Catching Up- USJN National Championships Roll in Richmond

Richmond, VA – We packed up the crew and headed south down I-95 for the 35^th Annual USJN National Championships to end out the month of July in Virginia’s Capital City.

While the event was in a different venue for this rare occasion, the basketball was at its usual high level. We saw a mix of committed, Top 100 established stars and then brand new, up and comers who really jumped off the page and onto the radar. More than 25 of our Blue Star 30 players were in the building, and we even had some of the players who just finished playing at the FIBA U17 Championships (make sure you check out all of our coverage from that event!).

Teams from all over the country once again made the trek. Some of the headliners included 2022 Nike EYBL 17U Champions Cy Fair Elite, 2022 Nike EYBL 16U Champions Philly Rise, the red hot Fairfax Stars coming off a 17 EYBL semi-finals run at Nike TOC, Blue Star Travel Teams 17U Champion Illinois Elite and fellow finalist the Philadelphia Belles, and many more of the nation’s top programs.

Keeping with tradition, the top 2 teams in each pool advanced to bracket play on the final day, with champions and consolation winners crowned in each age group. For full event results and pool all-stars, check out USJN’s post event page here…

https://usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=798

Now, let’s look to the players. With nearly 200 teams to follow, we saw a ton of prospects to evaluate. Here is just a small sampling of the outstanding players we noted over the four days. With over 300 college coaches in attendance along with the usual bevy of national media members and evaluators, there was something for everyone in terms of exposure.

Club basketball season may be winding down, but keep it locked in here with Blue Star Media, as we kick off our summer and fall camp coverage next week at the Blue Star 30 and Blue Star All-American Camps in Tampa, Florida.

Avalyn Albrecht – 2027 – 6-2 – Forward – Wisconsin Dynasty 13 – Consistent high level of play helped lead her team to the finals…Can’t miss the wingspan…Sprints the floor…Can catch and finish on the move…Good at keeping it simple…Nice hands…Gets out and contests jump shooters in a hurry…Shoots her own jumper on the baseline empty out

Jezelle Banks – 2027 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Team Durant 15 – So many impressive things athletically…Pretty competitive…High ceiling…Jumps around trying to get to the ball…Comes off ball screens and snakes her way through traffic to score…All sorts of finishes in her bag…Jet speed…Lots of shake, rattle, and roll to her game

Jada Bediako – 2023 – 6-4 – Post – Kia Nurse 17 EYBL – Light on her feet but with plenty of size in the paint…Has those tree trunks for legs…Back to basket move set matches the appearance…Not going to be pushed around…Plenty of suitors at the next level

Mildred Bibua – 2025 – 6-1 – Forward – Kia Nurse 15 EYBL – Explosive ups…A pogo stick out there…Big time rebounds result…Finishes inside…Understands where to go and where to be to get the ball and score it

Mikayla Blakes – 2024 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Jersey Gemz 17 EYBL – If she was starting her college career tomorrow, you wouldn’t be surprised…Usual standout and electric play at the point…So mature and experienced…Excels defensively as well…Makes a big play or scores a big bucket and doesn’t even flinch, just keeps going

Mya Booth – 2026 – 5-10 – Wing – Carolina Flames 14 – Snatches errant passes and goes the other way in a hurry…Very nice build and physically mature…Likely a wing long term…One to watch out for

Sophie-Anne Bouffard – 2024 – 5-10 – Guard – SJSR Ballers 17 – Taller guard who can log minutes at the one…Three point shot is an option…Competes for boards…Leader on the floor…Gets by people off the bounce…Showed well versus elite competition

Zoe Brooks – 2023 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Philly Rise 17 EYBL – NC State commit wrapped up her last club season with more stellar player…Quick to show you how she won the WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge earlier this month…Not going to find many who can stop her one on one…Tough buckets for days

Justice Carlton – 2024 – 6-3 – Forward – Cy Fair Elite 17 – One of the most dynamic interior weapons in the country, regardless of class…Always has her hands ready to catch and score…Moves like a guard with the ball in her hands…Had yet another monster summer season

Lexi Carnegie – 2026 – 5-9 – Guard – Jersey Gemz 14 – Some ups off of two feet to go up and get the ball and to finish…Can score it through contact in transition…Some quickness for sure

Ellie Cerf – 2024 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Albany Capitals 16 McBride – Super quick on D and with the ball in her hands…Will get out and defend even the most elite guards in the building…Selfless and patient play at the point…Doesn’t force the issue…Uses her pivot foot to find the appropriate passing option

Sarah Chawki – 2025 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Coach Wooten Top 150 15 – Good to the rack…Elusive finisher…Can definitely create…Has a runner

