Grosse Pointe, MI: The Michigan Mega Scrimmage is one of the premier high school basketball scrimmages in the state of Michigan. The day was packed with some of the best high school teams in the state shaking of some of their kinks before the season begins. It was refreshing to see some of the strong “traditional” Michigan player roles showcased during the highly competitive games. Younger talented players finding their place and embracing their roles while some of the upperclassmen were exhibiting great leadership and maturity. Several college coaches lined the balcony to get a glimpse of what’s in store for this upcoming year. Although it was extremely hard to narrow down, below are the top ten performing teams and players from the scrimmage.

Top 10 Player

Lauryn Carroll  2017  5’6”  Guard  Ypsilanti Arbor Prep
Carroll is a solid shooter that was able to knock down some tough shots from mid-range. She plays hard and was also able to force turnovers and easy buckets for her team.

Moriayh Hamell  2019  5’6”  Guard  River Rouge High School
Moriayh did a good job of getting to the basket, finishing strong at the rim. She has pretty good handles and was able to run the point when needed.

Katherine Rochon  2018  5’10”  Guard/Wing  Mason High School
Rochon was very impressive, showing great ball handles with strong moves to paint. She is able to finish at the basket, see the court well and get her teammates involved.  

Kaela Webb  2018  5’6”  Guard  Detroit Country Day
The coach’s guard, able to share and score at will. Webb makes great decisions with the ball and shot well from all over.

Jasmine Powell  2019  5’5”  Guard  Detroit Country Day
Powell is a true combo guard, capable of being effective as the 1 or the 2. She is the strongest defender on her team and also the quickest. Her speed is impeccable with and without the ball.

Gabrielle Elliot  2020  5’10”  Wing  Detroit Edison Public Academy (DEPSA)
Gabrielle is a versatile player, efficient at getting to the basket or knocking down a long three. She is quick and long, often altering several shot on the defensive end.

Mariah Mitchell  2018  5’8”  Wing  Detroit M.L. King
Raw talent with a huge upside, Mitchell is quick and athletic and likes to drive to the bucket. She has a nice pull-up and is a key defender for her squad.

Aazhenii Nye  2018  5’6”  Guard  East Lansing High School
Nye is a strong finisher that uses her strength and body size to over-power smaller guards. Her playing style works very well within her team’s dribble drive offense.

Cameron Grant  2020  6’1”  Wing  Macomb Dakota
Cameron is a work horse! She can defend inside and the perimeter. She can shoot the short jumper and finish at the basket with or without contact.

Janessa Franklin  2018  5’1”  Point Guard  Belleville High School
A tough point guard with quality court vision, Franklin plays hard on both ends of the court. She is a solid defender and a great passer.

Top 10 Teams

Detroit Edison (Class C)
This young quick and athletic team was more than a handful for everyone they faced. They are competitive, fearless, and coachable…the perfect combination for a championship team. All five players run the court full speed and can move well without the ball. Scoring is never an issue primarily because there are at least three scoring options always on the court. With a sophomore who has already been placed in the top 30 of the nation and 3 freshmen who are at the top of their class in state and working hard to stay there, look for Edison to not only make a huge splash during the season, but an appearance at the Breslin Center as well.

Detroit Country Day (Class B)
Country Day has been a Class B favorite for quite some time and this season isn’t any different. At times seeming a tad bit sluggish and unable to gel, the Yellowjackets quickly made adjustments and looked like themselves. Three things were very clear on yesterday; the dynamic backcourt of Webb and Powell will be the gas that keeps the Yellowjackets offensive vehicle moving, the leadership of senior All-Stater Destiny Pitts is the pulse of this team, and the energy that reserves bring off the bench will take this team far.

Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (Class B)
The roster of Arbor Prep is full of upperclassmen that have been playing basketball together for a long time and it shows. Their team chemistry was the strongest on yesterday. Their defense forced teams to play rushed and take uncomfortable shots. They executed on offensive and played together. The Lady Gators seem to know each other’s every move before it happened on both ends of the court.  With the addition of the Petree sisters, the Gators are definitely a contender for the Class B championship.

Detroit M. L. King (Class A)
As predicted, the Lady Crusaders showed that tradition of playing a fast and physical game is still in place. Often playing full court man to man defense, King used their speed as a sixth man on the court. They dove on the floor, trapped without warning and sent all five players to crash the boards. If King can keep the pace they showed yesterday throughout the entire season, they will without a doubt be the team to beat come playoff time.

Midland Dow (Class A)
The Chargers had a rough start but bounced back like it never happened. They showed magnificent discipline and focus. Executing superbly on offense, their ability to move the ball and find their shooters or the open man was on full display. There were two possessions in which Dow moved the ball coast to coast without taking one dribble and finishing with an open layup. This is not something you see too often in high school basketball.

East Lansing (Class A)
Energy was definitely something that this young feisty team was not missing. East Lansing played with a ton of enthusiasm and pride. The Trojans have multiple scoring options making it difficult to slow down their offense. They play very hard and they are not afraid to get physical. There were moment in the last minutes of each game that the Trojans seemed to lose their stamina and become frustrated. If they learn to play through this and become mentally tough, they will be one of the top teams in the west and potentially the state.

Flint Carman-Ainsworth (Class A)
The Cavaliers stepped on the court focused and ready to play. This team played with a chip on their shoulder and were not easily intimidated. Freshmen Chenelle King and Xeryia Tartt were great additions for Coach Lance Belill and he utilizes their abilities nicely. King has great court vision and decision making while Tartt is a bully style player that can play inside and out. Sharpshooting from sophomore Destiny Strother and strong rebounding and leadership from senior Shakara Johnson will allow Carman-Ainsworth to be the team to beat in the Saginaw Valley and make a nice run in the playoffs.

Williamston (Class B)
Patience, accuracy and comradery are all things that the Williamston Hornets possess. Led by guard Maddie Waters, Williamston showed that they can hurt you in numerous ways. They never allowed themselves to be rushed on offense and they knew how to stick to the game plan. They run the floor well in transition and often would beat their opponents back down the court, not allowing them to get fast break points.

Waterford Kettering (Class A)
It’s not too often that you see a high school team with more than one six footer. Well Waterford Kettering has three. Standing at 6’1”, 6’2” and 6’2”, Schoof (’17), Barghan (’19), and Brady (’18) make the Captains a long team that is very difficult to score over. Especially when all three of these players are in the game at the same time. This height advantage also enables Kettering to dominate the boards and get multiple second chance scoring opportunities. With a couple of solid shooters also on the roster, this team will not be easy to beat. 

Ann Arbor Huron (Class A)
The River Rats looked strong in yesterday’s action despite losing some key players due to graduation and having a new head coach. Huron talks on defense and they go hard every minute of the game. Despite their offense not clicking at times, they never got frustrated and showed a lot of maturity. If rookie coach Lindsay Klemmer can get just one of her upperclassmen to step up as a leader and be a strong court presence, her team will continue to be one of the top teams in Class A.