City of Basketball Love

By Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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PITMAN — Several area girls’ grassroots programs met this weekend at Total Turf for a Hoop Group showcase, with action in the 15U, 16U and 17U age groups across the gym’s five courts over the course of two days.

Here’s who stood out in full games I watched this weekend:

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Charlotte Aldridge (2026 | Delco Goats HGSL 16U)
Aldridge did a little bit of everything in the Goats’ win over the Mid-Atlantic Magic on Saturday afternoon: she scored inside and out (10 points), grabbed four rebounds, dished out two assists, and blocked four shots, despite taking a hard shot to the ribs in the first half and to the face in the second. The 6-0 wing guard from Downingtown East used her length well defensively to tip a couple jumpers as well as reject a couple layups and get in passing lanes, and she knocked down her only 3-pointer from straightaway.

A’Briyah Cunningham (2025 | Syracuse Nets HGSL 17U)
There might not have been anybody else in the gym this weekend as dangerous in the open court as Cunningham. The 5-10 wing guard is an exceptional athlete with elite food speed and a good handle, and she was continually attacking the rim in transition against United NJ, which was trying to double-team her in the open court and still struggled to stop her from getting to the rim. She finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort, getting to the line on seven different occasions (7-12 FT).

Elle Johnson (2025 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 17U)
Johnson mixed patience with aggressiveness well as the Rebels beat the NJ Soldiers on Saturday afternoon. The 5-10 lefty guard from Unionville played within her team’s offense, but when things stalled she didn’t hesitate to unleash a crossover or two, put her head down and attack the bucket, which at least got the defense moving, even if she didn’t put up a shot. She was 5-of-7 from the floor (2-2 3PT) for 12 points, with three rebounds and two steals, hitting a mid-range jumper along with her two treys. 

Sophia Georgiades (2026 | United NJ S40 16U)
The 5-7 left-handed point guard from Ridge High (N.J.) was impressive with the ball in her hands in a win over the Runnin’ Rebels. Georgiades racked up 16 points on an efficient 6-of-10 from the floor, hitting two of her three 3-pointers and both of her free throws. She showed her ability to break down a defense with her handles in the half-court offense, with a few nifty layups around the rim with both hands, and was a good catch-and-shoot threat who didn’t need much space to get her shot off in rhythm. 

Tessa Lozner (2025 | United NJ S40 17U)
In a pair of viewings on Sunday afternoon — both wins — Lozner was efficient from the floor, going 11-of-15 overall and 4-of-6 from 3-point range for a total of 29 points, with 14 against the Syracuse Nets and 15 against the Lady Runnin’ Rebels. The 5-8 guard from Gill St. Bernard played hard at both ends, got to the rim in the half-court, buried catch-and-shoot jumpers and was just involved the whole time she was on the court, almost always in a positive way. 

Elisabeth Lyons (2027 | NJ ShoreShots HGSL 15U)
The 6-foot-tall forward from St. John Vianney (N.J.) impressed with a 21-point, nine-rebound effort in a Saturday morning loss. Lyons is a mobile ‘4’ who plays out on the perimeter as well as inside, with great hands and footwork and the ability to handle the ball confidently in space; she utilizes the shot fake well on the perimeter to start drives to the hoop, and she showed a nice hook shot and right-hand floater on the move, while also going 5-of-6 from the foul stripe. 

Grace McDonough (2025 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 17U)
McDonough’s playing with the most confidence she’s had yet after picking up 11 new Division I offers since the April live periods, and continued her strong spring with a 12-point, five-rebound affair against the Soldiers. McDonough doesn’t waste opportunities around the rim; on the few instances where she didn’t finish her first attempt, she grabbed the rebound (four offensive boards) and put it back in. She’s mobile offensively, initiating her attack from several spots, and had a smooth baseline turnaround jumper as well as a catch-and-shoot off a mid-range screen.

Claire McKee (2027 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 15U)
McKee led the way for the Rebels in a come-from-behind win over the ShoreShots on Saturday morning, the 5-11 Germantown Academy wing forward going for a team-high 17 points. McKee knocked down a variety of mid-range jumpers, hitting more than half of her shots, and also had a pair of 3-point plays as she showed she can absorb contact and finish around the rim. She also crashed the glass hard, with four of her six rebounds (also a team high) coming on the offensive end.

Addy Platt (2026 | United NJ S40 17U)
The Pope John XXIII (N.J.) sophomore had a strong couple outings on Sunday, but really shined in her first game, scoring 12 points with three rebounds, an assist and a block against the Syracuse Nets. A 5-10 guard, Platt is smooth with the ball in her hands and showed a variety of moves, including a couple one-dribble pull-ups, a terrific baseline rip to a layup, a step-through between two defenders, and more. She’s also a versatile defender who could guard on the perimeter and in the post, and she made a few nice passes as well even if her assist totals weren’t high.

Olivia Selverian (2025 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 17U)
Selverian continued a strong start to her 2025 spring — at least in games we’ve seen her play — as she scored 12 points with three assists, three steals and two rebounds against the Soldiers. Selverian has great instincts; she’s quick to attack, pass, or shoot, and she usually makes the right choice in whatever she does. She’s a strong outside shooter, knocking down two of her four attempts, makes accurate passes on the move, and is an engaged defender with good length. 

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Honorable Mention
Carly Bickle (2026 | Delco Goats HGSL 16U), Sadie Birdsall (2027 | Mid-Atlantic Magic HGSL 15U), Lianna Cole (2026 | United NJ S40 16U), Annie Conover (2026 | United NJ S40 16U), Lila Curci (2025 | District One 17U), Luca D’Andrea (2026 | Mid-Atlantic Magic HGSL 16U), Reese Downey (2025 | NJ Soldiers HGSL 17U), Katherine Dwyer (2026 | District One UA Rise 16U), Samantha Haws (2027 | Mid-Atlantic Magic HGSL 15U), Brooke Jaenicke (2027 | NJ ShoreShots HGSL 15U), Jess Kolecki (2025 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels 17U), Katherine Lange (2025 | NJ Soldiers HGSL 17U), Grace Maloney (2028 | Delco Goats HGSL 15U), Miley Maloney (2027 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels 15U), Aneri McGalla (2026 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 16U), Mollie Martin (2027 | Mid-Atlantic Magic HGSL 15U), Janie Preston (2025 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 17U), Tatum Sharpe (2027 | NJ ShoreShots HGSL 15U), Cesci Schiro (2025 | United NJ S40 17U), Charlotte Tuhy (2025 | United NJ S40 17U), Gabby Tropea (2026 | Total Skills 16U), Emma Yogis (2026 | Mid-Atlantic Magic HGSL 16U)