OVERLAND PARK, KS—The 2019 NCAA Recruiting Calendar offered up a second Spring evaluation weekend giving the Division -I coaches another opportunity to evaluate, babysit and ingratiate themselves with the players and programs they’ve been courting.  While the value of the three additional days far exceeds the fall evaluation period that long overstayed it’s welcome, there was no “key” or “must see” event on its own merit calling the names of recruiters last weekend.

Over the years, there have been plenty of tournaments on the calendar that have been successful in their own right operating as non-certified events helping programs tune up and get ready for the traditional July viewing window.  For the fourth year, USJN made this past weekend a stop in metropolitan Kansas City and with the addition of the May NCAA viewing period as well as the advent of the new Blue Star League, took a big step towards becoming a cornerstone event.

This year teams from 16 different states made up the 14 pools of play taking the floor in the Drive5 Sports Center in Overland Park.  On top of pool play, eight teams out of the Blue Division of The Blue Star League played varying league schedules with several playing five league games and others facing two league opponents.  A testament to the lineup was the almost 100 college coaches who made their way courtside including representatives from each of the Power Five Conferences.

To see a list of all the participating teams, the college coaches in attendance, pool all stars and more, follow the link below to the USJN post event page for the 2019 USJN Great Plains Challenge.

https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=559

To see more on the inaugural season of The Blue Star League, including schedule and results, click on the following address.

https://www.bluestartravelteams.com

The advent of the Blue Star league drew a large part of our attention over the weekend and there were plenty of players both established and evolving making their mark.  Here are some of those who caught our eye as well as a few others that stood out last weekend in Overland Park.

Maryn Archer – 2023 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Ohlde Elite 15 Pink – Continues to show advanced game and skills for age…Confidence is part of her game…Ball skills allow her to develop options and exploit defensive errors…Mixes speed and direction like a much more experienced player…Allowing defenders to make commitments before delivering key passes…Hesitation gets opponents out of their stance…Keeps her dribble to re-attack…Shot has good form, stroke and touch to keep defenders honest…Elite

Mya Babbitt – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – Nebraska Attack 16 – Young guard with impressive feel for the game…Individual skills are sound and effective…Sees the floor even when pressured…Transition passing is productive…All upside

Kayla Bohr – 2020 – 6-0 – Guard – Minnesota Suns – Scrappy and aggressive wing…Works at making herself an option…Can take it to the rim but has a pull up to call on…Cuts hard and with intent…Impressive physical build and strength for age…Knows how to put it to work on both ends of the floor

Lexi Boles – 2021 – 6-4 – Post – Kingdom Hoops – Size and frame comes with bulk…Deceptively mobile…Lefty…Not hesitant to mix things up and clear space…Knows what she’s looking for…Things are still a thought but becoming a reaction…Rebounds aggressively…Best is in front of her with continued focus

Tosjanae Bonds – 2020 – 5-6 – Guard – Colorado Rockies – Small but ultra-quick guard…Active and assertive on ball defender…Effort is there on both ends of the floor…Plenty of speed with the ball on the break…Needs to reign it in on occasion with better reads

Whitney Brown – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – CSS Bison 17 – Compact but efficient…Refined ballhandling and passing…Smart and aggressive…Has the range and touch to spot up…Step back gets her looks…Sees the floor off penetration

Natalia Chavez – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – New Mexico Select – Skilled and efficient for age…Attacks on the catch…Reads and anticipates defensive rotations…Can score it herself or deliver the ball in tight quarters…Loves and goes to the floater time and again…Nice form is there on her jumper…Deceptive vertical works for her on the boards…Could turn it up a notch on the defensive end

Juliana Cutrara – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Illinois Lady Lightning – Small but skilled point guard…Gets to the rim…Creates and improves options…Can spot up…Three point range is there…IQ is there both on the break and in the halfcourt…Size doesn’t limit her productivity…Digs in on the ball defensively

