For a few hours on the night of June 12, the epicenter of Northeast women’s basketball was in NY’s Capital District. The 9th Annual EST Summer Kickoff – the initial Empire State Takeover spring event that has since birthed spring sessions in Rochester (since 2022) and Scranton, PA (since 2025) – took over the courts at Impact Athletic Center just north of Albany.

112 players, representing the vast majority of locales in New York State along with additional players from Western Massachusetts, northern Pennsylvania, and Vermont, competed across two separate sessions in front of over two dozen college coaches from the D2, D3, and JuCo ranks. These players ranged from talented underclassmen gaining valuable showcase experience to upperclassmen clawing to get on radars of coaches in attendance. In addition, eight participants have already received scholarship offers from Division I (Dior Dobere, Emma Johnson, Brooke Lilley, Kailey Weber) or Division II programs (Kylah Bednar, Reese Duprey, Aliyah Pearson, Ella Trimarchi). The event featured 30+ realistic scholarship-track players between all classes along with many that will help D3 programs down the line.

I take the time to go back and analyze & evaluate every ounce of game film from my events, but I typically do a terrible job at writing about it for the website. With that in mind, here’s a fun way to keep me honest. Enjoy this gradual stream of consciousness style write-up from the Summer Kickoff:

June 16 Viewing: 5:00 Session 3×3 (one court)

The youngest player on the ‘demo’ court left perhaps the largest impression. There was no greater shot maker on the floor than 2030 Emma Johnson (Cooperstown/XGen Elite), and even as a 14 year old, it’s fair to call her one of Upstate NY’s highest-level shot makers regardless of class. No one is counting, but I had to eventually: the 5’8″ guard let loose for 25 points in what was recorded of the opening FIBA-style 3×3 session (missed the first three minutes). That included 7 threes delivered in a variety of ways, and although she was assertively score-minded, there was efficiency involved – I wouldn’t call this stretch a high-volume one for her. Emma started with a difficult midrange floater going to her right, then caught fire with perimeter jumpers off the catch, with rhythm dribbles, and off dribble moves to either hand. She showcased real college range with the strength to knock it down off a square-up without needing catch & shoot flow. All-in-all, a very impressive start for the potent scoring guard coming off an early D1 offer from New Hampshire.

Speaking of shot making… hello, Raelynn Parks? If you watch the 5’11” 2027 forward play school ball at Unatego, you may not realize she has any comfort away from the rim. She makes her mark as an interior force there – and had a bit of a breakout winter in the process – and does the same in AAU with the Albany Herricanes. I noticed a couple flashes of stretch play while walking around a couple weeks ago at the Scranton Spring Showcase, and she really tapped into that during opening 3×3 at the Summer Kickoff. Rae had a couple catch & finishes at the rim off early seals, but most of her scoring came with the wrinkle of stretch play and midrange/perimeter shooting. All of them were twos, but out of the handful of jumpers she made, two or three of them were toe-on-the-line 19 footers. Continued work on that aspect of her game will allow refinement – tighter footwork will turn those into threes, compact mechanics will help speed up the release a split-second, so on. In the meantime, as a player far more recognized as a back-to-basket offensive player & rugged rebounder, the fact that she’s taking those jumpers and made over half of her attempts is a great sign. Development & expansion of her game as she’s ringing the bell of increasingly competitive D3 programs this spring.

The Black jerseys on the demo court got stuck with just three players due to late scratches, which put them at a bit of a disadvantage as FIBA-style 3×3 can be a silent killer in terms of conditioning. I was impressed with how Amirah Warren attacked those first ~20 minutes. The Columbia/Albany Capitals 2029 forward got herself into the flow of things after a few minutes and showed bits & pieces of what makes her an intriguing area up-and-comer. She was a primary scorer for her group, primarily out of face-up scenarios getting downhill to her right hand (although she did hit a three as well), but it may have been the defensive end that stuck out more to me. A forward that’s listed at 5’8″ but plays more like she’s 6’2″ with a point to prove, Amirah successfully defended everyone on the opposing team at one time or another, regardless of their position or skill set. She used power & toughness to bottle up forwards that tried to operate in the paint. When up against guards, she showed surprisingly good foot speed & footwork to keep the ball contained, enough so that I would call her a switchable defender that can handle herself in a ‘switch everything’ sort of scheme. Amirah’s journey is just getting started as a prospect, but she’s showing unique tools at an early stage that lend to intrigue down the road.

June 17 Viewing: 5:00 Session 3×3 (continued)

Something that’s typically a rarity but will show itself to be a constant in review of the 5:00 game film – in a world of heavily guard-oriented play, especially in showcase settings, this group leaned the opposite. Luck of the draw in who signed up. This session was lean on the true backcourt players & heavier on wings, tweeners, and forwards. That put some players in more expanded on-ball roles here & put others that may have to play more away from the rim in college in those sorts of situations as well.

