Philly Face Off 2021

OAKS, PA – As we continue to progress toward a more normal basketball world, we are starting to see the return of some annual events that were missing from last year’s pandemic-impacted schedule. One such event that we were happy to return to was the Philly Face Off.

The 2021 edition of the Face Off was held this past weekend at the Philly Expo Center, and featured 50 teams in the 13U-17U divisions from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Bragging rights were on the line, and there was a great mix of established upperclassmen, stock risers, and intriguing future prospects. The cameras were rolling and big eyes were watching all weekend.

Congratulations to this weekend’s champions…

17U- New Jersey Sparks 17 EYBL

16U- Philadelphia Belles 15U Peterson

15U- New Jersey Sparks 15 Black

14U- New Heights

13U- Team Final 13 MD

Now for the fun part, the players!

Established Stars Lead the Way

If you had to name an MVP of the 17U division, 2022 Penn State commit Paulina Paris of the New Jersey Sparks gets our vote, eclipsing the 30 point mark multiple times, including in the championship game that she iced with a pair of makes at the foul line in OT. She is joined by another future B1G player, Rutgers commit Antonia Bates, a versatile forward who can do a little bit of everything on offense and defense. Bates has continued to improve her game after committing. Younger players should take note.

The above mentioned overtime championship game featured a deep, ultra-talented Books and Basketball team. Blue Star 30’s Aaryn Battle (2023) and Sydni Scott (2022) provide quite the 1-2 punch at the guard spot. Scott is and has always been a gamer, who has a reputation for being a clutch competitor at the point. Battle has all of the upside still athletically, and can be counted on down the stretch to make a play on defense or on offense. We have been very impressed with Timaya Lewis-Eutsey so far this club season. The 2022 wing can go and get buckets off the bounce, and is very effective in attack mode. Plenty of solo scoring runs are in her pocket. Nile Miller continues to be intriguing as well, as a long, versatile player who can score and defend inside and out.

Myah Simmons of the Maryland Belles is on her last go around this summer as a 2022, and we have noted how she goes about playing the point guard position over the years. The awareness and ability to deliver the basketball to the right places at the right time is outstanding, and she is able to get you a bucket as needed to, lay-up and three pointer alike.

Lauren Trumpy makes a big impact at 6’5 for Mid Penn Motion. A 2022 grad with expanding interest, Trumpy has grown her game over the years, and really uses her size to her advantage working down low. Mid Penn has a couple of guards who really make things happen in Giana Hoddinott and Laney Noreika. This group plays together, executes, and gets after it, so expect them to be a tough opponent all summer long!

The Philadelphia Belles 15U Peterson squad won the 16U Championship at Philly Face Off. This is not a typo! This is a talented, fun group that keeps racking up the wins this spring. While still on the young side, there are plenty of players from this group that are easily on the radar in a big way! 2024 5’6 guard Rhian Stokes was in refuse to lose mode this weekend, making countless plays all over the floor, stat sheet or no stat sheet. 5’11 wing Amber Howard is gaining a ton of traction lately as well, with a college-ready frame, plenty of natural ability, and the skills to score the basketball. Then there’s the Aponik sisters- Jenna and Jessica. Jessica is following up a very strong 2020 club season with… another very strong club season here in 2021, as a skilled, lanky 5’11 wing type. Jenna played some of the best ball we’ve seen from her this weekend, getting take away’s on defense and great decisions on offense. She showed some scoring ability, and just put in an all-around solid performance.

Power Move had a couple of teams playing on Saturday, and we made sure to catch them. A couple more established young names, 2025 wing/forward Meghan Yarnevich and 2025 post Erin Miller have been leaving their mark for a couple of years now, at least. Yarnevich can change the game in so many ways, scoring, handling the ball, defensively, rebounding, and just getting the job done, whether it looks pretty or not. Miller can be really tough to stop inside at her size, and while she still lacks some of that beast mode explosion, she can finish at a high rate already.

