BLOOMINGTON, Minn.—In the Land of 10,000 lakes the focus each June briefly narrows in on 16 divisions of basketball bearing the names of various bodies of water surrounding the metropolitan Minneapolis area. The 11th annual North Tartan Summer Jam brought together over 250 teams this past weekend for the largest and strongest edition ever of the staple June club basketball event. Competing on 21 different courts, players from 14 different states made their way to Minnesota to get in some important pre-July work. That’s easy to do when your line-up features five Nike EYBL teams as well as plenty of deep and well coached programs. Over 75 D-II, III, NAIA and JC recruiters were in the gym along with both national and regional media / scouting services. And if that wasn’t enough reason to be courtside, a head to head matchup between USA U17 National Team members Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers Saturday evening was worth the price of admission alone.
When all was said and done Sunday, bragging rights in the top tier Lake Minnetonka Division belonged to Boo Williams EYBL by way of their 57 – 50 win over North Tartan’s younger EYBL squad led by Bueckers. The highly competitive Mille Lacs Lake bracket featured some younger line-ups and saw All Iowa Attack 9thNike edge the Minnesota Suns Hersch 62 – 58 for the crown. To see the results from all 16 divisions, follow the link below to see match-ups, scores and brackets.
As always with that kind of talent pool there were plenty of individual performances to take note of. It goes without saying that we couldn’t see them all and, of course, to avoid some overzealous interpretations, they’re in alphabetical order. July and the NCAA Evaluation Period is just around the corner and here are some of the athletes poised for the spotlight on the big stage next month.
Jada Boyd – 2019 – Forward – Boo Williams EYBL– Strong performance…Utilized size, strength and agility in multiple ways…Major presence on the glass…Particularly on the offensive boards…Posted up at times…Rushed on occasion…Held her ground defensively…Lots of effort on both ends
Paige Bueckers – 2020 – Guard – North Tartan 10thEYBL– Active with added length…Continues dominant spring and summer…Constant attack…Looking to create both her own looks as well as set up teammates options…Mixing her speed more and more to keep defenders guessing…Pull up is benefitting…Handling contact well despite lean build…Can get the shot off in close quarters…Reads and understanding lead to intuitive passing…Plays with enthusiasm
Caitlin Clark – 2020 – Guard – All Iowa Attack EYBL– Playing more assertive…Creating her own…In and out move getting her past defenders…Measured attack mixing up both speed and direction…Turns the corner off a screen at speed…Sees the floor on penetration…Stronger than first impression…Active on ball defensively but less so on the weakside…Consistency on perimeter shot will be key for an already elite prospect
Kendall Coley – 2021 – Guard/Wing – Minnesota Stars– Length with a lean build…More growth to come…Ability to slash is there…Can develop her own options…Mixes speed and direction…Reads on the catch…Form and stroke is there…Strength will develop with time…Length is a plus defensively
Kadie Deaton – 2019 – Guard – Team Wisconsin– Solid, attacking guard…Stepped up her game…Has some length…Can create with both hands…Passing is sound…Made plays…Strength needs to come
Nyamer Diew – 2020 – Wing/Forward – North Tartan 10thEYBL– Length and lean…Quick first step…High post drive is there…Can get to the rim…Had some sharp passing moments…Got out in transition…Plenty of promise and possibilities
Zakiyah Franklin – 2019 – Guard – Essence EYBL– Impressive performance…Lefty guard…Speed and quickness shows with and without the ball…Improved both shots and passes off the drive…Penetrated and delivered both scoring and interior passing…Floater served her well…Quick and assertive on ball defender…Somewhat ball oriented on the weakside…Stepped up
Azzi Fudd – 2021 – Combo – Fairfax Stars EYBL– Exploiting acceleration off her moves more and more…Showing a greater depth in her arsenal mixing scoring options…Sees the floor both in transition and on the attack in the halfcourt…Handling contact more and more effectively…Showed versatility on a cold shooting night…Stepped up defensively in a tough match up…Always looking to improve
Nyayongah Gony – 2020 – Forward/Wing – CSS Bison Elite– Major steps forward in her game…Plenty of added length…Speed and agility for size…Can put it on the floor effectively…Gets to the rim…First step is quick and lengthy…Agility on defense is exceptional with unlimited possibilities…More physical growth to come…Strength will need to catch up…Should be drawing much more attention for potential that is obvious
Jada Gyamfi – 2022 – Wing – All Iowa Attack 9thNike Jones– Has some length and athleticism…Solid build…Sound ballhandling…Strong tools…Position at this point??
