City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The 2024 edition of the Blue Star Invitational brought together 26 teams from all over the Northeast to the courts at Jefferson University for a high-level day of girls’ high school basketball. National powerhouses Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.), Rutgers Prep (N.J.) McDonogh School (Md.) and Paul VI (Va.) joined local standouts Westtown, Spring-Ford and more for an awesome day of hoops.

Here’s who stood out to the CoBL staff in the games we watched:

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Jess Aponik (2024 | Germantown Academy)
The Patriots played well as a group in a 59-54 duel with Audenried but Aponik’s all-around game seemed perfectly suited to the pace of play. The Kutztown recruit worked hard on both ends, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Aponik used her size at the wing position to battle a strong Rockets team on the glass and she went up tough with the ball, earning some tough finishes around the rim to the tune of 9-of-15 shooting. She also ran the floor well, either dishing to a teammate or getting to the receiving end of a dish for a finish.

Anna Azzara (2024 | Spring-Ford)
Almost from the outset of the Rams’ 56-36 win over Imhotep Charter, the Wright State-bound Azzara was in control of it. By the time she was subbed out with 2:07 left in the game and the result well in hand, Azzara had tallied 21 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. In typical Azzara fashion, she got into the lane, hit the glass hard and moved the ball, whether in the halfcourt or a quick-hit ahead for a run out layup. About the only thing the point guard didn’t do was hit well from the outside, but her teammates took care of that off the passes she kept slinging them

Jezelle ‘G.G.’ Banks (2027 | Ursuline Academy, Del.)
Banks normally makes a living offensively in transition off turnovers, but, against Archbishop Carroll in the opening set, she got most of her 30 points off-the-bounce. She wasted no time showing off her creativity. Already an explosive athlete, on multiple occasions Banks beat her primary defender with a hesi-cross then would finish with an up-and-under or a high pickup into a scoop layup. The nuance to her game was there too. Whether she was pushing the tempo off of a rebound (seven total) or driving in the halfcourt, she could hit the brakes and decelerate, allowing her to make whatever decision she felt was best. And of course, she created some havoc in defense too, deflecting the ball away for a couple steals.

Mikayla Blakes (2024 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.)
Didn’t get to watch the entirety of Rutgers Prep’s big win over St. John’s College (D.C.), but we saw enough of Blakes’ 30-point effort to get her into the list. The senior point guard and one of the nation’s top uncommitted prospects showed why she’s been offered by just about everybody, with her combination of handles and three-level scoring ability. Blakes knocked down four 3-pointers, got to the rim, hit pull-up mid-range jumpers, and played top-notch defense. Someone’s getting a great guard, that’s for sure.

Taylor Brown (2027 | Ursuline Academy, Del.)
Nicknamed “The Glove,” Brown was too fast to be caught when she had the ball and too fast to escape when she was on defense versus Archbishop Carroll. She turned the corner multiple times while driving before scoring with scoop layups. And when she chose to change directions or attack from a set position, she was too much to contain, putting up 19 points (6/7 FT). As a point-of-attack defender, she beat ball-handlers to their spots and relieved them of their duties. The four rebounds and four steals she racked up were for more than just her. They provided moments for her to kick the ball ahead for assists, of which she had three. 

Ryan Carter (2027 | Penn Charter)
Carter continues to demonstrate that she's beyond her years as a basketball player. Her vocal leadership and communication qualitatively enhanced the quantitative production from her and the Quakers. She exploded in and out of dribbles to get downhill against Archbishop Wood. Even when she wasn't attacking, Carter calmly beat traps and split doubles then found the open teammate. Her defense was the same way, pressuring the ball to disrupt the Vikings offense and get steals without fouling. In the decisive victory, she contributed 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block. 