Rochester Premier is one of those programs that gets a ton of respect here in this region, and we have watched their 15U team since they were competing in the middle school divisions of events. Dazzling point guard Amaia Jackson leads us off as a high octane option with the ball in her hands. You better believe opponents know who she is! This team has plenty of size and versatility on the roster, and got plenty of good production from Jordyn Williams, Kyla Hayes, and Angelena Lipani this past weekend. Williams is more of a wing player even standing at 6’1, Hayes provides more of a true face up four type of player, and Lipani can really stretch defenses with her outside shooting prowess that continues to develop.

Team Final features some well-known names on their 17U Elite roster. 2022 point guard Mihjae Hayes is well-established as one of the top PG’s in her class in Philadelphia. Another local product that we’ve noticed having a great spring is 5’11 wing Jaylah Robinson who is continuing to catch eyes heading into the summer months. Bri Bowen is as fierce of a competitor as you’ll find, and just does things that contribute to winning games. The toughness on defense and on the glass really shines through for her.

Jaylin Hartman suits up for Team Sharp 17U as a 2024, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from her play. A Blue Star 30, Hartman has a great combination of size and skill, and her continuous effort and experienced approach both stand out. She’s going to continue along her journey this summer, once again challenging herself against older competition.

Goinggggg Up!?!?

There are plenty of players young and old who are on the rise with performances like they put in this past weekend.

The Albany Lady Stars 17U has a dynamic guard combination in Fiona Connolly and Haley Walker. Connolly plays a really solid point, setting the table with good size and a strong build, and boasting assist and shooting ability off the dribble. Walker might be under the radar but she is quietly becoming an athletic stat sheet stuffer out there. She has a nose for the ball and just takes it away from people too.

Books and Basketball has plenty of talent in their younger high school ranks. 2024 combo guard Maya Braxton-Young is a bit of a bully out there, and young 2025 forward Kaiya Rain Tucker is a strong player in the front court to watch. 2023 point guard Azareya Kilgoe had a very nice showing, getting to the rack with some consistency going right, and making some plays on the defensive end as well.

Havoc City Elite has a bunch of gamers filling their rosters. On the 2022 squad, guards Emoni Graves and Tamia Washington drove the bus, and forward LaNiya Washington is quite the rebounder. Then there’s the local squad the HP Warriors, athletic and tough in their own right. Mikala Sunshine Rambert Carter is the tallest player on almost any court she steps onto, and her overall development continues. She is finishing at a higher clip, and she is always going to protect the paint with that crazy long wingspan. Guard play from Janai Smith was very strong as well. Smith is uber athletic, and can score it in some different ways. She can go!

Size is always at a premium, and we like what we saw from 6’2 2024 forward Paley Adams of NDO Elite 17U. Adams is a blue collar big, who keeps those long arms up on D, and just plays a hard-nosed style of basketball.

New Heights has some prospects on their 15U team who are trending in the right direction as well, at multiple positions. Briana Pellew is imposing at 6’2 inside, and Bianca Ellis is learning to use ball screens as she develops her point guard skills, while boasting a nice, tight, compact pull up jumper. India Stevens is a 6’1 lefty wing to watch this summer, cleanly blocking jump shots and going the distance to the rim on the offensive end.

Christina Midgette and Amiya Carroll are athletic options for the New Jersey Sparks, and have their games moving in the right direction in a hurry heading into their final summer on the circuit. Midgette works all over the floor, wherever she is needed, and when she wants to she can go get a good look at the basket. We have noted scoring guard Chloe Vasquez once this spring already, and she continued her tear at Philly Face Off. Her point guard on that 15U Sparks team, Sofia Sanchez also had a nice weekend, scoring off the bounce some but more noticeably shooting the three at a good percentage.

The Gauchos brought their 16U team to the Face Off, and we immediately took notice of 2023 5’8 guard Jada Mills as a kid who can flat out get to the basket with some authority. She shows promise in the mid range and can nail the trey as well.

Another prominent program in attendance was the Philadelphia Belles. 2023 point guard Ciera Cevallos is finding some consistency this spring, and has always handled the point guard position well. The 14U squad has a dynamic wing in Grace Galbavy, who is emerging as quite a player who is still just scratching the surface.

Back to the power of Power Move, 2023 6–footer Maya Woodson is capable and happy to make plays inside and outside, with a nice frame and hitting three’s already to boot. Aliyah Taylor still hasn’t realized her full potential yet as a 2024, but when she does, she is going to take off in a hurry. Taylor plays a bold style and doesn’t take fright of any opponent, and the athleticism is off the charts.