Erin Hedman – 2020 – Forward – North Tartan TRU– Nice length at the #4…Agility is impressive for size…Active…Decent ballskills to call upon…Can improve or create options…Wingspan serves her well on the defensive end
McKenna Hofschild – 2019 – Point Guard – Minnesota Fury– Dynamic point guard with limited size…Ballskills and understanding of their use on par with anyone…Attacks from make, miss and turnover…Lefty…Not shy about going to the rim…Range is there as well…Quick and feisty in all she does…Not backing down defensively…True grasp of the position
Emma Ingersoll-Weng – 2022 – Guard – All Iowa Attack 8thNike Red– Athletic and quick…Attacking mentality…Pushes the ball…Looking to create both perimeter and penetration options…Speed with the ball in transition…Nice touch from both spotting up or off the pull up…Made plays
Jenna Johnson – 2021 – Forward – North Tartan 9thSinn– Has some length…#4 at this point…Smart…Active without the ball…Takes it up in traffic…Pull up works for her as well…Posted at times…Good depth to skills
Greta Kampschroeder – 2021 – Wing/Guard – All Iowa Attack EYBL– Size and skills on the perimeter…Developing a more attacking mentality…No hesitancy about taking it into traffic…Handles contact…Aware of what options she’s looking for…Gets on the offensive glass…Size is an asset defensively
Liza Karlan – 2020 – Forward – North Tartan EYBL– Size and frame…Plenty of strength and a willingness to use it…Had some solid moments…Took it off the one and two dribble drive…Physical on the defensive end…Deceiving in her lateral footspeed for size…Puts herself in the middle of the action
Grace Larkins – 2021 – Guard – All Iowa Attack 10thNike– Advancing game…Slashes and creates both shots and passes…Pushes it at opportunity…Crossover is sharp…Efficient in traffic…Floater is there…Gets to the rim
Ashley liams – 2021 – Guard/Wing – All Iowa Attack 9thNike– Solid build with some size…Sharp skills…Plays with confidence and awareness for age…Can spot up with range and consistency…Handled physical play…Effort is there on defense…Could add some quickness
Maggie McGraw – 2019 – Guard – Kingdom Hoops– Iowa State verbal…Versatile backcourt performer…Skill set is deep…Can create or improve her own looks off the dribble…Fluid on the drive…Form and stroke are there…Has range beyond the arch…Added strength will be an asset
Adalia McKenzie – 2021 – Guard – Minnesota Stars Hersch– Dynamic and athletic guard…Speed and acceleration with the ball…Quick first step…Gets to the rim but has a strong pull up as well…Fluid stroke is there…Impressive reads with give and go cuts…Strong on ball defender…Denys one pass away
Kendall Nead – 2020 – Wing – All Iowa Attack 10thNike– Has some length…Gets out in transition…Good decisions…Pull up is there…Some solid passing…Starting to come into her own
Tori Nelson – 2019 – Wing/Forward – Minnesota Stars– Can put it on the floor some…Finishes in traffic…Shot fake is effective…Pull up is there as well…Sound passing in transition…Cuts hard off the ball
Maya Nnaji – 2022 – Forward – Minnesota Stars– Strong and athletic for age…#4 right now with potential for the #3 down the road…Posts up…Drop step is there…Strong and aggressive one dribble drives…Shot fake is there as well…Goes up strong…Gets on the boards…Plays with advanced tools and possibilities
Ashley Owusu – 2019 – Guard – Boo Williams EYBL– Maryland commit…Dominant power guard continues to set the standard…,Physically explosive with the ball…Range and touch forces tight closeouts…Depth of scoring options makes her a match-up nightmare…Pull up is keeping defenders guessing…Transition passing is setting up teammates as defenders overreact to her…Takes some chances defensively at times
Carly Rivera – 2019 – Point Guard – Fairfax Stars EYBL– Small but effective and efficient point guard…In command on the floor…Reads transition situations leading to good choices…Can improve both the options of her teammates as well as her own…Fluid stroke is there to force defenders to play her straight up…Quick hands and feet on the ball defensively
Destiny Thomas – 2019 – Post – Essence EYBL– Physically strong with impressive potential in the low post…Can establish and hold position down low…Needs to be a more consistent and effective option herself…Decent hands…Authoritative on the glass…Not afraid of mixing things up defensively or putting a body on an opponent…Conditioning will have to evolve
Malu Tshitenge – 2019 – Post – Fairfax Stars EYBL– Evolving presence on the block…Working to make herself an option even on reversals…Recognizes and reads more and more efficiently…Going up with authority…Consistency will need to continue to evolve but already improving
Alyssa Ustby – 2020 – Wing – Minnesota Fury– Good length on the perimeter…Nice frame for added strength…Active…Works for position…Cuts hard away from the ball…Reads defenders well…Both pass and shot fakes are there…Can get her looks in traffic…A factor in transition…Active defender
Lauren Ware – 2020 – Post – Dakota Drillers– Still showing off the size and build coaches look for…Active and getting up and down the floor both ways…Aware of options and works to exploit them…Could look for her own more often to keep defenders honest…Tools are there to a factor defensively in multiple schemes…Needs to up the physicality element in her game
Demi Washington – 2019 – Wing – Boo Williams EYBL– Physically strong and versatile in the backcourt…Athletic build with the frame for more…Can create her own at times…Showed some acceleration with the ball in her hands…Elevated on her jumper…Tools are there to be a defensive presence
Matyson Wilke – 2021 – Guard – North Tartan TRU– Established younger guard with tools…Nice size and build…Ballskills are there…Plays with maturity for age…Reads to set up shots and passes…Form is there on shot…Comes with a quick release…Effort is there defensively
Zoe Young – 2019 – Guard – Kingdom Hoops– Maryland Commit…Physically strong guard…Utilizes tremendous mix of speed and direction…Improves options for herself and teammates…Step back creates plenty of space…Elevates on her jumper…Aggressive in her attack…Ability is there to deliver interior passes off penetration…Handles physical contact…Assertive on ball defender…Weakside could step up some
