MANALAPAN, NJ – For a decade now, some of the best teams in the Tri-State area and the entire Northeast have gathered on Memorial Day weekend in the shadows of the Empire State for USJN’s Big Apple Challenge.

The fast-growing event saw a whole host of new teams added to the mix this year, necessitating a new and bigger site and the beautiful Sportika complex in New Jersey was up to the task.   The area’s college coaches certainly noticed, as plenty of the top Division II and Division III programs were represented on the sidelines.

For full results and pool All-Star selections, you can check out the event page here:

http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=486

Talent was easy to find up and down the age groups and spectrum. As we kick off what should be a fun summer on the hardwood, here are just some of the “apples” of our eyes from this weekend’s Big Apple Challenge.

Destiny Adams – 2021 – 6’3 – Forward – Jersey Warriors 17 – Combination of physical attributes and basketball skill…Taking it on her own in transition…Has added a face up game since last summer…Stretches out to block jump shots clean…Shooting the three off the catch on the move…Can really carry the load on her shoulders

Kristina Arvelo – 2019 – 5-3 – Point Guard/Guard – New York City Heat 17 Day – Small but sneaky good…Skilled…Has that floater game that smaller guards have to have…Plays with an edge…Can be vocal as well

Khoryn Bannis – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 17 Blue Star – Has the make up of a versatile wing guard…Shows flashes of a nice mid range jumper…Quick hops…Physical gifts to be an impact defender and rebounder from the guard spots…Bit of a sleeper 

Kaylen Banwareesingh – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – New Heights NYC 17 – Size and some athletic tools are big pluses…Drove the ball to the hoop…Got to the line…Will shoot the three…Brings the ball up some herself…Versatility is expanding 

Sofia Battista – 2020 – 6-1 – Post – NJ Blue Crush 17 – Effective in the paint…Gets good position and has some simple but effective moves at her disposal…Thinks when she catches the ball…Has a plan…Not afraid to be a distributor either

Laney Beale – 2022 – 5-3 – Point Guard – Carolina Elite 14 – Lefty point guard…Plays with energy and intensity for a younger player…Shoots the three like a more experienced player…Will take the mid range pull up over defenders as well…Shot will only continue to improve as she grows…Utilizes the jab from the triple threat position (A lost art at times)

Dajanae Brannon – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – Central PA Elite 17 Thomas – Stronger kid…Can handle the ball with some pace…Shows off footwork in her work in the paint…Consistent shot blocking threat down low 

Kiana Brereton – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – NY Lady XMen 15 – Good length in the paint helps…Handles some in the open court…Can operate on the wing and in the high post…Shoots the three off the catch or even off the jab…Far from a finished stretch…Promise is there 

Janelle Brown – 2020 – 5-5 – Point Guard – LI Renegades 17 – Quick point guard…Can beat her man and side step helpside rotations for a lay up…Nice mid range stop and pop 

Janae Carter – 2019 – 6-2 – Forward – Alyssa Thomas Elite 17 – Crazy wingspan…Rim runner…Has some guard-like handles…Will pull up around the elbow or shoot the short corner…Still has room to grow as a shooter…Can run and finish…Needs to learn how to get good position and how to exploit 

Eva Gibson – 2019 – 5-11 – Forward – Franklin Bball Club 17 W – Athletic forward prospect…Can run and finish…Gets out in the passing lanes…Can take it the other way for two herself…Looking to draw some contact off the bounce 

Chastin Giles – 2020 – 5-5 – Point Guard – LI Renegades 16 White – Dynamic, fluid ball handler…Has a legit burst that allows her to get to the rim, break presses, etc…Some glide when she gets airborne…Pushes the ball out in front of her…Talks to her teammates…Good passer in the pick and roll game…Pull up jumper is fine but room to grow as a shooter still…Could be a sleeper 

Abby Hearn – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – Philadelphia Belles 16 Smith — Forward is always pretty active…Runs the floor and pulls boards…15 foot shooting range…Scores off the bounce 

Kate Hollifield – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Carolina Elite 15 – Skill set is advanced…Has the IQ to know how to use it…Noticeable creativity in her finishing…Gets to the line…High level competitive drive to match scoring output 

India Johnston – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Philadelphia Belles 14 Ray –Threat from beyond the arc…Combines low center of gravity with a good pound of the basketball…Doing things at a different pace even against much older competition…Hits the runner…No look kick outs to shooters 

Emma Kirby – 2023 – 6-0 – Guard – TLP Basketball 14 – Young player with some handles and length…Likes to penetrate and keeps the ball moving…Shows a commitment to rebounding the ball…Will take the three but still getting a feel for range and distance…One to watch 