Carryn Easley (2025 | Neumann-Goretti)
The Saints had their way in a 70-39 and had a few players deserving of recognition  — Amya Scott (16 points, eight assists) and Kamora Berry (16 points) included but we’ll go with Easley, whose 19-point, seven-assist effort earned her game MVP. Easley, a recent Fordham offeree, diced the defense with ease, looking like she was on cruise control while still speeding a gear ahead of everyone else on the floor. There were spin moves, crossover and eurosteps to get to the hoop where she had no problem putting a little English on the ball to score from either side. The seven assists were eye catching, but so were six rebounds on a Saints squad without much size.

Autumn Fleary (2026 | McDonogh School, Md.)
Fleary scored it in a flurry in McDonogh’s win over Paul VI (N.J.), pouring in 30 points in an impressive offensive showing. The 5-7 lead guard was 8-of-13 from the floor (2-4 3PT) and 12-of-16 from the line, showing off her terrific handles and foot speed as she got up and down the court in a hurry, turning the corner in the half-court and getting to the rim if a path was open, or making some crisp cross-court passes if the defense closed in. Fleary showed she can finish with both hands around the rim, and adjusted well around contact to get a clean look. No wonder she’s got more than 25 Division I offers.

Lizzie Halligan (2024 | Notre Dame Academy)
In a fourth quarter where the Irish were under a lot of pressure, Halligan showed plenty of poise when she drained her first and only three of the game with 3:36 to play for enough of a cushion to get to the finish. The Scranton-bound guard set the pace, scoring her team’s first two baskets on the way to 18 points, four rebounds and two assists as Notre Dame handed Upper Dublin its first loss in a 39-32 decision. Halligan used her size well, getting into the post or powering past defenders on drives to make 7-of-11 shot attempts and defensively, she was part of an effort that frustrated UD to a 24 percent shooting day.

Kayleigh Heckel (2024 | Long Island Lutheran, N.Y.)
The USC-bound point guard was locked in against Fort Erie. Heckel came away with 3 steals in the first half by using her strength and lateral quickness to rip the ball away from opposing guards. She instantly took a couple of her turnovers coast-to-coast for easy buckets. She got busy in the halfcourt too. Not to be denied, Heckel got two feet in the paint before finishing with touch on floaters and converting and-1 opportunities. The future Trojan tallied 21 points, three assists and three steals. 

CiCi Hernandez (2024 | Bethlehem Catholic)
Hernandez is the definition of a point guard and that was on display early in a dominant win over West Catholic as she had five points and five assists before the end of the first quarter. The Mercyhurst commit ended her day with 11 points and 10 dimes. She drilled a pair of threes but the floor general was most impressive doing what floor generals do, seeing plays develop before they even happen. She has great anticipation with her passing and can also direct her teammates if she sees space opening on the floor.

Jessie Moses (2027 | Westtown School)
Westtown is very much a “pick your poison” type of team, with so many deadly options, and Shabach Christian’s bane on Sunday came in the form of Moses. The 5-9 lead guard went for a team-high 16 points as she was just about unstoppable with the ball in her hands, her ability to go left or right with ease and make plays with both hands making her a tough guard. Moses made some tough buckets around the rim but also made plays for her teammates, coming up with four assists, and also grabbed three rebounds. 

Jordyn Palmer (2027 | Westtown School)
Palmer’s so good that an outing that would have been clearly good enough for most girls to make this list even gave us a little bit of pause, because we’ve seen her put together some truly incredible all-around showings. But her 13-point, seven-rebound, a-little-bit-of-everything-else outing against Shabach Christian was too well-rounded to ignore; there was a couple of her typical drives that ended with a spin into a layup, a move she’s able to do at a high level with both hands, plus a deep rainbow 3-pointer from straightaway, a mid-range fade-away, and more. She puts in an impressive effort on the glass, not giving up on second or third-chance opportunities, 

Akasha Santos (2024 | Bethlehem Catholic)
Santos is a 5-11 forward who blends the past and present with a game that has some throwback fundamental elements with the positional versatility of today’s game. She’s an efficient weapon on the offensive end as depending on the matchup she can attack from the low post, the foul line or even beyond the arc. She had 12 points and five assists, but her work on the defensive end makes her a player who should be coveted at the next level. She walls up inside and plays big, and when she guards outside the lane, Santos doesn’t just hold her own, she’s a disruptor defender who can truly slide and stay in front.

