2025 Western PA Bruins Spring Tip-Off: A Chance to Check in with Prior-Recognized Talent and Discover New Ones!
2027 Micah Ojo of YKS P24. She is one of the cream of the crop in her class.
These players impressed in one or more viewings.
April 25, 2025
Held April 18-20, 2025, at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh, PA, the 2025 Western PA Bruins Spring Tip-Off saw 299 club teams with divisions ranging from 11th grade down to 4th grade do battle on 28 courts brought in for the event. As it was Easter weekend, teams had the option of playing Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday. Most teams played twice on each of those days. In its 11th year (5th at the Convention Center), the event was presented by the Western PA Bruins (a club that has been in existence for decades) and sponsored by Sports Pittsburgh and the Sports and Exhibition Authority of Alleghany County.
Rosters please!
The event organizers tried to get teams to submit them, but too many club administrators see this as a low priority with NCAA Division 1 coaches not present. Most (but not all) got them to me if I requested. According to event organizers, a total of 74 college coaches (66 NCAA Division 2 and 8 NCAA Division 3) and 22 media reps (3 McDonald’s All-American voters) attended one or more days of the event (four pre-set games for Divisions 9th grade and above with mini-tournament format for the younger divisions.
Inter-circuit matchups in play here
At this event we had several of the all-too-rare meetings between teams from different club circuits. The past two years had seen a relative explosion in inter-circuit meetings thanks to the NCAA Basketball Academy event (last held in Rock Hill, SC, in late July 2024). The event is not being held this year, most likely due to cost (all players, coaches plus one parent/guardian had all expenses covered) and many NCAA Division 1 college coaches feel there is enough “live” viewing without this. Also, a number of club coaches felt by latter July their players were weary due to all the activity in the last six weeks (high school live period plus July club events).
NIKE EYBL Team Takeover 17U 68-60 FBC United 17U GUAA
This was a meeting of relative giants of the club world. As to the game, there was ample star power on both sides. Team Takeover was led by DC Gatorade and MaxPreps Player-of-the-Year Jordyn Jackson with 26 points (including six triples). Tennessee MaxPreps Player-of-the-Year Kimora Fields (Clemson commit) led the FBC squad with 16 points. Tied at 30 at half, the difference in the game was turnovers (22 for FBC to just 8 for Takeover) giving Takeover some cheap points along with Jackson’s fine shooting at distance. As it turns out, these teams have made a point of meeting annually with FBC taking the prior two meetings. Wish we had more club directors promoting such quality inter-circuit matchups!
Below are some of the players who showed out in a noteworthy fashion in at least one game. Listing is alphabetical by class with listed height, position, club team (school in parenthesis as available). All players listed below will or are likely to be recruited at the mid-major NCAA Division 1 level or higher.
2026
Kelsi Andrews, 6-3, center, FBC United 17U, (IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida)
After having both knees undergo ACL surgeries and one or more related medical setbacks, Andrews looked well moving around with no knee braces. Strongly built, she is a force around the rim with occasional settling for three-balls (not yet a strength).
Joslyn Bricker, 5-9, guard, West Virginia Thunder 2026 Riego (Warsaw [Indiana] High School)
Bricker combines nice variety (some drive, some three) of offense with an understanding of what is an appropriate shot for the moment. She helped get her high school team to the Indiana 4A Final this past season.
Kimora Fields, 6-0, power forward, FBC United 17U (Bradley Central High School, Cleveland, Tennessee)
Recently committed to Clemson, Fields has added the three-ball to what had previously been a score-in-the-paint (still her main thing offensively). She helped her high school team to winning back-to-back-to back Tennessee state high school titles.
Jordyn Jackson, 6-2, guard/forward, Team Takeover 2026 17U EYBL (Sidwell Friends School, Washington, DC)
Ranked #8 by ESPN HoopGurlz in 2026, Jackson combines great size/above average athleticism with ability to shoot both the three and the mid-range pull-up. She won multiple DC Player-of-the-Year awards this spring.
2026 Ashlinn James will benefit from her move to the WV Thunder Riego squad.
Ashlinn James, 5-8, point guard, West Virginia Thunder 2026 Riego (Assumption High School, Louisville, Kentucky)
Orally committed to Indiana, James is a point guard who combines above average athleticism with above average basketball IQ and court vision. Primarily a drive as her first scoring option, she can shoot the three but that are probably needs to become more consistent.
Makayla Presser-Palmer, 5-11, small forward, Western PA Bruins 2026 UAA (Northwestern High School, Albion, Pennsylvania)
Above average athletically, Presser-Palmer can attack the basket off the bounce. Perimeter shooting improvement would raise her stock.
Ja’kyah Smith, 5-8, guard, FBC United We Trust 17U (Bob Jones High School, Madison, Alabama)
Smith is an above average athlete with ‘ups’. She can attack the rim and is one reason why her high school team should again be one of the best in Alabama next year.
2026 Mimi Thiero of PA has massive potential.
Mimi Thiero, 6-4, forward, SLAAM 2026 Woodson (Quaker Valley High School, Leetsdale, Pennsylvania)
From my knowledge, Thiero is the closest “package” to WNBA star DeWanna Bonner since Bonner. Thiero is a rim protector on D and looks to score via three-ball or mid-range pull-up. Using her height in the paint to rebound is the area needing greatest improvement. Embracing physicality more greatly would really add to her game.
