NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – While the venue may have changed, the tradition remained the same. As the earlier USJN 17U National Championship winners were being crowned, pool play began in the ballrooms of the Gaylord National Resort for the USJN 12U-15U National Championships.

With the talent laden Blue Star 30 taking place just upstairs, we were still navigating the 20 courts on the main floor in search of the next young stand outs. For full event results and pool all stars, you can visit the USJN post event page here:

http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=451v

Also, if you missed our previous coverage from the earlier portion of the week in D.C., check it out below:

http://www.bluestarmedia.org/30th-annual-usjn-national-championship/

http://www.bluestarmedia.org/second-annual-blue-star-30-ups-bar/

http://www.bluestarmedia.org/next-national-harbor/

http://www.bluestarmedia.org/under-the-radar/

As with its older predecessor, the younger edition was loaded with great teams. Here are just a few of the players who caught our attention while competing in the shadows of our country’s breathtaking capital city.

Gloria Adjayi – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Stars and Strips 13 – Strong rebounder…Long reach…Runs like a deer and can finish…Can handle to drive or to pull up from the perimeter…Active in passing lanes…Rips the ball away from opponents on the boards…Double-double threat

Patricia Anumgba – 2020 – 5-5 – Guard – OSA Sharpshooters 15 – Strong guard…Continues to impress with her refined scoring ability…Plays with some power…A bit of a silent assassin…Motor is noticeable

Alayna Arnolie – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard/Guard – NOVA 94 Feet 12 Shumadine – Skilled and heady young guard…Straight gamer and play maker…Aggression on D led to blocks and steals…Can see the physical strength in how she dribbles, passes, and defends…Twin alert, sister Gracie can go as well

Jalyn Brown – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – Lady Prime Marissa Coleman 13 – Lanky athlete…Still raw for a young guard but gets to the rim…Finishes with either hand…Long arms led to lots of steals…Has the tools and time on her side

Alyssa Costigan – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – Vogues 13 National – High motor kid makes things happen…Driver from the high post or the wing…Handles with authority…Vocal, tough player…Really picks up speed with ball in open court…Makes plays that win ball games

D’Shante Edwards – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard/Forward – Philly Triple Threat 12 Green –Strong, aggressive, and versatile…Handles well…Gets downhill speed going in transition…Can get up to finish through contact…Developing “bully” mentality

Kennedy Fauntleroy – 2022 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Maryland Lady Finest 13 – Fast, aggressive young PG…Scores well both on the drive and with a strong pull up jumper…Scrappy ball pressure on D…Just takes the ball away from opposing point guards…Threads the needle on the passes

Aurea Gingras – 2020 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Team Takeover 14 – Flew around making plays…At times is head and shoulders above competition in terms of skill, knowledge, and experience…Has grown and filled out the frame a little as well…Arsenal of finishes…Great in traffic with the ball in the open court…Pull up game is expanding

Annaliese Griffin – 2021 – 6-1 – Post – West Suburban Dream 13 – Good build for her age…Physicality in her game…Controls defensive glass at times…Scores in the paint…15 foot range is there…Big potential

Anani Humphrey – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Fairfax Stars 14 Baltimore – Has grown and filled out the frame…Big time scoring ability off the dribble…Elevates in the mid range…Big time potential continues to show…Needs to mature to reach full potential

Chinwe Irondi – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – Fairfax Stars 13 Bibbee – Exceptional foot fight for position inside…Runs very well…Pulls strong rebounds and keeps it high…Catch and finish in transition is natural and easy…15 foot range is there…Beast inside at times

Ariel Jenkins – 2021 – 6-4 – Post – Team Miller Lightning 13 Rinehold – Runs well for a young big…Soft hands to catch and finish…Protects the paint on D…Young post to know

Allie Kubek – 2020 –6-1 – Post – Books and Basketball 15 Taylor – Uses her strong lower half well…Achieved good position inside…Likes to utilize 2-3 dribbles to score in the post…Finishes at the end of her moves

Alexis Kuhlman – 2021 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Germantown Lady Panthers 13 – Lefty point guard…Continuing to impress with overall play…Can hit the tough runner with either hand…Displays energy and confidence…Showed off nice passing ability

Darianna Littlepage-Buggs – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – OK Lady Fire 12 – Athletic forward…Can work on perimeter as well…Loves the screen and roll game…Always on the move…Explosive and active to go along with the build…Quick first step attacking from high post…Handles the ball…Nice pull up jumper in tight spaces

Lauren Park-Lane – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Philadelphia Belles 15 EYBL –Steps up in big moments and big games…Hit some big threes throughout the week…Keeps defenders honest by knocking down the trey at the top of the key…Can be a magician with the ball, scoring and assisting both left and right

Chloe Peters – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward/Post – Welland NGBA Warriors 14 – Built like a post but plays like a four at times…Loves to shoot the trail three…Mobile…Bodies up guarding the post

Shannon Remolde – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 13 Halligan – Scoring ability stood out…Tough play helped team in critical situations and games…Never stops playing hard

Mia Seemadray – 2020 – 5-11 – Guard – New Heights 14 Red Deluca – Long wing…Can break it down off the dribble and get to rack…Nice pull up from three…Handles are advanced at this point…Will pull rebounds for a guard thanks to length and athleticism

Koi Sims – 2021 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – Maryland Belles 13 Johnson – Driver with a “bully” mentality at times…Can bring it up herself…Also worked in the high post some…Hit a couple tough runners in the lane…Boxes well…Shows some intensity

Remi Sisselman – 2021 – 5-10 – Forward — LI Renegades 13 Black – Nice rip and go from the high post…Good first step consistently on the drive…Hit pull up off the dribble…Defended interior players…Interesting combination of skills

Kayla Thomas – 2021 – 6-2 – Post – Havoc City Sol 14 – Impressive job posting big inside…High IQ for a young post…Seals and scores at will…Very mobile

Tori Varsamis – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – MCW Starz 14 – Number of steals caught attention…Gets hands on a lot of passes…Scored in transition…Hit multiple three’s…Can also break down defender 1 on 1

Yonta Vaughn – 2022 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Havoc City Sol 14 – Quick with the ball…Sees floor and finishes with some flashy passes…Doesn’t over dribble, opting to advance the ball with the pass….Stop and pop three was effective…Adding depth