Shayla Smith (2025 | Audenried)
Smith missed her first five shots on Sunday and that was the only break she was going to give Germantown Academy. A couple trips to the line got the guard going and once she did, it didn’t matter which defender, or defenders in many cases, the Patriots threw at her. Smith scored on drives, scored on midrange shots and scored with threes, including a four-point play as part of a 13-point third quarter, finished 10-of-23 shooting and 6-of-12 from deep. On top of the 33 points, Smith added 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocks, helping the Rockets close out a strong 59-54 win.

Syla Swords (2024 | Long Island Lutheran, N.Y.)
A high-level off-ball guard, Swords illustrated why she's considered one of the very best in the country. The Michigan-commit exploited Fort Erie’s defense when they were scrambling, often by slashing to the basket with power and finesse. She strategically moved without the ball to get open for spot-up threes. And when the defense started closing out on her hard in the third quarter, Swords pump-faked then sidestepped into another triple. Her defense was no less impressive. Operating primarily as a help defender and on the weak-side, she communicated, cut off drivers and intercepted passes. In all, Swords put up 28 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. 

Kennedy Umeh (2024 | McDonogh School, Md.)
Umeh’s got a combination of size (6-4) and ability that you just can’t teach. The physical post was unstoppable on Sunday, putting together a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double that she rounded out with three assists, three blocks and a couple steals. There was her post production, sure, with a couple drop-steps, a couple hook shots, and a few other layups over defenders. But there were plays like her ability to step out on the perimeter and guard a point guard 1-on-1 and forcing a steal that really wowed, or the times she erased a shot and grabbed the rebound in one smooth motion. Umeh was 9-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the foul line.

Laura Williams (2024 | Paul VI, Va.)
Williams carried her team to a 45-38 win over Friends’ Central with 22 points, nine rebounds and five steals. It was fun to see the 6-foot-1 USC commit go up against the FCS front court of Logyn Greer and Kaiya Rain Tucker, splitting a double team from both for a bucket with some nifty footwork on one possession. Williams size and length overwhelmed, helping her vacuum in boards as well as get her hands into passing lanes. She showed some versatility both as a defender and offensive player. She switched out onto the perimeter on defense and offensively ran the floor and knocked down mid-range jumpers and even a three to go along with a dominant inside game.

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Honorable Mention
Nal’La Bennett (2025 | Friends’ Central), Kaylinn Bethea (2025 | Penn Charter), Kamora Berry (2026 | Neumann-Goretti), Aaliyah Brame (2026 | Bethlehem Catholic), Azanah Campbell (2025 | Paul VI, N.J.), Alexis Eberz (2026 | Archbishop Carroll), Anise Geiger (2025 | Imhotep Charter), Logyn Greer (2025 | Friends’ Central), Geren Hawthorne (2026 | Imhotep Charter), Olivia Rose Jones (2025 | Westtown School), Olivia Jones (2026 | Long Island Lutheran, N.Y.), Sabria Mann (2025 | Imhotep Charter), Abigail McFillin (2027 | Archbishop Carroll), Toby Nweke (2024 | Georgetown Visitation Prep, D.C.), Molly Rullo (2025 | Cardinal O'Hara), Amya Scott (2025 | Neumann-Goretti), Ciani Stanfield (2028 | Shipley School), Katie Tiffan (2024 | Spring-Ford), Atlee Vanesko (2026 | Westtown School), Brooke Wilson (2024 | Archbishop Carroll), Nyadieng Yiech (2025 | Fort Erie, Can.)