Krystyna Ellew – 2021 – 5-10 – Combo – Illinois Lady Lightning – Physically strong and athletic in the backcourt…Attacking mentality and skills…First step is there…Can get to rim or elevate on a mid-range pull up…Fall away has a nice touch on it…Narrow base on perimeter shot…Can get on the offensive glass…Needs to ramp up her physical play at times

Bridget Froehlke – 2020 – 5-8 – Wisconsin Purple Aces – Strong guard…Solid build…Mixes up her attack…Hesitation move is there…Touch is there as well as range…Cuts hard to make herself an option…Aggressive on ball defender…Takes chances on the weakside of the floor

Ambrea Gentle – 2020 – 6-2 – Post – Illinois Lady Lightning – Size and strength…Frame is there that conditioning coaches love…Showed focus and effort in making herself and option…Held her ground with contact…Evolving skill set…Had some strong moments

Nyayongah Gony – 2020 – 6-3 – Guard / Wing – CSS Bison 17 – Plenty of length goes with sharp perimeter skills…Long lean build starts with all legs…Runs the floor with anyone…Ballhandling exceptional for size…Can create both shots and passes…Length makes her a challenge to defend…Weaves through traffic on the break…Form is there spotting up or on the pull up…Off penetration finishes at the rim…Physical play can still be an issue but doesn’t back down…Wingspan and lateral speed makes her a defensive nightmare…Exceptional yet just scratching the surface of potential

T’naye Griffin – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing / Guard – Minnesota Suns – Impressive size and frame on the perimeter…Physically strong in the backcourt…Ballhandling is sound…Uses a change of speed to get defenders off balance…Decent vision is there…Choices need a little sharpening at times…Had some moments

Seneca Hackley – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Colorado Rockies – Athletic guard…Speed both with and without the ball in her hands…Change of direction is sharp and sudden…Leaves defenders scrambling…Accelerates on the catch…Effective in transition and in the halfcourt

Jenna Hopp – 2023 – 5-9 – Wing / Guard – Nebraska Attack – Has some length for age…Decent ballhandling and passing skills…Can take it herself…Upright at times…Knows what she’s looking for…Shot is across the body to a degree at this point…Watch closely

Maddie Krull – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Nebraska Attack – Solid and strong with the ball in her hands…Mixes her speed and direction…Smart…Reads the floor in transition or out of sets…Gets the ball where it needs to go…Aggressive defender on and off the ball…Makes plays

Bria Long – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Blue Star Dallas – Wiry…Athletic guard…Quick hands and feet serve her well on both ends…Speed and quickness are there with and without the ball in her hands…Can spot up but still a threat off the drive…Pull up shows good elevation…Assertive on ball defender…Good defensive vision on the weakside…Creates offense from defense

Natalie McNeal – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Wisconsin Lakers – Attacking guard…Always looking to improve options…Gets into traffic…Deceptive first step gets her past defenders…Showed off some body control slashing inside…Perimeter shot is above head…Consistency will have to come…Plays with intensity on both ends

Jeana Meadows – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – Blue Star Dallas – Speed and quickness are there…Pushes the ball at every opportunity…Sound stroke and form…Gets off the floor on her pull up…Lots of agility on the defensive end

McKenna Minter – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Nebraska Attack – Energetic guard…Skilled with the ball in her hands…Plays with good awareness of both defenders and teammates…Change of speed is sharp and gets her to the rim…Passing is strong off the drive…Instincts are there as defenders rotate on penetration…Competes

Deon Monroe – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Kansas Next Level Eclipse – Smaller but physically strong…Explosive first step…Accelerates on the catch…Combination of quickness and strength make her a dynamic on ball defender…Tools are there to do more

Mia Morel – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Wisconsin Lakers – Aggressive and feisty at the point…Smart and confident…Looking to attack both off the pass and the dribble…Waits for options to develop…Good choices both on the break and in halfcourt…Willing to play physical despite size…Effective

