WASHINGTON, D.C. – Basketball was back on the National Harbor last week, as USJN returned to our Nation’s Capital for its 35th Annual 12U-17U National Championships.
After a year hiatus up I-95 in Philadelphia due to the pandemic, the halls of the Gaylord Resort, National Harbor were once again filled with bouncing balls and chirping whistles. Over 260 teams and 425 college coaches converged on the banks of the Potomac River for one of the more unique events in the country. We were happy to be back in the swing of things, and the level of play did not disappoint.
For full event coverage and pool all-stars, you can check out the post-event page here:
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=720
Let’s give due congrats to all of the teams crowned champions in their respective brackets in DC. There were no easy pools and brackets here, so all teams who made it to bracket play are to be commended for a great run!
12U- Cincy Lady Future 12
13U- Fairfax Stars 13 Black
14U- Philadelphia Belles 14
15U- MA Huskies 15
15U- Empire State 15
16U- Chester County Storm 16
16U- RI Huskies 16
16U- Mid-Atlantic Magic 16
16U- Philadelphia Belles 16 BSTTL
17U- Twin Tier Elite 17 Platinum
17U- Dayton Lady Hoopstars 17 BSTTJL
17U- MA Huskies 17
17U- United NJ 17 Platinum
And now, of course, it’s time to fully focus on the players who we caught doing something special over the course of four days. Blue Star had a full media team on hand for this event, and we saw many great games and many great players. This is just a small sample size of just some of the worthy hoopers.
Sabrina Anderson – 2027 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Elevate Elite 12 – Pushes with pace and gets all the way to the rim…Makes FT’s…Good decision maker for her age…Splashing the three like a high schooler already…Will be a name we hear again
Jessica Aponik – 2024 – 5-11 – Wing – Philadelphia Belles 15 Peterson – Just does her thing…Goes through spurts where she just will not be denied…Scores in paint one time down, hits the three the next…Size and versatility makes her special…Makes some tough lay-ups
Jazelle Banks – 2027 – 5-6 – Combo Guard – NJ Sparks 13 – Stud young guard raising eyebrows with her play already…Maneuvers around with the ball so well…Some scrappiness to her…Highlight reel stuff…Has the ball on a string…Just getting started
Nyla Buyck – 2023 – 6-2 – Forward – Elevate Elite 17 Watts – Physical make up is there…Her running speed at this size is intriguing…Can elevate to go get the ball…Will post down low…Scrappy and will dive on the floor…Does a lot on D…Finishes the basics
Allison Cannon – 2024 – 5-9 – Guard – CJ Hawks Lightning 14 – Showed off her ability to get to the rim at will in the championship round…Long and anticipates things well…Nifty finisher…On her way
Elise Champagne – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – MAC Basketball 15 – Just shot the heck out of the ball…Pure shooter…Nice pull up game too…Can play some point…Has some of the intangibles
Ciara Croker – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward – Empire State Blue Flames 17 – Marist commit…Really good back-to-basket moves with a couple of dribbles…Soft touch dropping it right over the top of the D…Has a face up game…Knows how to play…Offensive game is so versatile…Points in the paint all day because she does her work early
Montaya Dew – 2023 – 6-3 – Wing/Forward – Team Militant 17 Red – Only continuing to become more and more of a problem…Has filled out some…Pinning shots left and right…Handles are great and the three ball has become a very reliable ally…A tough impact on both ends…Defensive impact is enormous…Dagger three with the foul in the closing moments of a close game
Kay Donahue – 2022 – 5-10 – Combo Guard – New Jersey Belles 17 Fagan – Lafayette commit…Patient with the ball and then she’s gone all of a sudden…Very good shooter, three’s and pull ups all very fluid…Love how she delivers accurate passes right into a shooter’s pocket…Like to attack going right
Deja Evans – 2023 – 6-1 – Forward – Philadelphia Belles 16 Steidle – Continues to improve and impress with play inside…Doesn’t stand still, always moving…Physical box outs lead to rebounds…Trending the right direction…Blasts off the ground with relative ease
Alyssa Gillin –2022 – 5-10 – Wing – Drill For Skill 17 Brown – Lanky skilled guard having a big summer…Lefty…Serious threat from deep…Thinks the game well on offense and defense alike…Bit of a silent assassin
Jaida Helm – 2023 – 5-11 – Wing – Mid Atlantic Magic 16 – Fills a lot of different roles for her team…Natural athlete who plays with a ton of grit…Nice showing on championship day…Shot looks good and hits contested three’s…Physical finisher, not going to push her around
Jada Hodges – 2025 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Mile Hi Magic 17 – Bright future for this young wing…Great frame…Square up into the three off the catch and check…Gets up to rebound…Some physicality to the rack…On the radar out west
Destiny Jackson – 2025 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Illinois Elite 17 National – Dynamic lead guard…Game is already lightyears ahead, but starting to show some maturity that the highest levels require…Well-established markswoman from deep…Love how locked in she is when coach is talking in the huddle
