LAS PALMAS de GRAN CANARIA (Spain)— With the first annual Blue Star 30 Europe in the books all eyes are now focused on this weekend and the 45 athletes descending on metropolitan Philadelphia for the fourth US version of the highly successful event.  Before shifting gears and putting away the passports we thought we would take a quick look back at some of the standouts from the action at the Canterbury International school on Gran Canaria last weekend.  A talented group of 30 made up the first ever European edition of Blue Star 30, each hand selected by people on the ground and personally familiar with their play well beyond an occasional trip across the Atlantic.

Of course we’re not going to provide all the in’s and out’s, up’s and down’s and details here.  The wise recruiter already has a relationship with Dan Bowmaker and Blue Star Europe or is in the process of getting that door open for that kind of specific insight. Additionally, we’re concerned with a recent rash of less than scrupulous “evaluation plagiarism” among services both domestically and internationally shortchanging athletes and subscribers alike.

What we will do is offer up quick hitters as we’ve done in the past and tell you that there’s some promising basketball in front of all 30 of them. Just where and what level remains to be seen as the make-up of the camp was 22 members of the 2022 class and 8 from 2023.  Recruiting beauty is always in the eye of the beholder and young players always have the potential to improve that perspective.

To see coverage and images of all 30, follow the links below to see Blue Star Media’s on sight look at the first annual Blue Star 30 Europe.

https://bluestarmedia.org/blue-star-30-wraps-up-first-europe-event/

https://bluestarmedia.org/first-annual-blue-star-30-europe-lineup/

https://bluestarmedia.org/first-annual-blue-star-30-europe-set-to-tip-off/

Anete Elisabeth Adler – 2022 – 6-4 – Post – Estonia – Impressive size…Frame strength coaches love…Broad shoulders…Good understanding and concepts on the low block…Still thinking more than reacting…Jump hook is there and creates space for release…Active without the ball high/low and side/side…Can get out and run the floor…Legit

Marina Asensio Manosa – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Spain – Skilled and competitive guard…Attacking mentality and the tools to do it with…Creates and improves both shots and passes…Always looking to find a better option…Quick release with plenty of range and touch…Exploits defensive mistakes well for age…Change of speed and direction keep defenders guessing…Makes those around her better

Angena Belloso Peralta – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Spain – Speed…Agility…Quickness…Dynamic first step…Change of direction serves her well…Body control in traffic…Shot fake sets up penetration…Navigates traffic in transition…Touch and Form are fine but narrow base and turned body…Assertive on ball defender…Ultra quick hands and feet

Sara Berglund – 2022 – 5-11 – Small Forward – Sweden – Slowed by ankle injury day two…Showed a mix of skills…Can produce off the drive…Had some moments with her mid-range game…Decent stroke is there…Additional strength will come with physical maturity

Deva Bermejo Escribano – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Spain – Attacking and pushing at the point…Can improve both shots and passes off the dribble…Mixed both speed and direction within her attack…Responded to her turnovers to come back and make plays…Floater is there off the drive…Feisty

Uma Bobic – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Bosnia – Physically strong…Power is in her legs…Aggressive with the ball in her hands…Lefty…Looking to attack and get to the rim…Sound form on her shot…Base is narrow for strength that she possesses…Tough match up

Bianca Braikia – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward – Denmark – Lefty…Constant movement on the wing…Factor in halfcourt and transition…Length and agility are there…Depth and refinement already showing in her skill set…Penetration leads to results for her and teammates…Perimeter shot forces tight closeouts by opponents setting up her attack…Size and wingspan combine with footspeed to make her a defensive factor

Elena Buenavida Estevez – 2022 – 5-10 – Forward / Wing – Spain – Nice size…Solid build…Strong individual skills…Can create her own shot…Works well in traffic…Does get caught deep on the drive at times…Step back served her well…Decent depth on both ends of the floor…Shot selection much better 5 on 5 versus 3 on 3

Angeliki Christaki – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Greece – Scrappy at the point…Active with and without the ball…Sees the floor both on the break and in the halfcourt…Looks to penetrate and pass on the defensive rotations…Pull up is there…Decisions are sound and well-read but a half second slow right now

Alejandra Civera Mayorga – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – Spain – Nice size and good build on the perimeter…Patient with the ball…Can penetrate some…Looked good in traffic on occasion…Deceptive vertical…Read the floor…Looked for her own but also gave it up…Assertive on ball defender

Mame Fatou Ndoye – 2023 – 6-2 – Forward – Spain – Impressive size and athleticism combination…Possesses good strength already as well…Smooth and fluid…Runs the floor with the guards…Willing to battle…Has tools but still defining how to put them to use…Can make plays around the rim or from 15 foot range…Rebounded well…Improved consistency will set her apart from the crowd

Alba Garcia-Valcarcel Bezos – 2022 – 5-10 – Small Forward – Spain – Lefthander…Lean build out on the wing…Smooth and fluid in her cuts…Willing to put it on the floor to create or improve her shot…Not shy about putting it up…Pull up is quick and on a dime…Additional strength will counter some more physical defenders