And Maddie Chatt really shined with the on-ball reps. If I go through all 3×3 game film and conclude that she had the best start of the entire group in this session, I won’t be surprised. That in itself isn’t a surprise as the Stillwater/Albany Capitals 2028 has embraced every part of the development process and not only refined & expanded her game, but turned the corner into someone that can legitimately be mentioned as a scholarship-level prospect. Another ‘no one is counting but I eventually had to’ moment – she scored 28 points (!) with good efficiency in the opening 3×3. Much of it came with the jumper – unquestionably one of the purest, most mechanically sound shooters at the event – and she mixed college-range threes with developing midrange game off the bounce, which she showed a few times attacking closeouts & pulling up or pulling off ball screens. Her motor & conditioning level were on full display as she looked fresh for the entire 20+ minutes of play despite being on a team without subs. The (all of) 5’8″ guard was the most well-rounded & natural basketball athlete on her court, and despite not being a PG by trade, I was impressed with how she led & managed her team offensively, mixing in various actions and finding a good balance between create for self vs. setting the table. Headliner of a start in her third EST event of the spring (and if you want to count the MS Combine she worked at in May, a perfect 4-for-4).

The Binghamton area is already well-aware at this point, but it’s time for everyone else to be introduced to Harper Eagan. The Summer Kickoff was technically just a 2027-2029 event, but a few select middle schoolers were included in the action. Harper, a 5’11” 2030 forward (Maine-Endwell/Upstate Select) that not only was one of the Southern Tier’s emergent stars over the winter but is also a multi-sport standout that spent the first part of her Friday playing in a softball state semifinal, wasted no time making her presence felt. The lefty mixed in interior & stretch game but showed a comfort zone closer to the rim with primary operation in the paint & post. Despite being one of the event’s youngest players, she had perhaps one of the greatest understandings of her game & strengths and leaned into those without trying to do too much. Harper took advantage of switches & mismatches, carved space effectively to create finishing angles with her left hand & over her right shoulder, showed well-rounded post effectiveness with production playing back-to-basket, out of P&R reps, and by crashing & collecting on the offensive glass, and played with a consistent approach & assertive physicality. Strong start with steady play over the duration of 3×3.

And back on the ‘shooter’ topic. I’ve sang it for over a year now and anyone that’s watched her just once sees it too, but no question that Avery Ostrander is one of the most potent shooters in the Capital District & was one of the top ones at this event. The Ballston Spa/NY Havoc 2029 set that tone in the first few minutes of 3×3 as her first three shot attempts – a midrange jumper going to her left where she had to adjust her body going into the lift, followed by two college threes – hardly moved the net. The 5’9″ guard looked more comfortable as a lead/on-ball player and excelled in the rhythm it provided, mixing in some drives & advantageous paint touches when she could attack a closeout or ball screen to her right hand. But first thing’s first… sniper. Building around that coveted trait.

I’ll continue to keep an eye on the continued development of Bryar White, who showed some flashes in opening 3×3. The 6 footer displayed relatively soft touch as a post finisher over her left shoulder, showed a developing jump hook that’ll be a great layer for her to add as a back-to-basket scoring option, moved block to block & lifted as needed off drives to open up the floor and present as a catch & finish option, and on a 3×3 court with 6 of the 7 players standing between 5’8″-6’0″ (a.k.a. not a bunch of short opponents), she was the most notable rim protecting presence of the group with numerous blocks & shot alters. Just a 2029 at Shaker/NY Havoc, growing into her body with plenty of room for long-term growth potential.

June 18 Viewing: 5:00 Session 3×3 (continued)

The back end of this week is a busy one. Between two days in Worcester, MA for the NEPSAC scholastic live weekend and another two days planned locally at the Gym Rat, there won’t be much game film review Thursday through Sunday. Might as well burn the midnight oil to knock out another 3×3 file.

Payton Comstock (Dolgeville/Utica Lady Knicks 2027) isn’t a stranger to EST events or this setting as a whole. The Mohawk Valley standout has been at a handful of these over the years, and comfort & familiarity was apparent as she played within herself and was the most productive player on her court. She picked her spots effectively and showed a quintessential stretch forward skill set with a trio of spot threes, the occasional straight line attack against a closeout, and opportunistic rim scores off cuts & dives. In addition, she competed aggressively, played relatively hard through the opening 3×3 session, and proved to be a solid individual & team defender whenever action went her way. She showed high on the occasional ball screen she was involved in, understood positioning at that end, and contained the dribble well & prevented paint touches. I would say the most well-rounded showing on her 3×3 court at the jump. Good start for a small schooler working to move up recruiting lists as junior year comes to a close.

