North Tartan Summer Jam BLOOMINGTON, Minn.— As one of our yearly stops on the evaluation circuit, the Summer Jam, a non-certified tournament presented by the Nike sponsored North Tartan club, has developed into one of the premier events in the country. With over 260 teams the event showcases the best of Midwest basketball while sprinkling in some of the elite EYBL programs from around the country. The tournament gave all of those in attendance a pre-July feeling with elite competition throughout the three-day tournament. Here is a look at a handful of standout players as well as some notes from the weekend.
U17 USA Basketball members Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers go head to head.
The game of the tournament saw the Boo Williams EYBL champions, Fairfax Stars go head to head with the 16U champions, North Tartan. With 2019 forward Samantha Brunelle missing in action, Fairfax was missing a critical piece from their championship in Hampton, but that didn’t alter the anticipation for the match up at all. With hundreds of people set up around the court and both Fudd and Bueckers showing their pedigree as elite players in their respective classes, Bueckers' North Tartan team edged past Fudd and the Fairfax Stars 79-66.
Boo Williams Wins Title
The 17U elite bracket, called Lake Minnetonka, was decided on Sunday when Boo Williams beat North Tartan’s 16U team 57-50 in the championship game. In a meeting of two teams with very different strengths and weaknesses, the match-up saw a Boo Williams team that is starting to figure out how to play and work together match up with arguably the best 16U team in the country, North Tartan’s 16U group. With a team full of 2020 prospects, the North Tartan group used a mixture of the star power of Bueckers with the stability of a team that has been together through multiple age groups. They are a team that plays with tremendous energy from start to finish, relying on Buecker's unique playmaking style to keep the ball moving and teammates involved.
On the flip side, Boo Williams is a collection of individual talent that is starting to learn how to play together. From April to June you can see the growth in them as a collective. Teammates are beginning to trust each other, players are starting to know where shots are coming from, and 2019 Maryland verbal Ashley Owusu maturing well into their offensive leader.
Takeaways From the Weekend
The Offensive Maturity of Ashley Owusu
From our first evaluations of her as a prep, Owusu has shown comfort as a three-level scorer. As of late, Owusu has taken her ability and pushed her game to another level by developing into a more efficient perimeter scorer. With every opposing defense focused on how to stop her. Owusu has learned to influence games quickly and effectively while allowing her teammates to use her as both a weapon and a decoy.
Hofschild’s Ability to Run a Team
Hofschild’s ability to give her team what they need and when they need it really stood out this weekend. Watching this weekend was fun. As a classic floor general, she controls the flow of the game with an excellent feel for when to push the tempo to get her team an easy basket or to slow the game down and orchestrate things in the halfcourt. Hofschild can impact the game as a playmaker, getting teammates involved while being vocal and calling plays and assignments or she can be a bit more aggressive, hunting her shot and looking to carry more of the offensive burden.
Scalia’s an Offensive Weapon
With ideal size for the perimeter and the ability to give a team a combo guard option or scoring on the wing, Minnesota verbal Sara Scalia was a lethal perimeter shooter this weekend. She was comfortable scoring off the bounce with a pull-up, off the screen, or in catch and shoot situations.
Clark’s Knack for Controlling Tempo
Clark might be the most methodical guard in the country. She plays at her speed but can get her teammates quality shots while not allowing defenders to speed her up and force her to do things that she doesn’t want to do. Similar to Oregon guard Sabrina Ionescu, her offensive impact on the game puts her in an elite class of playmaker, Clark can fill up the stat sheet. She can step up and make a big jumper or throw a 25-foot bounce pass finding a teammate for a layup.
McGraw’s Elite Perimeter Shooting
Maggie McGraw is committed to signing with Iowa State in the fall, and as one of the premier perimeter shooters in the country, McGraw will play at a program that fits her strengths. From the moment you watch her spring the lane in transition or come off a screen looking to catch and fire, McGraw’s confidence in her shot-making skills is evident.
Ware Has Upside
Already a hot name in her region, as far as national recruiting is concerned, the next calendar year could see Ware could become a highly coveted post prospect. Ware has a prototype frame paired with quality athleticism. Defensively she can fit various schemes and will be able to give a college program flexibility with how they want to play on that side of the ball. Offensively, Ware has a developing skill set that needs refinement.
Franklin is an Elite Scorer
This year’s Essence EYBL team is young and talented. With a core group of 2020 and 2021 prospects, they are an active group that gets after it and competes hard on both sides of the ball. When the team needs leadership or a key basket they turn to one of their few 2019 prospects, Zakiyah Franklin. Franklin is a three-level scorer who can play with and without the basketball. She is an explosive athlete who can get downhill to attack the rim while also elevating with height on her jumper.
Quick Hitters
Eleana Chapman (Boo Williams) – Chapman is starting to show more comfort using her size and athleticism on both sides of the ball. At 6-foot-3 she has a unique set of tools, and if she can continue this momentum into July, she may see some new programs inquire about the class of 2019 forward.
Knisha Godfrey (Essence) – Godfrey is an explosive athlete and a player to keep an eye on in the 2021 class. She was able to get downhill and attack the rim while also being a factor on the offensive and defensive glass.
Shay’Lynn Hagans (Fairfax Stars) – Hagans is a dynamic athlete who could develop into a perimeter scoring option in college. The 5-foot-8 guard thrives in transition and is starting to show more consistency shooting the ball from the perimeter.
Carly Rivera (Fairfax Stars) – When you talk about playmaking point guards who can take care of the ball and make open shots, Rivera has to be in the discussion. As a lead guard, Rivera is a steady force who is getting more and more comfortable making plays off the bounce and attacking closeouts. With the Fairfax Stars missing both Samantha Brunelle and Azzi Fudd due to USA Basketball, Rivera could step into a more prominent role and show more of her offensive package this July.
Sara Stapleton (MN Stars) – Stapleton’s effort allowed her to stand out and make an impact this weekend. The 6-foot-3 post is committed to Wisconsin and showed well this weekend. Stapleton mixes a good feel for the game with a willingness to play with energy.
