WASHINGTON, DC – With the days of summer behind us, we slowly inch ever closer to the upcoming basketball season. What better way to welcome fall with open arms than with another annual rendition of Rising Blue Star. Each year the Blue Star team continues to expand this circuit of showcases adding more cities and more opportunities from coast to coast. This fall, 26 venues will play host to a Rising Blue Star event. On top of the new locations, the inaugural Blue Star Combine events are being offered to invite high school-aged players to participate and showcase their skills against the best from their respective regions.
In August Blue Star / USJN founder Mike Flynn announced the 1stAnnual Blue Star Saturday scheduled for the NCAA Women’s Final Four in New Orleans. This full day (April 4th, 2020) of All-Star games will feature some of the top Rising Blue Star and Blue Star Combine participants from this fall so on top of a great workout and opportunity to get better under the watchful eye of Blue Star Media, Evaluators, and others, players are competing to punch their ticket to The Crescent City!
To read the full press release on Blue Star Saturday, click below:
https://bluestarmedia.org/blue-star-saturday-announced-for-2020-final-four/
Week 1 was up first in Washington, DC on Saturday, September 7 with a Rising Blue Star record 110 campers gathered on the campus of Sidwell Friends School, just blocks from the heart of our Nation’s Capital. From there, it was on to the Big Apple and Dallas together on Sunday making it three of the country’s top basketball bread baskets in a single weekend. On top of Blue Star, multiple media and evaluation outlets were in attendance at each site taking in all of the talent.
As we did last year, you can once again expect full coverage right here of each week of all Rising Blue Star events! If you are interested in catching us at one of the many remaining stops, check out the Rising Blue Star website:
Kansas City, Atlanta, and Cincinnati are up next. It’s going to be a great season of Rising Blue Star basketball. Here are just some of the standouts from each city last weekend.
WASHINGTON, DC
Jalyn Brown – 2022 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – Lady Prime – Long and very skilled…Eyes in the back of her head…Delivers a flurry of creative passes…Long stride with and without the ball…Scoring option out on the wing…Can play different positions on both sides of the floor
Gia Cooke – 2022 – 5-9 – Combo Guard – GTS Fusion – Continues to expand her game and compete…Electric…Finding her physical presence off the bounce…Can score at will off the bounce or with the jump shot
Hannah Dereje – 2022 – 6-3 – Post – Lady Roadrunners – Back-to-basket move set has grown…Can finish with either hand…Keeps offensive boards high…Goes up again and again…Big hands help her snatch the ball out of the air
Jaden Faunteroy – 2021 – 5-5 – Combo Guard – Team SOL – Fast with and without the ball…Great handles…Deep range on the shot…Rises up and elevates to shoot over defenders
Chasity Graham – 2025 – 4-10 – Point Guard – Team Takeover – Speedy…Feisty on defense…
Will poke the ball away from opponents…Can drive and kick to open teammates…Has a real motor for a young lead guard
Page Greenburg – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – Team Takeover – Skills continue to grow…Still developing the killer instinct…Has the ability to impact results every time out…Sees the floor. Dribbling is second nature…Doesn’t force things…Knocks down shots without thinking twice about it
Kennedy Hall – 2025 –6-2 – Forward – Team Takeover – Continues to become more coordinated and comfortable in her frame…Guard like movements…Handles are coming along…Gets up around the glass on her lay-ups…Covers ground with a long stride
Jaidyn Harper – 2024 – 5-8 – Guard – GTS Fusion – Flashes a big upside…Has some explosion with the ball in the open court…Handles are advanced…Strong mid-range jump shooter…Nice prospect
Rylie Hurst – 2026 – 5-2 – Guard – Fairfax Stars – Good with the ball for her age…Advanced pull up jumper at this point…Range stretching to the arc…Seemed to learn and get better each time out…Solid understanding of the pick and roll game
Anahita Jackson – 2024 – 5-6 – Guard – Maryland Lady Tigers – Consistently works hard…Gets after it…Good size already for a guard…Sees the floor well…Gets to the rim…Finishes through contact
Aziaha James – 2021 – 5-11 – Wing – Boo Williams – All of the major athletic tools are there…Lefty stroke has become a consistent weapon, including from well beyond the arc…Scoring production…Can defend inside and out
Saniyah King – 2024 – 5-7 – Wing – Team Takeover – Strong, pinpoint passing…Sees the whole floor…Plays with high level of energy…Powerful off the bounce…Can play in either spot in the screen and roll game…Three point range
Nialah Mingo – 2024 – 5’7 – Wing – Maryland Lady Tigers – Type of player that makes things happen…Has some extra gears with the ball in her hands…Willing to bang for boards in the paint and post up smaller defenders…Very athletic
Daniela Shaughnessy – 2022 – 5-9 – Forward – Erie Irish – Blue collar worker…Starting to show some flexibility in terms of positions she can play…Undersized inside but works for her position…Only going to continue to improve
