By Joe Costa
DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md.–With 74 Teams from seven states and the District of Columbia gathered in a familiar place with a “NEW” name, the USJN Fall Finale is worth one more look back. NEW 24, the renamed Capital Sports facility, played host to the final USJN NCAA evaluation event of the club season. Graduation classes ranging from 2014 to 2020, rosters containing both committed and non-committed players and power teams like BWSL Richmond, the Fairfax Stars, Philadelphia Belles and Cardinal Crusaders (Riverdale Baptist) competed for two days in an open event that provided some noteworthy performances.
Be sure to follow the link to Fran Burbidge’s Friday night coverage of Fall College Showcase that ran previously on Blue Star Media.
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/584-2013-fall-college-showcase-dc
Below we take a look at some of the Saturday and Sunday standouts.
Quick Hitters
2014
Essence Brown (5-7 Point Guard – MD Team Sol Elite)…Good ball control…Great court vision…Keeps dribble low…Quick first step
Camille Gallagher (6-0 Forward – NC Carolina Belles / Blue Star Carolina)…Great range…Prefers the 3 ball…Left hand across the lane finish…Mixes it up with bigger players
2015
Avery Locklear (5-8 Guard – NC Carolina Elite)…Makes good basketball decisions…Finishes when she takes the shot
2016
Kayla Hinderlie (6-0 Forward – MD Germantown Lady Panthers)…Physical…Quick…Can jump out of the gym
Adria Strothers (5-4 Guard – VA Hard2guard)…Play maker…Great court vision…Explosive off the bounce and at the hoop
Ceyanna Harrison (6-4 Forward – NC Carolina Elite)…Quick to the basket…Finishes at the rim…High post game
Kiersten Elliott (6-0 Forward – PA 4 Seasons Hoops)…Size and coordination…Court awareness…Learning how to play the wing
Alexiss Griggs (6-0 Forward – PA 4 Seasons Hoops)…Quick hands…Most comfortable in the high post…Creatively finishes around the basket
Alisha Kebbe (5-11 Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles Nike Burbidge)…Strong in the scoring area…Runs the floor with intent…Good anticipation defensively
2017
Alexis Hueston (6-0 Forward – BWSL Richmond)…Shot blocker…Strong post presence…Can step outside to hit the jumper
Alexandra Parsons (5-5 Point Guard – BWSL Richmond)…Defensive ball hawk…Drive and kick…Good range on her jumper
Kennedy Beale (5-8 Guard – BWSL Richmond)…Scorer’s mentality…Attacks the basket…Good mid-range jump shot…Lock down defender
Racheal Lia (5-5 Guard – BWSL Richmond)…Three point shooter…Reads defenders and knows how to get open…Mid-range game
Aaliyah Dunham (5-5 Point Guard – WV Rising Star Athletics)…Solid ball handler…Quick…Attacks the hoop
Rhea Smith (6-2 Forward – WV Rising Star Athletics)…Plays physical…Prototype basketball body…Powerful with the ball
Olivia Martino (5-10 Forward/Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles Nike- Hilf)…Strong…Attacks the hoop hard…Looks to score…Developing perimeter game
Cara Judkins (6-3 Forward – MD Germantown Lady Panthers)…Plays hard…Physical…Establishes position…Runs the floor…Finishes around the rim
2018
Rachael Stovall (6-3 Forward – VA TPLS Christian Academy)…Three point range and beyond…Physical defensively…Moves well off the screen
Shaileen Woods (5-6 Point Guard – VA Fairfax Stars)…Leader…Reads ball screens like a college player…Finishes from anywhere.
2019
Lauren Ross (5-6 Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles Nike- Hilf)…Plays strong against older competition… Doesn’t rattle…Creates defensive opportunities
Chloe Chapman (5-5 Point Guard – VA Cardinal Jr. Elite)…Great 1 on 1…Controls the floor…Attacks the hoop in transition
Olivia Tucker (5-8 Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles 2018 Blue Star)…Great range for her age…Plays all out, all the time
Kiyana Jefferson (5-4 Point Guard – PA Philadelphia Belles 2018 Blue Star)…All over the floor…Competes for every loose ball…Coachable…Good range on her jump shot
2020
Elizabeth Martino (5-9 Guard/Forward – PA Philadelphia Belles 2018 Blue Star)…Athletic as any…Coachable…Loves the game…Great instincts
Joe Costa has been with Blue Star for 13 years now serving as a National Evaluator and Director of the Rising Blue Star program. Coaching the Pittsburgh Rockers for over 10 years; he helped produce two national championships and over 75 scholarship student athletes. Additionally Costa has coached both girls and boys on the high school & collegiate levels plus served as a floor coach for several Nike All American Camps and Skills Academies. He currently resides in Savannah, Georgia.
