NYG Hoops Rolls the Dice in AC

Over 500 teams headed down the shore to Atlantic City for the Select Events Atlantic City Showcase last weekend for the second NCAA DI Evaluation Period of the 2024 club basketball season. 

There was absolutely a wealth of regional talent in the Atlantic Center Convention Center, particularly from New England, the DMV, Pennsylvania, the Tristate region, and even North of the Border. We had the notepad out and of course, the camera rolling as we worked through the 30+ court jungle seeking out the top prospects, stock risers, and future stars of the game.

Here are a few of the teams and players that caught our attention at this event. Catch us right back here next week for coverage of our NYG Hoops Memorial Day Bump and our Northeast Elite 100 Camp too, as the spring turns to summer and the ball keeps bouncing.

I-90 Elite has a really nice group with their 2025 S40 team. Klarissa Goode is an established hand at the point in the state of New York, and sets the tone as the floor general. 6’0 face up forward Aniyah Jones may have played some of her best basketball in Atlantic City, ripping down rebounds out of her area, defending, and demonstrating some real power off the bounce at times to get through traffic and score. We also have to acknowledge some lights out shooting from 5’6 guard Sophia Bologna, who can play a little PG, but that lefty three point stroke was what really stood out.

The NYC Vipers definitely brought the poison as perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the event. The young frontcourt of their 2025 team was super impressive. It all starts with a can’t miss 6’7 post Serwah Banahene. Only a 2029, yes, you read that right, she’s in the 7th grade, and playing up at the 17U level, Banahene not only has the eye-catching height and wingspan, but a developing back to basket game, the mobility to move and swat away shots, and a fluid stroke at the free throw line already entice evaluators. 2027 forwards Benedicta Asare and Pearl Dickson both stand at 6’3 and are built to play ball at a high level. Asare is already hitting the three to go along with a developing back to basket game, while Dickson is a little more advanced inside and showed the ability to push the ball in the open floor. This is a nice group to watch this summer out of the city that never sleeps.

The Hurban Legends of Jersey already have a core of established stars on their 2025 team, led by Jersey’s twin terrors Mia and Mya Pauldo in the backcourt. You already know what they have done time and time again over the years. Jada Snow is another established 2025 who can really stroke it at her size, with a bag of offers in the Big East, A10, and CAA among other leagues. Anaya Noor Karriem is not shy in the post at 6’3. She really battles for post position and keeps it high to finish. The ability to step through and finish with contact was also on display, and it’s safe to say Karriem is a bit of a late bloomer but raising her game at the right time.

Positive Direction has a ton of younger prospects getting their first taste of playing up against 17U competition this summer. 2027 dynamo Josephine Pinnock has continued to mature physically, and while the handles and point guard prowess impressed at Blue Star 30 Camp back in August, the new height and better build will continue to have her stock trending upward heading into sophomore year as an exciting prospect out of the city. Another youngster on the rise in a hurry is 2027 6’2 post Dabby Onyene. Onyene has all the makings physically, and the activity level on defense is very nice. Continued development on the offensive end will serve her well.6 foot 1, risinig Senior Simone Greaves did a nice job anchoring the middle.

One of the headliners in the 17U division here in AC was the NJ Shoreshots 2025 HGSL Sabino team. 6’5 UConn commit Gandy Malou-Mamel looks like a young Aaliyah Edwards out there already. This kid is a physical force in the paint and will battle her way through double teams to get what she wants. 5’8 guard Kayden Clark is a gritty, tough kid who competes on both ends, with a nice skill set on the offensive side. The Shoreshots also get plenty of offensive firepower from the sharpshooting Christina Liggio who defenses can’t afford to leave open with that quick release from deep.

One 2027 group that stood out was Palisades Elite out of New York. The guard play, execution, and chemistry on this team led to plenty of success and a couple of lopsided wins. And here’s the thing, everyone on the team is a 2028 playing up! Sara Nezaj is a name to know, as a skilled 5’7 guard with an IQ beyond her years. Fellow guard Harmoni Burgess showed some really nice flashes as well, getting into the paint off the bounce often for points and assists. Dianny Amaro is a strong finisher at the guard spot, flashing some hang time and strength to finish in a crowd. You also have to keep an eye on 5’10 wing Valendena Arakas who got plenty of shot attempts in the lane and at the rim off of her drives, while also showing a nice stroke on a jumper that is expanding on the range.

