SOMERSET, NJ– Week five was a landmark for the national 2018 Rising Blue Star evaluation tour. Highlighting this fifth week of RBS was the guest appearance of the reigning MVP in both domestic and international women’s basketball. Breanna Stewart, WNBA Champion and FIBA Gold Medalist was on hand for the Rising Blue star event in Somerset, New Jersey offering inspiration and motivation for all of the athletes on hand.

Stewart took a pause from her busy travel schedule to “give back” to the young girls that make up this sport. It was a great surprise for many of the RBS attendees to have the sport’s current gold standard join them in the gym. Along with the obligatory photos and autographs, Stewart took the time to give the RBS players and parents a 30 minute talk and follow up Q and A.  Additionally, several high profile 2021 prospects made cameo appearances including nationally ranked Amari DeBerry of Williamsville, New York.

Along with the Somerset event, there were three other national sessions taking place last weekend.  Las Vegas, Birmingham and Boston all joined in the fun for week five.  The list below will highlight many of the players who impressed the RBS staff and put themselves on the coveted 2019 Blue Star 30 radar.

SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY

Mackenzie Anderson – 2024 – 5-10 – Forward – Jersey Cardinals – Young size with a nice frame…Runs well and competes…Above average handle with nice hands…Upside is there

Aaryn Battle – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles – Athletic with good hops…Finishes at the rim consistently…Nice shot from three point land…Works at defending… Runs well…Ceiling is high

Kelsey Bess – 2023 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – Philly Triple Threat – Size with good hands…Gets to rim off the bounce and finishes…Ball handling skills are sharp and advanced

Danielle DeMichelle – 2022 – 5-4 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles – Continues to improve her game…Nice shot with decent handle…Good passer who competes

Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – New Jersey Belles – Versatile player…Looks to defend on both the perimeter and the block…Shot, handles, and competitive nature should allow her to be a first year contributor in high school

Chloe Escanillas – 2024 – 5-5 – Guard – Team Miller Lightning – Shoots the ball well…Decent ball handler…Court vision is advanced…Has a motor

Hannah Hidalgo – 2023 – 5-4 – Point Guard – N/A – Athletic lead guard…Outstanding handle allows her to create for herself and teammates…Good passer…Nice feel for the game…Shot is there as well

Ella Inacio – 2023 – 5-10 – Forward – New Jersey Belles –Strong…Competitive…Nice size and build…Competes…Toughness is there on both ends of floor

Kiri Jensen – 2024 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Gauchos – Nice passer…Good ball skills…Knocks down the open shot…Good court awareness for age…Competes

Kaitlyn King – 2023 –5-8 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles – Nice size…Good range on shot…Gets up and down the floor well…Competitor…Attacks the rim often

Katie Ledden – 2023 – 5-8 –Guard – Team Sharp – Lean, athletic player…Can knock down perimeter shots…Nice passer with good vision…Potential to be a nice player

Morgan Matthews – 2024 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – Pennington –Lean athlete…Good size…Runs floor well…Nice hops to pull rebounds

Anna Pellechia – 2024 – 5-6 – Guard – Harrison Township Mustangs – Savvy lefty…Has a nice feel for the game…Sees floor well…Nice shooting and ball handling

Devyn Quigley – 2023 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Philadelphia Belles – Heady guard…Good handles…Outside shot is a weapon…Nice passer…Sees the floor well…Gets the ball where it needs to go

Dagny Slomack – 2024 – 4-9 – Guard – Team Miller Lightning – Quick and assertive…Nice shooter with range…Makes shots…Good handles

Emma Steidle – 2023 – 5-4 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles – Shot showing some deep range…Has a feel for the overall game at this age…Competes defensively as well

Olivia Vukosa – 2026 – 5-8 – Guard/Forward – Queens Express – Very young player with good size…Held her own against older athletes…Decent handle and shot for her age

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Ace Austin – 2025 – 4-11 – Point Guard – Alabama Southern Starz – Future “true” point guard type…Quick with the ball…Creative finisher at the rim…Can pull up on a dime…Strong passer for her size…Savvy for age…High ceiling with growth

Madison Booker – 2023 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – Alabama Southern Starz –Established prospect…Quick and explosive…Vertical is there with hang time…Strong on ball defender…Comes up with picks…Consistency on jumper is evolving…Only going to advance game…Leadership and killer instinct will be icing on the cake

Sydney Bowles – 2022 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – Georgia Pearls – Playing a more vertical game…Physically strong…Depth in the skill set continuing to grow…Finishes with contact…Effective scorer…Adding range…Wll known already and highly regarded

