Philly Rise 16U EYBL Shines in The PRIME Event East

Last weekend, a number of teams took to Spooky Nook in Manaheim, PA for The PRIME Event East, and two teams with significant NJ talent both coming from the Philly Rise program, made it into the quarterfinals of the 17U tournament. The 16U EYBL Philly Rise team was one of those two and boasts a roster with five New Jersey prospects on it. Here’s a quick look at those big time prospects. <strong>Shariah Banes - 5-7 G, Paul VI (2024)</strong> Banes has looked good for the Rise this summer after a strong sophomore year at Paul VI. What we like most about her play is how well she mixes things up offensively, a sharp-shooter from distance with the ability to drive hard in the lane and make a crucial basket in the lane. She can defend well and plays a more aggressive style that fits her game well. Additionally, Banes has shown that she’s working on her rebounding and passing to make her a more well-rounded player overall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="325182" first="Taylor" last="Derkack"] - 6-0 F, Colonia (2024)</strong> We’ve talked at length about Derkack and for good reason because she is one of the most talented players in the 2024 class and is amongst the highest-ranked players on our rankings list. What a special season she had as a sophomore and how complete her game already looks after just two years of high school basketball. She’s working her way to becoming a triple-double threat, having already posted double-double averages as a sophomore. She attacks both sides of the game so well already, a great sign for the future. There’s nothing more we can say than she’s a superstar. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="325209" first="Hope" last="Masonius"] - 5-9 G, Manasquan (2024)</strong> Masonius is a great player in a great program and has shown a lot of balance across the board with her overall game. We know how good of a scorer she is and what she can be, but it’s her rebounding prowess and up-and-coming passing traits that have really caught our eye. She uses her height as a guard well to haul in rebounds and makes sure to fight for possession on offense through offensive boards. Additionally, she finds open teammates at a high clip and dishes the ball off almost immediately for the best scoring chance possible. Those traits are invaluable to have as a player. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="321576" first="Katie" last="Ledden"] - 6-0 F, Rutgers Prep (2023)</strong> Ledden made herself into a superstar as a junior and has continued that high level of production into the summer with Philly Rise. First and foremost, she’s improved her strength on the court in a big way and with that strength has come a great deal of confidence. She knows that if she goes up for a shot in the lane, she can power through defenders and welcome contact to finish strong or get to the foul line. That bodes well for her defensively as well, both an aggressive and agile defender who likes to get on the break early and often. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134755" first="Mikaela" last="Hubbard"] - 6-2 F, St. John Vianney (2023)</strong> Hubbard has an incredible opportunity in front of her right now as she prepares for her senior year with SJV. This tournament helped out in a big way to get her in the driver’s seat, continuing to push and push more as she fights for starting time on the best girls basketball program in the state. That natural height advantage gives her an advantage and Hubbard has definitely gotten a better feel for her size, not letting the game get too quick, and is commanding the lane better with each game. Small things like that, especially getting your feet under you as a 6-2 junior, is key toward further growth on the floor.