BlueStar 30 2025: Solid as usual!
2029’s Bella Swisshelm, Carib Morris, Makenzie Jackson, Tamaiah Gary, Eyani Mills, and Khloe Ison.
The Bluestar 30 Camp is a Grassroots Staple in August.
August 14, 2025
Held August 8-10, 2025, at The Beal Center (named for NBA player Bradley Beal) in Chesterfield, Missouri (just west of St. Louis), the 10th Annual BlueStar 30 saw 39 players (mostly class of 2029 and a few from the class of 2030) train, be instructed and compete over the three days. All but a few are likely to receive major division 1 offers. Attendance was strictly by invitation but did have a couple of campers (see below) ‘graduate’ from the much larger BlueStar All-American Camp (approximately 110 players) which was running concurrently. While this article will concentrate on BlueStar 30, the feeling of scouts and media in the facility was that the All-American camp was considerably younger than in recent years with player as young as the class of 2033 (rising 5th graders). Several of the very young BlueStar All-America campers could easily be invited to BlueStar 30 in future years.
Why attend BlueStar 30?
As a player, you will learn something, make new friends, and measure yourself versus the best of your peers (here primarily the class of 2029). So many of the top players in middle school (particularly rising freshmen and rising eighth graders) are already ‘under contract’ and are expecting everything they do in club ball to be paid for. BlueStar 30 has no admission fee to its invited campers but lodging and transport to and from the camp are not covered. With over forty years of involvement in girls’ basketball, I would say this is one of the camps more than worth the expenses of travel and lodging. If you get invited and uncertain about attending, reach out to those who attended in the past before saying ‘no.’ I have never heard of a player who was sorry that they attended. However, if you do decide not to come, please respond to the invitation so another player can take the slot. Sadly, in today’s world, such an automatic courtesy of the past has become mostly lost.
Much work to find the players
I must salute Event Director Chris Mennig and his assistant Travis Ponton for finding the high quality of middle school players year after year. While some players may rush at them, so many of the future invitees have to be found by attending events on the various club circuits. Given it is mostly a new group each year and as is said above, a number of the ‘under contract’ middle schoolers decline, it is truly an accomplishment the event can maintain its high-quality year after year. This year’s event had a bit more size (6-1 and taller) than last year.
What goes on…
Over the three days, there are drills/skill work, 1x1 competition, 3x3 games, lectures/discussions and of course 5x5 play. The camp started with one session from 4:30pm on Friday, two sessions on Saturday and two sessions on Sunday wrapping up at 2:30pm.
My few parting thoughts to the players and parents
Event Director Chris Mennig was kind enough to give me a few minutes to talk to the BlueStar 30 campers and parents on Sunday.
First, I told them that if their coaches thought they had progressed enough they need to be registered with USA Basketball in Colorado Springs for possible inclusion in the 2027 minicamp or direct entry for the U16 tryouts in May, 2027. USA Basketball (at least on the girls’ side) has a small staff and players worthy of tryout consideration are often missed at the younger ages. Registering is the best way to gain inclusion.
Second, I told them to watch live or in YouTube archive the quality action from Overtime Select held over the first three weekends in Atlanta. Hopefully, some of them will be part of that in the future.
Finally, before asking players mentioned below to step forward, I told the group they should all get Division 1 offers (many already had) and it was a tough call which players to feature. All have bright futures and should look at the weekend as more of a start than end of a long journey where there will be bumps somewhere down the road.
Three promotions from the All-American Camp
On Sunday, two players who started in the All-American camp were impressive enough to ‘graduate’ to BlueStar 30 and they are noted just below. Also, one 2028 player from that camp stood out so much on Friday, she too was brought over earlier. I was told this was the first time that had been done.
All below are be listed alphabetically within class with listed height (at this age sometimes it is more ‘projected’ height) and position. Club team and circuit of this summer and anticipated high school and state in parenthesis.
