MINNEAPOLIS, MN – After back-to-back years of COVID related delays, Blue Star Saturday debuted with a bang last weekend at Hopkins High School in Minneapolis, the host city for this year’s NCAA DI Women’s Basketball Final Four.
Almost 200 players hailing from over 35 states participated in the free event, ranging from current seniors all the way down to one young lady who is wrapping up her 4th grade year.
Teams were split into middle school and high school divisions, and after warm ups, a jam-packed schedule of All-Star Games filled the day. To make the games even more interesting, the teams played by the Blue Star 7 rules and scoring, which is designed to improve pace of play and reward things such as shot selection and shot making.
We also had 14 of our current Blue Star 30 players in attendance:
Olivia Jones, 2025, PA
Tori Oehrlein, 2026, MN
Ellie Cerf, 2024, NY
Aubrey Galvan, 2025, IL
Amaia Jackson, 2025, NY
Narissa Smith, 2025, MA
Kyla Hayes, 2025, NY
Marisa Taylor, 2026, GA
Maya Makalusky, 2025, IN
Katie Fiso, 2024, WA
Kailah Correa, 2025, PA
Kate Allard, 2025, NH
Lauren Hassell, 2027, TN
Renita Harris, 2023, FL
The 30’s worked the event and coached the All-Star teams before participating in a pair of games of their own.
To wrap the event, a three-point contest was held, and after a few closely contested rounds, 2025 6’3 wing Maya Makalusky was named the Three-Point Champion, going 90% in the final round from deep.
As we continue to emerge from the pandemic era, we set our eyes to next year’s NCAA DI Women’s Basketball Final 4 in Dallas. We look forward to year 2 of Blue Star Saturday in the Lone Star State, and plans are already in the works!
And now, of course, it is time to highlight just a handful of the standouts that caught my attention in Minneapolis. We look forward to spending our spring and summer in the gym covering the club basketball season. It’s a wonderful time of the year!
Addison Bjorn – 2026 – 6-0 – Wing – Missouri – Plenty of growth on top of what she’s been showing thus far already…Really smooth on the attack…Goes hard the whole time she’s on the floor…Good poise and patience already at her age…Tons of deflections and steals on D…Tough finishes…A unique prospect
Taniyah Bowman – 2023 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Georgia – Energy is there as a PG…Hit the trey ball…Quick off the dribble…Really has some hops for a smaller guard…Some nice no look passes as well
Laila Boylan – 2027 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Kansas – Long, strong young lead guard with size…Hustle player…Makes things happen on both ends…Hesi and go is a specialty…Plays super hard…Good showing
Brihanna Crittendon – 2026 – 6-1 – Wing Forward – Colorado – Great frame just waiting to fill out…Nice catch and shoot three…Battled against really good opponents and it was fun to watch…Signs of offensive versatility are clear…Only going to get more dangerous as she gets older and stronger
Kennedi Givens – 2023 – 5-11 – Wing/Forward – Ohio – Long athlete…Face up four type…Also can operate on the wing…The physical make up is there or sure
Mya Jones – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing/Forward – Washington – Athletic wing forward type…Mode some really nice, pinpoint passes in transition…Active and scrappy…Rebounds out of area some
Jaliyah Kelly – 2027 – 5-8 – Guard – Mississippi – Loves to get out in transition with the ball in her hands…Spin move is her bread and butter…Gets up easy to score and to board…Shot it still developing but took the three and it was a little better off the bounce…Keeping an eye on
Keira Kilkenny – 2027 – 5-10 – Wing – Virginia – Some noticeable skills for her age…Lanky on the wing…Working on that three point range…On the right track
Maddie Leach – 2026 – 5-8 – Combo Guard – Virginia – Showed some creativity on the offensive end…Capable at the point but has the physical make up of a wing…Zippy no look passes…Jump stop and step through finishes…Fundamentally advanced…Three pointer is also an option
Asia Lee – 2026 – 5-9 – Wing – Kansas – Lanky kid…Has a pull up…Distributes in transition…Solid handle…Very athletic…Nice little scoop finish in trans
Ava Miles – 2026 – 6-0 – Wing Forward – Missouri – Continuing to improve…Developing in both the basketball and the physical aspect…Showing ability to score inside and out…Can finish with either hand on either side of the rim…Love how she utilizes her pivot foot…Defensive versatility on display too
Sydney Mobley – 2027 – 6-1 – Post – Ohio – Lots of upside for this young big…Showed a little aggression on the boards…Nice hands to catch and finish inside…Pretty good percentage in the paint…Just getting started here, keep an eye out for her a little further down the line
Jessie Moses – 2027 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Pennsylvania – Has hit a little growth spurt and a couple extra inches on top never hurts at the PG spot…Really starting to recognize her uncanny ability to get to her spots to get what she wants…Shot creator extraordinaire…Stop and pop has gotten even better…Always surveying the floor ahead for the advancement opportunity
Micala Reese – 2026 – 5-6 – Combo Guard – Ohio – One to know…Flashed breakaway speed with the ball…Finishes through and around people in transition…Some catch and shoot from beyond the arc
Aniya Rowe – 2024 – 5-9 – Point Guard – New York – Did a nice job of attacking the rack…Navigates traffic well…Can score it or play distribution agent in a crowd…Stock is creeping up this spring
Isabella Shumpert – 2026 – 5-8 – Guard – Colorado – Some athletic tools to work with…Developing skill set…Plays hard…On the right track heading toward the high school years
Destiny Smith – 2024 – 5-8 – Guard – Kansas – Off guard who can shoot the ball…Handles it to play the two spot as well…Lets it rip from deep and finds the bottom of the net often
Mya Wilson – 2027 – 5-10 – Wing – Minnesota – Represented the home state very well here…Great frame and height…Skill set is advanced well beyond her years…Shoots a nice looking three and pull up jumper, and will go rebound her own misses…Crafty finisher…Has a floater as well
Xamiya Walton – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – Illinois – Refined sharpshooter from Chicago…Good with the ball…Has a step back…Can’t leave her open at the three point line
Xyanna Walton – 2026 – 5-10 – Wing – Illinois – Plenty of potential here…Scored off the bounce in droves at times…Rebounds it and pushes it on her own…Athleticism is there for sure…Developing the jumper but it’s showing flashes already…Pulled down a lion’s share of boards
Lanell Wright – 2026 – 5-8 – Guard – Minnesota – Rises up in the lane and buries a smooth jumper…Shifty with the ball…Nice pull up off the ball screen…Will be hearing her name more for years to come
Summer Yancy – 2024 – 5-11 – Combo Guard – Kansas – Stock riser alert…A big, strong kid who makes stuff happen with the ball in her hands…Tip drill put backs…High end athleticism and so bouncy…Powerful option when playing the
