WASHINGTON, D.C.- Make no mistake about it, the votes are in, and USJN in Washington, D.C. every summer ranks as one of the best events in the country.  While champions are being crowned in the “older” division Act II is getting underway as the younger players take the floor.  A few even take on the challenge of playing in back to back in both events.  As our focus shifted to the next generation, it continued to be very obvious that the future of the game is very bright.  The talent is obvious and the game certainly doesn’t know how old the players are.  Just as the lineup represented in the older event, teams from all over the country and Canada were found across the pools of younger teams.

For a list of all the participating teams, pool All Stars, college programs in attendance and more, follow the link below to the USJN post event page:

http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=385

When it comes to those younger players, the first thing that always sticks out is size and athleticism. Coaches on hand saw plenty of both to go around.  Additionally, there was a solid group of young post players who are rapidly closing in on the physical stature to play at the next level already yet still have several more years to develop their game.

Here’s a look at some of the young stars who shined bright over the Nation’s Capital in front large contingent of evaluators and recruiters.

Patricia Anumgba – 2020 – 5’6 – Point Guard – Germantown Lady Panthers 13 – Strong build at the PG spot for age…Heavily favors the right hand right now… Saw court well…Showed ability to thread the needle on the pass… Stock will rise as she learns her left hand more…Will continue to evolve

Ja’lyn Armstrong – 2018 –5’8 – Guard – MD Belles 15 Armstrong – Has “bully build” as a wing player…Stocky guard who gets to the rim…Doesn’t back down from a bump or the potential for contact…Agile for her strength and build

Sydney Avoletta – 2020 – 6’3 – Center – Loudon Freedom 13 – Big post… Moves OK in shorts bursts laterally…Doesn’t play 6’3 right now…Needs to assert herself and play stronger…Low post game will have come along

Ayreka Browning – 2018 – 5’9 – Point Guard/Guard – MD Belles 15 Armstrong – Combo guard…Gets to the rim with above average handle… Shows some mid-range game potential… Nice size for a guard… Smooth but not polished

Anna Barry – 2018 – 6’0 – Forward –  CT Storm 15 Premier – Tall and long… Can put it on the floor once or twice and attack… Basic, fundamental things on offense

Riane Burton – 2020 – 5’11 – Forward – Houston Skyrise 13 National – Strong kid in the post… Can score on the inside…Fierce competitor, relentless…Has a move set…Nice up and under…Room to grow and develop

Caroline Ducharme – 2021 – 5’11 – Guard – Michael Carter Williams 13 – Established long armed wing…Handles it well…Shoots the three… Vocal…Knows the game… Plays beyond her years…Considered one of the top 2021’s in the country at this point

Phinnette Edwards – 2020 – 5’4 – Point Guard – Brooklyn Stars 13 – Glides with the ball in her hands…Small in stature but a strong build for her age…Continued development with the jumper will be important as well as additional growth

Madison Eich – 2018 – 5’9 – Guard/Forward – Columbia Ravens 15 – Taller wing player…Nice reach…Shot the three…Can use her length to get in passing lanes…Pushes it in transition… Has some tools to thrive at a D3 or NAIA school

Samantha Gallo – 2019 – 5’10 –Guard/Forward – Team Connecticut 15 – Versatile player who can play inside and out… Great vision/passer… Lefty… Good FT stroke… Rebounds and pushes on her own…Athletic enough to get out in passing lanes some… Two questions- can she develop the right hand and will she grow?

Taniya Hanner – 2019 –6’1 – Forward – KJ Basketball 15 – Hanner is a true power forward. Strong and athletic, boards with authority… Still raw on offense, but knows how to post and how to seal inside, just doesn’t score a ton… Like her odds to continue to improve

Kassidy Ingram – 2019 – 5’11 – Center – Mid Penn Motion 14 June – Strong lefty post…Will face up and attack left…Finishing with contact…Right hand could use work…Showed some post moves…Good passer out of the post… Had energy, feet, and athleticism…Got down in a stance and guard perimeter players

Sophia James – 2020 – 5’9 – Forward – Germantown Lady Panthers 13 – Young 4 player… Showed face up game and attacked rim… Skill set is good for her age…Watch for growth

