8 Rising 2029 and 2030 Stars from Nike TOC Chicago

The future of girls basketball was on full display at McCormick Place in Chicago for Nike Tournament of Champions, where a group of young prospects proved they can make waves against elite competition. Whether it was knocking down shots on the biggest stage or displaying basketball instincts beyond their years, these 8 players separated themselves from the pack. Check out <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2026/07/5-class-of-2028-prospects-who-stole-the-show-at-nike-toc-chicago/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2026/07/5-class-of-2028-prospects-who-stole-the-show-at-nike-toc-chicago/">2028 Prospects Who Stole The Show</a> here.    Despite an off shooting day in the Championship against North Tartan, there's a lot to like about Robinson's game. Robinson's offense is fueled by her ability to attack the paint and consistently draw fouls. She shoots the free throw well and has fundamentally sound mechanics that should translate to continued offensive growth. Her biggest area for growth is refining her defensive discipline, as over-eager hands and overly aggressive play led to early foul trouble. Robinson is good enough, however, that her coach kept her in the game, even with 4 fouls in the second half, demonstrating her importance to the Cy Fair team. High ceiling prospect with a ton of room to grow.     The shooting reliability just pops for a player of Helmer's age. Of the 7 games she played at the tournament, she hit more than 55% of her shots in FIVE of those games, shooting close to 60% in the Championship game against Cy Fair. Helmer constantly kept the defense on their toes and also displayed decisive passing in addition to her clutch abilities beyond the arc. A Steph Curry-type, stock-rising player, Helmer could be one of the top players on the scene by the time she graduates.     Though Huaranga averaged 9 ppg in the tournament, what stood out most about her game was her rebounding. Some players rebound with size—Huaranga rebounds with grit. Her positioning was outstanding – she grabbed balls she had no business grabbing against taller players and made hustle plays all over the floor. She also has the ability to draw fouls because of how hard she's playing. As she continues developing her offensive game, definitely a player to watch.     Thorton proved she has a knack for delivering in the biggest moments. Time and again, she buried momentum-shifting three-pointers that stretched her team's lead just when Cy Fair threatened to make a run, and she calmly knocked down pressure-packed free throws late in the game. Her shot rarely looked in doubt, consistently producing clean swishes that reflected her confidence and repeatable shooting stroke. Thorton possesses the clutch gene and it will be very exciting to see how she develops these next three years.     On a team with so many smaller guards, Jones played a crucial role and would likely have even more opportunities on a team of taller players. In the Championship against All Iowa Attack, Jones blocked a three, showcased her offensive rebounding skills including occasionally taking on 2 or 3 players at once, and exhibited the ability to put her hands straight up on defense to avoid unnecessary fouls. Two areas of growth stand out for Jones: continuing to expand her offensive playmaking and improving her lateral quickness defensively. At times, quicker guards were able to turn the corner because she wasn't yet able to slide her feet consistently. Fortunately, both are highly coachable areas that should improve with experience and development in the coming years.     Ballou's basketball IQ jumps off the page. Whether she's making the extra pass, attacking the rim, or anticipating rebounds, she consistently makes winning plays that don't always appear in the box score. Ballou's athleticism allows her to impact both ends of the floor, and she's one of the rare young players whose defensive effort matches her offensive production. There's also an understated maturity to Ballou's game. She made so many heads up plays beyond her years - from putting up her hands up immediately after 50/50 balls to show the refs the ball wasn't off her to tiptoeing along the baseline to save rebounds. There's room to improve with her shooting mechanics, but Ballou made a lot of fans this weekend.     Recently named Nike's first ever 16U Girls EYBL MVP, Johnson was incredibly efficient and impressive in her team's win against NYC Exodus for the Championship. She shot 4-4 with no misses from the free throw line. Johnson is a strong all-around player, but especially potent one to three feet from the basket where she's getting to can't-miss territory. She's the type of player who forces you to foul her to slow her down. College coaches should get those offers in early!     In her game against Southside Sky 16U, Jimenez was sneaky good and I would have loved to see her get her hands on the ball even more. An undersized guard, Jimenez made multiple corner threes and showcased an increasingly reliable outside shot. I would love to see her work on her handles and playmaking ability outside of three point shooting – there's a lot there to develop and I'm looking forward to seeing Jimenez grow in the years to come.

The future of girls basketball was on full display at McCormick Place in Chicago for Nike Tournament of Champions, where a group of young prospects proved they can make waves against elite competition. Whether it was knocking down shots on the biggest stage or displaying basketball instincts beyond their years, these 8 players separated themselves from the pack. Check out 2028 Prospects Who Stole The Show here.