CINCINNATI, Ohio– With the state of Ohio moving their opening day for scholastic basketball one week earlier this year, Bryce McKey, Tenishia Benson and OGBR weren’t going to let the opportunity pass to move the fourth annual Journey to the Tourney off the ultra-congested Thanksgiving weekend and take the opportunity to jump start the 2019 – 2020 girls high school season.
While not specifically a “tournament” traffic jam for actual participating teams, the upcoming holiday weekend has always proved challenging for college recruiters with their own games while at the same time never scoring high on the popularity meter in the hearts of families and friends with more traditional activities in mind. The move also allowed for the addition of two consensus top five, out of state programs to bolster the already strong roster of talent laden teams from the Buckeye State.
Across two days, 24 teams took the floor on the campus of Lakota West High School just north in West Chester for a total of 16 games to kick off the scholastic season. The talent on the court spoke for itself. Throw in a surely disappointing two game split for both of the ranked teams and you know those sitting courtside and in the stands got their fill of top tier basketball in the 2019 Journey to the Tourney.
We also made a one day stop last Thursday just north of Dallas for the Allen Lady Eagle Hoopfest. Always a strong event, if you missed our coverage, follow the link below to catch up on some Lone Star standouts.
https://bluestarmedia.org/lady-eagle-hoopfest-a-quick-stop-in-allen/
We enjoyed more than our share of impressive efforts in Cincinnati. Her are just a few, many you’ll recognize right away.
KK Bransford – 2022 – 5-11 – Swing Player – Mt. Notre Dame – Dynamic, multifaceted player…Well known for years…Possibilities now becoming realities…Confidence and maturity fueling each other…Navigates traffic with explosive steps covering lots of ground…Goes up with impressive body control and is handling contact more and more consistently…Vertical gets her clean looks in the crowd…Form is there but jumper isn’t yet a consistently called on part of the arsenal…Once it is, Good luck…The same physical attributes setting her apart offensively provide the tools to make an impact on the other end in multiple spots
Kamilla Cardoso – 2020 – 6-7 – Post – Hamilton Heights – Syracuse signee – Elite size and agility…Combines with a willingness to run the floor like no other post in high school or college…Works to be an option and is almost too willing to kick it back out…Keeps it high on the catch…Strong awareness of positioning as an option or facilitator…Consistency will need to evolve in terms of finishing…Skills are there but don’t produce appropriate shooting percentages for size
Makira Cook – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Mt. Notre Dame – Dayton signee – Continues to improve every time we’ve seen her play…Consistency of her perimeter shooting forces opponents to close out…Penetration can be to the rim or for an effective pull up or floater…Pushes the ball well with good choices from both makes and misses…Deceptively strong for size…Can contain ballhandlers…Still evolving
Kailyn Dudukovich – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Lakota West – Elite soccer player…Has moments of exceptional play…Continually attacks both the middle and baseline from the wing…Has a strong awareness of defenders and teammates…No fear in traffic…Same effort is there on the glass…Has shown elite defensive play taking over one game with simple but aggressive on ball defense
Maria Gakdeng – 2021 – 6-3 – Post/Forward – New Hope Academy – Exceptional physical tools…The size and length go with elite agility and some speed…Vertical combines with her reach to challenge any big on the floor…Has some rough edges but far from a project…Had moments on both ends but also had challenges as well…Keeping her on the floor is important…Only beginning…Watch very closely
Chance Gray – 2022 – 5-10 – Combo Guard – Lakota West – Continues to evolve as a special guard…Has the ballskills to get to the rim but the perimeter shot to force defenders to make a choice…Confidence is showing itself more and more…Can get on a roll at times…Goes to the rim with explosiveness both directions…Not backing down from bigs while vertical serves her well in traffic…Body control is an asset…Perimeter touch is deep and has consistency to it…Opponents are forced to close out but need a cushion at the same time…Does have moments of playing laterally rather than at the rim
Bree Hall – 2021 – 6-0 – Guard/Wing – Huber Heights Wayne – Impact player out on the wing…Long, lean and athletic, she continues to prove her elite status on both ends of the floor…Creating more off the dribble than in the past…Spots up efficiently and with good range and touch…Smooth and fluid in all she does offensively…Versatility on defense is exceptional…Has the feet and hands to defend virtually any spot 1 through 4..Should elevate her game even more by the time she heads to campus
Jordan Hobbs – 2021 – 6-1 – Wing/Guard – Springboro – Rice Verbal – Plenty of length with more growth possibly to come…Active and cutting with intent from start to finish…Focused play…Slashed into traffic without reservation…Ballskills allow her to improve both shots and passes…Attacks quickly on the catch…Gets off the floor on her pull up…Good instincts on the offensive glass…Long build allows her to play multiple roles defensively
Nyla Hampton – 2020 – 5-7 – Guard – Huber Heights Wayne – Bowling Green signee – Productive guard…Plays with exceptional speed and quickness…Gets into the paint and can pull up, float it or deliver the inside pass…Mixes speed up multiple times to keep defenders guessing…No reservation about taking it all the way to the rim…Eye catching vertical for size
Jillian Hayes – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Loveland – Cincinnati signee – Forward with some size…Methodical but effective…Made some plays but lacked consistency…Got to the rim…Handles it soundly for her size…Will need to embrace physical play as she moves forward
Treasure Hunt – 2020 – 6-1 – Guard / Wing – Hamilton Heights – Kentucky signee – Added depth noted this summer is even more impressive now…Mixing perimeter attack with good choices for penetration…Utilizing size and strength against smaller opponents and exploiting advantages…Attacking the rim in a physical manner…Throws her body into rotating defenders without hesitation…Has turned up the defense as well…Taking both interior and perimeter challenges…Doesn’t hide from high profile match ups
