USJN Premier Showcase: Monday Standouts
Jacob Wohlwend
The AAU Season is back in full swing, and I was able to spend part of my Monday checking out Illinois teams playing in Indy at the USJN Premier Showcase. Here are some players that stood out as I watched from my home in Chicago:
2022
Laila Barakat
Laila
Barakat
5'6" | PG
Stagg | 2022
State
IL
, 5'6” Guard, Stagg
A speedy Point Guard with a wide range of skills on both ends of the floor, Barakat impressed with her ability to get to the rim and score from any spot on the floor. The Chicago Hoops Express rising Senior is a reliable ball-handler who sees the floor well and consistently makes good decisions. Laila shoots the ball very well from beyond the three-point line and plays tough on-ball defense against opposing Point Guards.
2023
Abby Drendel
Abby
Drendel
5'9" | SG
Naperville North | 2023
State
IL
, 5'9" Guard, Naperville North
Drendel is a strong Shooting Guard who can attack the lane off the dribble and finish at the rim through contact. The
M14 Hoops
rising Junior shoots the ball at a high rate from three and does a nice job moving without the ball to get herself open. Abby is a terrific rebounder on both ends of the court with her physicality and constant effort.
2022
Katie Baker
Katie
Baker
5'9" | CG
Serena | 2022
State
IL
, 5'9” Guard, Serena
Baker is a dynamic player on the offensive end of the floor with her ability score from everywhere and set her teammates up for easy buckets. The Illinois Valley Warriors Point Guard plays well in up-tempo games with her quick decision making while limiting turnovers. Katie shoots the ball very well from beyond the three-point line and uses her strength to attack the lane and finish through contact rim.
2022 Tioluwani Okubanjo, 5'11” Forward, Benet Academy
A skilled Forward on the low block, Okubanjo did a terrific job scoring and rebounding in the paint throughout her first game. The
M14 Hoops
rising Senior uses her strength to gain position against her defender and shows solid footwork to create open looks at the basket.
2023 Shannon Blacher, 5'10" Guard, Montini
An under-the-radar athlete in the Class of 2023, Blacher consistently controls the game with her ability to lead the offense and score from multiple spots on the floor. The IL Lady Lightning Combo Guard can play on or off-ball with her ball-handling skills and high-level shooting and scoring from the wing.
2023
Annalise Pietrzyk
Annalise
Pietrzyk
5'9" | SG
Providence Catholic | 2023
State
IL
, 5'8" Guard, Providence Catholic
The
M14 Hoops
Combo Guard is a skilled offensive player who scores the ball well at every level with her consistent jumper and ability to finish around the basket. Pietrzyk has sound ball-handling skills and gives great versatility with her ability to play and defend multiple positions.
2022
Isabella Finnegan
Isabella
Finnegan
5'11" | SF
Mother McAuley | 2022
State
IL
, 6'0” Guard, Mother McAuley
Another versatile athlete who impacts the game in the post and on the perimeter, Finnegan has a wide range of skills on offense that she uses to control the game with the IL Lady Lightning. She is a reliable ball-handler and shooter from deep, while also exceling when attacking from the wing and using her strength to finish around the basket. In addition, Isabella is a great asset on defense with her ability to guard a wide range of players.
2022
Kenzie Hare
Kenzie
Hare
5'9" | CG
Naperville North | 2022
State
IL
, 5'9” Guard, Bartlett
A high-scoring Combo Guard with
M14 Hoops
, Hare continues to show she is more than just a knock-down shooter with her ability to score in the lane. The Saint Louis commit uses her quickness to drive past defenders and make plays in the lane with her high IQ and decision-making abilities.
2022
Angelina Giordano
Angelina
Giordano
5'9" | SG
Loyola Academy | 2022
State
IL
, 5'9” Guard, Loyola Academy
Giordano is an athletic Guard with the IL Lady Lightning who primarily plays off-ball on the wing but has shown that she can take care of the ball and lead the offense. She is a terrific shooter from beyond the three-point line and can attack the lane from the wing and uses her length to finish around the rim.
2022
Zosia Wrobel
Zosia
Wrobel
6'0" | SF
Geneva | 2022
State
IL
, 6'0” Forward, Geneva
Wrobel is a versatile Small Forward who stretches the floor on offense with her ability to handle the ball and knock down shots from the perimeter. The
M14 Hoops
rising Senior impressed many times with her rebounding effort on both ends of the court and her creative finishing moves around traffic in the lane.
2022 Sara Balli, 5'9” Guard, Lake Park
One of the more under-the-radar players in the rising Senior class, Balli consistently shows an impressive all-around game with her IL Elite team. She is a Combo Guard who takes care of the ball and can score from anywhere on the court. Sara is a good decision maker who gives a ton of effort on the defensive end and loves to get her teammates involved.
2025 Destiny Jackson, 5'9” Guard, Whitney Young
One of the top Illinois prospects in the Class of 2025, Jackson continues to show high-level talent every time she steps on the floor. The IL Elite Point Guard creates her own shot regularly and knocks down jumpers from deep and the mid-range on a consistent basis. Destiny gets in the lane with ease and uses her court vision and terrific passing skills to set her teammates up for easy buckets.
