OAKS, PA – There have been few days over the past month or so that the sounds of balls bouncing and players playing have not echoed throughout the halls of the Greater Philadelphia Exposition Center. The saga continued last weekend, with USJN’s 33rd Annual 16/17U National Championships.
Even in the summer of COVID, there was still plenty of national flavor, as teams from the South and even the West Coast made the trek to the City of Brotherly Love for four days of basketball action. There were no easy routes to Championship Sunday here, as every pool was highly contested, and only the top two teams made it to the final day. The future plays here, and every game counts!
For full event results and pool all-stars, you can check out the post event page here:
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=650
High stakes yielded plenty of opportunities for the stars to come out, and they certainly did shine bright. Every team that made it to the last day deserves to be congratulated on a job well done. Blue Star Media roamed the Expo halls from the opening tip to the final championship game, and here are just a handful of the players we noted.
See you this fall, as the ball keeps bouncing in a gym near you!
Kaitlyn Adams – 2023 – 5-10 – Guard – Carolina Waves 17 – Bigger guard…Likes to go coast to coast in transition…Three point range on the wing with a developing jumper…Still young with plenty of time ahead…Fits the up-tempo style…Plays with some intensity
Zoe Adams – 2023 – 5-11 – Guard – FBC Carolina Elite 16 – Length and size out on the wing…Can make defenses pay if left open for 3…Puts it on the floor some if crowded…Will get up and defend
Gianna Aiello – 2021 – 6-4 – Forward – Franklin Basketball Club 17 – A bit of a project, but has the long arms, big hands, and size coaches covet…Will battle for position…Runs the floor fine…Active defender…Double digit rebounder at times…Attempted to attack off the face up but still getting stronger with the ball…Still fairly new to the game
Olivia Agunzo – 2023 – 5-6 – Guard – NY Lightning 15 – Headline performer this weekend…Put up a 30 point performance that included seven made money balls…Handles are more than useful…Scoring guard in the making…Hard to overlook
Angelene Bailey – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – NY Lightning 17 Vasselman – Big athletic kid who wants to post…Can be pretty physical fighting for position…Able to push defenders up the line some to get the lob over the top…Solid finisher but working to improve percentage…Beastly on the boards at times here
Noelle Baxter – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – Mid Atlantic Magic 17 – Kutztown commit…Extremely smart on the court…High percentage from three…A coach on the floor…Doesn’t force anything and yet maintains herself as a consistent scoring option each game
Bri Bowen – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 16 EYBL – Usual tough play on both sides of the ball…Doesn’t back down for anyone…Hitting the three with more and more regularity…No cheap fouls called on her…Game has grown this summer season for sure
Rose Bubakar – 2021 – 5-11 – Forward – MD Belles 17 – Tremendous athlete…Double-double threat every time out with her work on the glass…Gets up around the rim…Elevates to finish…Smooth release on the jumper…Can mix finishes…Some of the best hops in any gym she’s in
Kylie Buckley – 2023 – 6-0 – Forward – WNY Lakers 17 Blue – Has the look and played very well in spurts…Starting to realize that she has a nice combination of size and growing perimeter skill set…Got her share of lay-ups in transition…Plays hard…Will have a chance to raise her stock in coming years with more work
Casey Campo – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing – NY Premier Basketball 16 – Lefty wing who clearly and effectively intends to attack the basket in that general direction…Long and strong…Jump shot is a little flat but she will pull up with it some…A problem for opponents throughout
Kiley Capstraw – 2022 – 5-11 – Wing – NJ Belles 17 Fagan – Attack mode offensively from the wing position…Turns the corner with some authority…Shoots it with range…Willing and able to bring it up on her own…Verbally transmissive on defensive end…Nice wing player
Ande’a Cherisier – 2023 – 6-0 – Forward – MD Belles 15 – Strong young forward…Has really expanded her game and added perimeter skills…Always has had a strong build…Face up and drive looks very good with a nice burst…Catch and score in pick and roll is nice…Even hit a couple of three’s…Work is paying off
Yasmene Clark – 2023 – 6-1 – Forward – FBC Carolina Elite 16 – Bouncy forward…Just starting to come into her own…Finishes well off two feet…Can rebound and take a few dribbles to start the break…Able to get out on move her feet defensively on the perimeter…Still plenty of basketball ahead for her
Shaina Cooney – 2021 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – TT Elite Premier 17 – Versatile player with a high effort, high output ratio…Boxes out well…Likes to drive right from the wing…Posts up when she has to…Works on D…Gets the ball out of her hands quickly and tends to make the right choices