Cotie McMahon – 2022 – 5-10 – Small forward – Centerville – Dynamic athlete…Explosive first step and stride…Elevates in traffic above the crowd…Attacking mentality on the catch…Utilizes her strength and willing to use her body…Most effective with the ball in her hands…Needs to become much more active without the ball and with her weak hand…Tools to own the glass
Aliah McWhorter – 2020 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Sycamore – Wake Forest signee – Creates her own off the dribble…Plenty of effort…Gets out and runs the floor…Can take it coast to coast herself…Strength is limited at this point but still handled contact…Floater is effective…Active without the ball in her hands…Could be more assertive on the defensive end of the floor
Zoe Miller – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Berlin Hiland – Bowling Green signee…Poster child for work ethic…Relentless on both ends of the floor…Understands angles and posting to the pass…Reads and cuts aggressively…Loves to duck under larger defenders…Gets up and down the floor with the perimeter players…Embraces physical play…Much preferable as a teammate than opponent
Brynn Mullet – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – Berlin Hiland – Smart and focused…Textbook skills…Competes…Works to be an option…Can spot up with range
Kyla Oldacre – 2022 – 6-6 – Post – Princeton – Well known already…Being watched closely…Size, build and frame are made for the game…Has the tools to develop all the aspects…Works for position…Showed off a baby hook with full extension at the release…Repetition and consistency would serve her well on the block…Knows where she should be defensively…Evolving slowly…Does wear her frustrations on her sleeve once in a while
Felesia Onadongo – 2020 – 5-7 – Guard – Pickerington Central – Athletic and quick guard…Playing with more maturity…Had good moments…Demonstrated impressive range…Passed up a few opportunities…Speed and quickness serve her well defensively…Consistency will be key
Kylee Sheppard – 2021 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Roger Bacon – Skilled at the point…Understands and executes…Triggers break from makes, misses and turnovers…Pushes but reads well…Vision serves her well in transition and in the halfcourt…Crossover is wide, low and effective…First step is very deceptive…Form and touch are in place as is the range to force tight close outs…Plays with intensity
Emma Shumate – 2021 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Newark – West Virginia Verbal – Long, lean and skilled…Lifetime of coaching is showing in the textbook nuances of her play…Skilled and smart…Plays with tremendous awareness of her teammates as well as the opposition…Cutting harder and with intent…Knows what to do on the catch and does so instinctively…Length and agility serves her well on the defensive end as well
Ashley Tudor – 2020 – 5-10 – Wing/Forward – Mercy Mcauley – Radford signee – Active…Plays with effort…Good understanding of high post role…Has versatile combination of some size and some ballhandling to keep defenders honest…Perimeter touch is also sound enough to keep the closing out as well…Moves her feet defensively but could be more physical overall
Grace VanSlooten – 2022 – 6-3 – Forward/Wing – Notre Dame Academy – Deep skill set goes with great size and build…Challenge for any defender…Can develop her own looks…Works hard on the perimeter in executing offense and making herself and option…Penetrates from high post, trail spot or anywhere around the arch…Beginning to possess more strength and figuring out how to put it to work…Always a factor in transition…Has length and footspeed to defend in multiple schemes.
Amy Velasco – 2021 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Centerville – By the book point guard…Smart and patient…Exploits defenders mistakes…Impressive touch and range….Consistent…Effective playmaker but proven scorer as well
Maddie Vejsicky – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing – Newark – Size, skills and instincts coming together…Active and assertive throughout possessions…Makes herself an option in transition…Effective with in sets in terms of setting up and improving options of teammates…Fluid and smooth stroke to her shot with the strength for good range
Jada Walker – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – New Hope Academy – Elite ballhandling guard…Few defenders can stay in front of her attack…Has the touch and the range to force opponents to decide the lesser of evils…Ballskills and attack are low, quick and sharpened…Tools are there to make plays at full speed…Body control allows her to be effective in traffic against rotating bigs…Has to reel in her hands defensively to avoid unnecessary whistles
Bella Ward – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing/Forward – Gahanna Lincoln – Solid and physically strong…Plays with effort and intensity…Good mix of interior attack and perimeter possibilities…Form and stroke are there…Willing to mix things up inside…Ballskills are efficient and evolving…Lots of possibilities
Hailey Weaver – 2021 – 6-0 – Guard/Wing – Solon – Early established prospect…Has added physical size…Combines with athleticism and quickness…Lean build…Slashed to the rim both in the halfcourt but out of transition scenarios as well…Sees the floor on the break…Textbook form is in place…Consistency will keep opponents from playing soft…Had runs within the same game
Maddy Westbeld – 2020 – 6-3 – Forward – Kettering Fairmont…Notre Dame signee – Continues to define elite versatility…Can exploit opponents of the highest caliber inside and out…Finishing better than ever with contact…Creating and improving options off the dribble…Demonstrates stamina and the ability to handle being a target of opponents…Touch is there to command close outs by bigs and strength is there to exploit mismatches inside…Continues to add to her repertoire
Sole Williams – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Princeton – High profile freshman…Explosive with the ball in her hands…Lefthander…Crossover is quick and low…Sets the pace in the backcourt even at a young age…Step back is in place and provides plenty of separation…Hands and feet on the defensive end allow her to do whatever she’s willing to work at…Right hand needs development and soon!….Exceptional and elite in every way
