COLUMBUS, Ohio– The first annual USJN Capital City Challenge was a huge success and featured a wealth of talent from the great state of O-H-I-O. Nearly fifty college coaches were on hand to watch the same number of Ohio teams compete Friday evening and all day on Saturday.  This event will be sure to grow next year. To finish off the weekend, the first annual OGBR Spring Special was on Sunday in Columbus and featured many of the top players from Ohio in an individual showcase format. Run by Tom Jenkins, it was not surprisingly a first class event. There was a big overlap of players at the OGBR from the USJN Capital City Challenge which provided an opportunity to see them play within both a team offense and a less structured setting.

For a list of all the college programs in attendance, pool All-Stars, a list of participating teams and more, follow the link below to the USJN post event page.

http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=401

We saw our fair share of athletes over the first NCAA Spring Evaluation weekend in Ohio.  Below are a few individuals that caught our eye in Columbus as well as some additional quickhitters.

Pearl Dean- 2018 – 6-2 – Center – (Cincinnati, OH – OH Cincinnati Ladytigers 15 Black) – Dean is a lefty center who has a major level body and athleticism that is just now starting to come together for her. She finished well on the left side and finds a way to always end up on the left side of the court. Her teammates find her in transition and in time she will be able to grab all those dishes that come her way. Tremendous upside and playing on a roster that has the depth to allow her to develop.

Nyla Hampton- 2020 – 5-7 – Guard – (Huber Heights, OH – OH Dayton Flight 14 Carolina) – Hampton can score in a variety of ways and could be a combo guard in the future. She knocks down the three, drives into the paint to mix it up and will take the ball coast to coast after a rebound. Smart player who is always aware of spacing on the court.

Naz Hillmon- 2018 – 6-1 – Center – (Cleveland, OH – OH Sports City U 17) – Hillmon is a strong and physical rebounder who can finish anywhere in the paint. Her size allows her to matchup with anyone in the paint and can get up off the floor to block shots too. Posts strong with her back to the basket and also sets a mean on-ball screen.

Jamir Huston- 2018 – 6-0 – Forward – (Shaker Heights, OH – OH Sports City U 17) – Fierce power forward who plays with extreme body control, athleticism and swagger. She defends, rebounds and finishes in transition. Has the potential to step out to the wing in the right BCS program and can already defend a quick guard on the perimeter and in transition.

Madisyn Oxley- 2018 – 5-7 – Point Guard – (West Chester, OH – OH Cincinnati Heat Premier 17 Goodwin) – Oxley is a lefty point guard that can do it all despite having a small frame. She really helps make the rest of the team shine with her smooth passes in transition and in the half court and knows how to set a player up for an easy score. When she catches the ball on the perimeter she can shoot if she is open from three and also put the ball on the floor to create her own shot. Nice defensive player who always seems to be in the right place at the right time and will lay her body out to take a charge if a post comes barreling at the basket.

Emily Patton- 2017 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – (Harrod, OH – OH Capital City Comets 17 Oakes) – Patton is a feisty and aggressive wing that will dip her shoulder and take you all the way to the rim. She can finish left and right and can handle the ball. Coaches will have the option to play her as a forward since she plays so strong and could matchup in a variety of ways.  Smart and level headed, Patton is someone that would be fantastic in a spread offensive that needs players to create their own shots and move without the ball.

Brooke Spaulding- 2017 – 5-6 – Point Guard – (Hamilton, OH – OH Cincy Finest 17 Black) – Spaulding is a strong and athletic point guard that thrives in the transition game. Her handles are legit and did an amazing job versus the defensive pressure from Sports City U 17 who they matched up with Friday night. She has a sweet pull up jumper in transition, has three-point range and was able to find someone to dish too in traffic even with all those long arms and athletes in the paint.

Macy Spielman- 2019 – 5-10 – Point Guard – (Columbus, OH – OH Capital City Comets 17 Fowler) – Spielman is a talented point guard who plays with confidence and grit every time she steps on the court. She is a strong and physical player who has excellent court vision and always finds the right pass in transition or the half court. Macy shoots the three and can dip her shoulder and finish by the rim. Her handles are tight and she likes to freeze her defender with a hesitation before taking her off the dribble.     

