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LBI Event Recap: LBI Derby Showcase (Belleville, MI)

By Jeff McKinney @LBIPremierBB, 02/10/20, 8:45AM EST

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Belleville, Michigan: The 2nd Annual LBI Derby Showcase was held at a brand new venue, Belleville High School, a new headquarters of some sort for some of our top events. Like all the other events that have been helped the gym was action-packed with talent across a few of our Midwestern states. While some familiar names performed at a high level, we saw plenty of new players rise to the occasion and make their marks on some of their respective teams.

Here are a few standouts from the event

2025 Guard Maddie Benard Michigan Crossover
Although it was my first time seeing Bernard play, she already had quite the reputation as being in the upper echelon of prospects in the 2025 class across the state of Michigan. I saw early and often why she is considered as such. Benard has great instincts and skill for her age, a high motor as her hands were always on and around the basketball, she’s a long PG that has a good feel, she didn’t get sped up and showed maturity when knowing what plays to make for her teammates. 

2024 Guard Indya Davis Michigan Storm
Put some respect on her name! In the absence of her twin and the teams full-time PG, Summer Davis, it was her that took full reign and led her team to a championship victory at the end of the night.
Indya showed she is capable of not only quarterbacking the offense but a willing passer that plays with poise. She was really under control and analyzed the game before just getting rid of the basketball. What I feel is sort of a lost art is the mid-range jump shot and what else she does really well is attack off angles and stop on a dime and be able to hit a mid-range pull with high arch and good rotation nearly every time she shot the basketball, in fact, it’s the shot that sent her team to overtime before raising the trophy in the nightcap. 

2025 Point Guard Cherish Jefferson 1 Nation
Some kids just adapt to any climate of basketball and that’s what Cherish Jefferson did on Saturday. 1Nation battled game after game, going 2-1 but struggled to find a consistent rhythm from some of the usual suspects that propel this exciting team. Jefferson bolstered her team on both ends of the floor, she got after it on the defensive end with her stifling on-ball pressure and made plays whether it was attacking and finishing off counter moves, connecting on high glass floaters or making the extra dish to rack up assists. The kid has a warrior mentality. 

2024 Guard Milan Berry Michigan Storm
Shooters shoot! It seemed like this kid couldn’t miss all day long from any angle Milan Berry was scorching hot from distance, it was sort of her coming out party in the championship game she hit five timely and much needed 3 pointers, including the one to win it all for her team. I know opposing coaches will have a knockdown shooter on their scouting reports moving forward. 

2024 Power Forward Emmanuel Davis  Common Bond
An intriguing and long post prospect who is more potential than production at this stage, but that is certain to change as she has the tools necessary as well as getting the game experience that’s needed for growth. She runs the floor well naturally and rebounds, uses her length to her advantage to get baskets in the paint and she stays active on the defensive end, altering shots and doing a good job of staying with guards when replacing the teammates out of pick and roll situations whether she had to sit down or recover off help defense. 

2024 Point Guard Na’Kiya Bonner Michigan Crossover
The Crossover had a pretty good day in their 2-1 finish in the 8th Grade bracket and each of their guards had a pretty strong showing, however, it was Bonner who took center stage at the Derby showcase. She’s so quick and deceptive in the open court, shifty off the bounce and slithers her way in the lane to finish where she is also improved controlling her body with contact. I’m loving her willingness to get rid of the ball more on the break. Speaking of break, in her final game of the night Bonner made a move that had both the crowd and the internet buzzing when she broke a defender off a crossover. 

2024 F Kendall Hendrix Michigan Crossover
The Crossover was also short-handed dealing with injury and sickness in their frontcourt so that left all the duty to Anna Lassan (Who performed well) and Hendrix. She brought toughness all weekend as she battled inside and fought for position with tough defenders, she showed she could step out from distance and create shots for herself with the ball in her hands and she defended all over on the opposite end I would call her an undersized four at this stage but with more improvement on the handle and I can see her being more perimeter-oriented as time goes on. 

2024 PG Jordyn Poole Always 100 2024
If I had a favorite player to watch all weekend, she would definitely be at the top of the list. Just a fierce competitor, you love to see the type of emotion she has towards the game. A tenacious defender when guarding the ball, she did a great job of turning the opposing ball handler and got out on the break while playing the passing lanes. Offensively, she truly scores it in bunches and can get wherever she wants at each level. her approach to the game is so fierce she has what it takes to be a major player down the line because you can tell she is locked in when she steps between the lines. 

2024 Small Forward Johnea Donahue Always 100
Another All 100 kid, who really brought it in the last two games of the night, leaving it all on the floor. Truly undersized forward but her athleticism equipped with her leaping ability helped her keep the ball alive for possessions on offense. She often drew 2-3 defenders when going for an offensive board but her ability to use her feet and her unorthodox finishing arsenal keeps defenders honest and guessing and allowed her to convert on opportunities.