2027
Kyndoll “KJ” English, 6-2, center, FBC United New Youngunz 16U (Grace Christian Academy, Sanford, North Carolina)
English is very typical of posts you find at the P4 or just below that in the G5 ranks of schools. Strongly built with good hands, she is able to compete against most post players in the lower paint.
Zaniya Johnson, 6-3, center, FBC United We Trust 16U (Biloxi [Mississippi] High School)
Johnson is physically strong and yet quite mobile. She is considered one of the top post prospects in the 2027 class.
Nyair McCoy, 5-5, point guard, Team Takeover 2026 17U EYBL (Bishop McNamara High School, Forestville, Maryland)
McCoy is small and like so many point guards could shoot it better at times. Regardless, her quickness on defense can really be a factor as it was in her team’s win over FBC United 17U described above.
Sydney Mobley, 6-2, power forward, West Virginia Thunder 2026 GUAA Johnson (Big Walnut High School, Sunbury, Ohio)
Mobley combines power with mobility and range more so than a lot of players with her body type. She is often mentioned as the best prospect in Ohio’s 2027 class.
Micah Ojo, 6-1, guard/forward, YKS 2026 17u (P24), (Princess Anne High School, Virginia Beach, Virginia)
A scout asked me where Ojo played on her team? I answered “Ojo is everywhere!” She has skills to play on the perimeter and height/toughness enough to go inside. In a 78-63 loss to FBC United 17U, Ojo was the best player on the court, unofficially posting 28 points. FBC probably had the next six top players on the court!
Coral Prosser, 5-8, guard, SLAAM 2026 Woodson (Berlin Brothersvalley High School, Berlin, Pennsylvania)
Prosser was a totally new name to me coming into the event. Playing up a year with offers from the majors down, she showed good versatility, able to score at all three levels. She led her high school team to the PIAA AA title. Interestingly, her mother is the coach with her freshman sister also a starter.
Sydney Savoury, 5-11, small forward, Michigan Crossover 17U EYBL (Belleville [Michigan] High School)
Savoury won multiple Michigan player-of-the-year awards while leading her high school to a state title. More well-skilled than super-athletic, she reads the defense well knowing when to attack the rim. She also has perimeter stroke.
Ashanti Taylor, 5-11, guard, HER Elite 17U EYCL (Porter Ridge High School, Indian Trail, North Carolina)
Able to play multiple guards slots, Taylor has offers from the major D1 level down. More slasher than perimeter shooter, Taylor finishes well against contact.
Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka, 6-2, forward, West Virginia Thunder 2026 GUAA Johnson (Bullis School, Potomac, Maryland)
Currently ranked #2 by HoopGurlz for 2027, this player has a well-rounded offensive package with power and finesse. Yes, her name is hyphenated (having seen it both ways online).
2028
2028 Janaya Cooper has created a nice buzz for herself.
Janaya Cooper, 5-11, shooting guard, Always 100 Elite 2028 3SSB (Snider High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Sometimes, you go to see one promising player and come away more impressed by a player you were not there to see. I had seen Cooper briefly while watching several Indiana playoff games online. I was even more impressed by live viewing. She is already filled out as a freshman, above average athletically, able to score from behind the arc or attack the rim. She was also willing to share the ball as appropriate. Word in the building is that high major offers are now headed her way. Not surprising from what I saw in Pittsburgh!
Jakaila Gaskin, 6-3, power forward, FBC United We Trust 17U (Cannon School, Concord, North Carolina)
Gaskin has had rep as one of the best post players in the 2028 class able to score in more ways than just catching and laying the ball up near the rim. She has been dealing with injuries this season but appeared good to go in this event.
Janiyah Hargrave, 5-9, guard, FBC United We Trust 16U (Fairmont High School, Kettering, Ohio)
On a team loaded with quality athletes, she was one of them demonstrating an ability to attack the rim but also showed a nice midrange jumper! Likely a future major D1 player!
Lauryn Loritts, 5-10, guard/forward, West Virginia Thunder 2028 15U GUAA – Epps (Catholic High School, Virginia Beach, Virginia)
A long lanky lefty with a major D1 upside, Loritts can attack the opponent going left or right. Building shooting range may be something to work on.
Delaney Noll, 5-9, guard, West Virginia Thunder 2028 15U GUAA – Riego (Homestead High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Noll appears to be a driver looking to go right. What impressed most was her ability to see the gaps knowing when a path to the rim was really there. She is one reason why scouts in Indiana think Homestead will be one of the best in the state next year.
2029
Trinity Finnie, 5-4, point guard, Western PA Bruins 8th Grade Future (John F. Kennedy Middle School, Warren, Ohio)
Finnie has enough skills (dribble, body control attacking, court vision) to get one’s attention. How she fills out and at what final height may be key factors as to how high she will be recruited. Bidding starts at mid-D1 and could easily move higher!
McKenzie White, 6-1, center, Always 100 Elite 2028 3SSB (Snider High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana)
White has good hands and strong build with scoring currently near the rim. Word in the building is that she will join Janaya Cooper at Fort Wayne Snider making them a state contender in the years ahead.