Aaliyah Chavez – 2025 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Cy Fair Elite 17 – You just keep thinking the sky is the limit here….Star was shining as brightly as ever this July…Has the right ideas and the ability to carry them out, usually in outstanding fashion…Makes clutch shots…Puppet master with the ball in her hands

Mickenzie Cooper – 2028 – 5-10 – Wing/Forward – BWSL 14 – Has the look and the makings…Super young and playing up a couple years…Has a good understanding of defensive rotations…Pursues the basketball…Forward right now but plenty of wing potential…Defends all over

Hannah Custis – 2026 – 5-9 – Guard – Elevate Elite Richmond 14 – Nice young guard with some length…Showed a pull up in the foul line area that found the bottom of the net consistently…Also go to the rim at times

Syvannah Dawson – 2026 – 5-7 – Point Guard – BWSL 15 EYBL – So shifty to the basket…Great passing in traffic and very creative…Finds teammates in transition…Easy acceleration…Pull up is an option

Jayda Dixon – 2027 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Team Durant 14 – A ball hawk on D, anticipates things well…Three point shot is a weapon…Advanced IQ…So under control when she gets into a crowd…Goes four dribbles end to end, plenty of speed

Cassidy Dunn – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – VA Shots Up 16 – Tough on D…Really works the ball handlers and doesn’t back down against anyone…Her hustle led to good things…Driver…Good off bounce and gets lay ups in traffic

Nia Edens – 2024 – 5-9 – Point Guard – CT Starters 16 Blue Star – Fast cross, likes to attack…Can get out in passing lanes…More athletic than she probably realizes at times, which is a good thing…Working on step back three…Has the look

Audrey Ericksen – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing – NC Attack – Handles the ball well at her size…Confident three point shooter…Really communicates on the floor…Really gets her hands on a good number of shot attempts inside…Can push with pace but able to shift gears well…Smart and effective passer…Makes her teammates better

Kloe Froebe – 2024 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Illinois Elite 17 – Do it all lead guard…Directed the show en route to several big wins that were a big talk of the tournament…Smart, skilled, talented, and competitive…Heartbeat of her team

Cassidy Geddes – 2023 – 5-7 – Point Guard – NC Lady Attack 17 – Has the ball on a string at times…Changes directions in a flash…Playmaker…Some tough finishes…Capable three point shooter for sure…Played very well here

Demi Gilliam – 2026 – 6-0 – Forward – Fairfax Stars 15 Showcase – Lefty athlete…Physical tools are clear…Board and put it back a bit…Some face up game developing…Tried the three so you can tell she’s working to expand her game…Effective passing out of the post…Abundant potential

Hannah Griffin – 2023 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Philadelphia Belles 17 Steidle – A navigator at the point spot…Quick and decisive with the ball in her hands…Can keep it to score or kick it at the last minute…Balanced, feisty player

Amber Howard – 2024 – 6-0 – Forward – Philadelphia Belles 16 Peterson – Really held it down inside defensively against elite competition…Active and plays hard…Gets around on the pass to steal the post entry passes…Starting to come into her own as a three point shooter…Does things that don’t make the box score

Adelaide Jernigan – 2025 – 5-10 – Wing – Winston Salem Stealers 17 – Standout wing prospect with an increased following…Nice lefty stroke…Plays as strong as she looks…Catch and attack with pause…Hit the floater in the lane…Really gets up

Emory Klatt – 2024 – 6-2 – Forward – Illinois Elite 17 – Tremendous motor and energy…Plentiful boards…Nice rip and finish around the rim…What she brings to the table is underrated, but people are starting to notice more and more with her play this summer

Maddie Leach – 2026 – 5-8 – Guard – BWSL 15 EYBL – Highly skilled…Can go out and hit a trifecta of three’s in a short time frame…Ice cold mentality out there…Competes and gets it done

Marley Long – 2024 – 6-1 – Forward – Fairfax Stars 16 EYBL – Nice up and under moves inside…Footwork and stride are certainly there…Gets to balls out of her area…Defends on the perimeter

Daniela Maletsky – 2026 – 5-9 – Guard – NJ Rise 14 – Lanky lefty three point specialist…Handles the ball for a two…Makes sound decisions coming off ball screens…Knows how to play…Scores in different ways and logged some tough buckets in traffic

Mackenzie Marenchin – 2024 – 6-1 – Wing Forward – Kia Nurse 16 EYBL – Offensive versatility and credible use of the jumper in different areas grab you attention…Face up and drive into the pull up…Also a very nice stroke from beyond the arc…Can roll or pop to score off screens….Goes up through contact…Sits down and moves her feet to cut off the baseline on D

