City of Basketball Love

Andrew Robinson (@ADrobinson3)
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ATLANTIC CITY >> While “shore season” may truly start in earnest over the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, Atlantic City was still pretty lively this past weekend as the Select Events Atlantic City Showcase brought in plenty of talent for the live recruiting period.

Division I coaches and more were able to find space courtside to watch a wide mix of teams from the GUAA, HGSL, P24, S40 and other circuits compete. There was no shortage of skill on display across the 30-plus courts over the three-day event.

Here’s who stood out in games watched on Saturday and Sunday at the AC Convention Center:

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Select Events Atlantic City Coverage
Standouts | Notebook Pt. 1 | Notebook Pt. 2 | Notebook Pt. 3 

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Quinn Boettinger (2025 | Comets GUAA 17U)
Boettinger was a key player as the Comets erased a 13-point halftime deficit in their Sunday win over Team Northeast. The Perk Valley forward authored a strong second half on her way to 17 points, six rebounds and five assists, playing the facilitator role early then using her presence on the glass to generate offense in the second half. Boettinger was especially effective on the offensive glass with four second chance rebounds and she played strong against a physical Team Northeast front line.

Brooke Benz (2026 | Team Saints 16U)
Benz was all but unstoppable against PA Royals on Saturday morning. The 5-foot-9 forward, who plays for Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire, nearly had a double-double at halftime and finished a 40-37 win with 16 points, 13 rebounds, an assist and a block. She was relentless on the glass at both ends with five offensive boards, converted some tough finishes and went downhill to the basket with purpose, adeptly using her physicality to create space.

Alexis Eberz (2026 | Comets GUAA 16U)
Talk about an encore. After turning in a strong outing with nine points, seven rebounds and six assists in her 16U team’s win over the NJ Shoreshots on Sunday, Eberz walked down a few rows of courts, hopped in with the shorthanded Comets 17Us  against Team Northeast and didn’t miss a beat with four points, six rebounds and five helpers. The Archbishop Carroll wing did a little bit of everything with scoring, rebounding, passing and defending. Her passing in particular really stood out in both games, Eberz throwing a gem of a corner-to-corner pass for a three in her first game and a great bounce pass in transition to Erica Gribble - who also pulled double duty - in the second game.

Emily Knouse (2025 | Comets GUAA 17U)
With her future coach sitting on the baseline, Knouse put on a show in the Comet’s comeback win over Team Northeast. The St. Joe’s commit went off for 21 points on seven made threes, at least one with a hand in her face and the last from a logo sticker way out on the wing, never cooling off from deep while also not staying glued to the perimeter. On top of the dazzling shooting, Hawks coach Cindy Griffin got to see Knouse dish out three crisp assists and snare a few boards in a complete effort.

Zoe Mesuch (2025 | Team Northeast 17U)
For a while in Sunday’s game against the Comets GUAA 17U side, it seemed like everything Mesuch put up was going in. The 5-foot-5 guard from Wallkill High School in New York was blistering from long range with four made threes as part of her 16 points. She doesn’t need a lot of time or space to put up a shot and Mesuch’s speed was an asset when the guard grabbed a rebound, zipped down the floor and drew an and-one finish. Mesuch, a Navy recruit, went up against future teammate Quinn Boettinger in the matchup.

Grace Nasr (2027 | Comets GUAA 15U)
Nasr continues to establish herself as a major presence inside, the 6-foot-3 Notre Dame forward setting the tone for the Comets in a win over the Runnin’ Rebels on Saturday afternoon. With 15 points, five rebounds and three blocks, Nasr made the interior a no-go zone which allowed her teammates on the perimeter to ramp up their pressure. Nasr also showed some of her growing offensive game, hitting a long two, a midrange jumper and also working her way inside for a couple scores.

Regan Przepioski (2027 | Mid-Atlantic Magic 15U)
Przepioski brought plenty of toughness to the Magic’s tight win over the WPA Bruins’ 15U GUAA team Saturday afternoon. The Archbishop Wood forward was tough on the glass against a quick and athletic Bruins side, grabbing seven rebounds with three coming on the offensive end. Przepioski had a nice take, driving into the lane, spinning and finishing at the rim and powering up for a putback. The 5-foot-10 forward didn’t get a chance to show it in that game, but she’s also a reliable jump shooter and figures to see an increased role at Wood the next three years.

Julia Scott (2026 | Empire State Blue Flames 17U)
Scott is certainly a presence on the interior for the NY-based organization, even if she’s not blocking a shot, the 6-foot-3 post is likely altering it. Playing against a Lady Runnin’ Rebels White team that doesn’t lack height either on Sunday morning, the Albertus Magnus (N.Y.) product had eight rebounds and did record two blocks with the second leading to an outlet pass that created a layup. Scott also tallied up 11 points, drawing three trips to the foul line and using a solid spin move inside for a paint basket.

Lailah Wright (2027 | Western PA Bruins GUAA 15U)
Despite a loss, the South Fayette guard was an absolute menace against the Mid-Atlantic Magic in a tight game Saturday afternoon. Wright’s quickness made her a threat the entire length of the floor, the 5-foot-7 South Fayette guard turning three steals into immediate layups as part of a 16-point outing. She also rebounded aggressively and showed good control and poise slicing to the rim and finishing around defenders.

Natalie Wright (2025 | Runnin Rebels Red 17U)
Wright just has a knack for being around the ball. The Haverford High forward is probably going to be good for at least a few scores, some rebounds, a couple assists and some defensive plays but it’s the way Wright does it that stands out. From quickly capitalizing to cause a tie-up, throwing a hand out to deflect a pass or just being willing to get in and battle on the glass, the 5-foot-10 Wright bought her team some extra possessions in a win over CT Spirit on Saturday morning.

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Honorable Mention
Ava Aldarelli (2025 | AUF Lady Hawks Narozniak 17U), Leah Buford (2027 | Western PA Bruins GUAA 15U), Kourin Carew (2025 | Penn Fever 17U) Sydney Cassidy (2025 | CT Spirit 17U), Nicholle Green (2025 | Philly Belles - Gumbs 17U), Erica Gribble (2026 | Comets GUAA 16U), Abby Grillo (2025 | Comets Select 17U), Emerson Gunther (2026 | PA Royals 16U), Shania Howard (Connecticut Basketball Club - New Haven 17U), Ryann Jennings (2026 | Comets GUAA 16U), Hayley Kolk (2027 | Mid-Atlantic Magic 15U), Tessa Liggio (2026 | NJ Shoreshots Liggio 16U), Claire McKee (2027 | Runnin Rebels National 15U), Abbie McFillin (2027 | Comets GUAA 15U), Kathryn O’Kane (2025 | Heat Hoops 17U), Janie Preston (2025 | Lady Runnin Rebels White 17U), Kareena Preuss (2025 | Runnin Rebels Red 17U), Kaila Richards (2025 | Team Northeast 17U), Brooke Stagliano (2027 | Comets GUAA 15U), Kate Stephens (2025 | Team Saints 16U), Madelyn Topa (2025 | Connecticut Basketball Club - New Haven 17U), Kaiya Rain Tucker (2025 | Team Northeast 17U)