Twin Tier Elite has a nice group that competed in the 17U bracket. Kayla Campbell is a 2022 playmaker at the guard spot to know. She can rattle off points in different ways in a hurry, and it was on full display this weekend. Another 2022 who impressed for the team in teal would be Brooke Tillotson, a lanky guard who just gets the ball and goes. She is going to find herself on several radars if she continues to play in attack mode like this. A year down the line, look out for a solid 2023 guard by the name of Madalyn Barrows as well.

Future is Looking Good

There were so many young players who put themselves on our radar with their play this past weekend, too many to mention! We will close with just a handful of those athletes.

LGB Select has a trio of teams playing in the youngest three age groups, and all were fun to watch! Keep an eye out for 2024 5’10 wing Lucy Oliver, surprisingly strong with a game to match, and producing consistently across the weekend. Liv Vieira has some size for a 2026 and has a good understanding of how to play inside. See if she grows more or has to pop out to the wing in the coming years. Also, her 2026 counterpart Mikayla Trajtenberg is a lefty lead guard who shined.

The Maryland Belles are known in this region for producing impressive middle school teams, and this year is no exception! 2026 is a good class for the Belles, led by Caila Carter and Tiara Thompson. Carter is physically mature for her age, and shoots the three  a bit already. Thompson was very impressive as a young PG playing up, hitting the jets to get by people. One more scoring guard to know is 2027 prospect Naomi Koldobskiy, who can flat out shoot the basketball without much daylight to get them up.

New Heights has a pool of young hoopers to pull from in the coming years. It’s hard to miss 2026 post Brianna Holt on the court, and she is just getting started with the basics on the block. Grace Lanier was instrumental in fueling the 14U squad’s championship run. She’s just a sparkplug out there, and competes whistle to buzzer. Her teammate Aniaya Burton-Hernandez is a physical specimen as a face up forward primed for a bright future. Her frontcourt companion Maya Abramson is another one to watch.

The New Jersey Sparks find themselves loaded up for future championships as well. Their 13U Postell team made it to the championship game and put up a great fight. Madison Kocis is a shooter to know from that squad, and it’s safe to say big things are in store for back court mates Lexi Carnegie and Jezelle Banks, both dynamic athletes with the ball in their hands. Rikai Williford brought the tough inside presence to complete the puzzle, and as a group they won plenty of games along the way. Kayla Snyder was on the NJ Sparks-Des team but showed well herself. The 2026 point guard stood out with her consistent application of ball pressure on opposing PG’s, and she can take those steals the other way and turn them into buckets.

The Gauchos have a 2025 point guard of the future in Talyah Harris. Another scrappy, energetic defender, Harris did not back down against older competition, and did quite the opposite, showing well overall. Another program from New York with some gifted youngsters is Renaissance. Iyana Morel is a 5’11 2024 wing with a tremendous frame and wingspan. She was joined by Grace Trotta, a fundamental young forward who runs the floor to score and showed some 15 foot range. Then there’s Ka’Shya Hawkins, a 2024 guard/forward who caught our eyes with her defense, handles like a guard, and just has all the athletic tools.

One of the most exciting teams to watch the entire tournament was Team Final’s 2026 Maryland squad. This team went out and handled business all the way to their championship victory. A pair of combo guards, 2026 Ava Yoon and 2027 Katie Diao were otherworldly out there a majority of the time, and when they started feeding off of each other, good luck! Yoon really gets up and stays up in the air for a while, and she’s already super quick off the dribble, but she also doesn’t hold the ball too long either. Diao is a heady, mature young guard who has the feel of a high schooler, and can put the ball in the basket in a collection of ways. Jayden Addison is another guard to look forward to seeing in the future, strong for her age and lacing some tight passes through the holes, all while thriving in the transition settings. On the inside, 2026 forward Anna Beth Tsai-Turton is aggressive and has a growing dynamic skill set. When you see her fly up and down the court, catching passes high and low to finish on the move, and even taking a couple dribbles if necessary, you get visions of what could be as she continues to progress.