Maleah Mason
HOUSTON, Texas – After a great start the past three years in Nashville, Tennessee, the Elite Is Earned national camp tour moved its finale to Space City. EIE Junior All-American Camp focuses on the next wave of the game to see who is ready to move the game forward in the years to come.
Players from the West joined a strong collection of players from the South and Southwest for a great weekend of competition and development.
Camilla Poraj-Kuczewski of Boise, Idaho, works on her handle with Bella Dimmerson of Prosper, Texas. *Photo by Chris Hansen.
The Breakfast Club is a part of the camp weekend where players are selected for an extra hour of work on day two, based on their effort, intangibles and “it” factor on the camp’s opening day.
Hailey Trader of Bentonville, Arkansas.Familiarity matters in individual events. Hailey Trader of Bentonville, Arkansas, has been to EIE events before so there was no hesitation to throw her in front of the camp for demonstrations and she showed she was not just confident enough to take center stage but that her game has elevated considerably. There’s a cool and calm way she goes about her game offensively but the competitiveness is what really makes her different.
EIE Jr. AAC was blessed to have some versatile and skilled forwards in the building that could really push each other. Mackenzie Jackson of Houston, Texas, is a 2029 that has done a great job of putting herself on the map at an early age. Her matchups with Camilla Poraj-Kuczewski, a 2030 prospect from Boise, Idaho, were epic. Both have ample length at their disposal. Both were able to make each other find counters and angles to score where most gyms they are in there isn’t a player in their age range that can force that.
Another dynamic swing player who imposes her will on the interior is Skylar Conway of Houston, Texas. There’s a calm confidence about her and her poised play impacts everyone around her. From the high post she was operating like a point forward in the chase action live play, embracing always being a threat while still keeping the ball moving.
Jordin Lee of Houston, Texas.The guard play was promising as well. Beyond Trader, there were several players shining. Jordin Lee of Houston, Texas, is a gamer who makes all the reads to find her team easy buckets. Her passing in transition was top shelf this weekend. On the receiving end of some of those passes was Bella Dimerson of Prosper, Texas. The speedy 2028 guard knows where her spots are and gets to them early and often. She shot the ball as well as any player at camp in recent memory.
Maleah Mason of Cedar Park, Texas, had a fantastic weekend. When she was dialed in you could see how many ways she impacted the game. Perhaps the best part was watching her work through some of the traps that come from an individual event, adjust, and lead her team to the 5 on 5 championship.
The outstanding guard play didn’t stop there. Maddison Madkins of Houston, a class of 2029 prospect, showed her powerful game and scoring ability. Savannah Wilson, a 2029 from San Antonio, Texas, has afterburners and puts so much pressure on defenders with her speed. Celeste Jackson of Round Rock, Texas, brings strength and athleticism to the floor. She’s a perimeter player who can put smaller defenders on her hip and score from the inside.
The elite play didn’t stop with just the Breakfast Club. Sunday saw Deylamore Tapia of Spring, Texas, dominate in stretches of camp with her ability to create and her infectious energy. Shay Johnson of San Mateo, California, is a 2029 guard who jumped into the pool of Southwest talent and made her impression. Stella Saltaformaggio, a 2031 from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was one of the youngest players in camp but had a moxie about her that allowed her to compete well with the older opposition. Sarah Kim of Dallas, Texas, is a quick guard who kept defenders on their heels. Ashley Ramirez of Converse, Texas, is a fiery young guard who can get on a roll when she sees the ball go in.
We only got Sunday with Geralynn Byers Veal of Manor, Texas, but that was more than enough to see her talent and skill set. At 6-1 her mobility, versatility, confidence and poise were all capturing the attention of those watching in the gym.
AROUND THE RIM
Jordan Roy of Lumberton, Texas, showed a slick handle and shiftiness to her game.
Ka’Niyah Herrig of Richmond, Texas, made her presence known on both ends of the floor.
Londyn Marshall of Huntsville, Texas, is a 2029 guard to keep an eye on.
Sofia Wolf of New Braunfels, Texas, is a 2029 whose confidence has skyrocketed since we saw her last spring.
Aubri Guerrero of Waco, Texas, might not be the biggest player in the gym but she was fearless and competitive both days.
Kinsley McWilliams of San Antonio, Texas, has the size, skill and athleticism to make a big jump ahead of her first season of high school ball next fall.
McKinley Chamberlin of Austin, Texas, is a 2030 we expect to be hearing more about soon. She has the size to be a big wing and uses it well.
Chris Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and serves on the McDonald’s All-American and Naismith Trophy selection committees. He was a co-founder of and the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012 and is the director of the Check Me Out Showcase and ELITE is EARNED events. He can be reached at chris@chrishansenbasketball.com.
