New Year’s Basketball Madness Top Standouts Pt. II

New Year&#8217;s Basketball Madness Top Standouts Pt. II

Sarah Ramos; Crenshaw 2024

David Yapkowitz

January 10, 2024 @ 10:13 PM

Last week, Bernstein High School played host to the New Year's Basketball Madness Tournament. The event was held from Jan. 2-6 and featured two different brackets of pool play. The Silver Division was won by host Bernstein while the Gold Division was won by Crenshaw. I was able to attend the event and here's a look at some additional standouts I saw. 1. [player_tooltip player_id='876126' first='Sarah' last='Ramos'] - Crenshaw 2024 Ramos a versatile wing who can score the ball and also be a playmaker. She has good height/size for a ball-handler and it enables her to see over the defense. She can attack off the dribble getting downhill and consistently was able to get to the basket and draw contact. Good ball-handler in transition, breaking down the defense and finding teammates. Consistent shot from three-point range. 2. [player_tooltip player_id='839774' first='Justine' last='Mejia'] - Arleta 2025 Mejia is a stretch-four who can play some center in small lineups as well. She spaces the floor with consistent three-point shooting off the catch. She can also play in the paint around the basket and is a capable finisher. She can make moves off the dribble in the halfcourt. Good off ball movement especially on out of bounds plays. Good rebounder who boxes out properly. 3. [player_tooltip player_id='876161' first='Kadence' last='Johnson'] - Fairfax 2024 Johnson is still kind of raw as a center but she takes up space in the paint and can make her presence felt. Her teammates know to get her the ball and she's usually able to finish at the basket due to her size advantage over most other frontcourt players. She's a fairly good rebounder using her size to position herself well, nobody is able to box her out or move her. 4. [player_tooltip player_id='876163' first='Gisele' last='Lusk'] - Bernstein 2024 Lusk was one of the top hustle players I saw at the tournament. She showed a little scoring ability handling the ball and also being able to shoot short jumpers in the halfcourt. But what really stood out to me was her high motor. She was constantly hitting the glass trying to grab rebounds on both ends of the court. She also does her best in chasing down loose balls. Makes all of those little winning plays.

Last week, Bernstein High School played host to the New Year's Basketball Madness Tournament. The event was held from Jan. 2-6 and featured two different brackets of pool play. The Silver Division was won by host Bernstein while the Gold Division was won by Crenshaw. I was able to attend the event and here's a look at some additional standouts I saw.

1. Sarah Ramos Sarah Ramos 5'7" | PG Crenshaw | 2024 State CA - Crenshaw 2024

Ramos a versatile wing who can score the ball and also be a playmaker. She has good height/size for a ball-handler and it enables her to see over the defense. She can attack off the dribble getting downhill and consistently was able to get to the basket and draw contact. Good ball-handler in transition, breaking down the defense and finding teammates. Consistent shot from three-point range.

2. Justine Mejia Justine Mejia 5'8" | SG Arleta | 2025 State CA - Arleta 2025

Mejia is a stretch-four who can play some center in small lineups as well. She spaces the floor with consistent three-point shooting off the catch. She can also play in the paint around the basket and is a capable finisher. She can make moves off the dribble in the halfcourt. Good off ball movement especially on out of bounds plays. Good rebounder who boxes out properly.

3. Kadence Johnson Kadence Johnson 6'3" | C Fairfax | 2024 State CA - Fairfax 2024

Johnson is still kind of raw as a center but she takes up space in the paint and can make her presence felt. Her teammates know to get her the ball and she's usually able to finish at the basket due to her size advantage over most other frontcourt players. She's a fairly good rebounder using her size to position herself well, nobody is able to box her out or move her.

4. Gisele Lusk Gisele Lusk 5'11" | SF Bernstein | 2024 State CA - Bernstein 2024

Lusk was one of the top hustle players I saw at the tournament. She showed a little scoring ability handling the ball and also being able to shoot short jumpers in the halfcourt. But what really stood out to me was her high motor. She was constantly hitting the glass trying to grab rebounds on both ends of the court. She also does her best in chasing down loose balls. Makes all of those little winning plays.