Qadashah HoppiePATTERSON, N.J. -- For several years now the New Jersey Sparks have kicked off our basketball New Year with the New Years Resolution, a showcase of some of the premier high school teams and players in the Northeastern part of the United States. This year the three-day event was home to multiple ELITE 150 ranked players as well as a few players who will soon be joining the “Watch List”. Here is a look at some of the upper-class standouts from the event.
2016 Checklist
Blessing Ejiofor (Patterson Eastside) – Next year Ejiofor will be in Nashville playing for coach Melanie Balcomb and her staff. The 6-foot-4 post is a high level athlete with an abundance of long term potential. This weekend we saw Blessing use her athleticism on the defensive side of the ball and guard on the perimeter with effectiveness. Her length and foot speed are assets that should allow her to make a major defensive impact at the next level.
Sarah Mortensen (Long Island Lutheran) – We have had the opportunity to see Mortnesen play in European Championships in the past. This year Mortensen is in the US playing high school basketball at Long Island Lutheran. One of the strongest attributes for the 5-10 wing is that she has the ability to make shots. Mortensen is as comfortable shooting off the bounce and making shots in the midrange in catch and shoot situations. Her size and high release point make it tough for defenders to contest her shot and she has the confidence to shoot through slumps.
Sarah Edmond (St. Anthony’s) – This 5-8 guard from Freeport, N.Y., is headed to Howard next year. Edmond is an athletic lead guard with playmaking ability. She is clever off the bounce and looked to attack the rim with regularity this weekend. With her size, athleticism, and ability to play both on and off the ball, Edmond will be a welcomed addition at Howard.
2017 Checklist
Qadashah Hoppie – (The Patrick School) – Over the past couple of years we have seen Hoppie in a number of different situations. The 5-8 guard is a capable scorer who possesses the ability to consistently beat defenders off the bounce. In a match up with a talented Patterson Eastside team, Hoppie managed to show off her ability to run a team and be a leader on the floor, something we had not seen her do as well in previous evaluations. Although Hoppie has combo guard potential in college, the growth in her ability to be a true point guard and set table for her teammates will only increase her stock nationally.
2018 Checklist
Aziah Hudson (Baldwin) – With her active defense and timely scoring ability, class of 2018 guard Aziah Hudson of Baldwin, N.Y., jumped on our radar in the summer of 2015. Since then, Hudson has continued to improve and develop into one of the better 2018 guards on the east coast. This weekend, Hudson had a 21-point outburst in an overtime contest that can easily be considered the game of the event. Her ability to attack the rim off the bounce while still being a threat to make shots from deep will keep her in the national discussion.
2019 Checklist
Michelle Sidor (Saddle River Day) – Class of 2019 guard Michelle Sidor of Hackensack, N.J., put on a show in the first game of the event. Sidor is an excellent perimeter shooter who also possesses the ability to put the ball on the floor and create offense off the bounce. She is a confident perimeter scorer and is able to go on impressive, individual offensive outbursts. This weekend she put up 34 points in an overtime win against a talented Baldwin team.
Keil Moore is the Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report and international scouting report. He serves on the Naismith Trophy Board of Selectors and has been a member of the women's basketball community for more than eight years as a trainer and evaluator. He can be reached at keil@prospectsnation.com.