Alyssa Costigan – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing – 1OnNone VA 17 – Splash from three point land at this size…Gets to the rack in transition….Pull up jumper is there and she knows when to stop and pop it…Good team player that stays within herself and the flow of the game
Sophia Diehl – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – MD Belles 17 – Colgate commit…Face up four with plenty of length…Soft touch on the finish…Good work in the high post…Leader on the court…Can go off the bounce at her size…Physical on the put-backs, leading to her share of three point plays the old fashioned way
Mary Donnelly – 2022 – 5-11 – Wing/Forward – NJ Belles 17 Fagan – Balanced, two-way player at her size…Stretches the D with a three that finds the bottom of the net…Plays as strong as she looks…Gets to the basket with some relative ease and some power…Continues to impress this summer
Esosa Ediae – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – District One 17 Tague – Raw power forward type down in the post…Solid build…Did nice things in the ball screen game…Finishes pretty well…Still learning and developing…Effort is there
D’Shantae Edwards – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Mid Penn Motion 16 Haertsch – Flat out gets to the hoop, against even the elite competition…Plenty of trips to the foul line follow…Rips rebounds away from people like a beast…Gets up to challenge and bat away shots…Keeps you honest hitting the open three, and shot still stands to improve with further work…Finishes well off balance…Stacks up steals
Aysia Foster – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Carolina Waves 17 – Has the physical features…Pulls more than her share of rebounds…Shot the 15 footer some…Likes to face up and put it on the floor…Even took the step back…Difference maker for her team
Ayahna Gibson – 2024 – 5-10 – Wing – MD Belles 15 – Strong and athletic heading into her high school years…Good work on the boards…Quick rip and attack…Physical stature aids effectiveness…Lots of potential
Taylor Golembiewski – 2021 – 5-9 – Point Guard – CT Attack Lightning 17 Garcia – Smart passer…Makes use of her length on both ends of the floor…Handles with pace…Competes on the boards…Kicks ahead well in transition…Pull up three off the bounce…Variety of finishes…George Washington commit
Sanaya Gray – 2021 – 5-6 – Combo Guard – MD Lady Tigers 17 – Has really raised her level of play this summer…Gets to the basket well…Good vision in the lane…Attentive defender and can become a lockdown player in the future…Speed on both sides of the ball
Taylor Hinkle – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – PA Comets 17 – Really makes shots, in the medium range and from well beyond the arc…Automatic when you send her to the foul line as well…Pushes in transition to finish…Contributes on the defensive end as well
Ally Hollifield – 2023 – 5-8 – Point Guard – FBC Carolina Elite 17 UAA – Heady young floor general…Very fundamentally sound…Threads the needle with the bounce pass…Good IQ and overall feel for the game…Can count the three ball on the move already
Leila Hosn – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – WA All Out Basketball 17 – Effective at getting to the basket…Likes the lefty runner…Stop on a dime or step back into a pull up jump shot…Scoring ability at the point…Makes herself an available outlet to her bigs
Shayla Johnson – 2021 – 6-3 – Post – Chester County Storm 17 – University of the Sciences commit…Posts well and makes herself a huge target…Some post moves after seal…Rebounds in traffic and puts in the put backs…Shoots the trail three
Angel Jones – 2022 – 5-3 – Point Guard – VA Playmakers Elite Lady Bears 17 – Shifty point guard…Can get by people at will and likes the little tear drop in the lane…Patient and vocal…Really can get defenders on ice skates…Gets up for her size
Saniya Jones – 2022 – 6-5 – Post – Georgia Metros 17 – Big post and a huge target inside…Runs floor very well…All the physical features to play at a high level…Rebounds in traffic but needs to be strong and more decisive with the ball in a crowd…Still putting it all together but slow and steady improvement wins the race
Katie Ledden – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing – Jersey Cardinals 17 – Plenty of opportunities lie ahead here…Catch and shoot mid-range and trey are really starting to click…Fits the mold on the wing…Can get to the rim and tries to split the D to finish…Still some room to develop but had more than her share of good moments
Shinya Lee – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – WNY Lakers 17 Red – Does everything you want to see athletically as a face four…Frame is college ready…Good rebounder…Nice passer inside with a couple no look dimes…Gets around in the post denial for steals and deflections…Needs to develop the jump shot more
Jakia Little – 2022 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Georgia Metros 16 – Wheels and hops are game changers for this athletic lead guard…Will rise up and float for a bit on the pull up to outlast the defender in the air…Jumper is also passable from the three…Really pounds the ball on the dribble…Makes plays on defense…Can set the tone and pace of a game…High level gears
