HAMILTON, Ontario—Keeping the bar set high, Mike Flynn and Blue Star 30 took to the floor once again this past weekend. After an initial event was held in Chicago during early summer with all thirty members present, a second Skills and Drills opportunity saw a group of BS 30 members join some promising Lone Star State prospects for a Southwest Sports Alliance clinic in Southlake, Texas back in September. This time the setting was just north of Niagara Falls as Canada Drive director Richard Nurse helped coordinate three separate scrimmages and provided an instructional setting for 17 of these select next generation players. The 2020 class was out in force with 14 members and was joined by two from the 2021 class and another still who won’t be a senior until 2022. Players traveled from 10 different states in the US while three more were from the backyard of Ontario and another still made the long journey from Singapore for all the action.
Links to previous Blue Star 30 coverage
Chicago I
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/next-blue-star-30/
Chicago II
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/blue-star-30-day-two-quickhitters/
Texas
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/lone-star-labor-day-lessons/
Saturday saw the Blue Star 30 roster take on the programs from Southwest Academy and Lincoln Prep. The early contest saw a 16 point lead blow up to 40 by the end of the third as the future stars rolled to a comfortable 116 – 64 win over Southwest. The second scrimmage was much more competitive as Richard Nurse’s squad was within reach until the final buzzer. Blue Star 30 led by 10 after one and extended their lead to 14 at the half with a 41 – 27 margin. Lincoln Prep cut the lead to 10 in the third and even led briefly in the fourth before falling 79 – 69 in the end. Senior forward Aiden Rainford, a Sienna commit, and 2019 standout Kaillie Hall offered up strong performances for the Canadians. Saturday morning’s third opponent was a JUEL Select squad who pushed the young Blue Star team throughout. A 28 – 19 first quarter lead shrunk to a seven point gap at the break, 47 – 40. BS 30 padded the lead by five in the third and 14 more in the fourth to notch their third win with a 98 – 72 final score.
Today we take a look at the 17 Blue Star 30 players making the trip to Hamilton for one of the last 2016 non-scholastic events before the start of the high school and middle school seasons.
Elizabeth Martino has been on the radar for some time now considering her 2020 graduation date. The Lanham, Maryland native continues to establish herself as one of the preeminent perimeter scoring guards on the horizon. Off the dribble she’s aggressive and can get herself to the rim against both defenders with size as well as the small and quick. There’s no reservations about contact and she doesn’t back down from rotating bigs on penetration and the ability is there to thread the needle with some sharp interior passing. The elevation is impressive on her pull up and the perimeter consistency is beginning to pay dividends. Martino is a factor in transition with and without the ball and has the speed to create defensive breakdowns. Lots of effort is there on the ball defensively but does take chances at times.
Fishers, Indiana’s Sydney Parrish is wrapping up an impressive Spring and Summer. While she had her breakout at the USA Trials in Colorado Springs several months back she’s continued to advance and add to her game. The calling card for this 2020 grad has always been an eye catching stroke and range but this weekend she showed off an even deeper skill set with the ball in her hands. While she ran the point efficiently at times she’s the option you want catching the ball rather than making the entry pass. Parrish is looking to create more off the dribble and is turning the corner with much more authority. The crossover looked sharp and the attack going left is evolving. Already possessing great size on the perimeter, she’s going to challenge any match up option opponents can send her way.
While there may have been more 2020’s in the gym, one of the weekend’s stronger efforts came from 2021 Azzi Fudd out of Arlington, Virginia. That’s hardly a surprise to anyone paying attention to the recent recruiting landscape but the bad news for opponents is that she’s getting better each time out. The diversity and decision making in her game are producing for her and creating for her teammates. While she can put up numbers with the best of them herself she’s reading the floor on the break and in the halfcourt while making those around her more productive. The perimeter stroke is smooth and fluid with range yet closing out tight is an invitation to give up the drive. Fudd’s touch on her floater is more than reliable but she’s just as effective taking it all the way to the rim. This weekend her on ball defense was focused, aggressive and produced conversions and results.