Young players put in the work to catch attention among older counterparts once again. A pair of middle schoolers were on opposing teams, and Keira Organ (Averill Park/Albany Capitals 2030) & Zoie Hillabrandt (Edwards-Knox/NNY Stars 2031) each had their moments. Keira showed comfort as a downhill-oriented guard with aggressive takes & finishes with each hand, and her defensive prowess was probably more notable than the offense with active hands as the primary defender or in help & feisty, competitive spirit at that end. Zoie, a powerful 5’10” wing/forward, showed flashes of what’s becoming a very advanced skill base for size & age that included a quick release wing three and an impressive half-spin, downhill take & reverse finish all with the off hand. The Summer Kickoff was generally just a 2027-2029 event, but these two were among a select few younger up & comers that stepped in and had no problem mixing it up.

July 9 Viewing: 5:00 Session 3×3 (continued)

A few days away from the game film turned into a few weeks. Whoops. Time flies when you’re doing NEPSAC Live in Worcester, Gym Rat back home, summer league in Utica, Primetime camp in Rochester, a scrimmage & practice in Oneonta, a tournament in Ithaca, stressing about facility stuff for August sessions and fall events… or having fun, however that saying goes.

The ‘Basket 4’ opening 3×3 was the most aesthetically pleasing & enjoyable to watch of the event so far. That came from a combo of quality of play – balanced lineups, each team had a sub which was a plus – and the general even competitive nature as the teams traded baskets & stops for basically the entirety. All eight players were at least solid, no weak leaks and all had their moments, but the performances of two separated from the pack a bit.

Combining the components of skill, athleticism & physical tools, abilities at both ends of play, overall engagement & compete level, tough to argue against Charlotte Baroody as a/the top dog here. The Shenendehowa/NY Havoc 2029 was a steady presence through the entirety of 3×3 and played to her strengths & style while showcasing a skill set making forward progress. The 5’9″ guard is athletically gifted and maximizes those tools with high energy & a rugged streak of toughness. She got downhill with force to her right hand and finished several times – straight lines north/south after the lane was created, didn’t play with it too much. In addition, she displayed as perhaps the best guard rebounder arguably out of anyone at the event. She aggressively crashed for offensive rebounds, tracked them out of her area, won 1v1 physical battles, and timed jumps well to meet the ball at the peak. A promising development from this stretch was the added layer of a perimeter jumper. Charlotte leans downhill oriented as a player, but the counter of a reliable three with time & space is a big plus, and she canned four from beyond the arc in this stretch including one from the college line. Standout start to the Summer Kickoff from a top area up & comer tracking in the scholarship prospect direction.

Also standing out was a familiar face that looks like a natural in this setting & comes by it honestly. Victoria Fall loads up the miles for basketball. The Kingston/NY Havoc 2027 guard, a top player in Section IX, has done the AAU thing in Albany for years, has also been a consistent face at Summer Run up here in past Augusts, and has traveled to all three EST event locations over the years – that included Scranton & Albany this spring. Tori is a combo guard in a good way – I like her as a lead guard, but she can very seamlessly transition from an on to off-ball guard & look natural in either role. That showed here as she made herself noticeable first as an off-ball mover, cutting instinctively against defenders that fell asleep away from the action on the way to a couple catches & easy finishes. She then got herself in a rhythm attacking off the dribble. She showed craftiness, using change of speed well and dropping hips/body low on drives for burst & leverage, and produced with a mix of right/left and 1/2 foot finishes. Tori also got paint touches to distribute, drawing help & flipping the floor several times to force scrambles and create higher shot quality for teammates. Her IQ & feel showed not just there, but also in ability to exploit mismatches. She created advantageous switches several times & didn’t let them off the hook, quickly making plays against the mismatch without disrupting offensive flow. I’m used to seeing Tori show well in the EST setting – add this to the list. A rock-solid 2027 guard prospect that will lower the blood pressure of a coaching staff.

And just as promising was the showing from the youngest on the floor. Lily Morgan (Chenango Forks/Team Northeast 2030) ended up 4-for-4 in EST events this spring, attending all three HS showcases on an invite status along with the Middle School Combine, and the increased comfort level in this setting mixed with a burgeoning offensive skill set allowed her to do more than hold her own here. Lily has displayed a much-improved skill set & comfort base playing away from the rim and off the dribble in recent months, and in Summer Kickoff opening 3×3, she attacked with the greatest mix of decisiveness & discretion I’ve seen from her. She played at different speeds, changed direction comfortably off the bounce, showcased a developing finishing package with rim scores at different angles, and got off the ball without disrupting flow of offense if an advantage wasn’t created. Productive with some efficiency. 5’10” and has rapidly transitioned to a versatile offensive player with increasing wing/perimeter comfort. All part of the growth process, which is happening at a rapid rate at the moment. A young gun out of the Binghamton area that you’ll be hearing about plenty for years to come.

