OAKS, PA – For over 23 years, USJN has hosted its 12U-15U National Championships, and as we continue our journey down the winding pandemic-era path of club basketball this summer, a familiar event was once more discovered last weekend.
Usually the event is held on the banks of the Potomac River in the National Harbor, overlooking our pristine capital city, Washington, D.C. But this year, we found ourselves across another river, the Schuylkill, overlooking another city steeped in American history, Philadelphia.
As we’ve seen throughout the summer so far, many things have been different. But even in a different month and a substitute venue, there was still plenty of young, up-and-coming basketball talent to take in. As always with events that feature players who are just starting on their basketball journeys, there were plenty of promising prospects with exciting potential to seek out, and Blue Star Media had a strong presence to cover the event from start to finish.
For post event recaps and Pool All-Stars, you can head over to the USJN site right here:
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=652
The schedule continues in a bit of a reverse order, as this upcoming weekend will ring in the older portion of the USJN National Championships that feature the 16U and 17U divisions. Keep your eyes right here, and on our social media outlets, for more coverage and content. But for now, we leave you with a few of the players who stood out in the younger portion.
Princess Akojenu – 2024 – 5-9 – Forward – SI Bulldogs 14 – Athletic tweener for now but can be effective…Elevates nicely to finish off the catch…Lots of offensive rebounds…Likes to face up and straight-line drive, especially going right…Finishes over multiple defenders…Just gets things done…Will need to continue to improve the perimeter skill set to increase opportunities
Jezelle Banks – 2027 – 5-3 – Combo Guard – PA Lady Elite 12 – Pretty sure she led the entire event in the steals category…Will take the ball away from people or just knock away passes to herself…Then proceeds to advance down the court to score…Gets out in a hurry…Communicates and makes good decisions in transition for a player so young…Glides to the basket and doesn’t miss lay-ups…Hitting the three as the icing on the cake…Can tell she’s grown up playing
Ashley Berkheimer – 2026 – 5-3 – Guard – Central PA Elite 12 – Shooter alert…The pull up and the three ball have a smooth, quick release…Probably not done growing yet…Understands pacing and flow on offense
Allison Cannon – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – CJ Hawks Lightning 13 – Lots of effort, especially in getting to loose balls and in rebounding…Three point range…Pushes in transition and makes the bounce pass at the last second…Deceptively good finishes…Always around the ball
Ryan Carter – 2027 – 5-6 – Wing – PA Lady Elite 12 – Lanky wing player…Can push in transition and find an open teammate…Athletic potential is there…Level of play supersedes her age…Fought for rebounds…Just a gamer
Autumn Fleary – 2026 – 5-3 – Point Guard – Maryland Belles 2025 – Had defenders on skates at times with an arsenal of moves…All the physical traits are there and she will get taller…Gets to rack some…More than willing to be the facilitator but learning to know when use the scoring ability too
Grace Galbavy – 2025 – 5-10 – Wing – Team Outcasts – Great length…Elevated to hit the deeper jumpers…Rim runs to score…Good speed on the sprint…Hit the step back too…Nice passer who sees cutters well…Made some nice hammer passes driving baseline…Plenty of steals led to baskets the other way…Nice player
Kennedy Henry – 2025 – 5-9 – Guard – JBM Legacy 13 – Young scorer on the wing…Three ball is splashing…Gets to basket in transition…Really pushes the ball out in front of her and gets past defenders…Good footwork into the jumper…Doing some advanced things…Just needs to get stronger and keep seizing her potential
Nyemah King-Johnson – 2025 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Philadelphia Belles 13 Henry – Speedy PG…Causes issues as an in your face defender…Some elite hops for a perimeter player…Already able to shoot the long ball…Potential to be an impactful player in the years to come
Aidan Langley – 2024 – 6-1 – Forward – Chester County Storm – Can’t miss size and body type for her age…Still putting some things together in terms of motor, skills, and coordination…Will take an occasional jump shot…Can be a presence in the lane…Will have a chance if she keeps working and improving
Jada Lynch – 2026 – 5-10 – Wing – New Jersey Belles 13 – Do it all player…Looks and plays like she’s already in high school…Three triples in one half so she can hit them…Has the handles and passing…Smooth and fluid on the catch, rip, and drive…Very efficient, two or three dribbles and it’s up or out of her hands
