The USJN Battle at the Border took place this weekend, and I did my best to watch and evaluate as many players as I could. Here is a look at some of the talented players in the 2024 class that I was able to get my eyes on:
Joycelyn Moore – CY Select Wolves
A quick, shifty guard, Moore excels at beating her defender off the bounce and getting into the lane to create for herself and teammates. She keeps a tight handle on the ball, and does not allow defensive pressure to speed her up. She is excellent in transition, and is a stout defender as well.
Averie Ryan – CY Select Wolves
Averie is a knockdown shooter from the perimeter. She has a quick release and does not require much space to be able to let it go. She does a nice job of moving without the ball, and defenders seem exhausted trying to keep up with her. Along with her shooting ability, she is also capable of putting the ball on the floor and getting to the lane to make plays for her team.
Lily Conry – CY Select Wolves
Lily can put up points in a hurry. She scores the ball in a variety of ways by knocking down perimeter shots and finishing through contact around the basket. She brings great length and athleticism to her position, and she uses it to be able to defend multiple spots. She moves her feet well and has great activity and energy on the defensive end of the floor.
Bella Pehrson – Team Griffin
Bella is a tall, athletic guard who impacts the game at both ends of the floor. She knocks down shots from the perimeter, operates well in the mid-range, and uses her 6-foot-1 frame to challenge shot blockers with tough finishes around the rim. She is lights out from the perimeter and does a bunch of the little things for her team. She crashes the boards hard, gets on the floor for loose balls, and plays with a ton of energy at both ends.
AJ Mannering – Rockies Basketball
Mannering is a highly skilled floor general who conducts her team with poise. She sees the floor well and makes good reads, even against significant pressure. She is a very unselfish player who is always looking to set her teammates up for high quality shots. Her on-ball defense is strong, as she moves her feet well and has active hands to pick off ball handlers.
Molly Ladwig – Nebraska Attack UAA
A 5-foot-9 guard, Molly impacts the game at both ends of the floor with her energy. She is a vocal leader for her team, and plays extremely hard on both ends. She is a tremendous cutter offensively, as she sets herself up for easy baskets around the rim consistently. She scores the ball in a variety of ways and has a knack for putting the ball in the basket. A proven winner who you want on the floor to help your team close out games. Division one level talent.
Kenzie Melcher – Nebraska Attack UAA
Committed to Northwest Missouri State, Kenzie contributes in a variety of ways when she is on the floor. She defends her position at a high level, as she has good anticipation and activity, often leading to steals and deflections. She rebounds the ball tenaciously, and quickly turns them into transition opportunities with the way she runs the floor.
Makenna Yokley – JYD Basketball
Makenna is the real deal. At 6-foot-1, she has the ability to score the ball from all areas of the floor. She is lethal from three point range, and she has a very quick and pretty release. She does not need much space to be able to knock it down. Along with her perimeter scoring ability, she is strong with the ball on the interior, and is able to finish around the rim with both hands. Her size and length allow her to defend well without fouling, often altering or blocking shots around the rim. She runs the floor hard in transition, making her very difficult to match up with.
Lexi Winton – JYD Basketball
If any guard dares to drive into the lane and attempt a shot at the rim, they will have to face the harsh reality of Lexi Winton sending their shot attempt into the third row. She does a great job of walling up around the rim to alter shots without fouling. She is a versatile player on the offensive end, as she is comfortable handling the ball, both in the half court and in transition. It makes her offense very difficult to stop when the starting center can bring the ball up like a guard.
Mersadie Spray – Wheat State Elite
Mersadie has the ability to play both guard spots, and she does so at a high level. When asked to play the lead guard, she handles the ball with poise, and does not allow herself to be sped up by defensive pressure. She embraces it, and makes the proper decision with the ball. At the off guard, she always has her hands and feet ready to shoot. If she gets run off the line, she puts the ball on the floor and gets downhill to make plays for her team. Excellent cutter off the ball.
Madison Moors – Wheat State Elite
Madison is a strong, physical guard who does a lot of the little things for Wheat State Elite. She is the first to the floor for loose balls, is a vocal leader for her team, and always makes the extra pass. She scores the ball from multiple areas, and is very strong when finishing around the rim. She rebounds the ball well from her position, and is excellent at running the floor in transition.
Adrian Hazelwood – Wheat State Elite
Hazelwood is an elite guard spot who can match up at and defend multiple positions at a high level. She keeps a tight handle on the ball, and it seems as though she has it on a string when it is in her hands. She is crafty in scoring around the rim, and shoots a high percentage from behind the arc. Intriguing guard prospect to keep your eye on.
Brooklyn Howell – Team Griffin
Howell is a very good rebounder on both ends of the floor. Offense and defense, she crashes the glass hard no matter what. She scores the ball well around the rim, and has the ability to finish with either hand. She is great in transition, always looking to set up easy and early offense for her team.
Kodi Greer – Eclipse
Greer excels in transition. She is always looking to push the pace with her head up, looking to make the right read each time down the floor. She scores the ball in a variety of ways, and is unselfish with the ball, trying to get her teammates involved. She defends the ball at a high level with activity and energy.
Lauren Marron – Missouri Select
Lauren can put up points in a hurry. Once she gets hot, she is very difficult to slow down. She scores off the catch and the bounce, and does a nice job of creating for her teammates as well. She is strong when defending the ball, moving her feet and keeping her hands active, looking to get steals and deflections.
Brookelyn Rasmussen – Lasers National
Brookelyn is a shifty guard who uses her quick first step to knock her defender off balance. She can score the ball from the perimeter and on the interior, and is unselfish with the ball, looking to create for her teammates. She has great foot speed as an on-ball defender, turning steals into transition opportunities.
Jenessa Ruder – WKE Hoops
Ruder is a guard-wing utility player who excels at putting the ball in the bucket. She gets it done off the catch and the bounce, and is very good at finishing around the rim. She uses both hands and does not shy away from contact. Already a division one offered track runner, she has the talent to do it in hoops as well.
Brayanna Pelt – Rockies Basketball
Pelt is a crafty floor general who excels at setting her teammates up with chances to score. She probably had one of the best assist to turnover ratios that I saw all weekend, as her head was constantly on a swivel looking to make the extra pass. But make no mistake about it, she is a very good scorer, and can get it done from just about anywhere on the floor. Great at pushing the pace in transition.