Team Thrill brought the whole crew up from Maryland, and their 2027 GUAA squad shows plenty of promise. 5’7 guard Kanai Pyatt is athletic and very active, shooting the gaps on D and showing some impressive hops and hangtime to score. Jaelyn Peters is a lanky 5’10, so she should grow a bit more. The young forward has plenty of athletic tools. Joining her in the frontcourt is Laila Robinson, who currently stands at 5’11 and showed a little skill set inside with a couple of nice moves on the block. Eden Berry is a lefty driver who has potential, especially as she continues to develop the jumper.

The Lady Runnin’ Rebels 2025 HGSL team may be one of the deepest and top and bottom talented rosters the organization has assembled in some years. There’s a lot of DI prospects up and down the line up here. Lacey Kriebel has a nice face up game at 6’0 tall, working in the high post with comfort and ease. You can also play her out on the wing, and she will penetrate and score all the same. Olivia Selverian is a smooth, crafty guard who has a nice runner in her bag. Inside, Jane Preston is a physical 6’1 post who gets good position and has a great set of hands. Grace McDonough has added more offers of late as well, as a skilled, 6’2 forward that plays hard on both ends. 

We’ve seen the WPA Bruins 17 GUAA crew in action a couple times this spring already, and there is plenty of talent on this team to draw a baseline full of DI coaches as usual. Natalie Wetzel combines the size, frame and skill set at 6’3 on the wing. The three ball has been falling for her so far this club season, and the offers have been trickling in as well. Maine commit Ashlyne Woods directs traffic out top, but she uses her strength and stature well to score and protect the ball too, so she isn’t one dimensional. 2026 wing Jayla Koser is a western PA wing on the rise, having a nice spring season shooting the ball well with all that length. 

SLAAM had their whole program in the building, repping Pittsburgh as usual. Their 2026 team coached by Jamal Woodson is must see TV right now. The interior play and shot blocking presence of 6’4 forward Oumou Thiero is a lot to handle for opposing guards trying to get into the paint. Josie Fontana is a great co-pilot inside at 6’3, collecting plenty of easy buckets off of O boards with plenty of length of her own. Combo guard Coral Prosser is playing up a year as a 2027, but she has a good head on her shoulders to make plays off the bounce, and the experience is serving her well. JuJu Leroux has a scorer’s mentality at 6-feet tall on the wing as well.  

And last, but not least, here are a few quick hitters of some of our favorite standouts!

Nyla Blake-Soden – 2025 – 5-11 – Forward – Riverside Hawks – Athletic face up forward…Good hands on D…Seals and finishes inside…Can catch and finish on the move…All over the court making plays

Cheyenne Brand – 2025 – 5-11 – Wing/Forward – iBelieve Elite – Big, strong kid who can handle out on the perimeter…Big guard all day…Provides inside and outside versatility on both ends

Peyton Dincher – 2025 – 5-10 – Guard – Team PA S40 2025 – Taller guard with some ups…Solid handles and like to put them to use…Hit the three…Definitely sets the pace and sets the table for her team

Charleigh Green – 2028 – 5-10 – Forward – MCW 2027 P24 – Size and build stand out at this age…Good mobility…Can face up and handle the ball a bit…Tried the face up jumper as well… Physical potential is real

Briana Holt – 2026 – 6-3 – Forward – NJ Raptors E40 2025 – Nice size and frame inside is catching eye…Aggressive, wants to get to the rim…Plenty of athletic tools, see how she continues to develop

Kathy Kersaint-Pierre – 2025 – 5-10 – Wing Forward – TWKF Bluehounds 2025 – Super athletic and speedy off the bounce…Can really fly to the rim…Shot still needs work but coaches definitely like what they see

Saniyah Littlejohn-Short – 2025 – 5-8 – Point Guard – BBA 2025 GUAA – Always an electric option at the point…Combines handles and speed…Runs the show and doesn’t panic against pressure…Lots of dimes

Mumtaz Mohamed – 2028 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Sisters Keeper Toronto U14 – Smooth with the ball…Plenty of length…Has some hops…Changes pace and direction well with the ball, not afraid to use retreat dribble…Some obvious burst

Jordan Tate – 2025 – 6-1 – Forward – WeR1 Lady Sharks – Nice size at the forward spot, and plays as strong as she looks…Good in both the pick and roll game and in the pinch post…Has a presence on the floor…Vocal