Synia Johnson – 2020 – 5’6 – Point Guard/Guard — Team Prime Marissa Coleman 13 – Long armed combo guard…Fast up the floor with the ball…One to watch in the future

Lindsey Lane – 2019 – 5’10 –Guard/Forward – Kyniska Hoops 15 – Prototypical long armed, fundamentally sound wing…Gets to the basket….Good footwork when working on the inside…Does some nice things

Natalija Marshall – 2020 – 6’3 – Center – Brooklyn Stars 13 – Legit 6’3…Impressive wingspan…Has the look…Good court vision and game understanding/feel for a young post… Good stroke at the foul line…High ceiling…Continues to demonstrate tons of potential

Aniya Matthews –2020 – 6’4 – Center – York Lady Raiders 13 Red – True 6’4 but needs to fill out physically…Has some long arms…Runs very well rim to rim

Olivia Miles – 2021 – 5’7 –Point Guard/Guard – United NJ 14 Callaway – Scorer…Can get to the rim…Hit the step back three…Played mostly the point, saw her against a very good Philly Belles team, so she has a high ceiling at her age

Samantha Miller – 2019 – 6’0 – Center – Mid Penn Motion 14 June – Big post…Moves OK…Could stand to be more active…Has some move set and plays hard… Keep watching

Amanda Mobley – 2018 – 5’7 – Point Guard – In the Zone 15 Khalil – Stocky PG….Plays smart…Good passer…Makes her teammates better…Can split defenders in the open court with her handles

Maria Ollivierre – 2020 – 5’8—Guard – Michael Carter Williams 13 – Good looking prospect as a wing…Shooter…Taking  the three off the bounce and on the move… Shot looks good at this point

Mariah Perez – 2019 – 6’3 – Center – KJ Basketball 15 – Legit 6’3 post…Can face up in the high post and hit the 15 foot jumper…Knows how to seal…Gets wide on the inside…Good feet in the post…Chins her boards…Has a presence about her

Isabella Santoro – 2018 – 5’8 – Point Guard – Team Connecticut 15 – Lanky PG, makes good decisions… Rebounds- a guard who boxes out for O Boards! Loved how she fought for boards in the paint. Showed step back three

Klarke Sconiers – 2019 – 6’2 – Center – Brooklyn Saints 15 – Tall, lanky post with great wingspan…Big hands…Flashes big potential…Still figuring out how to get around and post against stronger posts and hold her ground…Ability to snatch rebounds…Starts the break…Took it herself some

Courtney Shaw – 2018 – 6’1 – Forward – Powermove 15 – Very good build/frame at the 4… Moves well…Can play at the top of the press… Garbage player who does the things that don’t always show up on the box score… Likes to work out of short corner and high post… Already getting D-I interest…Stock will go as her offensive game develops

Blakely Shurig – 2018 – 5’5 – Point Guard  — Sky Diggs Elite 15 – You will notice her leadership, toughness, and discipline…Refined game…Very vocal PG who plays the floor general role well… Can score in bunches… Shot the three well and scored 12 of her team’s last 15 points in a two point win

Keegan Sullivan – 2020 – 5’11 – Guard/Forward – Sky Diggs Elite 15 – Next big thing out of this program…Already regarded as one of the top prospects in the ’20 class…Bigger guard…Handles the ball and is fast with it in her hands…Gets to the rim… Nice handles for her build

Shadiya Thomas – 2020 – 5’6 – Guard – Houston Skyrise 13 National – Quick slasher on the wing…Plays with some swag…Gets into the game…Jump shot isn’t there yet…Will evolve with work and as she gets older/stronger

Skylar Treadwell – 2020 – 6’0 – Guard/Forward — MD Team Assist McMiller – Legit 6’0 – Long wing with good handles…Ability to shoot the three…Showed the ability to create her own at different levels…Has the look and a ton of potential

Jaden Walker – 2019 – 5’9 – Guard/Forward — York Thunder 14 – Undersized for the 4 spot right now…3/4 player…Can score inside and out…Posts up and shoots the 3 all the same…Nice looking stroke…Rebounds and pushes it herself

Siniaa Wilson – 2021 – 6’0 – Center – City Rocks DNA 13 – Big kid…Long arms…Stockier build right now…Plays strong to fit the frame…Finishes around the rim…Will step out and catch it…Smooth fakes…Gets to the foul line and knocks them down