Paige Martin – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Hoopers NY 17 – Good athlete at the face up forward position…Can go coast to coast with regularity…All over the floor…Blocks a shot and transitions to offense in a flash…Gets to the basket about as often as she wishes
Maeve McErlene – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – PA Comets 17 – Shot it well throughout the weekend…Makes all sorts of shots, off the down screen, step back off the dribble, deep three’s, and more…Gets to the hoop at a good tick too…Footwork is very good…Can log some minutes at the point
Brynn McCurry – 2023 – 6-1 – Forward – United NJ 17 Platinum – Nice player to know out of the Garden State…An offensive threat inside and out…Posts well with a nice, wide stance, making herself a good target…Rebounds out of area and pushes it the other direction well…Big, soft hands…Handles and passes like a guard…Capable driver and willing to pull up in the 15 foot area if needed…Stock riser
Mikayla Mobley – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard – CBC 17 Walston – Demonstrated unrelenting ability to get by people off the dribble…Shoots the three ball well for an athletic PG…Release is quick…Communicates on D
Anaya Muhammad – 2023 – 5-5 – Combo Guard – Georgia Metros 17 – Quick, athletic combo guard who can flat out get to the basket…Shot is smooth, even off the bounce…Sees the floor pretty well…See how much more she grows
Katilyn Orihel – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 17 EYBL – Do it all player…Always has been a stopper on the defensive end…Tremendous passer…All the leadership and teammate intangibles…Can get white hot from deep…Lay-up display in transition…Opportunistic…One of the toughest kids you’ll meet…Headed to Villanova next
Allie Patterson – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – VA Havoc @ Rockit 16 – Likes the lob pass…Steady finisher off of two feet…Plenty of lay ups inside…Difference maker
Aliyah Peeples – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – MD 1Life1Shot 17 – Quick and lanky young wing…Raw speed on the attack…Tried the runner at the second level…Playing up a few years…Needs to continue to develop, especially with the jumper
Georgia Pickett – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Lady Runnin Rebels 16 White – Thinks the game like a veteran…Quick steals and pinpoint assists in the press proves her instincts…Makes the right pass…Can get up a bit to board…Scores on her own with the drive…Nice backdoor cuts when the opportunity arises
Emilia Roberto – 2022 – 6-1 – Wing – CBC 17 Nails – Long, tall kid with plenty of guard skills…Willing to bring it up and run some point…Can knock down the three…Got to the cup in transition…Whipped some nice one-hand bounce passes into her posts…Also used some wrap around finishing…Very nice showing
Alana Robinson – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – United NJ 17 Platinum – One of the best shooters playing here…Very good in the mid-range…Also buried the three…Can get all the way to rack and finish on the flip side with a reverse…Soft touch of a scorer
Abby Sharpe – 2023 – 5-10 – Wing – Lady Runnin Rebels 16 Red – Three level scorer in the making…Was made to excel on the wing…Length helps her strong perimeter defensive play…Still has a couple years to get after it as well
Remi Sisselman – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing – Long Island Renegades 17 – Bucknell commit…Put on her usual shooting display for the crowd…Just hits big, momentum-swinging shots…Always has been a confident player…Effort, size, and wit is there on the defensive end
Naomi Smitherman – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – Georgia Metros 16 – Good look about her…Athletic tools are there…Offensive rebounds for her usually mean a quick two points…Speedy on the rim run…Stat stuffer in the front court
Bella Toomey – 2023 – 6-0 – Forward – Lady Runnin Rebels 16 White – Built to play the game of basketball…Good wingspan aids on defense and also in reaching up to grab rebounds…Comfortable handling the ball…Draws plenty of contact in the lane in attempts to finish
Aly Wadkovsky – 2022 – 6-3 – Post – FBC Carolina Elite 17 UAA – Big in the post and has gotten physically stronger…Uses an array of post moves…Occasional jump shot…Not shy of the contact inside…Goes hard
Mackenzie Womack – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward – York Thunder 16 A. Fancher – Nice frame, good wingspan…Hit the 3 on the move coming off the stragger so she can shoot it…Plays her role…High effort and toughness
Sophia Yearwood – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing – NY Premier Basketball 16 – High energy from the tip…Sprints back on defense…Athletic out on the wing…Scoring prowess is moving in the right direction…Doing a lot of things right
Kiana Yesiki – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – WA All Out Basketball 17 – Impressive in making some tough shots and runners in the mid range…Uses the jab…Doesn’t hesitate to drive into the 15 foot area when there’s a gap or opening…Good size at the guard spot
