CALIFORNIA, Pa.– California University of Pennsylvania served as the venue for the fifth annual, USJN Three Rivers Challenge. Forty teams from four states and Canada battled through the weekend while showing their wares to several D-II, III and N.A.I.A college coaches.

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

http://www.usjn.com/xtm_post_event_new.php?which=365

The 2016 version of the Challenge featured several good match-ups involving top travel team programs. Perhaps the most intriguing contest of the weekend was a Sunday morning affair that saw two undefeated teams, the WPA Bruins Zeise and Drill for Skill Miller, go head to head. Both teams impressed us on Saturday, beating a hard playing, young Erie Saints group. Additionally, the Bruins took down the 1 on None – Winter team, while Drill for skill defeated Blue Star WV.

Using pestering defensive pressure and attacking the basket offensively, the Bruins chipped away to an early 11-point lead which they never relinquished. Drill for Skill started the game sluggish committing several turn-overs against the Bruins stifling defense, they just never quite got that high powered offense going in this one.

WPA Bruins coach, Paul Zeise calls his team “grinders” and that is exactly what they do. All over the floor, going for loose balls and banging on the boards for rebounds are the secrets to this team’s success. “It never looks pretty, but sometimes we get lucky and pull it off,” says Zeise.

With the win over Drill for Skill and a defeat of Blue Star West Virginia the WPA Bruins – Zeise captured the 2016 Three Rivers Challenge U17 title.

Drill for Skill is a very good travel team with several D-I college prospects.  One of them is a 6-2 face-up, stretch four, Sam Breen (2017, Gibsonia Pa.). Breen has true offensive talent.  She has a jump-shot with solid three-point range, can attack a defender one-on-one or even into the gaps of a zone. She draws a lot of contact and consequentially makes a lot of free-throws.

In leading her Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic high school team to a Pennsylvania Class A State Championship back in March, she scored 27 points, pulled down 15 rebounds and dished out 9 assists. At 6-2 her rebound totals along with her scoring prowess is impressive, but what fans enjoy most… are those nine assists. Whether breaking the press, in the post with her back to the basket, driving into the lane or out on the fast break, she loves the dish.

Breen obviously draws a lot of attention from defenses.  She is the type of player you must game plan for. Because of all that attention, she’s developed an eye for reading the seams, gaps and openings in most defenses. There seems to be a knack for delivering the ball using a variety of different passes.

Whereas most players use their last summer travel team experience to improve their chances to obtain a college scholarship, Breen looks at things a little differently.  With already 10 plus scholarship offers from a variety of NCAA Division-I schools, there’s no reason to stress, press or panic.

Using this summer as an opportunity to get better on the defensive end of the floor, she knows that because of her skill set at the next level she will be asked to guard perimeter players…and she wants to get better at it. And Coach John Miller is the person that can help her get her to that level.

“His practices are intense and detail oriented, Coach gets on us a lot but he definitely knows what it takes to get us to where we want to be and all that knowledge makes it worth all the hard work.”

With a constantly growing number of schools at her doorstep, Breen knows that regardless of the collegiate decision makes, she will continue to work on her defensive and offensive skill sets, getting better and better every day.

There were several standouts on hand this past weekend.  Blue Star Evaluator Cindy Martin takes an in-depth look at a few who had some promising performances.

Sam Breen- 2017 – 6-2 – Forward – (Gibsonia, PA – PA Drill For Skill 17 Miller) – A versatile player who has nice size, Breen posts in the paint but can also can put the ball on the floor to attack the rim. She has great body control when driving and will even take off coast to coast and finish if she sees the opening off a rebound. There’s  a floater in the paint and the ability to make the quick dish if she draws the double team. Demonstrates court vision when she is pushing the ball down the court as well as in the half court.  This is a solid player who is sure to make a splash at the next level.

Madelyn Fischer- 2018 – 5-11 – Center – (Wexford, PA – WPA Bruins 15 Dunn) – An enthusiastic team player who is always talking to her teammates, she just enjoys playing the game. With solid footwork in the low post there’s a nice “shooters touch” on her finishes by the rim.  Fischer runs the floor hard in transition usually beating her defender down the court.  She clears the defensive boards and finishes with a precise outlet pass.  She’s still working on her lateral movement on defense in the open court.

