We continue to get blessed with more basketball after a long pause of play. This past weekend USJN hosted their Midwest Qualifier. Here are this weekends top standouts from a very strong field of teams:

Joy Bergstrom / Wolverinas / 5’11” / 2022

Joy Bergstrom continues to show that she is one of the  top rising juniors in Illinois. She is an excellent shooter especially deep behind the arc. The guard is also able to create space off the dribble to get herself good open looks. Bergstrom is aggressive when getting to the basket and is able to finish through contact. As well she impressed on defense, altering shots and grabbing steals to start the break.

Jayda Bowen / Lady Meanstreets / 5’9” / 2022

Jayda Bowen is a quick guard with quick and shifty handles. Throughout the game, Bowen used these skills to get by defenders and get into the defense, where she distributed to her teammates or grabbed a couple buckets for herself. She is also a good defensive player; she was able to pick the pocket of multiple players leading to easy transition baskets. 

Justina Hernandez / Lady Meanstreets / 5’10” / 2021

Justina Hernandez is an athletic and strong guard who can score from all areas on the court. Hernandez is smooth with the ball in her hand. She is able to create space for her own shot either beyond the arc or midrange. The Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit plays tough defense and is very tough to beat. 

Nakiyah Hurst / Wisconsin Playground Elite / 5’11” / 2022

Nakiyah Hurst is an athletic and versatile guard that can score at all three levels on the court. She can drive by her defender and finish in the lane or stop on a dime to knock down jumpers in the mid-range. Her game moves out the perimeter where she can knock down the three pointer, forcing defenders to close on her.  

Greta Kampschroeder / Midwest Elite / 6’0” / 2021

Greta Kampschroeder is an incredible three level scorer who uses her strength and skill to get to the basket and finish through contact. She has a smooth release and can get to her spot in the mid range at anytime and drain the jumper or spot up from behind the three point line. The Oregon State commit continues to be one of the top players in the nation and is virtually unstoppable when she is using her skill getting to the rim. 

Aneesah Morrow / Toi Baylor Elite / 6’1” / 2021

Aneesah Morrow is an athletic guard who plays aggressively on both sides of the ball.  She shows confidence in her shot, pulling up and knocking down three pointers. The guard uses her strength and athleticism to get inside, drawing fouls or pulling up and hitting the mid range. On defense, Morrow plays the press well, trapping opponents and forcing turnovers. On the other end she a skilled an versatile defender that showed the ability to defend guards as well as forwards with ease. Morrow has continued her superb play from her junior season to show that she is not just one of the top players in the Midwest, but the entire nation.

Talia Pellegrini / Illinois Rockets / 5’7” / 2021 

Talia Pellegrini is a skilled guard that impressed us again this weekend. She has a quick first step and is at her best when blowing by players to get into the lane. In the paint she demonstrated her ability to finish with soft touch or find an open teammate. Talented guard that is very good with the ball in her hands.  Pellegrini has received a few NAIA scholarship offers and its easy to see why. 

Lisa Thompson / Midwest Elite / 5'8" / 2023

Lisa Thompson continues to show why she is a highly sought after 2023 recruit. The guard is lengthy and athletic with quick handles and pinpoint passing to break apart the defense. Thompson is a very unselfish and looks to get her teammates involved. With her quick first step, the guard is able to blow by defenders and finish at the rim. 

Isabella Tierney / Illinois Hustle / 5’11” / 2021

Isabella Tierney is a high energy guard who has good height and moves well off the ball. Tierney shows high basketball IQ with her backdoor cuts, catching the ball down low and finishing quickly around the rim. The guard plays aggressive defense, jumping passing lanes and coming up with interceptions. Quality playmaker that really makes an impact on the game. 
 

Tiana Timpe / Wisconsin Lakers / 5’11” / 2021

Tiana Timpe is a lengthy guard who can score from anywhere on the court. The Central Michigan commit shows tremendous poise with the ball in her hands, being able to make good passes out of double teams or to beat the press defense.  She is a skilled scorer who can get it done from all over including driving into the lane and finishing through traffic, or knocking down open shots from the perimeter. Timpe is quick and athletic on defense and is able to get her hands in the lane and force turnovers. 

Tatiana Thomas / Illinois Lady Lightning / 6’1” / 2022

Tatiana Thomas is an athletic forward who uses her strength to get to the rim and finish this weekend.  Once she gets to the rim, she is very difficult to stop without fouling. Additionally, Thomas is tough on the offensive glass and was able to score on a few put backs. The forward has good length which she uses on defense to alter or block inside shots. One of the top rising juniors in Illinois.

Taris Thornton / Illinois Lady Lightning / 6’0” / 2021

Taris Thornton is a tough and active forward who excels at getting by her defender. She attacks the basket with force, finishing through contact or drawing fouls inside. A very efficient scorer who also grabbed boards in bunches. She is able to contribute in a number of ways on both ends for her team to make a big impact. 

Isabel Wallschlaeger / Wisconsin Lakers / 5’5” / 2022 

Isabel Wallschlaeger is a high energy player that hustles for loose balls. She is a talented passer finding her teammates in transition or picking apart the defense. Wallschlaeger was able to get to the rim where she showed good ability to score around the basket. Plus the guard has a sweet stroke, knocking down some midrange and three-point shots.

Kierra Wheeler / Wisconsin Playground Elite / 6’1” / 2021

Kierra Wheeler is a strong 6’1” forward who can bully opponents in the paint. She uses her strength to back down defenders in the post and draw fouls inside. On defense, Wheeler is a strong presence in the paint. She doesn’t back down from drivers and is able to alter their layups or block shots.