Madeline Westbeld- 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – (Kettering, OH – OH Dayton Flight 14 Carolina) – Westbeld is a forward with some serious potential.  She has a long frame and can score in a variety of ways: catch and shoot, by the basket and put the ball on the floor which created matchup problems for everyone trying to guard her. Just writing the word scorer doesn’t cut it, she can get a rebound, take it coast to coast and finish all the while making it look easy.

QUICKHITTERS

Tanner Bryant- 2018 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – (Washington County, OH – OH Dayton Lady Hoopstars 17 Elite) – Strong on both the perimeter and inside…Will post up with her back to basket…Got a strong defensive rebound and took it coast to coast and pulled up and nailed the three

Lilly Edwards- 2018 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – (Columbus, OH – OH Capital City Comets 17 Fowler) – Strong player who plays hard for every single possession…Can score by the basket and has a nice step through move…Rebounds and is active on defense

Julia Hoefling- 2019 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – (Norwood, OH – OH Cincinnati Heat Premier 17 Sanders) – Plays strong in the post…Finishes by the basket…Rebounds on both ends of the floor…Defends and can body up in the paint

Jocelyn Kaiser- 2017 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – (Washington County, OH – OH Dayton Lady Hoopstars 17 Elite) – Three-point shooter with great offensive skills…Puts the ball on the floor…Has a floater and up and under move

Gabbie Marshall- 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard – (Cincinnati, OH – OH Cincinnati Heat Premier 17 Sanders) – Up-tempo point guard in transition…Long arms that she uses well…Three-point shooter…Huge upside with her body

Alyssa McElroy- 2018 – 5-11 – Forward – (Cincinnati, OH – OH Cincinnati Ladytigers 15 Black) – Strong lefty power forward who exudes confidence…Can put the ball on the floor to get to rim…Nice touch from the free throw line…Defends on the low block

Shelby Nussbaum- 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – (Hamilton, OH – OH Cincinnati Heat Premier 17 Goodwin) – Downtown range and will pull the trigger…Plays hard all the time…Will improve foot speed on defense over time

Emily Simon- 2019 – 5-10 – Point Guard – (Columbus, OH – OH Capital City Comets 14 Kopyar) – Fantastic basketball IQ and is a true team leader…Three-point shooter that can really get hot…Drives the ball hard to the rim and uses her long body well…Has a pull up jumper

Emma Tecca- 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard – (Tallmadge, OH – OH Xtreme 16 Angelo) – Solid point guard that has swagger…Shoots the three…Great at attacking the basket and knowing when to dish

Jordyn Wilson- 2017 – 6-0 – Forward – (Columbus, OH – OH Capital City Comets 17 Oakes) – Solid build and finishes well by the basket…Likes to be by the basket and posts up…Can also play in a spread style offense and move without the ball

OGBR MORNING SESSIONS QUICKHITTERS 

Briana Ball- 2019 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward– (Cincinnati, OH – Winton Woods High School) – Drives strong to the hoop…Smooth player with great body control…Has a nice touch on her shot, need to see range

Kileigh Casey- 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – (Columbus, OH – Upper Arlington High School) – Long and lanky guard who plays strong…Can put the ball on the floor…Very smart player who is always scanning the floor and knows when to cut to the hoop

Zia Cook- 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard – (Toledo, OH – Toledo Rogers High School) – Athlete that can get to the rim on anyone and finish…Great court vision in transition…Established true scoring point guard who continues to display BCS potential

Isabella Geraci- 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – (North Ridgeville, OH – North Ridgeville High School) – Smooth player who knows how to win…Major handles with the ball…Can shoot the three

Morgan McMillen- 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – (New Philadelphia, OH – Berlin Hiland High School) – Strong, smart player who uses her thick body to her advantage…Will light it up from three-point line…Drive and kick or drive and finish by the basket…Looks for post up opportunities

Katie Shumate- 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – (Dresden, OH – Newark High School) – Will not hesitate to shoot the three with someone close and makes it…Shoots from her forehead but has a nice follow through…Long and lanky guard with potential

Paige Warren- 2017 – 6-4 – Center – (Columbus, OH – Dublin Coffman High School) – True center that takes up lots of space…Would make more of an impact at a lower level…Finishes right by the basket