Of the 218 teams that attended the 12th annual Hershey National Showcase this past weekend, 117 of them were rising 9th graders or below. That, in turn, translates into a lot of young talent with very promising futures.
Among this group was a very special young lady named Janai Crooms of the Bay State Jaguars U12 team coached by Jesus Rodriguez. In many ways she’s just like most 13 year old female basketball players. A smile a mile wide, runs around, laughs and giggles with her friends and has fun living and loving the experience. She dreams of playing with a top five program and may just have what it takes to get there. This is where Crooms becomes something special. I had the honor of coaching a few kids who, at an early age, could dominate or control any game and Janai is just like them. All the skills are there. She positions herself inside, finishes with flash but can just as easily drain the 3. At 5-9 she already has a physical stature that allows her to bang with anyone. Quick feet and ball handling skills enable her to dance through most trouble in the open court. She loves the game and aspires to play it at the highest level. It’s no surprise that Crooms likes to score, hates getting called for fouls and only likes practice some of the times… just like a regular kid. A very special regular kid!
Coach Rodriguez not only coaches Jaguars U12 team, he also coaches Bay State’s U10 and U11 teams.
“We have team and program goals” Rodriguez states. “We definitely want to win a national championship but we also want our kids to continue to get better and better yet all the time being conscious that the kids get the exposure necessary to help them get to college.”
The priorities are there and you can see it in every team Rodriguez coaches. Every team plays hard, continuously hustle and listen when the coach speaks. As much fun as the Jags are to watch, they are even more fun off the court. All three teams attend each other’s games and gathered seemingly all over the Farm Show Arena enjoying that “entire” experience I referenced earlier. The USJN staff quickly became big fans of the Jags style…on and off the court!
Here are some standouts from the younger age groups in Hershey last weekend.
2017
Team Final from New Jersey has a big that understands the press in Danielle Sanderlin (6-0 Forward – Williamstown NJ). Sanderlin reads passing lanes well and anticipates the next pass. She has excellent shooting form from the free throw line.
Grace Sacco (5-6 Point Guard – Absecon N.J.) of the New Jersey DM Panthers may be small in stature but has a solid build. She’s strong with the ball and a good finisher at the basket. Sacco must control the tight game more and bring the team to the next level.
The Pennsylvania JB Hoops floor leader is Maddie Martin (5-5 Point Guard – Dunmore Pa.) who has the prototypical point guard mentality. She runs the team, gets everyone involved and has great court vision. Martin drains the three-ball with the best of them and does not panic under pressure.
2018
Taylor Clayborne (5-8 Forward – Upper Marlboro Md.) is cagy, athletic and strong. The Maryland United Lady Ballers standout runs the floor and finishes with both hands. When she develops a perimeter game, this kid is going to be great.
New Heights U12 year team has a guard that can control the game in Kanai Pollock (5-5 Guard- Jamaica N.Y.). She posses all the ball handling skills, penetrates the lane and handles the ball strong in traffic. Pollock was slowed by an ankle injury after the first day.
2019
Chloe Chapman (5-4 Point Guard – Mitchelville Md.) is the engine that makes the Maryland United Lady Ballers go. Chapman is smart, lightning fast, anticipates the passing lanes and makes the steal to trigger the team’s break… and the Ballers love to run!
The Maryland Lady Hoopsters U11 are led by Laila Grant (5-7 Wing/Forward Derwood Md.). With a tough short game, she gets good position with the dribble and finishes strong off penetration.
2020
Young and talented, Kaylah Ivey (2020 – 5-4 Guard – Forestville MD) penetrates, draws contact and finishes well for the Maryland Havoc City U11 team. Ivey needs free throw and outside shot work to round out her game.
On the break, off a jumper, or from penetration into the paint, Alyssa Faville (4-6 Guard – Wilmington Del.) is a fireball of a scorer. In the championship game her Wilmington Tigers relied on Alyssa’s scoring prowess as she posted 22 of the teams 30 points in capturing the title.
Quickhitters
Mireyah Davis (Haddonfield N.J. – NJ Tar Heels 13 Tejada) – 2017- 6-0 Forward- A solid dependable post with good instincts for the ball
Samantha Andrews (Shamong N.J. – NJ Tar Heels 13 Tejada) – 2017 – 5-9 Guard – A very good ball handler and passing skills…Leads a deep and talented group
D’Nasia Nichols (Springfield Mass. – MA Springfield Lady Ballers) – 2017 – 5-5 Guard – Quick and agile…Constantly moving to get in position to score…Hustles defensively
India Pagan (New London Conn. – CT Storm Premier) – 2017 – 6-1 Forward – Dominates when she’s the bigger post player…Needs to rise to the next level when opposing talent dictates
Brittani Smith (Edgewater Md. – Severn Elite Lady Seminoles) – 2017 – 5-9 Forward – Strong inside with soft hands…Looks to be physical…Gets fouled and knocks down free throws.
Nirel Lougbo (Andover Mass. – MA VBC 12 Gold) – 2018 – 5-7 Wing – Perimeter scorer with a pull up jumper…Can get to the hoop but need to add more to her offensive skill set
Kendall Fisher (Indianapolis Ind. – IN Family) – 2018 – 5-0 Point Guard – Fast but under control guard…Runs the team in the open and half court
Hannah Franklin (Severn Md.- Severn Elite Lady Seminoles) – 2018 – 5-5 Guard – Catches the ball ready to shoot…Has good form…A good ball handler
Grace Stone (Glen Cove NY – NY Lightning 12 Catapano) – 2018 – 5-8 Combo Guard – Second time on this list (USJN Big Apple)…Has all the talent needed to get to the next level…Tough…Good handle and shot…Needs to want the ball ALL the time
Megan Cantillon (Branchburg N.J. – NJ United) – 2019 – 5-2 Guard/Forward – Gravitates towards the interior but does well in there…Has a good shot…needs to be more consistent
Caroline Ambrosi (Bethesda Md. – MD Lady Hoopsters U11) – 2019 – 5-6 Guard- Scorers mentality…Handles the ball well
Aliyah Matharu (Washington D.C. – MD Havoc City 11) – 2019 – 6-0 Forward – Size…Physical…Bumps cutters…Chases all rebounds
Joesph Costa – Joe has been with Blue Star for 13 years and serves as a Program Consultant and National Skill Development Coordinator. Coaching the Pittsburgh Rockers for over 10 years; he helped produce two national championships and over 75 scholarship student athletes. Additionally Costa has coached both girls and boys on the high school level as well as serving as a floor coach for several Nike camps and skills academies. He currently resides in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
