HERSHEY, Pa.—The annual July summer basketball tour looms in gyms across the country and the Division–I coaches are beginning to pack their bags and set a multitude of destinations in their GPS apps. Unfortunately for them, though the upcoming schedule is packed with events, they were still campus bound by the NCAA during last weekend’s 16th Annual USJN Hershey National Showcase. With over 220 teams making the trip to Hershey there was still plenty of talent to take in for the D-II, III, NAIA and JC recruiters as well as the national evaluators and media on hand throughout the tournament. The Blue Star staff was out in force from start to finish and got a good look at the established, the evolving and those entering the landscape of promising prospects.
This time around Travis Ponton offers up a look at “Generation Next” with a collection of 2022 through 2024 quickhitters while Joe Costa weighs in with another group of standouts from the event featuring a mix of graduation dates and bright futures.
To see our earlier coverage from Hershey, you can follow the link below to see 30 player evaluations, seven championship team images as well as action photographs of 13 different athletes.
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/16th-annual-usjn-hershey-national-showcase/
For a complete list of participants, results, pool all-stars and the over 40 college recruiters, evaluators and media on hand, follow the link below to the USJN web site and the Hershey National Showcase post event page.
https://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=437
TRAVIS PONTON
Aaryn Battle – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard/Forward – Philadelphia Belles 11 — Aggressive on both sides of the ball…Well built for her age…Gets up to rebound…Handles very well in open court…Stand out weekend
Kelsey Bess –2023 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – Philly Triple Threat 12 — Big, mobile, versatile player…Light on her feet to drive…Can rebound and start the break on her own…Physically imposing right now with some advanced skills and coordination
Savannah Brown – 2022 – 5-3 – Point Guard/Guard – Fairfax Stars 12 Baltimore — In your face type of player…Impressive handles…Scores on the drive…Flies around on defense coming up with steals…Plays with an edge
Kiley Capstraw – 2022 – 5-6 – Guard – New Jersey Belles 12 — Vocal guard…Has the build of a wing guard already…Can drive some…Hit the catch and shoot 15 footer pretty easily…Nice feet to finish in traffic…Scorer’s mentality developing
Jasmyn Cooper –2024 –5-8 – Guard/Forward – MCW Starz 10 Jesus — Long limbs, active feet…Very good understanding of the game already…Boxes out for offensive boards…Long arms got lots of steals…Impact defender…Game changer when she’s on the floor
Gigi Drajin – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard/Forward – Jersey Cardinals 10 — Good size and length for her age…Very good motor on both sides…Very good jump shooter already…Hit 15 footer with regularity…Consistent player…Combination of size and skill to build on
Kendall Dudley – 2024 – 5-9 – Guard – Maryland Belles 11 — Tall, long guard…Handling ball very well for her size and age…Wiry driver…A problem for defenders…Still putting it all together but can defend, dribble, and get to cup consistently
Gabrielle Hemenes – 2022 – 6-1 – Forward – Exodus 12 NYC — Long, athletic rim runner…Can drive from high post and short corner…Playmaker coming into her own early…One to see early
Athena Kout-Sothanas – 2022 – 5-6 – Guard – NYC Lady Bulldogs 12 — Thin but lanky at the guard spot…Has ball skills and a useful pull up jumper…Vocal and showed a good understanding of the game…Range to the arc
Julianna Laguna – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard/Guard – Philadelphia Belles 13 — Showed off toughness playing through with 5 stitches above her eye…Relentless and gritty style of play…Continues to improve offensive game…Still more of a driver, jumps hot is coming along…Plays hard on both sides of the ball…Competes with a slasher mentality…Standing out against older competition
Kayla Lezama – 2022 – 5-9 – Forward—Boston Lady Stars 12 — Super long…Shows some quickness and explosion on attack…Can handle ball and maneuver through traffic…Shows flashes of having that extra gear…Keeps moving to get open and makes herself a big target…Defends position well
Paris Locke – 2023 – 5-11 – Forward – Fairfax Stars 12 Baltimore — Bigger kid…Long and strong…Nice, soft touch on the floater in the middle of the lane…Can handle to a degree in transition…Nice hands snatching the ball out of the air…Powerful type of player…Skill set coming along on the inside as well
