – 5-8 – Point Guard – ABC Lightning Performance 16 – A bit of a gunslinger quarterback at the point guard spot…Very bouncy, and no doubt athletic enough to compete against high level PG’s…Doesn’t hold the ball too long…Denies well on defense
Gabby Casey – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 16 Steidle – Scrappy guard who really broke out and played well in the championship game against an older team…Gamer in her…Likes to drive but hits the three too…Goes harder and tougher than her competition and that sticks out
Jalynn Clark – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – Team Sharp 17 – Forward who will face and go or nail the open jumper from beyond the arc…Runs and jumps well…Super long
Nyaluak Dak – 2024 – 6-2 – Post – Nebraska Team Factory 15 National – Magnetic hands…Strong upper body…Finishes over the shoulder…A presence in the paint here
Jayliah Davis – 2025 – 6-1 – Forward – KS Eclipse 17 Blue Star – Good height and length in the paint…Collects the ball and starts the break, both off deflections and rebounds…Looked good going coast to coast out there…Has the tools…Playing up and making an impact
Te’Yala Delfosse – 2024 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Team Sharp 16 Blue – Athletic potential is real…Nice frame, just needs filling out…Can block shots…Rebounds in traffic…Finishes solid
Makenzie Farmer – 2025 – 5-7 – Guard – KS Eclipse 15 Blue Star – Nice shooting guard to watch from Mid America…Has the build and gets better every time we see her…Can log some minutes at the point as well
Kloe Froebe – 2024 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Illinois Elite 17 National – Trusty point guard with plenty of spunk on the floor…Shoots the pull up well and can get hot from three point land…Checks a lot of the boxes at the PG spot…Skill level and mental approach make her elite
Savannah Gage – 2025 – 5-9 – Guard – Kingdom Hoops 15 – Solid first step to the rim…Looks like she will perhaps grow a little more…Really feeling the dump offs…Talks on D well
Sarah Gatwech – 2025 – 6-0 – Wing – Nebraska Team Factory 14 – Bucket-getter…Hit multiple three’s in a short spurt…Step back J was nasty in a good way…Have her guarding the other team’s best player too
Kemariah Gerton – 2025 – 5-3 – Point Guard – All Ohio Xpress 15 – Her play was instrumental in helping lead her team to the championship game…Can really drop buckets out there, especially attacking right…Pounds the rock with an array of flashy handles…Some highlight reel stuff here…Zippy passes…A playmaker to know
Ryley Goebel – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Team Iowa 17 Elite – UNI commit has those go-go gadget arms…Shot fake and drive from the outside is a preference…Nice double clutch in mid air to finish…Very good to the rim…Hard to shoot over her if she’s on you
Kali Haizlip – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – NW Magic 17 Huff – A tweener but the athleticism is undeniable…Likes to set screens and get people open…Physical specimen and some big feet…Pull up jumper is tight, compact, and quick…Also gets into the floaters a bit
Claire Henson – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing – Dayton Lady Hoopstars – Flies around on defense and leaves her mark on the game in that way for sure…Toughness to her…Stays within herself and the flow of the game well…Doesn’t try to do too much, but stuffs a stat sheet like it’s Thanksgiving
Leyah Houston – 2023 – 5-11 – Forward – Candice Dupree 16 Phenoms – Helped guide an athletic squad to a championship with her play…Tremendous athleticism catching lobs in traffic…Works to make an footprint on the game defensively…Plenty of basketball ahead for her
Nakiyah Hurst – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing – Wisconsin Playground Elite 17 – Big bully…Footwork on the finish is there…Big smooth with the rock and hits the spin cycle to finish…Just needs to add a faster motor and develop the jumper as another option
Destiny Jackson – 2025 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Illinois Elite 17 Diamond – Still maturing in some ways but a very good young player…Three ball has been lethal for years…Can take over games when she’s at her best…Journey continues
Amani Jenkins – 2025 – 6-2 – Forward – Kingdom Hoops 15 – Has an eye for blocking opportunities…Still learning to finish through people but shows some nice contested lay ups…Stroke on the foul line lends itself to her becoming viable in the mid range…Still way more layers here to be tapped into as she learns and works