Riley Nelson – 2023 – 6-1 – Guard – Fairfax Stars 17 EYBL – Maryland commit…A high end athlete who can really harness her speed and explosion and play under control…Wants to jab and go, even in tight quarters…Put on her usual scoring exhibitions

Cristina Parrella – 2024 – 5-9 – Wing – Jersey Gemz 17 EYBL – Consistently turned in good performances here…A rising junior on the rise in Jersey…Good build on the wing…Utilizes the jab and had some nice takes…Agile feet for her size…Really scored it well…Talks on D

Kennedi Petteway – 2024 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Texas Elite 17 Grey – A true PG…Gets her team into their offensive sets and overall flow…Quick enough to get by people with a quick first step

Carolina Polloway – 2025 – 6-2 – Post – NJ Rise 15 – Strong size on the interior…Left handed…Used pivot foot well on the block to score back to basket…Even finishes through double teams at times…Still very young…Handled those over the top passes with those big hands

Taylor Ragland – 2026 – 5-11 – Forward – BWSL 14 – Long reach and gets up to board it…Smooth stroke at the foul line…Moves her feet on D out in the open court…Just gets her hands on the basketball a lot…Plentiful O boards

Morgyn Rose – 2024 – 5-7 – Combo Guard – Dayton Lady Hoopstars 16 – Skilled and adept finisher…Gets on the floor…Competitor…Doesn’t let the ball stick, keeps it moving

Ava Ryan – 2027 – 5-11 – Wing – D1SA Spartans 13 – Nice combination of length and skill at an early age…High energy…See how she develops as a scorer

Keira Scott – 2024 – 6-2 – Forward – Fairfax Stars 17 EYBL – Built to rim run and features the size and frame to tangle at the highest level…Will face up in the high post and take a nice jumper…Good job of post denial on D…In a really good place heading into her junior year

Samantha Shehan – 2025 – 5-10 – Wing – NC Lady Attack Elite 15 – A wing with length and a three point shot…Also puts it on the deck into the runner…Scorer for sure…If she sees the rim, it’s going up, and can make them at a high rate…Still lots of ball ahead for her too

Sadie Shores – 2024 – 5-10 – Point Guard – Fairfax Stars 16 EYBL – Directs traffic at the one spot…Uses her dribble to survey the landscape and can move vertically and laterally with ease and patience up top…Knows when to go though…Assist agent…Gets the ball out quick and timely….Will hit the open three

Amaya Stewart – 2025 – 6-0 – Post – Philly Rise 15 EYBL – Young post who is really starting to come into her own…Finishing through contact more…Good mobility…Can tell she is working on her offensive game…Rip and go off the bounce in the press break…Trending up this summer

Rhian Stokes – 2024 – 5-8 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 16 Peterson – Consistently makes things happen off the dribble…In attack mode in transition but not going to just look to force up bad shots…Knows when to dish…Has a knack for making big plays…Shot has continued to improve…You want her on the floor with the game on the line

Savannah Swords – 2026 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Kia Nurse 15 EYBL – Good athlete…Closes out and contests jump shots in a hurry at her size…Played both inside and out on offense…Jump shot is there…Moves without the ball…Utilizes pass fakes…Makes heads up plays and does a lot of things well

Mikayla Taborn – 2024 – 6-2 – Forward – Carolina Flames 16 EYBL – Big and strong…Rim running like a locomotive to score…Nice hands on the catch…Makes herself a huge target

Caroline Thiel – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing – Carolina Flames 17 Nike – Just a hooper…Shot it so well…Plays with some spunk and fire…Can go off the bounce a bit…Has the hops and size to board

Blanca Thomas – 2024 – 6-5 – Post – Carolina Flames 17 EYBL – One of the top ’24’s in the country, regardless of position…Combines the skill and the will inside…Constantly challenging and changing shots in the paint…A scoring big…Gets up by the rim to rebound

Cherish Thompson – 2025 – 5-11 – Wing Forward – Texas Elite 17 White – Awesome length…Gets out and defends opposing PG’s…Clean blocks in the paint…Will post some and look to score inside…Still some potential to be unlocked

Talayah Walker – 2024 – 5-10 – Guard – Philly Rise 16 EYBL – Can take over games for stretches with her ability to flat out get to the rack…Absorbs contact through the air…Plays with fire…Three ball has show marked improvement and she really lit it up from deep in the championship game…Becoming that kid you go to for a bucket

Staci Williams – 2023 – 5-7 – Point Guard – ABC Lightning 17 – Going out in style here in her last July…Scoring combo guard, can hurt you inside and out…Poised and experienced…Sets the tone for her squad

Maris Zurliene – 2025 – 5-11 – Wing/Forward – Southern Illinois Hawks 16 – Built for the wing with that length…Active in the paint, blocking shots and pulling boards…Can lead the break…Good motor