Players shine in Virginia and Pennsylvania

Syndei Archie of BWSL with the jumpshot during the GHoops Showcase in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Derek McKeiver)

Katelynn Flaherty of the Epiphanny Prince Elite was one of the top point guards showcased at the Fall Ball Classic in King of Prussia, PA (Photo by Derek McKeiver)

RICHMOND, VA / KING OF PRUSSIA, PA -- The fall evaluation weekend is always a good way to see who has been working on their game and who is still on summer vacation. Often you get to see up and coming players who will either push the existing stars or stake their own claim. My travels to Richmond, VA for the GHoops Showcase and then to the Fall Ball Classic in King of Prussia PA showed me players in all categories. Here are some of the standouts from both events.
 
GHoops Showcase
 
DeJane Boykin, 6-1 guard 2015, BWSL (Springdale, MD)
 
DeJanae is used to having the spotlight, and the GHoops Showcase was no different. With schools from the Big 12, ACC and Big East watching, DeJanae displayed a good array of skills in the paint and on the perimeter to keep her opponents at bay. I'm looking forward to seeing how she manages being a leader during the high school season at Flowers High School in Maryland.
 
Taja Cole, 5-8 point guard 2015, BWSL (Richmond, VA)
 
This agile point guard is always a bright spot no matter the event. It is also good to see when a player shows growth and maturity. Taja is a natural leader with a vicious first step and it was on display in Richmond. Taja used the showcase to work on her defense which is the next piece of the puzzle for her growth. 
 
Syndei Archie, 5-10 wing 2016, Crossover (Virginia)
 
This incoming freshman will be one of the next players from the state of Virginia to make a splash during the school year as well as with the BWSL club in the summer. Syndei is explosive to the hole and has a great first step. She has nice length and loves to mix it up on the defensive end. If your hand is down, "man down", because her stroke from the three is on the money.
 
Fall Ball Classic
 
Jade Walker, 6-1 Forward 2013, Ring City (Maplewood,NJ)
 
One of the most sought-after post players in the state of New Jersey from the 2013 class had an impressive day at the office versus the Revolution. Jade has shown some good improvement on her handle and is really stretching her game away from the basket. The schools in hot pursuit are NC State, St. Johns, Seton Hall and Michigan St.
 
Sadie Edwards, 5-10 guard 2014, Epiphanny Prince Elite, (Brooklyn, NY)
 
Edwards is a silky smooth guard/forward that I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the past year playing with Nazareth and Epiphanny Prince Elite. She has a solid pull-up off the dribble and has a nose for setting up a teammate to make a great play.  The best part of her game is that she is the type of player who will sacrifice individual accolades for team success. This top 25 prospect is being pursued by Georgetown, Louisville, Miami and Michigan to name a few.
 
Taylor Rooks, 6-1 wing 2014, Epiphanny Prince Elite (Clarence, NY)
 
This good sized wing is one of the most versatile 2014 players in New York. She has the footwork to score in the paint and can step outside and knock down the three. If this event was any indication of what we can expect this season, watch out. Some of the schools that are hoping for Taylor's services are Stanford, Syracuse, Maryland and Harvard.
 
Katelynn Flaherty, 5-7 point guard 2014, Epiphanny Prince Elite (Point Pleasant, NJ)
 
This point guard for Manasquan High School is one of the best floor generals in the class of 2014. She has great court vision and a killer first step. Also, her competitive edge keeps her teammates playing at a high level -- Katelynn does a great job of keeping everyone accountable for their actions and in the right spot on the court. Opponents that try to play off have felt the wrath of her deadly jump shot, which only leaves you to pick your poison against her. Some of the schools after Katelynn are Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Princeton and Louisville.
 
About Derek McKeiver: Derek is the owner of the Tri State Report, a regional recruiting service covering the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia), New York and New Jersey. Derek has been actively involved in the women's game since 2004 whe he started coaching the Maryland Mystics and The Academy of The Holy Cross. He can be reached via email at derek@tristatereport.net