Blessing King – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – All Ohio Xpress 17 – High end athletic traits are all in place…Finds a way to the basket…Position-less player, just goes out and plays…Tons of boards…One dribble off the rip and she’s already at the rim…Throws the high low…Lockdown gritty defender
Jenna Lillard – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing – Blue Star Kentucky – Gritty player…Embraces rebounding and has the ups to pull down some strong ones…Handles well on the break and makes some nice cross court passes to teammates on the run
Aria Mazza – 2025 – 5-5 – Combo Guard – Chicago Hoops Express 14 – Nice things going toward the basket…Like the runner…Shot creator at a young stage…Can be fun to watch
Keona McGee – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – Wisconsin Playground Elite 15 Smith – Stocky guard…Goes out and gets shot attempts a tall three levels…Likes to go off the bounce…Seems to welcome physical play
Abby Miser – 2024 – 6-3 – Post – Team Sharp 16 Blue – Young post to know…Built like a brick wall…Keeps her hands up on D…Working on her move set inside…Will definitely be a name we hear more from
Sierra Moore – 2023 – 6-1 – Forward – Team Iowa 16 Elite – Really uses the pivot well to get out of trouble…Consistent contributor on the glass…Runs down loose balls…Fights to get around in front in the post
Mykayla Moran – 2022 – 6-3 – Post – Indy Magic 17 – Will sit down on the block and make herself a target for her guards…Capable in a ball screen pairing…Hands are fine, more adept finishing right as of now
Kyla Oldacre – 2022 – 6-6 – Post – All Ohio Xpress 17 – Our pick for MVP of the entire event…Just a main eventer in the paint…Big diesel player who makes an enormous impact on games…So mobile out setting screens…Have to put two on her on the block, at least
Mya Scoff – 2023 – 5-10 – Wing – Nebraska Team Factory 16 National – Solid skill set on the wing…Adept at getting to the cup, piling up plenty of opportunities at the rim…Puts her body on the line for her team time and time again, so love the heart
Alaila Thomas – 2024 – 5-10 – Wing – MD Liberty Excel 16 – Loads of potential out on the wing…Shoots three and gets to the rim, so can hurt you either way…Still coming into her own…Keep an eye out for her down the line
Lilly Toppen – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard – IN Showcase 17 – Fluid from the feet up shooting the three ball…Great rotation too…Played well all week…Length is there, now just needs to get stronger…Playing her way up the ladder a bit as a small high school kid hopping on a big national stage
Daniah Trammell – 2025 – 6-2 – Post – All Ohio Xpress 15 – Athletic post player…Has a little peal back move…Built to play this game…Can become a beast on the boards in the near future…Likely one who will be on the radar early
Sydney Vis – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing – West Michigan Drive 17 – Stronger wing who yields point production…Scores inside and out…Going to get shots in the lane, either on the attack or posting…Game has really grown in the past year
Gianna Vollrath – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Wisconsin Playmakers 17 – Legitimate, sturdy build…Face up forward flexed her versatility and skill set here…Handles and passes like a guard
Sarah Weddington – 2023 – 6’0 — Wing/Forward – Blue Star Kentucky 17 West – Has the build and skillset to face up inside or score from the perimeter…Comfortable handling the ball…Buried the three…Wraps it up tight to finish drives…Does some nice things
Kyleigh Welsh – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – Team Candice Dupree 17 – Frame is ready made for college basketball…Can sit down and move her feet well to defend the drive…Posts hard at times
Melissa Whitmore – 2022 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – New England Crusaders 17 – Proficient in the art of scoring…Jumper is there…Will shot fake and pull up if you close out poorly…Gets all the way to the basket too, with some ease…Very locked in…Can defend inside and out
Diamond Wright – 2025 – 5-10 – Forward – NW Magic 16 – Some very solid moments throughout…Nice job pressuring and containing ball handlers on the perimeter…Some nice buckets driving from the high post
