While the Gold Standard for the second segment of this year’s ridiculously reduced July recruiting period was, as always, the USJN National Championships, there were some other events featuring some promising talent going on in and around that five day window. We kept our Travis Ponton on the move and on the road throughout the week.  Today, he checks in with a double header report from just up the road in Maryland and a second look from the talent rich state of Ohio.  For the Best of Maryland he highlights some of the teams from the high school oriented annual event while his look from the NEO Summer Showcase features a dozen athletes from the Buckeye State.

Earlier Blue Star Media coverage from the second segment of July is available at the links below.

https://bluestarmedia.org/32nd-annual-usjn-national-championships/– USJN DC I

https://bluestarmedia.org/blue-star-nationals-belong-to-belles/– Blue Star Nationals

https://bluestarmedia.org/usjn-d-c-13-14-15-16-national-championships/– USJN DC II

Best of Maryland

Fenwick High School (Illinois) saw their young but talented bunch advance all the way to the semi-finals. We’ll start with the player who had the ball in her hands the most, 2023 point guard Lenee Beaumont. Her skill level and IQ are that of a much older player. The poise and patience she demonstrated against a full court press was impressive. Fenwick also gets plenty of contributions from its talented 2022 class. Audrey Hinrichs is a 6-1 forward who flashes hard to score inside and willingly takes the open three. Amanda Behrend is skilled and versatile enough to play inside or outside at 6-3. Also, wing forward Elise Heneghan is a vocal, aggressive player that does some things on both ends of the floor.

North Central High School (Indiana) is headlined by Northwestern commit Jasmine McWilliams. With her size, explosive nature, and willingness to play physical on the wing, she’s a stand out in any gym. There’s plenty of talent surrounding her starting with a pair of 2021 interior players, Nakaih Hunter and Dynasty Witherspoon. At 5-11, Hunter is perhaps a hair undersized, but she can go to work at different levels of the post while being relentless on the offensive glass. In the 2022 class check out lanky combo guard Tanyuel Welch and a bruiser out on the wing, Destinee Hooks. Welch spends plenty of time at the point spot, but she’s a confident shooter with athleticism and the handles to help carry some of the scoring load.

Northwestern High School (Indiana) has a good mix of well-established veterans and exciting up-and-comers. Rising seniors Kendall Bostic (6-1 F, Michigan State commit) and Madison Layden (6-1 combo guard, Purdue) provide leadership and carry the load on both ends. There’s also some intriguing young talent in the program. Forward Leah Carter, 2022,runs rim to rim often and is rewarded with lay-up opportunities. 2023 guard McKenna Laydenis cut from the same cloth as her big sister. She combines tremendous size out on the wing with good ball skills and a three-point shot that falls at a good rate.

Ossining (New York) is a regular in the State Tournament come March every year. Coach Dan Ricci always gets the most out of his team and last week they found themselves in the elite eight of the tournament. 2020 wing Brooke Weeks is one player who stepped up and took on more responsibilities as a ball handler and scorer for the team playing hard wire to wire. Fellow senior Kylie Taxiera proved to be quite the three point marksman as well.

Paul VI (Virginia) has assembled a deep and complete squad that advanced all the way to the championship game at Best of Maryland. The senior trio of point guard Faith Alston, wing/forward Meghan Kenefick, and post Sydney Avolettaset the tone with a veteran presence. Avoletta has tapped in to a new level of physicality coming into her own in recent months. Alston continues to be a confident force as a floor general both scoring or running the offense. The younger classes will be heard from as well, with 2021’s Lee Volker and Isabella Perkinsmaking contributions on the perimeter. A great sophomore class features forward Fiona Hastick and wing Alyssa Costiganas varsity returners. Even without a true MVP level player, this team plays together and has plenty of contributors who can lead the way any given night.

Pickerington Central (Ohio) may have been missing some of their veteran talent, but an exciting youth movement is evident. Guard Aria Cookand Madison Greene team up with 6-1 forward Olivia Cooper as part of an incoming freshman class with plenty of promise. Cook’s smothering on ball and deny defense is coupled with her reads in the passing lanes making her an impact defender. Cooper has the mobility and a developing handle while scoring within the flow of their halfcourt offense. One of the youngest players in the tournament, 2024 wing forward Berry Wallace, is name to watch as she begins her high school career.