Anna Mortag – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – Wisconsin Purple Aces – Lean build with some length at the forward spot…Nice form and touch…Mid-Range is there…Can develop her own looks to some degree…Range is there with time…Lateral mobility on defense is an asset

Rose Nkumu – 2020 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Kingdom Hoops – Strong individual skills…Creates her own options…Gets deep in the paint repeatedly…Step back is there creating separation on the perimeter…Change of speed is lethal…Anticipates well defensively

Aby Phiips – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward / Wing – South Dakota Network – Nice build and strength…Has skills to make her own opportunities…Stays active with and without the ball…Will take it herself in transition…Not afraid of taking it into traffic…Makes things happen

Kendall Renard – 2020 – 6-3 – Post – Wisconsin Purple Aces – Solid size…Has the frame to go with it…Post moves are refined and applied well…Reads her defender before the catch…Quick attack on the catch…Occasionally puts it on the floor a bit much…Impressive on the boards…No reservations about mixing things up defensively…Productive on both ends

Sydni Schetnan – 2021 – 6-5 – Post – South Dakota Network – Size, build and agility…Moves well in the halfcourt and can run the floor with the guards…Understands posting and what she’s looking for…Good hands pull in some errant passes…Additional strength will make her more productive versus physical defenders…Gets on the boards on both ends…Quick outlet is there to trigger the break…Demonstrates great reactions in multiple scenarios…Lots of possibilities

Jaddan Simmons – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Wisconsin Purple Aces – Size and strength in the backcourt…Speed and quickness are there as well…Active with the ball and always moving without…Mixes up her attack…Double crossover gets defenders off balance…Fluid acceleration with the ball both in transition or on the wing entry…Can both create and improve her options…Makes plays

Afton Thomas – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – Illinois Lady Lightning – Physically strong young guard…Plays with confidence…Smooth and fluid on the drive…Uses her physical strength and body in traffic and around the rim…Looking for her options on the catch…Only going to get better…Tools are there

Nyajuok Toang – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward / Post – Kingdom Hoops – Good size and frame…Plenty of strength and a willingness to use it…Effort is there on both ends of the floor…Makes herself an option down low…Step through move is there…Some rough edges but refinement is coming…Runs the floor well…Physical tools are there to be an even bigger impact down the road…Watch

Ashton Verhulst – 2020 – 6-2 – 2020 – Forward – Kansas Next Level Eclipse – Much leaner…Good length and mobility…Smart and reads the floor on the catch…Works to get herself open…Can be productive in the paint and away from the rim…Strength will need to evolve to aid defensively…Still anticipates well off the ball

Payton Verhulst – 2021 – 6-1 – Guard – Kansas Next Level Eclipse – Continues to advance skills set…Added strength is smoothing her game out…Scoring effectively both on the perimeter and getting to the rim…Pull-up is showing impressive consistency…Mixing up attack with multiple moves on one drive…Elevation gets her clean looks at the rim anywhere on the floor…Floater is there but pull up appears more reliable

Katie Wagner – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Ohlde Elite 17 Pink – Sets a tone…Active and relentless…Attacking mentality on the catch…Smart…Uses her body well on penetration…Effective off the dribble…Handles contact…Can spot up…Effort is there on both ends of the floor and every possession

Maddie Walsh – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Wisconsin Lakers – Long and lean…Gets out and runs the floor…Has the skills to put it on the floor herself…Confident in traffic…Long first step challenges opponents to recover…Additional strength will be an asset

Nurjei Weems – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Minnesota Suns – Effective combination of size, strength and athleticism…Tools are there to initiate a physical game…First step is there…Can get into traffic and handle the banging…Goes up strong…Still has work to do but made some plays

Dani Winslow – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Kansas Elite – True #4…Plays a diverse and efficient game…Deceptive athletically…Strong and agile with a vertical that serves her well…Active and light on her feet…Runs the floor…Physically strong and no reservations about mixing things up…Efficient interior but also demonstrated the tools to spot up