Livonia, MI: The 1st Annual LBI Rising Stars showcase was the very first event of its kind highlighting only middle school prospects. The phrase “basketball never stops” rang true as over 55 plus players from all over the state flocked to Livonia Churchill to compete during the holiday break. It was a great day of basketball!

Here are some of the standouts from the event:

5'10" 2022 SG Ruby Whitehorn DEPSA Middle School
On the radar for quite some time, she may arguably the top 8th grader statewide. She never fails to impress with her approach to the game. In her age group, she played each position on the floor and was able to use her skill set to impact the game while scoring from each level, rebounding and defending. Pretty good at everything and the best player in the gym all day, college coaches should and will be on this one before she plays a high school game. 

6'1" 2022 PF Dav'i Matthews Keystone Academy
Matthews was the tallest player in the gym and the most dominant post player throughout the day. During the games portion of the camp, she showed her motor by getting up and down the floor. In the post, she was almost automatic scoring with her back to the basket. Due to her size and length, Matthews posed a major threat for the opposition.

5'7" 2022 PG Jordan Wright Tappan Middle School
From a coach’s perspective, Wright has everything you need from a successful floor general. She pushes the ball with a head of steam in the open floor, she has a phenomenal first step to blow by defenders and knows how to pick her spots as well as distribute the ball very well. At her best in the transition game, but knows how to control the pace and get what she wants in the half court setting. A true dynamo; she will be a major contributor from day one in High School.

5'8" 2022 PG Abbey Kimball  St. Anthony's
Another guard jewel, she does things coaches find themselves teaching girls at an older age. Kimball was very mature as she did a good job leading her teammates vocally, directing them to the right spots and helping them while defending. Her long arms are an attribute while guarding the ball and offensively she shot the ball from deep range and used screens the right way as the lane was almost always open out of picks. She's is a top ten player in the class hands down.

5'10" 2022 SF Alexis Clark Slauson Middle School
Another very versatile player for her age. She went really hard and wasn't afraid to try anything in the drill session, and it translated into the games. Her mid-range pull up improved in each game, she primarily played in the post but wasn't afraid to mix it up from the outside.

5'11" 2022 SF Rikayah Beal DEPSA Middle School
The Detroit Edison program is in good hands well down the line with another talented 2022 prospect in Beal. She has a really crisp handle and speed for her size. The long-range jumper was falling during the drills and games session. She dazzled on the break by rebounding, pushing and finding her teammates or scoring it herself. Among the top tier long-term prospects in the class for sure. 

6'0" 2022 Ella Miller PF East Lansing Middle School
It's hard to find a fundamental big at this age. She is equipped with all the proper skills to be successful early in her high school career. She did a good job on the defensive end by being a rim protector and hedge screens correctly. On the offensive end, coming off of screens, she always had her hands up and knew how to seal her defenders correctly. She was also above average at finishing on the inside. 

5'0" 2024 PG Devin Hagemann DEPSA Middle School
There must be something in that Hagemann blood!  As a 5'0 6th grader, Devin looked like she more than belongs playing up with the competition all day.  She was fearless in the 5 on 5 session, getting off shots and finding her teammates in stride early and often. She is going to be a player that will be fun to watch now and down the line. 

5'9" 2023 WG Maddie Petroelje Baldwin Street Middle School
Another player that was playing up against competition all day long. When the players were split up by age group, she found a way to stay with the older kids and held her own. A fierce competitor, she never backed down from any challenge. She got switched inside and got on ball steals and interior stops. On the offense end, she always aimed to make the right plays, whether it was scoring, trying to get open or getting others involved.

5'7" 2022 PG Alliyia Allen-Rudder Franklin Middle School
A raw, but very talented prospect with a lot of street ball to her game. this was Allen-Rudder’s first event with some structure. Spectators took notice early as she hit shot after shot in warm-ups. During the 5 v 5 play, Allen-Rudder was a pest on the ball and got by defenders with her shifty handle. She knocked down a few jump shots and got some 50-50 balls with her grit and effort. 

