Cal Stars Nike EYBL won its second straight End of the Trail title in dominating throughout the event.
Teams seen during the End of the Trail through the live stream service were the Cal Stars Nike EYBL, San Jose Cagers Blue, Orinda Magic Black and West Valley Basketball Club.
Heleyna Hill 5-foot-6 G Mitty (San Jose Cagers Blue): Hill played off the ball much of the night for the Cagers in a loss to the Spokane Stars in the bracket finals. The 2016 guard was in constant attack mode and handles the ball well in traffic. She draws good contact and has a good first step. She came into the month ranked No. 26.
Elle Louie 5-foot-11 SF Miramonte (Cal Stars Nike EYBL): Louie can get lost in the shuffle from this year’s edition of the Cal Stars and the NorCal champion Matadors, but her game continues to improve. She has nice size for the position, can stretch the floor to the three point line and makes good reads in transition. Louie came into the month ranked No. 17 in the 2017 class.
Lesila Finau 5-foot-10 SG Dublin (Orinda Magic Black): No. 10 in the 2018 class, Finau didn’t have that kind of impact in a final four loss on Thursday at End of the Trail. She sees the floor very well, makes passes to lead teammates into successful spots and can create some off the dribble. However, she can get too passive at times and her outside shot could be more consistent.
Ariel Johnson 5-foot-9 G St. Mary’s-Stockton (Cal Stars EYBL): More of an off guard than point guard, Johnson’s motor and explosion allow her to impact the game on both ends. She has a good first step off the bounce and can finish against contact. Defensively, she pressures the ball well and takes smart chances in the Stars’ pressure. Johnson is the second highest rated guard in the 2018 class behind West Campus’ Kiara Jefferson.
Lizzie Moore 6-foot-4 Post Valley Christian-San Jose (West Valley Basketball): Moore, ranked No. 20 in the 2018 class, has improved her agility over the last year and showed a knack for drawing contact and getting to the line on Thursday. She has good hands and will grow as a post option as she fights more for early position. Moore can face up a little bit and adds more post depth in the rising junior group, that has five players in the Top 20.
Karisma Ortiz 6-foot-0 W Mitty (San Jose Cagers): Ortiz was known heading into her junior year, but has steadily moved up the 2018 pecking order. She can get a team into good offensive looks, has some quickness as a dribbler and knocked down a couple of jumpers on Thursday night. Ortiz has good size with early offers already in tow.
Angel Jackson 6-foot-5 Post Salesian (Orinda Magic Black): The 2019 standout struggled some in a loss to NS Swarm I on Thursday. Her best skill is shot blocking as an on ball defender or coming from a help position, and that showed through. She has progressed well as an offensive threat, but can get passive against contact and lost a number of 50-50 rebounds against smaller players. Despite an up and down game, Jackson remains one of the best rising sophomores in the region.
Teams seen during the End of the Trail through the live stream service were the Cal Stars Nike EYBL, San Jose Cagers Blue, Orinda Magic Black and West Valley Basketball Club.
Heleyna Hill 5-foot-6 G Mitty (San Jose Cagers Blue): Hill played off the ball much of the night for the Cagers in a loss to the Spokane Stars in the bracket finals. The 2016 guard was in constant attack mode and handles the ball well in traffic. She draws good contact and has a good first step. She came into the month ranked No. 26.
Elle Louie 5-foot-11 SF Miramonte (Cal Stars Nike EYBL): Louie can get lost in the shuffle from this year’s edition of the Cal Stars and the NorCal champion Matadors, but her game continues to improve. She has nice size for the position, can stretch the floor to the three point line and makes good reads in transition. Louie came into the month ranked No. 17 in the 2017 class.
Lesila Finau 5-foot-10 SG Dublin (Orinda Magic Black): No. 10 in the 2018 class, Finau didn’t have that kind of impact in a final four loss on Thursday at End of the Trail. She sees the floor very well, makes passes to lead teammates into successful spots and can create some off the dribble. However, she can get too passive at times and her outside shot could be more consistent.
Ariel Johnson 5-foot-9 G St. Mary’s-Stockton (Cal Stars EYBL): More of an off guard than point guard, Johnson’s motor and explosion allow her to impact the game on both ends. She has a good first step off the bounce and can finish against contact. Defensively, she pressures the ball well and takes smart chances in the Stars’ pressure. Johnson is the second highest rated guard in the 2018 class behind West Campus’ Kiara Jefferson.
Lizzie Moore 6-foot-4 Post Valley Christian-San Jose (West Valley Basketball): Moore, ranked No. 20 in the 2018 class, has improved her agility over the last year and showed a knack for drawing contact and getting to the line on Thursday. She has good hands and will grow as a post option as she fights more for early position. Moore can face up a little bit and adds more post depth in the rising junior group, that has five players in the Top 20.
Karisma Ortiz 6-foot-0 W Mitty (San Jose Cagers): Ortiz was known heading into her junior year, but has steadily moved up the 2018 pecking order. She can get a team into good offensive looks, has some quickness as a dribbler and knocked down a couple of jumpers on Thursday night. Ortiz has good size with early offers already in tow.
Angel Jackson 6-foot-5 Post Salesian (Orinda Magic Black): The 2019 standout struggled some in a loss to NS Swarm I on Thursday. Her best skill is shot blocking as an on ball defender or coming from a help position, and that showed through. She has progressed well as an offensive threat, but can get passive against contact and lost a number of 50-50 rebounds against smaller players. Despite an up and down game, Jackson remains one of the best rising sophomores in the region.
