WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the leaves changing, college basketball practices underway and the high school season looming, the Rising Blue Star Series is winding down. This year, 17 events were held in the United States alone in cities including Denver, Dallas, Fresno, Miami, and Atlanta to name a few. Each gym was filled with tons of young talent that left no question about the future of the game being in good hands.
Rising Blue Star is a series of International Skill and Player Evaluation Events featuring the promising young prospects (6th grade-9th grade) from the U.S., Canada and other countries. The events are deigned for advance skill development, evaluation opportunities as well as potential Blue Star Elite 30 invitations. Each player leaves a Rising Blue Star event with a deeper skill set and an appreciation of the challenge of playing among elite competition.
For more information on this year’s Rising Blue Star series, as well as the Blue Star E30, you can check out the website…
Last week we had the opportunity to attend the Rising Blue Star event held at New 24 on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. as well as the chance to drop in on a second event being held in Cincinnati, Ohio. Highly regarded Blue Star staff member Fran Burbidge did double duty for the weekend working with the Maryland Belles staff in D.C. before joining standout Ohio mentor Andy Fishman and Scott Barker in the Buckeye State to complete the double header.
Today we look at some of the impressive performers from both events. While we could list many more, here are the ones that caught our eyes.
Victoria Alexander – 2020 – 6-0 – G/F – Toledo, OH — Athletic lean, long…Good handles to pull up and attack …Needs more range for three ball…Has the knack to score, but must try harder to reach high level D-I potential…Consistent work ethic and maturity will continue to develop
Anujin Dashdorj – 2020 – 5-5 – PG/G – St. John’s Catholic High School — Shooter…Very nice midrange pull up…Deep 3 range already and hits the three off the bounce in drills with regularity…Understands the use of the jab to get a shot off or get to the rim…Has the handles and quicks to run the point…Can get to the rim…May be best suited as a scoring option at the guard spot in the long run
Amara Flores – 2022 – 5-1 – G – Lakota Ridge Middle School – Lefty…Above average athleticism… Compact, strong with quickness and speed… One of the hardest playing 22’s in the gym…Strong handles…Nice pull up…Needs more range for three ball…Gets to the basket often and aggressively with either hand…Strong ball Stopper…Competes and gets the game
Paige Greenberg – 2022 – 5-5 –G – Marret Middle School – Kind of kid who steps up to shoot the free throws with teammates on the line facing a sprint…First kid to hop back out on the court and get extra shots during a break…Looked solid in drills but kind of faded into the crowd in team play…Has the skill set to be a nice wing player…Still very young
Kendall Hale – 2021 – 5-8 – G/F – Glen Este Middle School – Very skilled…Knows the game…Has handles…Uses pivot with variety of finishes…Reliable jump shooter with both pull up and three ball…Attacks the basket and finishes with either hand…Hop stop, Lay up, Floater, Reverse & Finger roll are all there…Good defensive foot work…Needs to continue to work hard all of the time to reach obvious potential
Ajia James – 2020 – 6-0 – F – Bishop O’Connell — Forward with a nice mid-range pull up…Has the ability to hit the three consistently…Shot the three off the bounce in drills as well…Can score some inside…Hit the contested face up jumper in the post…3 on 3 champion in this event
Mir McLean – 2020 – 5-11 – F – Roland Park — One of the top players at the event…Fast, explosive, long, athletic…Has the ability to put the ball on the floor…Attacks the rim to score…Gets low into a defensive stance…Has the length and speed to guard perimeter or post… Loves to use that jump stop and pivot foot to step through and finish…Understands how to screen and roll…Physical…Gets up and snatches boards… Weak hand will have to evolve…1 on 1 champion in this event
Laila Phelia – 2021 – 5-9 – G/F – Cincinnati, OH — Way above average athleticism…Lean, long, and nasty in a good way… Unselfish, great teammate, talks constantly… Skilled and inderstands the game… Can do it all with handles, pivots and variety of finishes…Smooth, developing jump shooter with pull up and range…Attacks basket with either hand…Pivots to find scoring angle…Good footwork defensively… Works hard all the time…Major possibilities
Madison Royal-Davis – 2021 – 5-11 – G/F – Washington Middle School — Above average athleticism…Lean, long…Plays hard…Slasher…Average pull up and medium range shot …Needs more range to move beyond the arch…Attacks basket … Long strides often and finishes aggressively w/either hand… Good feet defensively…Rebounds for size …Gets the game
Destiny Ryles – 2020 – 5-2 – PG – John Paul Regional Catholic School — Speedy with the ball…Great handles…Smooth and quick with the dribble…Mid-range jumper is reliable already…Has the ability to create her own shot as well as create for others…Crafty player…Evidence that she plays a lot of pick up…Gets after it…Plays with some swag and defensive intensity
Nhaikiyia Smith – 2020 – 5-6 – G – St. Mary’s Ryken — Still developing three point range but not shy about taking it…Likes to drive and spin to finish…Playmaker and a gamer who shows up in big spots… A little unconventional at times but scrappy…5 on 5 and 3 on 3 champion
Aiyanna String – 2022 – 5-4 – PG/G – Beverly Elementary School – Lefty… Strong athleticism…Lean, strong…Speed and quickness…Slasher…Scrappy and plays hard…Handles it well…Nice pull up…Needs more range for three to be an option…Attacks basket aggressively with either hand…Quick feet on D…Lots of effort and asks questions… Talent is there
Isabella Tanedo – 2022 – 5-4 – PG – Patuxent Valley Middle School — Fast and explosive but very controlled with poise…Very advanced and mature point guard…Strong ball handler…Competed in drills and sprints…Dug deep to be in front of the pack…Mid-range jumper was better than her three point shot but form is already refined for her age…5 on 5 champion
Skylar Treadwell – 2020 – 6-0 – G/F – Saint James School — Nice quickness for her size on both sides of the ball…Gets in a stance and stays in front on the wing…Has the quickness to attack the basket…Shoots the three with a sound stroke…Four player build, but already has perimeter skills and shooting ability…Tough match up with her size, length, and skill set…High ceiling
Ally Van Timmeren – 2021 – 6-2 – G/F – Jenison Middle School – Lefty…Very good athlete…Lean and long…Plays hard and does extra…Very coachable…Handles the ball…Passes it well…Smooth pull up and three point look…Attacks the basket with long strides…Plays D…Rebounds …Competes often and aggressively… Must get better finishing with her right hand…Uses pivot well to go left…Understands the game and asks questions…Clear top tier potential
Regina Walton – 2022 – 5-0 – PG – Brookland Middle School — Small in stature now, but the speed and skill show big time potential…Speedy with and without the ball in her hands…Very advanced ball handler and refined shooter for her age…Can beat her defender 1 on 1 and get to the rim…Catch and shoot three on the move was there… Smooth release deep…Making waves
Amelia Wilson – 2021 – 5-7 – F – Samuel Ogle Middle School — Strong build…Pushing out to the three point line in shooting drills…Built like a four player if she grows…Will handle it in transition at times