Olivia Jones – 2025 – 5-10 – Wing – Philadelphia Belles 17 Peterson – Playing up has given her more of a physical presence and assertive edge…Lots of points in the paint…Mistakes don’t bug her, just keeps playing…Uses a variety of finishes…Power guard…Drive and kick is advanced because she sees things develop
Kamryn Lowe – 2027 – 5-6 – Guard – Cincy Lady Future 12 – Kid is a truck…Ferocious out there…Getting to the basket and putting it in…Bully business right here…Can operate in different areas of the court
Brynn McCurry – 2023 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – United NJ 17 Platinum – Put on a post scoring clinic in the championship game…Footwork and finishing equals success…Also steps out and hits the three…Comfortable driving from the wing…Rebounds it and starts the break
Ciara Norman – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – Team Miller Lightning 17 – Gets into passing lanes and quickly turns them into points on the other end…Stretches and extends to finish up around the rim…Rips down some rebounds…Gets her share of points in the paint
Tori Oehrlein – 2026 – 5-8 – Guard – MN Suns 15 Blue Star – The way she handles in traffic and zips the ball around is quite impressive…Can pass with either hand…Buried the three…Cuts hard to score…Highly skilled for her age
Zoe Osby – 2026 – 5-11 – Wing – Fairfax Stars 13 Black – Woah take notice…High school build already…Nice three ball…Pushes like a locomotive in transition…Wing long term…Some sauce with the ball…See her and can’t believe her age
Alanna Phillipo – 2024 – 5-7 – Combo Guard – MA Huskies 17 Beauchemin – Has a presence with the ball in her hands, especially for a youngster playing up…Good build…Finishes at the rim a lot…Maturity to her game stands out
Sydney Pnacek – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing – Michigan Mystics 17 Ruh – High energy wing…Good feet when she gets into the paint…Can definitely score…Shot creator…Good defender
Lila Posthuma – 2024 – 6-0 – Wing Forward – MN Suns 15 Blue Star – Long and getting physically stronger…Can take a couple dribbles in the open floor…Shoots the three so a stretch four type at this size…Great passer on the move…Can get out and defend on the perimeter…Provides positional flexibility
Tamaria Rumph – 2023 – 5-5 – Combo Guard – Team Militant Red 17 – Just an amazing defender…So quick and pressures people until she takes those cookies cleanly…Makes the hustle plays…Fine handle and likes to attack…Showed the pull up in the lane with a good stroke and hangtime to knock it down
Rosie Scognamiglio – 2023 – 5-10 – Guard – NJ Shoreshots 17 – Shot the ball really well all event…Type of shooter that can hit six, seven treys every time out…Uses her length…Solid with the ball…Cuts when she doesn’t have the ball…Sees the floor and knows where to go with it…Quick to rack in transition…Can go on a solo scoring tear
Eniya Scott – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – NJ Shamrocks 17 — Break you down off the dribble type of player…Explosiveness is there…Goes hard to the cup…Outruns people even when she has the ball…Three off the bounce fell when she took it
Payton Sfreddo – 2024 – 5-11 – Wing – Empire State Blue Flames 15 – Good three point shooter even with a hand in her face…Length out on the wing…Plays her role well…Can block some shots…Handles in traffic fine…Player you want taking the last shot to win the game
Layne Sleight – 2023 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Michigan Mystics 17 Ruh – Has some power and some jets with the ball…Tough PG…Showed flashes and still has a year…Accurate passes ahead to advance the ball…Likes the hesi…Adding a mid-range game and already has the hang time
Emma Star – 2023 – 5-8 – Combo Guard – NJ Freedom 16 – Standout performer for her team in bracket play…Sets the tone…Low and quick with the ball in her hands…Frequent driver
Sarah Talon – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – Maine Attraction 17 – Maine commit…Versatile scorer at the guard spot…Will post a smaller guard and go to the turn around jumper one possession, then play floor general the next…Nice handles…Feel for the game is a standout trait
Hayle Thompson – 2023 – 6-3 – Post – MA Huskies 17 DeSantis – Size catches eyes…Nice three-quarter deny in the post on D…Wingspan is impressive…Can make some things happen
Atlee Vanesko – 2026 – 5-8 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 14 Vaughn – Like her on D…Likely to keep growing more with that frame…Whips passes around with ease…Very poised out there…Shot is coming along as she gets older
Olivia Vukosa – 2027 – 6-4 – Forward – Philadelphia Belles 14 Vaughn – Relentlessness in the paint is just amazing…Love her touch on the finishing…A big problem in the championship win…Makes her presence known…Huge target and seals well…Outside skill set continues to evolve
Channing Warren – 2024 – 6-4 – Forward – Blue Star Orlando 15 – Big kid…Puts it on the floor a bit…Runs down loose balls and gets on the floor…Shot a three…Face up move set coming around…One to know
Riley Weiss – 2023 – Guard – 5-9 – NY Lightning 17 Gold – Put on a shooting clinic here…Range is deep…Great summer is yielding all sorts of interest…Can give you minutes at the point as well
Tegan Young – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – New England Crusaders 17 – Clutch down the stretch of a championship game…Just scores the ball in so many ways…Versatility galore…Nice footwork and gets a good wide base in the post