Mallory Collier – 2023 – 6-3 – Post – Memphis Lady War Eagles – Big young post…Mobility is impressive for age…Handles ball at that size…Scorer in the paint…Showing post moves and the ability to finish over the shoulder…Soft hands…Strength and conditioning will add to her game

April Hooks – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – FBC The Family – Built for the wing…Mix of handles and quickness…Smooth pull up jumper goes…Range is out beyond the arc…Standout on the defensive end

Abethany James – 2024 – 5-5 – Guard – FBC The Family – Quick and fluid with the ball…Strong passer with some no-looks mixed in…Slashes her way to the rim…Tough defensively

Tyler Jones – 2025 – 5-8 – Guard/Forward – Mid-South Banshees – Length…Plays with noticeable burst…Pounds the ball on the dribble…Great stride…Pull up jumper is advanced for her age…Can hit off the step back…Problematic defender as well

Reniya Kelly – 2023 – 5-5 – Point Guard/Guard – FBC The Family – Very competitive…Fast and explosive with the ball…Covers lots of ground quickly…Finger rolls at the rim…Can score in the mid-range…Depth from beyond the arc is there as well…Continues to impress

Kristen McMillan – 2023 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – Alabama Heat Elite – Big, strong, and versatile…No problem working inside…Also has plenty of guard skills…Point forward potential…Natural instincts as a rebounder and passer…Impact when she is going as hard as she can

Kristen Roche – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – FBC Hoopstars Brown – Skilled player with some explosion…Fast…Simple, quick change of direction…Three point range off the bounce…Good footwork to score…On ball defense can be a strength

Timya Thurman – 2023 – 6-3 – Forward – Alabama Southern Starz – High upside athletically…Rim runner build…Range to 12 – 15 feet…Lateral movements are there…Still putting it all together…Only going to improve

Hope West – 2023 – 5-10 – Forward – Alabama Southern Starz – Strong and athletic…Competes very hard…Quick for her size…Has speed with the ball…Finishes in the paint at a high rate…Can play that wing or face four position…Three point threat

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Mia Davis – 2023 – 6-0 – Guard/Wing — Arizona Premier – Aggressive and strong guard…Great shooting skills and motor to the hoop… Impressive physical strength and quickness

Travanna Crisp – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – AZ Select – Strong guard…Great skills and abilities… Needs more consistency in effort to match her high upside

Emma Ingersoll-Weng – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard – All Iowa Attack – An Eastern transplant in the Midwest…Point guard skill set…Will be effective at the point as she grows into her body and adds strength

Reina Bell – 2023 – 5-7 – Guard – N/A – Fluid wing-guard…Ton of upside to match her length and potential…Will be a major prospect with age and strength

Keonni Lewis – 2025 – 4-11 – Point Guard – Vegas Bulldogs – Small, deceptive point guard…Ball-handling skills are there…Has shot for her size…Must-watch player

Kelly Megown – 2023 – 5-9 – Wing – Vegas Bulldogs – Long wing player…Has upside and potential… Must avoid the push to be moved inside…Keep working on guard skills and shot

Trista Barrett – 2024 – 5-7 – Wing – Lady Vipers – Young…Long…Athletic…Wing with upside over time with added strength and age…Impressive hoops IQ

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Jayda Johnson – 5-11 – 2023 – Wing – NYC Lady Choz – Long athletic wing…Smooth shooting skills…Major upside…Attacks the basket…Creates shots

Ashley Dinges – 2024 – 5-10 – Wing – Lady Rivals – Raw wing player…Athletic skills and upside…Promising future…Watch closely

Avery O’Connor – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing – Bay State Jaguars – Big, strong wing…Good smarts around the basket and in transition… Potential rises with additional skill work for position

Madigan Fitzpatrick – 2024 – 5-8 – Wing – Maine Firecrackers – Smooth off guard…Great physical skill sets…Needs to get handle down to measure up to huge potential as a wing

Aleah Bracey – 2024 – 5-6 – Guard – New England Crusaders – Young…Long lean athlete…Potential as skills develop…Tools to be a strong off guard attack player

Maggie Regan – 2022 – 6-3 – Forward – Bay State Jaguars – Solid forward…Decent skills sets…Needs to attack rebounds better…Could be smoother with back to basket skills….Additional effort adds to future prospects

Rachel Barach – 2022 – 5-11 – Wing – Bay State Jaguars – Long limb athlete…Good physical skill set and potential…Has competitive edge that needs to be matched with skills

Elle Blatchford – 2023 – 5-5 – Guard – FBC Hoopstars – Lean, young guard…Needs to get aged-up and stronger to make choice of PG or off guard…Hoops IQ is there…Determination goes hand in hand with her potential