Sara Garic – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward – Slovenia – Good length on the wing…Impressive reach for size…Broad frame made for adding strength…First step creates effective penetration to the middle…Form is sound but forward motion is there to a degree…No issues with physical play…Can mix it up

Karola Gelei – 2023 – 5-10 – Wing / Guard – Hungary – Nice size and strength for age…Willing to mix things up…Can put it on the floor to take advantage of options…Upright to some degree at times…Made some plays…Plays physical on the defensive end

Maria Hernandez–Torro – 2022 – 6-2 – Post – Spain – Has some length with a willowy build at this point…Plays with plenty of energy…Youthful look to her game…Knows what she’s looking for…Skills are evolving but waiting on the reps to refine them…Watch

Catalina Ion – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Romania – Good size and solid build…Plays with confidence for age…Understated strength is used effectively…Has some depth to her offensive skill set…Effective at the rim, mid-range and out to 15 feet…Legitimate and strong presence on the boards…Has a mature element to her game for her youth

Vanesa Jasa 2022 – 5-11 – Guard – Latvia – Solid size and skills in the backcourt…Drives the ball to the rim…Actually responds better with contact at times…Sees the floor and can make the tough interior pass…Showed off a stepback on a couple of occasions…Effort is there on the ball defensively…Could turn it up on the weakside of the floor

Emily Kalenik – 2023 – 6-3 – Forward / Post – Poland – Lefty…Size with versatility…Potential is there for more growth…Active both with and without the ball…Can put it on the floor for her size…Decisions need sharpening…Made herself a presence on the boards…Baseline drive is a weapon…Perimeter shot is compact to a degree…Lots of possibilities for a 2023

Marta Leimane – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward / Wing – Sweden – Leaner build makes her look to have more length…Active on both ends of the floor…Deceiving first step gets her past defenders…Uses hesitation and crossover with great efficiency…Floater has release at the top of her extension…Tougher to defend than first impression

Agata Makurat – 2023 – 6-1 – Small Forward – Poland – Long and lean on the wing…Agile and lithe in all of her movement…Lethal touch and range…Quick release is there…Tremendous awareness of options and defense…Instinctual player…Knows how to make herself an option…Gets out in transition…Young with more growth and filling out to come…Think “Samuelson”

Sara Menalo – 2023 – 6-1 – Small Forward – Croatia – Nice size and build…Already possesses some good physical strength…Not afraid to use it…Effort is there…Has some good concepts…Right choices coming just a half step slow at this point…Refinement will make them instinctual…Odd release on her spot up shot becomes smooth in quicker attack

Hana Muhl – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Croatia – Solid skills in the backcourt…Focused on getting to the rim…Creates but sees the floor as she navigates traffic…Can slide between the bigs…Handles contact despite slight build…Has tools and understanding…Assertive defender with instincts

Virag Pfeiffer – 2023 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Hungary – Small and quiet at the point but effective…Strong ballskills…Understands how to set up her attack and passing options…Deceptively productive…Works on the ball defensively

Tara Pulevic – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Slovenia – Quiet but effective…Strong ballhandling and passing skills…Attacking mentality is there on the catch…Decent jumper but the pull up off the drive serves her well too…Effort is there defensively but could add an element of physicality to it

Susannah Rafiu – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward / Post – United Kingdom – Exceptional combination of size and athleticism…Length is there as well…Agility works for her both offensively and defensively…Efficient off the one or two dribble drive…Looking to develop her own looks…Vertical makes her a presence on the glass…Agility and footspeed will make her a valuable defensive asset

Karyn Sanford – 2022 – 5-9 – Combo – Norway – Power game in the backcourt…Challenging match up of opposition…Agility is exceptional and deceiving…Tools are there to both create and improve shots and passing angles…Shooting touch is there mid-range to deep…Handles physical play around the rim with confidence…Plenty of tools and possibilities

Vera Soderblom – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Sweden – Good size…Solid physically…Decent strength already…Methodical…Obviously has been coached…Quiet, but aggressive on both ends…Had moments…Shows plenty of promise…Focused

Ariadna Termis Casas – 2023 – 6-5 – Post – Spain – True “big”…Solid frame…Improves in front of your eyes…Keeps it high on the catch…Somewhat mechanical but just a 2023…Won’t initiate contact but doesn’t back away from it…Keeps her shoulder between defender and the ball…Decent face up moves for her age…Age and size say it all

Astera Tuhina – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Kosovo – Don’t be fooled by first impressions…Awkward look at times but makes some plays…Competes on every possession…Can work her way into the paint with the ball…Slight build took some hits in traffic…Forced a few…Works on ball defensively…Appears to just be figuring how to make the most of her skills

Noemi Ugochukwu – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – Spain – Big guard…Strength and athleticism to go with size…Explosive first step…Speed with the ball is exceptional…Delivers the ball on penetration as rotations comes…Appears to prefer passing to shooting…Shot needs to be called on more to keep defenders honest…Lateral speed on defense allows her to guard 1 – 3 on any level