Hudsonville, MI: Some of the top teams from the west side of the state, mixed with some of the top teams from the east, got together for the Thanksgiving Preview. There were plenty of main dishes and some outstanding sides in the building. Here are a few that stood out and showed they were ready for the season to get under way.
Jaya Chandler 2026 5’9" Guard Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Jaya is a physical athletic wing with a good handle who scored in multiple ways all day. She scored from deep but was most effective in attacking the hoop off the dribble, finishing over and through defenders. She helped her squad go 3-0 on the day.
Jana Honeycutt 2028 6’0 Guard West Ottawa
Jana, playing the big guard spot, did a significant job slashing and getting in the lane off the bounce, making plays for her or her teammate. Only a Freshman, Jana played with supreme confidence, and she did a great job using her length and deceptive speed to finish in traffic.
Mallory Woiteschek 2027 6’3" Center Grand Haven
Mallory is a very intriguing prospect at 6’3" who dominates the game in multiple ways. She scores on the inside, can shoot it from the outside, passes well out of the double team, and does a great job rebounding the basketball. A lot of what Grand Haven does runs through her, and she does a great job facilitating from the post position.
Camryn Vandenbosch 2025 6’0 Forward Holland Christian
You would think it was hard to be considered one of the most improved players in the building after signing with Toledo but the improvement and confidence I noticed in her game since the summer is crazy. She handled the ball with great confidence attacking the basket off the dribble finishing in the paint, hitting the jump shot and making the right pass. Cam was one of the better players most of the day, physically dominating both ends of the floor. The Rockets got a good one coming.
Gabby Piepho 2026 5’8" Guard Howell
Gabby plays the game with a super high IQ. She has the ability and skill set to score in multiple ways and is also asked to cover the other team’s best player. Gabby makes the game look easy: bombing threes from deep or running the show and making the right play with the ball. Look for her to have a huge year scoring the ball and moving up the 2026 rankings as one of the top players in the state.
Kate Higgins 2026 6’0 Forward Rockford
Rockford is loaded with very talented guards, but Kate is such an important piece to their high-powered puzzle with her versatility, strength, and skill set. She physically dominates the game on both ends of the floor scoring the ball rebounding and defending, Rockford is going to go a long way this year and Kate will be one of the drivers of the bus.
Josie Ode 2028 5’11" Guard Saginaw Heritage
Josie was unbelievable with the ball in her hands today. She weaved through traffic, dropping some sweet passes to teammates and dictating the flow of the game. Her length, size, and ability at the guard position are scary, considering she is only a Freshman; she hasn’t even touched a high school floor yet. Heritage has a chance to be very special this year, and Ode will play a huge role in their run.
Mariah Cross 2026 5’3" Point Guard Wayne Memorial
Mariah is the fastest guard in the building most days, and she does a great job doing a little bit of everything to make the zebras go. She hounds the ball nonstop on defense, forcing multiple turnovers and converting in transition. She knocks in bombs from deep, and she runs the show. Committed to Temple, Cross is a beast, and she seems to get better every time out.
Rylan Buschell 2025 5’6" Point Guard Belleville
Everyone talks about how high-octane Belleville’s offense is and how tough their defense is, and leading the pack on both sides is the CMU commit Rylan Buschell. She locks up on Defense, forcing the other team’s tempo and turning the ball over, leading to multiple easy baskets for her squad. Offensively, she runs the show, making sure all of her scorers get the ball in the right spot and knocking down the open jump shot when they back off of her.
Nichole James 2027 6’2" Post Detroit Edison
Nichole was unbelievably active today. She dominated the inside with quick, powerful post moves and rebounded the ball at a high clip. She ran the floor well, finishing in the lane, and was a force on defense. DEPSA is loaded with talent, and Nichole looks to be one of the top players in the program, which automatically makes her one of the top players in the state in her class.
Kendal Cabana 2025 5’9" Wing Dexter
Kendal is a do it all performer for Dexter. She scores the ball in multiple ways, is a tough rebounder, plays with a high motor, and is fast and strong enough to cover pretty much all positions. Today, Kendal showed her versatility by hitting the 3, finishing at the basket, and making the pretty pass to a teammate. Dexter is always at the top of the SEC, and if they plan on staying there, Kendal will play a big factor with her all-around play.
Iyana Davis 2027 6’1" Center Ferndale
Iyana plays a physical old school brand of basketball that I love. She does a great job demanding the ball in the paint and uses a physical drop step to punish her defender and score the ball. She can shoot 15-footers, but her strength is rebounding the ball and finishing in the paint. Ferndale will win many games this year with great guard play, but none will be possible without Davis dominating the lane on both ends of the floor.
Georgia Kuyers 2025 5’11" Forward Zeeland West
Georgia was physically and athletically dominant in the one game I watched. She scored the ball in transition and the paint and played with a much higher motor than anyone on the floor. I went to the court to watch someone else, and Kuyers constantly caught my eye with her exceptional play.
Avery Brose 2026 5'5" Point Guard Allendale
Avery is a poised point guard who can take control of a game whenever her team needs her most. She confidently attacks the rim, consistently knocks down shots from deep, and plays tenacious defense, making her a force on both ends of the court.
Layla Blumberg 2028 5'3" Guard Dexter
Layla is a savvy point guard whose game reflects maturity and a deep understanding of basketball. She showcases impressive shooting range, consistently hitting far beyond the arc, and her elite ball-handling pairs with sharp decision-making to keep her team in control.
Grace McKinney 2025 6'1" Forward GR Catholic Central
Grace was a dominant presence at the rim, impacting both ends of the floor. She relentlessly grabbed offensive rebounds, creating extra chances for her team, and showed her strength as a finisher with two-footer power moves around the basket.
Kenzy Freeland 2027 5'8" Guard Kent City
Kenzy is next up at Kent City. She is a versatile scorer who can attack the rim with strength, finish through contact, or knock down shots from anywhere on the court. Defensively, she leverages her length to disrupt opponents and pulls down rebounds at an impressive rate for a guard.
Makaila Crosby 2026 5'2" Guard Godwin Heights
KayKay competes with unmatched energy and focus, bringing relentless defensive pressure that disrupts opponents. She thrives in high-stakes moments, showing poise with the ball in her hands and the ability to consistently hit deep three-pointers.
Abby Sietsema 5'11" Guard Forest Hills Northern
Abby is a versatile scorer who excels both in the paint and perimeter. She finishes strong off two feet, using her strength to power through defenders, and her polished footwork around the rim makes her a tough matchup. Her up-and-under move is incredibly effective, keeping opponents off balance.