July 15 Viewing: 5:00 Session Horns 3×3

I’ve made it past the FIBA stuff! Took long enough. It’s a summer league night for me, but prior to that, a couple good afternoon hours were spent dipping into the first round of Horns 3×3. I unfortunately didn’t have the time to dip into this with the 7:00 group, but the 5:00 session received a good dose of the action-based small-sided work. Shoutout to current college players Alex Moses (Canisius) and Kyara Triblet (SUNY Cobleskill) for being the best passers, initiators, and eventually leaders of this segment.

The biggest standout of the opening Horns 3×3 group was 2029 Sandy Cirilla (Schalmont/NY Havoc). This form of small-sided basketball rewards the player willing to take command – not just in the form of shooting/scoring, more so the one that directs traffic, uses their brain & basketball feel to think, read, and react on the fly – and really, she did all of that. She’s developed a reputation as more of a scoring guard and did plenty of that, showing comfort shooting off the bounce (5 threes, primarily off ball screens against defenders slipping under, another off a stepback) & willingness to attack downhill into space/open-side drives. Knowing that’s a comfort zone asset though, I was probably most impressed with how Sandy kept some offensive aggressiveness while finding balance. She used the dribble to create without beating it into the ground, and on numerous occasions, she dragged the dribble wide to create spacing & improve timing on dives to hit the post. It didn’t take more than a couple minutes to see she was an alpha in this segment. Continued play like this – showcasing the skill & being assertive while displaying greater command and overall floor game – will be highly beneficial.

It took about half of the Horns 3×3 segment for Madison Klouse (Colonie/NY Havoc) to break into it & find some sort of flow, but when that happened, she showed flashes of what has made her an increasingly intriguing Class of 2027 prospect. She’s developed into a bit of a tricky cover. At 5’10” with strength to her frame, she’s physically built for frontcourt play, but she has enough function with the dribble to drag forwards out to the arc & straight-line athleticism to get downhill quickly when she finds space. Plus… she’s a lefty. Seems to have equal comfort attacking with either hand, but the added left-handed layer is always problematic for defenders. In one impressive sequence, Madison had back-to-back takes from the arc going each direction with right/left rim finishes, a right wing three with time & space, and a timely cut, catch & finish as a ballhandler got stranded along the baseline – the first time anyone on her court made a strong, decisive, productive cut. A ‘toolsy’ player that strikes me as the type that can improve through college years – I imagine a college staff with ability to develop could reap rewards as Madison continues to polish, refine, and put the pieces together.

A look to the future… promising stretches from one of the several that came up from the Poughkeepsie area. Ella Polumbo (Our Lady of Lourdes/Exodus Northstar 2029) made the most of some late touches & got into a rhythm as her Horns 3×3 segment drew to a close. The 6 footer showed flashes of back-to-basket ability from the low block & face-up work from the elbow, including maybe the most eye-catching singular play on her court with a pivot from the mid-post, setup dribble into a middle cross to her left & extended finish on the other side of the rim. Young with legitimate size & flashes of next-level ability in a controlled half-court setting – quick view in this segment, but more than enough to make sure I’m locked into her going forward.

As time went by in the opening segment of Horns 3×3, Rosilee Forrest (Maple Hill/NY Havoc 2027) quietly made more & more of an impact. The wiry 5’10” face-up forward wasn’t heavy on the offensive highlights per se, but she was the most productive player on her court when all was said & done, which shows a ‘right place, right time’ tendency and ability to finish effectively with her opportunities. Rosie took advantage of straight-line right hand drive opportunities & finished well going that way, got herself into offensive rebounding areas when no one found the body, and flashed perimeter spot shooting ability with a kick-out left wing 19 footer. In addition, she was maybe the most effective rim protector at either basket in this segment with blocks as the primary defender & slidiing over in help.

And a couple more quick notes from the first round of Horns 3×3 viewing:

• Raelyn Woodward (Troy (PA)/Trojan Hoops 2028): athleticism that probably shines more in full-court 5v5 play, but she did just fine settling in & making some plays in the controlled 3×3 half-court setting too… reasonable wing size & next-level athletic ability… Horns unfortunately meant ‘let’s just set double high ball screens all day’ for most in this group, but Raelyn showed arguably the best off-ball awareness & instincts with willingness to mix it up, flip ball screens into flares & different actions to make the defense react in non-robotic ways… didn’t look for hers much but did hit a three with space – it’s there… intriguing tools to build on
• Izzy Renzi (Troy (PA)/Trojan Hoops 2029): like Raelyn above, an EST event first-timer and picked her spots well to produce & be effective in this action-based 3×3 segment… decent size at the off-guard spot at 5’7″ & athletic frame/tools… one of the most potent shooters in this group, took the right ones & hit nearly all of them (3 threes), and not just simple spot shots as she canned one on the move going to her right off a handoff as well… quick view but more than held her own as one of the court’s younger players