Carlee Kilgus- 2017 – 5-8 – Guard – (Bridgeville, PA – PA WPA Bruins 17 Zeise) – Kilgus is a fundamental guard who can push the fast break like a point guard. She possesses fantastic court vision and made some sweet dishes while attacking the basket. Off the drive she loves to do an up and under move by the block and it works every time. Her depth shows as a smart player who can shoot the three, take the jumper or consistently finish in traffic.

Jaylese Sims- 2020 – 5-5 – Combo – (Huntington, WV – WV Blue Star WV 13) – This is a smooth player who has some shake and bake in transition. As she grows into her body, she would be best suited to play the point guard spot and would be considered an up-tempo floor general. Ultra-quick on defense, she really swarms the ball to cause havoc the full length of the floor.  Sims has a hesitation move to blow by the defense on the fast break and loves to take it all the way to the hoop.  She often draws the foul and is still working on finishing in traffic.

QUICKHITTERS

Amani Ball- 2017 – 5-10 – Guard/Forward – (Laurel, MD – MD 1 On None 17 Winter) – Long and athletic player who has a quick first step…Finishes well with contact…Does a great job of getting to the line

Hope Bray- 2017 – 5-9 – Guard – (Shinnston, WV – WV Harrison Heat17) – Strong, smart and aggressive player…Three-point shooter…Can push the ball in transition and drives aggressively to the rim

Alana Davidson- 2017 – 6-2 – Forward – (Sewickley, PA – PA Drill For Skill 17 Miller) – Has a knack to always be around the ball…Nice step-through move on low block…Finishes and gets to the line…Always moving and cutting to the hoop without the ball…Likes to block shots

Madison Demski- 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – (Erie, PA – PA Erie Saints 17 Chuzie) – Long and lanky player who really uses her arms well on defense…Three-point shooter that plays mostly on the wing…Always active on offense and defense

Laura Graytok- 2018 – 5-6 – Guard – (Greensburg, PA – PA Drill For Skill 17 Miller) – Excellent defender with quick hands and feet…Three-point range on shot…Will go coast to coast after a steal and finish

Alyssa Hyland- 2018 – 5-7 – Guard – (Pittsburgh, PA – PA WPA Bruins 15 Dunn) – Deadly three-point shooter who plays with lots of confidence…Looks to score first every time she touches the ball…Also has pull up jumper and will dish if help comes

Carlee Kilgus- 2017 – 5-8 – Guard – (Bridgeville, PA – PA WPA Bruins 17 Zeise) – Guard who can shoot outside…Great court vision…Up and under move at the hoop works every time…Smart…Does a good job of drawing the defense to set up a sweet dish

Emily Kutskel- 2018 – 6-0 – Center – (Ebensburg, PA – PA Blue Thunder 17) – Long and lanky but not skinny…Likes to take the 10-12 foot shot when facing up…Nice release on her follow through…Still working on developing her left hand finish by the hoop

Justina Mascaro- 2017 – 5-10 – Forward – (Bethel Park, PA – PA WPA Bruins 17 Zeise) – Solid high post player…Cuts without the ball…Finishes by the basket…Plays hard and gets to the free-throw line extremely well

Chetanna Nweke- 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – (Silver Spring, MD – MD 1 On None 13 Witherspoon) – Nice size and frame…Crashes the boards hard every time…Young player who will produce more consistently once she grows into her body

Sydney Palermo- 2018 – 6-2 – Center – (Erie, PA – PA Erie Saints 17 Chuzie) –  Sturdy frame…Sets a big on-ball screen…Likes to face the basket from elbow or a step out…Three-point range…Knocks down the elbow jumper

Sevauna Pickens- 2020 – 5-7 – Guard/Forward – (Erie, PA – PA Millcreek Lady Trojans 13) – Strong, sturdy and physical…Crashes the boards on both offense and defense…Can put the ball on the floor in transition…Three-point range…Finishes by the basket

Olivia Roberts- 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – (Beaver Falls, PA – PA Drill For Skill 15 Vannoy) – Fierce player…Loves to compete…Will pull it up in transition…Knocks it down…Good handles and great vision…Works hard on defense

Cindy Martin comes to Blue Star after serving as the head coach at Youngstown State University, head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, assistant coach at West Virginia University and assistant JUCO coach in Florida. At IUP, Martin was the Russell Athletic/WBCA Regional Coach of the Year, advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, made back to back NCAA appearances and won back to back PSAC conference championships. Martin played PG for the University of Florida where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Martin presently resides in Columbus, OH where she coaches AAU and does skill training.