Jordan Steindl – 2025 – 5-3 – Guard – Team Takeover – Knows how to play…Range is already stretching to the arc…Understands spacing and team play concepts
Zakiya Stephenson – 2023 – 5-5 – Combo Guard – BWSL – Athletic…Speedy combo guard…Proven defender…Racks up plenty of steals…Smooth with the ball…No issue breaking people down off the bounce…Can throw the lob pass with precision
Yonta Vaughn – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Team Takeover – Can be a “bully”…Imposes her will at the point…Fast off the dribble…Excellent court vision…Continues to make strides as a shooter
Talayah Walker – 2024 – 5-9 – Guard – Maryland Belles – Size and build is noticeable…Nice finisher in traffic…Wants to get to the rim…Footwork is exceptional on the finish
NEW YORK CITY
Meghan Andersen – 2023 – 6-0 – Forward – LI Lightning – Long limbs with some versatility…Guard-like handles in the open court…Catch and shoot at the elbows…Can work on the block…Flashes some nice moves…Uses length…Shows good hands defensively
Allesia Carlo – 2021 – 5-5 – Guard – Empire State – Shooter…Pull up and three ball…Can get hot from deep…Able to play minutes at the point guard spot as well
Ellie Cerf – 2024 – 5-4 – Guard – Team McBride – Lefty shooting guard…Legit threat from deep off the catch or pulling up…Possesses some highlight reel passing…Good instincts and feel for the game…Effort is great defensively
Zephyr Connolly – 2024 – 5-5 – Guard – Empire State – All arms and legs…Young wing prospect…Long stride helps her sprint speed…Already obvious work on her skills…Will post inside against undersized competition…Smart defender…Takes charges
Aiyanna Culver – 2024 – 4-10 – Combo Guard – NY Renaissance – High energy lefty…Plays with some flash…Speed with the ball is noticeable…Sees the floor and delivers some nice passes…Challenges herself throughout to improve
Tyler Dendy – 2021 – 5-10 – Wing – Exodus 16 EYBL – Built perfectly for the wing…Will get out and run and attack in transition…Talks defensively…Coachable…Good footwork…Handles and scoring ability are strengths
Diamond Fields – 2025 – 5-4 – Guard – New Heights – Long…Athletic…Young wing…Jump shot is already a go to option…Connected from three and mid-range…Good skills overall
Jada Grant – 2023 – 5-6 – Guard – Hoopers NY – Lefty…A gamer…Plenty of athletic potential…Can create some space off the bounce…Hit the boards…Shows flashes…Working to be more vocal and assertive
Marianna Lee – 2024 – 5-4 – Guard – New Heights – Explosive off the bounce at times…Good with the ball…Pushes for transition lay ups…Nice pull up jumper…Stating to think the game at an advanced level
Abbey Lindsey – 2023 – 5-7 – Guard – SI Bulldogs – Skilled…Lefty wing…Consistently stands out…Talks on defense…Nice close outs…Likes the pull up jumper…Gets to the rim often
Arielle Lopez – 2027 – 4-7 – Point Guard – Topnotch – Combination of quicks and skills…Pulls the ball out away from trouble…Finds open teammates or driving lanes…For her size the jump shot is good…Will eventually step back a little bit
Yahmani McKayle – 2024 – 5-6 – Guard – Topnotch – Hooper alert…Strong for age…Came up playing at the park against strong competition…Aggressive…Deep three point range…Needs to keep refining and polishing her game on both ends
Mia Pauldo – 2024 – 5-4 – Point Guard – New Jersey Sparks – Standout performer…Handles with plenty of pace…Can hit jumpers from all over the floor…Pull up is almost automatic at times…Sees the floor well and drops subsequent dimes
Lauryn Swann – 2024 – 5-6 – Point Guard – New Jersey Sparks – Facilitator at the point guard spot…Plenty of speed…Nice, tight handle…Change of pace and direction continues to improve…Superb body control on finishes…Working to be more efficient and find that next level overall
Alexandra Tarul – 2021 – 5-10 – Wing – NYC Lady Bulldogs – Tough and skilled…Keeps her head to the grindstone and just keeps making plays…Fluid jump shot…Stops and pops on a dime…Works to impact the game on both ends
Olivia Vukosa – 2026 – 5-11 – Forward/Post – New Heights – Skilled for size and age…Has grown some over the summer…Strong handles to drive when facing up…Great mobility…Developing some toughness in the paint…Will rebound at a pretty high rate
DALLAS (Coach Kristin Cole)
Kaelyn Hamilton – 2024 – 5-8 – Guard – CyFair – Athletic guard…Handles it well…Scores off the dribble…Can also shoot the three…Better in games situations than drills…Defends and rebounds well…Plays hard…Wants to learn, get better…Always asking questions
Keyera Roseby – 2024 – 5-8 – Wing – CyFair – Big strong…Athletic wing player…Good at scoring around the basket…Handles contact…Can post up similar size players and smaller guards…Nice ball handler…Sees the floor well…Can attack off the dribble…Does a very good job rebounding…Explosive…Strong…Can take over a game
LA Sneed – 2025 – 5-5 – Combo Guard – Texas Flight – Can flat out play…Attacks basket using a variety of finishes through contact…Still seeking consistency on the three but the mid-range is high percentage…Exceptional handles and passing…Gives plenty of effort defensively
