ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Atlantic City showcase is behind us, establishing another important data point for the Class of 2027.
Several of the region's best seized the weekend and shined either on their 16U squads or playing up a year. With college coaches from Division 1 to Division 3 levels swarming the courts, this live period weekend represented a major opportunity to either assert or cement status on scouting radars — and judging by some offers being announced already, some prospects did it.
I checked in at approximately 27 different matchups throughout the weekend. A reminder that while I did my best to watch full games when I could, the sheer volume of teams on my internal schedule forced me to split my time on occasion. I also couldn't get to every New England squad (BCRI and CT Northstars, for example, had great weekends I missed).
That being said, I've got plenty of thoughts on the 2027 class. Here are 10 standouts listed alphabetically by team, and whether they're a future high-major or Division 3 talent, if they played well in front of me, I have them here.
MORE AC STANDOUTS: Class of 2026 | Class of 2028
Zariah Ottley, Bay State Jaguars 2026 UAA
5-7 guard
Northfield Mount Hermon/Rockland, Mass.
The Jags ran specific plays to get Ottley, their point guard, low-post touches. That's how unique and strong Ottley is. She converted a few times on short turnaround jumpers near the rim, and she added a bucket after sealing her defender and catching a great high-low pass from Shannon Welburn (more on her momentarily). Ottley still stands out playing up a year on this stage because her processing speed is so high. She added some nice passes out of drives; I liked one in particular where she rejected a ball screen that caught her defender off guard, attacked hard and made the right corner kick-out read, though the 3-pointer didn't fall.
Shannon Welburn, Bay State Jaguars 2026 UAA
5-8 guard
Newman/Wellesley, Mass.
Welburn came off the bench and gave the 2026 Jags some much-needed energy in what was ultimately a 53-41 loss to Team Northeast on Sunday. Her shooting form is a little funky; she brings the ball up from pretty low around her body and launches it out from her chest. But it clearly works, as Welburn knocked down a couple of quick 3s off the catch and added a pull-up mid-range 2 coming around a screen. She's a high-motor defender and rebounder who picked up an impressive block guarding a post player. I also liked Welburn's work as a team defender in help, and she picked up a steal intercepting a pass in the Jags' press.
Gracyn Barnes, Bay State Jaguars 2027 UAA
5-6 guard
Worcester Academy/Grafton, Mass.
I'd consider Barnes one of the breakout stars from this weekend. She's a smaller, quick-twitch point guard who competes on both sides of the ball. I loved watching her point-of-attack defense, highlighted by great lateral movement and active hands that swiped a bunch of steals. Barnes ripped one away and took it coast-to-coast for a tough finish Sunday in a blowout win against the Albany Lady Stars. Her offense was even better earlier on Friday against Team Sharp. Barnes had a sweet drive where she stopped on a dime for a short turnaround jumper, split a ball screen defense to make a floater and added an and-1 layup. She also spotted up for one 3-point make.
WHAT’S IN AN OFFER? Here’s what verbal offers actually mean
Alannah Baehr, Connecticut Basketball Club (New Haven)
6-1 guard/forward
Suffield/Colchester, Conn.
Baehr showed off her rare intersection of length, handle and touch in Saturday's 53-48 win over WeR1 Lady Sharks. She hit several contested runners, hook shots and pull-up jumpers that mostly came from her attacking off the dribble. Baehr also gave us a nice hesi move that she sent back out for an assist on a 3-pointer and scored herself off a backdoor cut. Her long arms were a problem defensively, where she deflected a pass guarding the ball and blocked a drive from behind. I think she gets away with some things on defense because of her length, but if Baehr can develop her awareness and lateral quickness, she could really be special on that end. Her standout weekend coincided with a Monday offer announcement from UNH.
Kendra Foy, iBelieve Elite 2027 S40
5-10 guard
Immaculate/Danbury, Conn.
