A dramatic spring and summer of grassroots basketball around the country reaches its conclusion this weekend.
We have New England teams to watch at championship showcases all across the East Coast and Midwest regions. From Kentucky, to Ohio, to Pennsylvania, to South Carolina, teams will hunt glory against their circuit rivals, while players use the last live period of the summer to show their best selves for college coaches in attendance.
I think a handful of local rosters have a shot to advance deep in circuit championship play and maybe even bring home a title. This is not as list of the best AAU teams — I left off some prominent 17U programs — but instead, relative to their competition in their age group, these teams have the highest likelihood, to me, of making a run.
Here are 14 squads on seven relevant circuits hosting their championships this weekend.
Select Events Power 24
MCW Starz 17U — MCW is 6-5 in Power 24 play but coming off a strong 4-2 showing in the previous July live period weekend. This will be the last hurrah for New England's top 2027 prospect, Bella Owumi (Lynn, Mass.) and a strong core that has played together for several years. Gemma Murray (Londonderry, N.H.), committed to Le Moyne, and Celia Neilson (Georgetown, Mass.) and Kam Derba (South Easton, Mass.) are all rising senior guards drawing Div. 1 interest. I continue to hear buzz about Sam Barton (Reading, Mass.) as well. MCW boasts the head-to-head win against iBelieve Elite from July 12.
iBelieve Elite 17U — Also sitting 6-5, iBelieve has such a deep roster and has a statement win against SLAAM (Pa.) in its bag. Kendra Foy (Bethel, Conn.) is among the top uncommitted 2027s in New England, along with teammate Paola Kanoute from France. iBelieve plays fast and boasts a ton of shooting and guard depth. Both iBelieve and MCW will enter the Power 24 bracket as No. 3 seeds.
MCW Starz 16U — After buzzing through a 5-1 stretch two weekends ago, MCW's top 2028 team (7-4) looks like a serious threat in this age bracket. It's a mix of 2028 prospects like Charleigh Green (Beverly, Mass.) and Kiera Paradis (Goffstown, Mass.) and several high-level 2029s led by Sysy Mcausland Emmanuel (Melrose, Mass.) and Anabel Brooks (Marlboro, Mass.).
iBelieve Elite 16U — Both MCW and iBelieve have their top two teams in contention. Fast-rising 2029 star Reese Jeamel (Coventry, Conn.) leads this group, which also relies on some young standouts playing up. For 2028s, I'd watch Wilbraham & Monson talents Gabby Ravosa (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and Avery Vanderburg (Easton, Conn.), among others.
Select Events Select 40
iBelieve Elite 17U — This squad has been on a heater all season and just went 7-0 in total during the last live period. It's a fun team that's super versatile. Marianapolis teammates Maeve Early (North Brookfield, Mass.) and Sidney Anderson (Brooklyn, Conn.) both stand out, and Central Connecticut commit Synaa Waters (Groton, Conn.) can get buckets as a guard. If there's any local team that could win a grassroots title, I'd pick this one.
New England Storm 17U — Storm is also logging a strong July, going 4-2 in the live period with only a 17-point loss to iBelieve and a one-point defeat against United NJ. I've always appreciated the ball movement and offensive synergy of this team, led by Assumption-bound point guard Kaylee Maier (Dracut, Mass.). Sophie Dupeyron, a skilled 2028 forward, has seen her Division 1 interest climb in recent weeks.
Adidas 3SSB
Mass Rivals 16U — Adidas is such a tough circuit, and this is Rivals' best team relative to its 3SSB competition. The 16U squad is 5-5 and right in the middle of the pack. Saige DeJesus (Brockton, Mass.), a 2029 guard with surging Div. 1 interest, has averaged 14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals on the circuit. Madi Wright, a 2028 guard from East Hartford, Conn., is canning 43.5 percent of her 3-point looks.
Under Armour Association
Bay State Jaguars 17U — At 6-4, the Jags' top team has logged two separate 3-2 stints in UAA action so far. Three rising senior guards have already committed to Div. 1 programs in Maddie Benigni (Sacred Heart), Gabby Middleton (UMBC) and Zariah Ottley (BU). Of course, the frontcourt is loaded too with Ella Peper (Newton, Mass.), Avery Bollin (Raynham, Mass.) and Hillary Simo. The top of UAA is stacked, but Jags can hold their own against any team on the circuit.
Bay State Jaguars 16U — All three of the Jags' UAA squads are competitive, but I think this team, at a listed 7-3 record, has the best shot at winning a championship. Anyone in the starting five can heat up in a given game. Among recorded UAA circuit box scores (admittedly incomplete, with only six games), Abigail Broderick (Medfield, Mass.) is drilling 41 percent of her 3s. She, Ayla Keefe (Cave Creek, Ariz.) and Ella Reyes (Westerly, R.I.) are the leaders, but the Jags are deep and filled with talent.
UA Rise
Bay State Jaguars Gold and Black, 16U — Collectively, these two teams are a combined 19-1 after two sessions of UA Rise play. Either one could end up a champion.
Nike EYCL
Mass Huskies 15U — This team had a stellar start to EYCL play and continued on with a 4-2 record in the first July live period. Quick point guard Ashley Fontanella (Middletown, Conn.) averaged 14 points during that weekend and skilled forward Dalila Malz (Colchester, Conn.) managed nearly a double-double per game.
Hoop Group Showcase League
Boston Showstoppers 17U — I could not find the HGSL standings online, but several New England teams qualified for the championships, so I'll pick two here. The Showstoppers saw Alaysia Drummonds (Foxboro, Mass.) catch fire during the last live period, and she forms a fun guard group with Denai Williams (Natick, Mass.) and Jaidelis Rivera (New London, Conn.). This team has some frontcourt size, too.
Springfield Ballers 17U — Zi'Yan Wallace (Springfield, Mass.) is among New England's top 2029 prospects. Keep an eye on underrated 6-3 rising senior Aubrey Parent (South Hadley, Mass.) too.
Beyond these two teams, Lone Wolf Athletics, Connecticut Elite, CT Starters, NSSA and New England Storm are some of the region's top 17U qualifiers at Hoop Group.