We’ve seen Rain Green control the tempo of a game time and time again. This weekend was no different for the 2020 Baltimore native who has the ability play the game at high speed without sacrificing efficiency. From make, miss or turnover, she’s pushing the ball and keeping transition defenses on their heels. Even if she’s not receiving the outlet she’s an option well ahead of the opposition and converting open looks. In the halfcourt, on the catch her first step is on par with the best of them. While the size isn’t there yet, she’s physically strong and handles the bumps and hand checks in traffic. Green is seeing the court better and has a great awareness of what options are developing on the weakside of the floor. Defensively she’s assertive and can turn ballhandlers multiple times in a fullcourt setting.
We’ve talked about Randallstown Maryland’s Angel Reese and her size, length and athleticism in the past so it’s very easy to do so again. The 2020 wing’s comfort level in attacking off the dribble is growing and she’s developing her own opportunities time and again. She can be upright on occasions but it’s not keeping her from getting to the rim and slashing among defenders. Near the basket there’s an uncanny ability to get her shot off and her lean build does tend to take some hard hits as a tradeoff. The perimeter shot has its moments and there’s still a narrow base under it. But as it continues to evolve she’s going to be a defender’s worst nightmare forcing opponents to close out tighter and quicker in turn opening up her options off the drive. Defensively, the already mentioned length and agility makes her a coach’s dream in half and full court schemes as well as any trapping scenario.
The youngest member of Blue Star 30 (2022) is as productive as any of her peers. Cincinnati’s KK Bransford continues to grow her game and for good measure…her physical size. Showing off some visible growth just over the past couple of months, she isn’t letting it slow her down in any way, shape or form. Like Rain Green (above), Bransford is pushing the ball at opportunity and has the passing skills to exploit numbers situations over and over. With the ball in her hands she’s utilizing an impressive hesitation move that has defenders coming out of their stance and left with a view of her acceleration as she goes past. She gets into the paint with ease but could use some additional patience in allowing defenders to commit or stay home. Quick and agile defensively on the ball, her hands and feet continue to allow her to dictate to opposing ballhandlers.
Those recruiters who haven’t heard of Doylestown, Pennsylvania’s Maddie Burke are most likely in the wrong profession. One of the 2020 class’s most versatile players, she continues to sharpen and add depth to her skill set. An established shooter, she’s continues to create more and more off the dribble both on the break and in the halfcourt. Throw in some added size and strength and she’s challenging any defender. On penetration she’s reading the floor and recognizing options as they develop. That size and strength give her tools around the rim but the pull up is still an effective option. Burke was a presence on the boards this weekend and isn’t hesitant to put a body on the opposition defensively.
Caroline Ducharme is one of those players most basketball oriented coaches might use as an example to their own athletes. The Milton, Massachusetts native has lots of tools to call upon both with and without the ball in her hands. That later skill is rare among players her age (2021) and even to an extent among those with much more experience. She understands the need for movement and exploits defenders relaxing off the ball over and over again. With the ball she’s constantly trying to improve both shots and passing angles while demonstrating good instincts when the rotations come her way. Her perimeter shot is released high with a great follow through keeping defenders honest on their close outs. Strength will come with age.
If you like players who just keep making those consistent and incremental improvements then you have to like Brooklyn’s Natalija Marshall. Each time we see the 2020 forward she’s taken her game a step further…including stepping out. Over the weekend she was a presence inside but repeatedly stepped out on the wing and into the short corners for both perimeter looks as well as the opportunity to attack. She’s fluid putting it on the floor and the eyes are up and reading as she gets into traffic. In transition she has the speed to get out if she’s not the trigger and consistently makes herself and option for her guards. Marshall showed more defensively this time around including a willingness to mix it up physically a time or two.
Kayla Cooper of Frederick, Maryland may have been one of the more productive defenders in the gym in Hamilton. The athletic 2020 swing player is looking more and more like a promising wing as time goes by. Her on ball effort contained smaller, quicker guards but at the same time she bodied up on some bigger match ups with some effectiveness as well. There’s an aggressiveness to her play on both ends of the floor and a willingness to get as physical as she needs to get the job done. Cooper can get to the rim off the drive and has the tools to finish in traffic. Diversity in her offensive attack will make her a serious challenge for defenders.