Foy is gaining steam in the region's 2027 hierarchy, in part because she's among the best pure scorers in the class. She helped iBelieve go 4-0 in Atlantic City, and I got to see her get some buckets against New England Storm on Saturday. Foy is such a smooth pull-up scorer who knows how to get to her spots in rhythm — evidenced by the mid-range make and sidestep 3-pointer I witnessed. I want to keep seeing more of Foy as a passer, but she showed some bright moments, including hitting the roller off of what I think was a drag screen design (would need to confirm on a rewatch) with a sharp pass for an easy layup. Foy picked up a UNC Greensboro offer just before the weekend and I imagine she's got more coming.
Jaidelis “Jada” Rivera, iBelieve Elite 2027 S40
5-1 guard
New London/New London, Conn.
I have to give this iBelieve team another shoutout after they were one of New England's top-performing squads in this showcase. Rivera was a huge part of their success because she's just a relentless worker defensively. She and 2028 teammate Lily Davis wreaked havoc pressing opponents, there was a short few minutes Saturday where Rivera picked up three backcourt steals just off of her own pressure and intensity. She's also unafraid to attack defenses despite her smaller size and is a pretty tough finisher through contact.
Bella Owumi, MCW Starz 2026 P24
6-0 guard/forward
St. Mary’s/Lynn, Mass.
You can pen Owumi in as the single most impressive New England prospect this weekend. She was electric in the two convincing MCW victories I got to see, and it's these kinds of stages that reaffirm her special athletic gifts. Just watch the first highlight in here, which I got to see in-person. Owumi dissected defenses with her drives, getting to the rim at will and mixing in pull-up 2s. She's a tremendous cutter and transition scorer, and her teammates know to find her. Her defense, highlighted by some more monster closeout blocks, remains elite. And Owumi is clearly a vocal leader on this MCW squad even though she's a year younger. I once again have nothing but glowing things to say about her development into a regional superstar.
RECRUITING ADVICE: College coaches share how to stand out at an AAU showcase
Casey Stores, MCW Starz 2027 P24
5-7 guard
New Hampton/Bellingham, Mass.
I didn't catch this MCW team at its best; it went 2-2 but lost both games I watched. Still, I thought Stores flashed a bunch of solid skills as a secondary scorer. She moved without the ball and relocated into a few corner 3-pointers. She attacked driving lanes, getting to a floater and some layups. I also thought Stores passed out of drives well, including one cool connection between her, a cutting Lily Norton and a rolling Shannon O'Leary that led to a bucket.
Avery Littlefield, New England Storm 2027 HGSL
5-6 guard
Dover/Dover, N.H.
Sometimes the analysis is easy: Littlefield shot the absolute cover off the basketball in two Storm games I watched. By my count (and I definitely could be underselling), she canned six 3-pointers Friday in a huge program win over SLAAM and five more in Saturday's loss to iBelieve. The vast majority were off the catch, but Littlefield can set her feet and fire quickly, and she's unbothered by defenders closing out. This was one of a few microwave shooting performances from New England area guards this weekend.
Kaylee Maier, New England Storm 2027 HGSL
5-5 guard
Dracut/Dracut, Mass.
It was good for me to see two games of Maier, who is rising on my 2027 class radar. Her first was another display of electric pull-up scoring. My favorite bucket was a behind-the-back move she used to reject a screen and shake her defender before pulling up for a mid-range make. When Maier's on fire, it opens up her playmaking ability too, and she was great at using the baseline to drive and make outlet passes on Friday. Maier didn't have her scoring touch Saturday, but I thought she still brought effort defending the point of attack in a fun matchup with iBelieve's Lily Davis.
Quick shouts: Sammi Santacroce (iBelieve/Suffield) is near the top of the 2027 group of perimeter scorers and flashed some seriously deep range. ... Juice Coston (Bay State Jaguars/Beaver) was great again as a quick scorer in transition, and she hustled after her own missed 3 to put back an offensive rebound. ... Mila Harmon (CBC Fairfield/Sacred Heart Academy) intrigued me as a physically strong, 6-foot-ish post player who scored out of face-up drives and in the post. ... I'm also keeping an eye on Sophie Dupeyron (NE Storm/Kimball Union) at the forward spot. She rebounded at a high level, looked mobile and engaged on defense, and helped out her team a bunch with baskets out of cuts and rolls.
