USJN Fall Finale 2021/2022 Standouts

This weekend the USJN hosted the Midwest Fall finale in Indianapolis. The Southern Illinois area was represented by the Southern Illinois Hawks Elite program with their 17u, 16u and 15u teams. In addition the Indiana Elite Havoc group had their 16u, 15u and 14u teams in attendance. Here are girls in the 2021 and 2022 classes that stood out over the weekend. &nbsp; <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="201765" first="T’yana" last="Lovelace"] is a 5’11 2021 4/5 from O’Fallon and the SI Hawks. T’yana is as strong as they come and can bull her way to the rim against a smaller player. She is very good when she can turn over her left shoulder and go to her right hand. Where T’yana can really expand her game is in her ability to go over her right shoulder and use her left hand. Because she is bit undersized in the post she needs to be able to protect the ball and her shot when she turns that way. This will lead to more success going that way and her confidence will soar. T’yana is a strong rebounder and an excellent rim runner on the break.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="160144" first="Claire" last="Christeson"] is a 6’0 2022 Forward from Civic Memorial and the SI Hawks. Claire continues to show her ability as a defender that can be used in just about any way a coach needs her. She is extremely effective at the top of any press or zone because of her mobility and length. Claire has shown the ability to guard all 5 spots on the floor in high school ball. In college that may be hard for her to guard an ultra quick 1 or 2, but she can be sent on the mission to stop just anyone else and be able to get the job done. Offensively she runs the floor well and can finish. Her offensive game in the half court continues to need improvement before she can be counted on to score in double figures. With that said, I like seeing her take 3 point shots in her AAU games and try to beat girls off the bounce from the wing, it shows me she knows what she needs to improve on and she is trying to implement those things into her game.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="193911" first="Chloe" last="Book"] is a 5’8 2021 Guard from Breese Central and the SI Hawks. Chloe is a lead guard that small colleges and junior colleges should have on their radar as she enters her senior season. She is a versatile defender that does a good job on the ball. Chloe has a strong frame which she uses well to body up guards and wings equally well. Offensively Chloe handles the ball well as a lead guard and uses her court vision to set up her team for easy baskets as she breaks down her defender. Chloe is athletic enough to be able to get into the lane consistently and can finish in a variety of ways.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="78768" first="Anna" last="Blank"] is a 5’11 2022 Guard from Olney and the Indiana Elite Havoc. Anna has been showing her ability to score the ball a bit more lately. She has played her AAU ball with other scorers and has focused more on her abilities as a point guard. But, to ensure that college coaches know that she can also put the ball in the hole she has made it a point to show that she is more than capable of playing as a combo guard too. Anna can shoot it from deep as her stats from her sophomore season show. With the ball in her hands Anna can get into the lane and pass or shoot on just about any trip down the floor.She is a special athlete that D1 coaches will love.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="159965" first="Madyson" last="Rigdon"] is a 5’8 Guard from Paris and Indiana Elite Havoc. Madyson is a wiry strong off guard that is tough and can defend out of the perimeter with the best. She does not look the part of someone that might be one of the toughest players on the floor but yet she is in the middle of the action all the time and never backs down. Madyson is long which allows her to be the kind of player that is always a threat to tip the ball away for a steal. Offensively she does a good job reading the defenders when trying to drive to the rim. She will use or reject screens on the side pick and roll offense that the Havoc use. Madyson will usually make the right read and get to the lane where she can finish with either hand jumping off either foot. Madyson is working to improve her outside shot to become a more consistent weapon. She already has a small school offer and I would think those would begin to pile up soon.</li> </ul> Yet to come is the recap of the 2023 and 2024 players at the USJN Fall finale. The state of Illinois has a nice crop of young players in these two classes that I will highlight in this article for tomorrow.