Another athlete you might want to use if you’re making a skill demonstration video, Katelyn Levings plays a quiet but considerably productive game. The 2020 forward is active throughout every possession and is seldom caught standing still. The tools are there to post up and work around the rim and she does so with a strong understanding of angles. At the same time she’s productive on the perimeter both with a 15 footer or off the drive. The Oklahoma City native cuts hard off screens and in give and go scenarios. Levings came through on the boards several times this weekend, particularly on the offensive glass. Few players her age have the court awareness she does defensively.
The true power game among the Blue Star 30 lies with Jayla Kelly of Chesterfield, Missouri. A broad frame and impressive strength for her age (2020) allow her to work the low post like a player with more experience under her belt. She knows what she’s looking for and is active in trying to gain position and a seal on entries and reversals. That being said she’ll need to add depth to her post moves including a much needed up and under option to take advantage of the situations she’s creating. Her movement high to low and block to block are deceiving and challenge other bigs to stay on their toes. Kelly is strong on the glass and has no reservations about clearing space. Defensively she’s physical on the catch but needs to be more proactive in keeping the ball out of the post to start with.
We love to see consistent improvement and 2020 Daylee Dunn seldom disappoints in that department. The wiry, athletic guard is showing obvious improvements in her perimeter shooting just since we saw her last in Southern California. It’s still a work in progress but results are very evident. Dunn, who calls San Ramon, California home, also continued to make herself a transition option both on the break and in conversion opportunities from turnovers. To a greater degree she really impressed on the defensive end this weekend. On ball she’s extremely active and harassing. On the weakside she’s seeing the ball and anticipating well on skips and rotations. Both ends of the floor are really evolving and taking her to that next level.
College recruiters will tell you Mississauga, Ontario’s Jada Grannum passes the “eye test”…with flying colors. The 2020 post continues to add to her game and plays with plenty of effort. She has the tools and makes herself an option both in transition and in the halfcourt. Grannum is active without the ball and can run the floor with the guards. The weekend revealed a need to become much more physical on both ends of the floor. Her positioning is strong and the work ethic are there but she’s not the aggressive presence she needs to be on a consistent basis yet. The expectations are exceptionally high because the flashes she does show are so impressive. When the willingness is there to play with contact on every possession her numbers will go through the roof.
Another part of the three person Canadian contingent that makes up the Blue Star 30 roster is 2020 guard Kirsten McGrath. Strong ball skills continue to help her create both shots and passes. The lefthander can handle it in transition or make herself an option as well by getting out in the lanes. Her perimeter shot has a low release and is somewhat out in front at times but the touch is there to convert. Defensively she was more effective in her closeouts this time around and offered up some strong play from the weakside of the floor.
Playing in her own backyard, Hamilton’s Alexis Stewart offered up stronger play each time she took the floor over the weekend. A 2020 combo, she’s has a strong understanding of the game and knows what she’s looking for in transition as well as in halfcourt sets. A nice touch and some impressive range necessitate quick closeouts from defenders. Stewart’s ball skills put her in a position to improve her looks or the passing angles needed to get the ball inside. Saturday’s scrimmage showed off her transition passing which directly led to multiple conversions from both makes and misses. Defensively she played with a bigger cushion but still needs to contain penetration to a greater degree.
Once again Singapore’s Ariel Loiter grabbed top honors for traveling the furthest. It goes hand in hand with the work ethic the ultra-driven 2020 point guard plays with on the floor. As the weekend went on and she overcame some serious jetlag she produced more effectively on the floor. With limited game opportunities for her at home she’s a textbook training player. Each time we see her in action her best efforts come as the event winds down. Consistent competitive challenges are going to allow her to convert her hours of skill work into sharpened game tools. The ballhandling and passing are refined but the application needs repetitions to avoid turnovers. Defensively it’s obvious she’s aware of spacing and closeouts but the need is there to tighten up and limit penetration.