Laila
Barakat
5'6" | PG
Stagg | 2022
State
IL
, 5'6” Guard, Stagg
A speedy Point Guard with a wide range of skills on both ends of the floor, Barakat impressed with her ability to get to the rim and score from any spot on the floor. The Chicago Hoops Express rising Senior is a reliable ball-handler who sees the floor well and consistently makes good decisions. Laila shoots the ball very well from beyond the three-point line and plays tough on-ball defense against opposing Point Guards.
2023
Abby Drendel
Abby
Drendel
5'9" | SG
Naperville North | 2023
State
IL
, 5'9" Guard, Naperville North
Drendel is a strong Shooting Guard who can attack the lane off the dribble and finish at the rim through contact. The
M14 Hoops
rising Junior shoots the ball at a high rate from three and does a nice job moving without the ball to get herself open. Abby is a terrific rebounder on both ends of the court with her physicality and constant effort.
2022
Katie Baker
Katie
Baker
5'9" | CG
Serena | 2022
State
IL
, 5'9” Guard, Serena
Baker is a dynamic player on the offensive end of the floor with her ability score from everywhere and set her teammates up for easy buckets. The Illinois Valley Warriors Point Guard plays well in up-tempo games with her quick decision making while limiting turnovers. Katie shoots the ball very well from beyond the three-point line and uses her strength to attack the lane and finish through contact rim.
2022 Tioluwani Okubanjo, 5'11” Forward, Benet Academy
A skilled Forward on the low block, Okubanjo did a terrific job scoring and rebounding in the paint throughout her first game. The
M14 Hoops
rising Senior uses her strength to gain position against her defender and shows solid footwork to create open looks at the basket.
2023 Shannon Blacher, 5'10" Guard, Montini
An under-the-radar athlete in the Class of 2023, Blacher consistently controls the game with her ability to lead the offense and score from multiple spots on the floor. The IL Lady Lightning Combo Guard can play on or off-ball with her ball-handling skills and high-level shooting and scoring from the wing.
2023
Annalise Pietrzyk
Annalise
Pietrzyk
5'9" | SG
Providence Catholic | 2023
State
IL
, 5'8" Guard, Providence Catholic
The
M14 Hoops
Combo Guard is a skilled offensive player who scores the ball well at every level with her consistent jumper and ability to finish around the basket. Pietrzyk has sound ball-handling skills and gives great versatility with her ability to play and defend multiple positions.
2022
Isabella Finnegan
Isabella
Finnegan
5'11" | SF
Mother McAuley | 2022
State
IL
, 6'0” Guard, Mother McAuley
Another versatile athlete who impacts the game in the post and on the perimeter, Finnegan has a wide range of skills on offense that she uses to control the game with the IL Lady Lightning. She is a reliable ball-handler and shooter from deep, while also exceling when attacking from the wing and using her strength to finish around the basket. In addition, Isabella is a great asset on defense with her ability to guard a wide range of players.
2022
Kenzie Hare
Kenzie
Hare
5'9" | CG
Naperville North | 2022
State
IL
, 5'9” Guard, Bartlett
A high-scoring Combo Guard with
M14 Hoops
, Hare continues to show she is more than just a knock-down shooter with her ability to score in the lane. The Saint Louis commit uses her quickness to drive past defenders and make plays in the lane with her high IQ and decision-making abilities.
2022
Angelina Giordano
Angelina
Giordano
5'9" | SG
Loyola Academy | 2022
State
IL
, 5'9” Guard, Loyola Academy
Giordano is an athletic Guard with the IL Lady Lightning who primarily plays off-ball on the wing but has shown that she can take care of the ball and lead the offense. She is a terrific shooter from beyond the three-point line and can attack the lane from the wing and uses her length to finish around the rim.
2022
Zosia Wrobel
Zosia
Wrobel
6'0" | SF
Geneva | 2022
State
IL
, 6'0” Forward, Geneva
Wrobel is a versatile Small Forward who stretches the floor on offense with her ability to handle the ball and knock down shots from the perimeter. The
M14 Hoops
rising Senior impressed many times with her rebounding effort on both ends of the court and her creative finishing moves around traffic in the lane.
2022 Sara Balli, 5'9” Guard, Lake Park
One of the more under-the-radar players in the rising Senior class, Balli consistently shows an impressive all-around game with her IL Elite team. She is a Combo Guard who takes care of the ball and can score from anywhere on the court. Sara is a good decision maker who gives a ton of effort on the defensive end and loves to get her teammates involved.
2025 Destiny Jackson, 5'9” Guard, Whitney Young
One of the top Illinois prospects in the Class of 2025, Jackson continues to show high-level talent every time she steps on the floor. The IL Elite Point Guard creates her own shot regularly and knocks down jumpers from deep and the mid-range on a consistent basis. Destiny gets in the lane with ease and uses her court vision and terrific passing skills to set her teammates up for easy buckets. 