Ashley MacCalla – 2027 – 5-7 – Wing – Top Notch 12 – Height and skill out on the wing…Evasive off the dribble…Has a hesitation and a step back at her disposal already…Shifts gears in a hurry to get to the cup…Hit some clutch trey balls as well…High ceiling right now
Mia Matthews – 2024 – 6-0 – Forward – Delco Goats – Strong for her age…Not afraid of contact…A maturity about her that is hard to miss…Nice in the pick and roll game…Active…Makes free throws…Will have a chance to be a nice HS player and more
Yahmani McKayle – 2024 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Top Notch 15 – Highlight reel type of player…Definitely a little jet at the point…Plenty of flash to her game…Can turn the corner and get into the lane, favoring going right…Makes some touch passes in the paint…Pulls up for three but still a little streaky…Young one to watch out of the Big Apple
Bethani Overby – 2025 – 5-10 – Forward – Top Notch 13 – Very athletic lefty forward…Easy bounce…Chases down loose balls…Caught the oop and finished mid air…Catch and score in transition…Draws plenty of contact
Anna Pellecchia – 2024 – 5-8 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 15 Steidle – Lanky lefty guard…Will bring it up some and play some possessions at the point…Working on the three point consistency…Gaining experience and showing well playing a year up…Ability is there to score some from all three levels…Length forces turnovers on D and subsequent transition lay ins…Can use the retreat dribble and the blow by people
Ineivi Plata – 2024 – 5-6 – Combo Guard – New Heights 14 – Did some really nice things in transition, either by running the floor or taking it on her own…Hit the spin cycle to score…Good effort, diving on the floor…First step is nice off the catch…Threads the needle on some passes…Makes her free throws
Reese Power – 2025 – 5-3 – Point Guard – Philly Heat – Advanced decision-making on display…Crafty, fundamental PG…Handled a full court pick up without much issue…Calls for the ball when she’s open…Solid all-around…Still growing into the range on the jumper
Reynah Rattliff – 2025 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Phila Finesse 13 – Navigates some traffic in the open court…Arms hang down to her knees…Has some good instincts…Some straight line speed in open floor to the rack…Changes direction with the ball well…Can find a way to get lay-ups in a crowded lane…Range to the arc…Still some things to learn but on the right track
Kiamyani Scott – 2026 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Maryland Hurricanes – Stature for her age and playing the point guard position will get your attention…Knows how to post up to get open on the perimeter…Good hands and instincts on D…At her best getting all the way to the basket…Hit the three off the catch but still working on the in-between stuff…Pushes tempo off the bounce when she can
Atlee Vanesko – 2026 – 5-5 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 12 Lang – Still due for a growth spurt it appears…Plenty of length…Stroke on the shot is not bad…Pulled up for three…Can get to the basket going either direction…Growing into a scoring role already
Olivia Vukosa – 2026 – 6-2 – Forward – Philadelphia Belles 13 Lang – Fun kid to watch…Can really control the boards at this size…Gets on the floor…Puts the long reach to use…Range to the arc and comfortable taking it…Working it with her back to the basket inside as well…Workhorse player
Kara Wehner – 2023 – 5-6 – Point Guard – SI Bulldogs 15 – Tough with the ball in her hands…Lowers the shoulder and turns the corner…Slips in some nice one-hand passes…Very active on the boards for a PG…Showed a little wizardry with the ball…Needs to grow into some more range on the jumper…Nice player, see how she progresses
Makenzie Williams – 2024 – 6-3 – Post – Philadelphia Belles 15 Flynn – Learning to be more physical and aggressive inside…Good size and mobility…Actually has range to the arc and not shy when it’s open…Still developing but a bright future
Anaya Wilson – 2025 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Annandale Lady Bulldogs – Speedy playmaker with the ball in her hands…Gets out in a hurry…A little basketball 101 on the give and go action to score…Moves and relocates after she gets rid of the ball, doesn’t just stand and watch
Janiyah Wilson – 2026 – 5-8 – Wing – Team Thrive 12 – Looks the part and has some physical tools…Will reject some shot attempts inside…Handles it in the open court fine for her age…Decent understanding…Hit the three…Intriguing prospect off to a solid start