Margaret Kopcienski – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – NY Lightning 16 Johnson – Vocal…Plays with noticeable intensity…Scores in transition…Rebounds and pushes on her own…Navigating traffic to the rim 

Reagan Kunkle – 2023 – 5-0 – Guard – Central PA Elite 13 – Already a serious threat from the deep…Will attack and pull up as a second option…Plays very hard…On the right track early 

Nakhauriey Little – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Carolina Elite 15 – Young athlete…Ball skills surpass her grade level…Stroke from the line and the arc is good…Finished with contact…Expansion of her offensive skill set is noted 

Carley Martin – 2021 – 5-6 – Guard – NJ Crusaders 14 – Lefty guard…Showed off scoring prowess…Wants the ball in her hands when team needs a bucket…Good from three but also gets in to the paint and wraps it up strong to finish 

Marlia Matters – 2020 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Central PA Elite 17 Dupes – Runs the show…Competitive spirit in her style of play…Knows how to play her position…Utilizes pass fakes…Shortens passes up top…Doesn’t mind a little physicality

Bernyah Mayo – 2020 – 5-6 — Point Guard – Alyssa Thomas Elite 17 – Point guard…Showed off her ability to slash and score at times…Type that can score in transition repetitively…Arsenal of scoops and side step finishes…Gives defenders fits…Will pick your pocket and take it the other way…Can create offense from defense

Marissa McDonald – 2019 – 6-0 – Forward – Philadelphia Belles 17 Blue Star – Face up forward…Motor works well…Can rip and drive from the wing or high post…Nice first step…Catch and finish through contact in transition…Will take the three as well 

Claire Neff – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Philadelphia Belles 16 EYBL – Really stretched defense with her three point range…Scored off the dribble in transition as well…Tough defender…Boxes out with some authority…Bruiser at times…Coachable and willing 

Maddie Olshemski – 2023 – 5-4 – Guard – My Sky Elite 17 – Very young playing U17 level…Shoots the three off the move…Gets to the hoop in transition…Showed well against older competition 

Marianna Papazoglou – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 15 Peterson –
Starting to come into her own a little more…Rebounded…Got steals and converted…Demonstrated range from deep…Can put up numbers 

Paiyton Penn – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 14 Ray – Athletic playmaker at the guard spot…Confident…Tough to stop once she penetrates into the paint…Still learning…May have the “it factor”

Amani Reed – 2021 – 6-3 – Post – Peak Skills Elite 16 – Tends to be an imposing figure on most courts she steps on…Mobile up and down, side to side…Can get up to block a shot…Dives through the paint to catch and finish…Soft hands to catch passes and finish…Has tools 

Cavina Rickards – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – New Heights NYC 17 –Mid range game is her forte…Catch and shoots the three…Creator of buckets…Requires your best defender 

Leslie Santos – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Warriors 14 Albany – Great court vision and feel for the game at her age…No look passes and create options for her teammates…Challenges defenders…Hit the three with some regularity…Watch and see if she develops that second or third gear 

Ashia Smith – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard/Guard – LI Renegades 17 – Showed ability to really get going from beyond the arc…Handles let her drive…Can play some minutes at the point…All-around game…Really gritty and pressures players on defense…Vocal, high effort kid 

Rose Smith – 2019 – 6-4 – Post – Riverside Hawks 17 – Legit size in the post but very raw right now…Gets up a little bit to catch the lob and put it in the hoop…Big and strong…Rips the ball away from opponents on occasion…Rim to rim running showed some burst at times…There’s more  for her to call upon

Zoe Tomlinson – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – Riverside Hawks – Has the frame to more than look the part…Some early signs of a move set in the post…Nose for the ball…Faces up and jabs the defender off…Needs to add the next step and drive it…Young size with potential…Controls her own destiny 

Treasure Valdez – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – MD Pride Gorham – Competitive, speedy point guard…Can hurt you off the bounce or sink the deep three ball…Good mid range pull up is an option as well

Hunter Vertuccio – 2021 – 5-7 – Point Guard/Guard – NY Lightning 15 Delacruz – Finds ways to pull the ball in the basket…Combo guards who can score are always useful…Good effort on D so not all offensive minded 

La’Shyra Williams – 2019 – 6-0 – Forward – MD Pride Gorham – Has a presence in the paint on both sides of the ball…Moves very well…Can defend and protect her house in the paint

Ashley Woodfin – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard/Guard – Blue Star Carolinas 17 Murphy – Combo guard playing up a couple age groups…Has the head on her shoulders to play the point…Can score in the mid range like a true shooting guard…Gaining Experience that could pay off down the road