Staszewski: Blue Chip USA Invitational player breakdowns

11:58 PM, July 10, 2011 ι By JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Summer time is when we high school reporters turn from collectors of stats, times and point totals into evaluators of sorts.

While college coaches sit across and sometimes next to us at AAU events they are trying to figure out if a particular player will be a good fit for their team and their conference. As a reporter you also find yourself caring a bit less about what a particular player does, but how they do and how they have improved.

This week my colleague Marc Raimondi and I had the pleasure of watching some of the top city-based girls basketball travel teams at the Blue Chip USA Invitational tournament at Penn State. Those included Positive Direction, NYC Heat, NYC Lady Warriors and Baseline among others.

Here I take my shot at breaking down some of the top players I got to watch.

F 5-10 Kelsey Carey, St. Joseph Hill (NYC Heat White 2013)

This is the rising junior's first season with the Heat and playing against travel ball competition of this level, something she is thoroughly enjoying. Carey has been asked to play away from the basket more and her comfort level is growing. She is always going to be a force on the boards, is becoming a threat in transition and is a superb passer.

G 5-6 Amanni Fernandez, Christ the King (Lady Warriors DeLuca 2013)

Christ the King fans should be pretty excited about what she can bring. Fernandez’s speed, strength and athletic ability can make the rising junior the motor of its offense. There isn’t anything she can’t do physically – rebound, score, defend and run a team. She is tough as nails and even added a game-winning jumper to her resume for the NYC Lady Warriors. If her mental understanding of the game continues to improve she can really develop into a dynamic point guard.

F 5-10 Elisabeth Gully, Mary Louis (Positive Direction 2012)

The Hilltoppers' rising senior was certainly the most improved city big girl. She lost 40 pounds since December and added important nuances to her games. Gully was consistently knocking down the mid-range jump shot, taking the ball strong to the basket and running the floor effectively for Positive Direction.

G 5-7 Brittany McDonough, Leon Goldstein (Coaches Choice USA Brooklyn 2012)

Division II schools are starting to fall in love with the lanky, athletic guard. She is arguably the city’s best passer and creator and showed that all week, carrying Coaches Choice USA Brooklyn at times. McDonough can score with the jumper or by attacking the basket. Doing all of it against more athletic competition seems be all that’s left for her to prove.

G 5-4 Joya McFarland, Kennedy (CAS Douglass Panthers 2012)

The loquacious guard may have been the most improved player out of the city girls in the tournament. The rising senior has always been known as one one of the city’s best shooters and that sure hasn’t changed. But this week she was taking the ball to the basket and finishing without hesitation and showed a better handle playing with the CAS Douglass Panthers. A big season could be ahead.

G 5-7 Jasmine Nwajei, Mary Louis (Positive Direction 2013)

Nwajei's scoring ability has never been in question. The rising junior is a streak shooter who can get to the basket at will. Where he needed to improve was her decision-making, passing and ability to make the players around her better. She put all of them on display at Penn State for Positive Direction. She made smart passes out of double teams and drives to the paint weren’t just meant to score, but to dish to open teammates.

G 5-8 Christina Rubin, Moore Catholic (NYC Heat White 2012)

It’s all about confidence for this Staten Islander. When the rising senior gets going she can take over a game with her outside shooting touch, but sometimes needs encouragement to let it fly when she is struggling. Rubin will always bring an effort on the defensive end and has shown improvement in her ball-handling skills. She has taken the initiative at times when it comes to wanting to bring up the ball for the Heat.

Quick hits: Moore Catholic guard Jamie O’Hare (NYC Heat White 2012) had one of the highlights of the week. She spun on a defender after grabbing a rebound and fired a one-handed pass while dribbling at full speed to Katie Poppe for a layup in transition. … Poppe of Holy Trinity really impressed by using her length to get in the passing lanes, along with her scoring ability. … Banneker guard Jenipher Rodriguez (Baseline 2012) has an endless motor. … TMLA star Rena Mohamed continues to be Positive Direction’s most consistent player and is growing into an on-court leader… Lincoln’s Erica Juarbe (Coaches Choice USA Brooklyn 2012) is still rough around the edges, but her athletic ability is tough to match.

jstaszewski@nypost.com