Sacred Heart Academy (Kentucky)pulled a bit of an upset in the championship bracket by defeating Northwestern in the quarterfinals as a lower seed. Radford commit Destinee Marshall sets the tone as the vocal lead guard posessing a nice three-point stroke. Kristen Clemons is taking her athleticism to the volleyball court at Belmont after high school, but she still plays a big role for this team on the interior. Keep an eye on 2023 combo guard Triniti Ralston, 2022 wing Josie Gilvin, and 2022 forward Alex Wolffdown the line as well. Ralston in particular showed some explosion on both ends of the court competing well against varsity level competition.

St-Laurent (Quebec) took the Best of Maryland Championship back home to Canada, but American college coaches are hoping many of their talented players come back for a longer stay in the coming years. 2022 forward Alphonsia Eleko is a challenge to deal with inside with her great move set and ability to finish over both shoulders with either hand. Ornella Bereneice Niankan has been on the radar as an athletic 2021 wing player continuing to improve her ball skills and IQ. Fellow 2021 guard Sandrine Clesca plays in attack mode floating through the air to finish. One 2022 to watch is wing Mowa Gnamessan Assande, the next in a long line of physically gifted players on this roster.

St. Rose (New Jersey) once again they showed very well. Incoming senior guard Makayla Andrews is a steady athlete at the guard spot tending to end up with a full stat sheet when all is said and done.  2021 point guard Abigail Antognoli is a feisty hustle player. She sees the floor well and helps get people where they need to be while getting to the basket pretty well on her own. Her 2021 classmate Layla Laws provides positional flexibility on both sides of the ball with athleticism and a 5-10 frame. At times, she can be among the best players on the floor and should be working towards saying that consistently each time out.

Toledo Notre Dame (Ohio) features one of the top 2022’s in the country in well known 6’2 forward Grace Van Slooten. As we’ve seen many times, with the shot or off the drive, she can put the ball in the basket.  With her combination of a deep skill set and physical tools she possesses a complete game baseline to baseline.  Joining her in the front court is 2020 forward Aubrey Zmuda, a big who can run, post up, and fight for position on both ends. The table setters at the guard positions include 2020 Rayonna Armstrongand 2021’s Alyson Ray and Olivia Sims, all three being high effort players.

NEO Summer Showcase

Peyton Alazaus – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – West Branch High School – Consistent and impressive…Deep range on the three ball…Will pick and pop…Smart, smooth, and efficient

Dream Cherry – 2021 – 5-4 – Point Guard – St. Vincent-St. Mary’s – Quick handles…Crossover is low and long…No look scoop passes on the attack…Will hit the three in a variety of situations

Lydia Gattozzi – 2021 – 5-11 – Guard – Beaumont High School – Can get to the rim…Likes one hand scoop finishes, especially going left…Not left handed…Seemed to be her preferred direction to drive…Hustle player…Shoots the three…Gamer and shot creator

Jordan Lantz – 2021 – 6-3 – Post – Rutherford B. Hayes — Mobile in the half court…Light on her feet for size…Diverse move set…Can finish with a soft touch…Has range out to the arc…Release is a little low…Can catch and score in transition on the run…Nice big with time to improve

Aila Miller – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – Hiland High School – Showed off a variety of scoring methodology…Gets to the basket…Has some size to finish through contact…Continues to grow her three point ability

McKel Nation – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Springboro High School – Stretch #4…Can hit the three…Release is still low…Pick and pop player…Can go coast to coast off of steals…Gets points in the paint off of post ups and drives

Kira Philpot – 2020 – 5-11 – Wing – Stow High School – Physically gifted…Ability to defend guards or forwards…Will post up smaller players…Handles in the open court…Room to grow her game

Meredith Randulic – 2022 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Perry High School – Passes are on the money…Drops dimes with regularity…Crosses over into a nice step back jumper…Has range…Uses her retreat dribble to create passing opportunities

Javaan Rogers – 2020 – 5-8 – Wing – Buchtel High School – Powerful and athletic…Attacks off the bounce…Back opponents down to score…Pressures ball defensively…Gets up to board…Handles the ball and changes direction well

Riley Stopp – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – Cornerstone Christian – High energy player on the wing…Runs around trying to make plays…Got lay ups off both drives and cuts…Gets her share of three point attempts…Consistent scoring option in full court play

Emily Walker – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – Hoover High School – Lefty combo…Can put the ball in the basket…Nice, compact jump shot…Points off drives, especially to her strong side…Hard to stop…Mixes in creative finishes

Katherine Weakley – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Worthington Christian – Gets to the basket from both half and full court attack…Uses different finishes…Catch and shot three ball…Skilled size on the wing