Hope Masonius – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – New Jersey Belles 11 — Already a dangerous scoring threat with the ball is in her hands…Basketball IQ and feel for game beyond her years…Three point range…Boards well…Has that big play in big moment poise down the stretch…Can string makes from the mid-range and from beyond the arc…Pushes it in transition
Madisen McDaniel – 2024 – 4-10 – Point Guard – Team Takeover 12 — Small but not inhibited in her attack…Nice handles…Shot has already graduated as well, with range out to the arc…Combination of driving and leadership skills at the point…Fun to watch
Yahmani McKayle – 2024 – 5-1 – Point Guard – Topnotch Lady Ballers 11 — Driver…Showed off nice handles and euro step finish…Free throw and pull up jumper from three are advanced for her age…Smooth player…Has some flash…Controls the ball and her body well…Consistent scorer
Allie Museles – 2023 – 5-1 – Point Guard/Guard – Potomac Valley Classics 11 — Smart young guard…Has a motor…Coachable and blue collar…Favoring the right on the dribble a little right now but can use both hands…Will shoot the three at times
Laney Noreika – 2022 – 5-9 – Forward – Mid Penn Motion 12 — Has good length and knows how to use it…Moves well defensively…High effort player…Can handle it on the perimeter…Made plays on both sides of the floor
Kamari Sims – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard/Forward – Maryland Belles 11 — Strong, athletic, versatile…Pounds the ball on the floor when she dribbles…Can get out and pressure on defense…Hard to stop off the bounce…Doesn’t overdribble…Loves to feed the interior…Physical maturity
Kaylene Smikle – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Exodus 12 NYC — Long, athletic, and agile…Can handle some against a press in the open court…Driver out of the high post…Finishes at rim…Relentless inside at times
Reese Tremitiere – 2022 – 5-9 – Forward – PA Yellow Jackets Elite 12 — Lefty forward…Can drive and finish with both hands…Runs well…Has some pep in her step…Can use her body to post and rebound…Not shy of contact…Obvious work on an interior move set paying off
Lauren Trumpy – 2022 – 5-10 – Forward – Mid Penn Motion 12 — Long forward…Runs floor well…Soft touch in the paint…Active post defender…Fundamentals in place and still very young
JOE COSTA
Rayanne Allen – 2022 – 5-9 – Forward – Mid Atlantic Magic 12 – Wide wing-span… Athletic and a quick riser… Has soft hands and a good touch mid-range and in
Lauren Bennett – 2018 – 5-8 – Wing – Lady Bucs 17 – Scorers mentality… Turns from defense to offense and offense back to defense quickly… Knows how to get open looks from three… Gets out quickly in transition and runs at the hoop
Amoni Byrd – 2022 – 5-6 – Guard – NYC Lady Bulldogs 13 Gold – Strong guard with solid ball skills… Very aggressive defensively…Makes things happen up front…Shows leadership skills
Jasmyn Cooper – 2024 – 5-8 – Combo – MCW Starz 10 – Take over instincts… Long wing span is dangerous in the front of the press…Scores with either hand, effortlessly
Melanie George – 2020 – 5-6 – Guard – Chantilly Elite 14 – Solid ball skills…Ball is low with a strong dribble…Fast in the open court…Deals well with pressure
Orlagh Gromley – 2024 – 4-6 – Point Guard – MCW Starz 10 – Intense competitor…Handles the offense efficiently…Solid ballhandling skills…Always in the middle of a loose ball
McKenna Heyward – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Laurel Highlands Fusion 15 – Solid handle…Quick first step…Can get to the basket to score with either hand or dish to the open player… Is a competitor that does what she needs to do to win
Gabriella Heimbauer – 2020 – 6-3 – Forward – Philadelphia Belles 15 EYBL – Strong…Runs the floor…Has a soft touch on a solid baseline jump-shot…Can play the inside-out game
Sydni Scott – 2022 – 5-6 – Guard – Philadelphia Belles 13 – Quick hands and feet…Solid frame…Strong to the hoop…Speed in transition…Has a better than average outside shot that could be used more…Shutdown defender…Can guard any position on the court
Amira Trueblood – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Philadelphia Belles 12 – Huge upside…Skills are a work in progress…Athletic…Quick feet and hands…Has a good back-to-the-basket presence…Hands up and looking for the ball
Alexa Washington – 2023 – 5-3 – Point Guard – Slaam 11 – Ball skills are deep and well drilled…Lots of tools in her bag of tricks…Has take-over ability…Long hoop pedigree…Has an uncanny understanding of the game for age…Can either score or dish in transition…Reads passing lanes well defensively…Quick feet and perimeter game are improving
Katie Weigle – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – Team PA 13 – Clutch player, wants the ball late… Strong scorer around the hoop…Solid first step…Goes to the hoop hard
Kourtney Wilson – 2022 – 5-8 – Wing – Philadelphia Belles 13 – Long and athletic…Will take big shots…Gets out and runs to the hoop in transition…Good first step and finish at hoop…Scraps defensively