5'5" 2022 CG Karianna Woods Slauson Middle School
A position-less perimeter prospect who probably isn't done growing. A few more inches will probably help as she tends to slash and make plays at the rim opposed to settling from behind the arc. She has a ton of speed with the ball in her hands and made it hard for defenders to keep up in transition. Woods kept her teammates involved consistently.

5'11" 2022 Post Mia Steele Manchester Middle School
A wide body post prospect that will have to grow more to become a true inside player moving forward with the way her game is shaped now. Has some physical tools and uses her body well. Would like to see her get up the floor quicker.

5'10" 2022 WF Ellie Toney Corunna Middle School
I don't know what to classify her as, but she is a true gamer. Has a nice frame and a multi-dimensional feel to her game. She was most effective in the paint, backing down opponents and scoring or being a bully off the dribble, as she proved to be too strong for the opposition at times. Her jumper fell at times but needs to develop that aspect of her game a bit more.

5'6" 2022 PG Alli Carlson East Grand Rapids Middle School
It's hard to find players with the willpower that Carlson has. During the first few games, she had no problems creating separation to get shots off or finding ways to get good looks, but they wouldn't always fall. No matter the outcome she stayed aggressive and stayed confident. As the day went on she continued to get better and better. Not the fastest, but definitely one of the more polished guards in attendance. Tough as nails on both ends and somebody to keep an eye on moving forward. 

6'1" 2022 Post Hannah Toutant Seneca Middle School
Long and lanky post that showed promise. Must continue to get stronger on the inside and that will happen as she continues to grow into her body. Has some touch around the basket and filled lanes correctly. She kept her hands up on the inside and irritated opponents with her length. 

4'8" 2024 PG Nakiya Bonner DEPSA Middle School
Bonner is very poised for her age; defenders couldn't speed her up. She had the ball on a string and hit some pretty deep jumpers. Got after it in drills with her very sharp fundamentals. She has a ton of swagger to her game. 

5'7" 2022 WG Mya Hicks Slauson Middle School 
Long range shooter and will continue to get better. Not super athletic but was able to mix it up a bit to get past the opposition and got after it on the defensive end. Will improve a ton in the next year.

5'6" 2023 PG Macy Brown East Grand Rapids
Has two really good older sisters to learn from and it looks like she already has. Very unselfish and can run an offense. Got deep in the lane, finished some floaters off the glass and hit the mid-range jumper. Among the top 7th graders in attendance.

5'11" 2022 Wing Lauren Sollom Hartland Middle School
Long and lanky prospect that is definitely still growing and will be much taller. More of a wing, she shoots the ball well from behind the arc. Must get stronger but she will be a talent. 

5'0" 2025 PG Caleena Bryant David Ellis Academy
Youngest and smallest player in attendance, didn't back down from anyone and scored the ball in games. 

5'5" 2022 PG Taylor Anderson Power Middle School
Quick PG that can handle the ball; never quit playing hard and has some range. Has to get stronger, at times she got bounced off the ball.

5'10" 2022 WF Andra Patterson Adrian Middle School
Wing with intriguing size; defended well inside and out. Quick feet, can score at each level. Ball handling wasn't bad, but improvement will be key.

5'5" 2023 PG Dakota Alston Taylor Exemplar
Very shifty PG, swift in the open court. Can handle the ball well, but it was loose. Got rid of the ball at the right times and did a good job attacking the rim.

5'9" 2022 SF Remington Ingraham Forest Hills Central Middle School
Solid off the dribble, finishes well with both hands, nice form on her shot, has good size to defend several positions. Competes and very coachable.

5'5" 2022 WG Dharyauna Pierce - Parkside Middle School
One of the more tenacious players all day. Did a good job pursuing the basketball; wasn't afraid to get in the paint and rebound; she pushed the ball well and found ways to score.

5'5" 2022 WG Kaleigh Shaker Fenton Middle School
One of the best shooters in camp as she got it going early and often in the drills and games session; she can fill it. She does a really good job moving without the basketball and caught defenders slipping cutting to the basket and going back door.