2028
Janaya Cooper, 5-11, guard (IN- Always 100 [3SSB]; Snider High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Early on, Cooper was spotted in the BlueStar All-American camp as the most dominant player present. Having missed BlueStar 30 last year, it was decided to bring her over to compete in ‘30’ this year. She did not disappoint showing an athletic and skilled all-around game and was one of the top performers. A likely top 40 player in the 2028 class, do not be surprised to see her in Overtime Select in the next two years.
2029
Nina McEldon, 6-2, forward (VA-Team Takeover [EYBL]. Bishop Ireton, Alexandria, Virginia)
A “bring-over” on Sunday, McEldon showed an ability to play on the perimeter with a powerful but mobile frame.
2030
Kimora Wynn, 5-9, guard (GA-HER Elite [EYCL]; Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, Atlanta, Georgia)
Another Sunday “bring-over,” Wynn is still developing physically but shows an above average basketball IQ and an ability to get to the rim.
The following 10 players stood out from the rest in BlueStar 30 be it not always by a great amount. Listed are six of the class of 2029 and then four from the 2030 class.
2029
Tamaiah Gary, 6-2, power forward (NV- Vegas Elite Basketball Club [EYCL]; ABC Prep, Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Strongly built, Gary is very mobile for her build, can score by posting up but also hit from mid-range further up the key.
Khloe Ison, 5-4, point guard (MD- Team Durant [EYBL]; St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Maryland)
Ison is a small (quicker than average), crafty point guard with good handles. She plays hard and is a vocal leader.
Makenzie Jackson, 6-2, forward (TX-Cyfair Elite [EYBL]; Cypress Springs High School, Cypress, Texas)
Jackson is a strong, athletic penetrator getting to the rim or passing off along the way. Her perimeter shot needs to become more consistent.
Eyani Mills, 6-1, forward (FBC United [GUAA]; Liberty North High School, Liberty, Missouri)
Mills is the ‘full package’ with ability to get her agile frame to the rim. Her perimeter stroke also has to be respected.
Carib Morris, 6-2, small forward (GA-FBC United [GUAA]; South Forsyth High School, Cumming, Georgia)
Morris had a strong performance at the camp winning the three-point contest (her specialty) and was part of the winning 3x3 team. Her ability to shoot the three as a tall player has her high on the radar of major D1 schools. Improvement in attacking the basket off the bounce is an area that could add to her stock.
Bella Swisshelm, 5-11, guard (OH-Legends U McKey [Power 24]; West Clermont High School, Batavia, Ohio)
What makes Swisshelm special is her ability to attack going left or right about equally well although she shoots the perimeter shots lefthanded, generally taking what the defense is giving.
2030’s Aubrey Bush, Emma Powell, Tiffany Moore, and Claire Stoops
2030
Aubrey Bush, 5-3, point guard (GA- FBC United [GUAA]; Baylor School of Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Bush is very small but very talented. Her skills are very advanced in that she can score at all three levels. Like many talented young players, at times she tries to do too much. At present, growth is number one priority.
2030 Aubrey Bush is a shifty young PG. Photo Courtesy of Juan Cabral/United 42 Studios.
Tiffany Moore, 6-4, center (NC-CP3 Flames [EYBL]; River Road Middle School, Elizabeth City, North Carolina)
Moore is tall, strong, physical and mobile. She can face up further up the key or use her good hands to score down low.
Emma Powell, 5-11, small forward (CA-Sports Academy Swish [EYBL]; Windward School, Los Angeles, California)
Powell is a long, fluid athlete with medium-solid build and good “ups.” She can go hard to the rim with a perimeter stroke that needs to be respected. With a good basketball IQ, she seems to know when to shoot what. Her team won the camp 5x5 title.
Claire Stoops, 5-9, guard (IN- Indiana Basketball Club [3SSB]; Zionsville West Middle School, Zionsville, Indiana)
Stoops is the only returning player from last year’s BlueStar 30 when she was a Sunday “bring-over.” A lefty with a scorer’s instinct, driving and mid-range pull-up appear to be options one and two as the situation dictates. Liking to go strongly left, improving attacking to the right would make her harder to guard.
2030 Claire Stoops is skilled and confident. Photo Courtesy of Juan Cabral/United 42 Studios.