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LBI Event Recap: Michigan Sweet 16 Summer Shootout (Top Teams)

By Jason Wilkins @LBInsider, 06/24/18, 9:00AM EDT

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1st Annual LBI Sweet 16 Summer Shootout was a huge success in year 1


Rising Junior Gabby Elliott is just one of the pieces on a loaded and talented Detroit Edison squad

Romulus, MI: For 16 high school teams, it was time to break out the practice gear and knock some rust off at the LBI Sweet 16 Summer Shootout.  We saw some of Michigan's best teams and players compete in Romulus, MI for nothing other than to measure up and show that the upcoming 2018-19 MHSAA season is going to be one for the ages.  Here's a look at a few of the top teams from the LBI Sweet 16 Summer Shootout.

Top 7 Teams

Detroit Edison
This team is Atlantic Ocean deep.  Edison was dominant even with the absences of Rock Steady Point Guard Daija Tyson and Do-it-all Guard Shaulana Wagner.  We also got a chance to see the up and coming young bulls, rising 9th graders Ruby Whitehorn, Rakiyah Beal, Madison Wardell, and Skyla Hudson-Wardell.  It was hard for most teams to penetrate the Edison 3/4 court pressure defense.  It was even harder to deal with arguably the best point guard and wing combo in the country in  Damiya Hageman,
Rickea Jackson, and Gabby Elliott.  All three scored at will and displayed a basketball I.Q. beyond their years.  Detroit Edison was as advertised and will be top contenders for another state championship.

Wayne Memorial
Losing a player like a star PG Cam'ree Clegg (Clemson) is no easy obstacle to overcome, but Jarvis Mitchell and the Wayne Memorial Zebras have a plan.  Led by ultra-talented PG
Jeanae Terry, the Zebras competed at a high level on both ends of the court.  Terry is impossible to deal with on the offensive end.  She's one of the best at creating space to get her own shot, but has A+ court vision and passing to get teammates involved in the game.  The Zebras have the size and strength to do damage on the interior offensively and to keep people off the boards on the defensive end.  Probably most noticeable is how tough this team is. There is no quit in any part of their understanding of how to play the game. 

East Kentwood
Not sure what it was like for last years undefeated East Kentwood squad to drop the last game of the season, but I know the fire burns to get the title this year.  EK will miss 6'3" Corinne Jemison but 6'3" transfer Kalabria Hallaman looks like she will be ready to take on the responsibilities of anchoring the EK defense.  Rising seniors Mauriya Barnes and Alona Blackwell looked sharp.  Barnes was leading the attack from the point guard position with her ability to score, facilitate, and be a pest on defense.  Blackwell was silky smooth as ever, knocking down multiple triples across EK's three games.  I have a feeling new head coach of the Falcons Eric Large is not going to let this year's opportunity at a Class A State Championship slip away.

Flint Carman-Ainsworth
Flint CA features a fantastic trio of playmaking and scoring guards in '20 Aaliyah McQueen, '20 Chenelle King, and '19 Destiny Strother.  Their offensive attack is dizzying as it comes at teams from every angle on the court.  This team is going to score and score in bunches.  But as I watched them, I couldn't help but think that what is going to help them get over the hump is the collective commitment to stopping people on defense.  They are extremely quick but undersized.  But if their quickness and talent can somehow translate to the defensive end of the court at a high level, then Flint CA will have a chance to shock the world.

East Grand Rapids
No team blended toughness and high basketball I.Q. at the LBI Sweet 16 Summer Shootout like East Grand Rapids.  The Brown sisters are tough.  Jillian Brown (2021) and Olivia Brown (2019) are fighters, leaders, and have excellent games.  Both were especially impressive in a 2 point loss to Detroit Edison that came down to the final play.  The addition of rising freshman Alli Carlson could have a considerable impact on the season as she matures.  Right away you could see Carlson's ability to handle the ball allowed Jillian and Olivia to move off the ball and create better opportunities for EGR to score.

Ann Arbor Huron
Ann Arbor Huron seems to enjoy playing together. They have a good blend of inside and outside offensive tools. Jadyn Smith and Siena Smith are marksmen from 3 point range. They both understand the value of taking care of the ball. They are the perfect compliment to AA Hurons workhorse rising senior Eden Johnson. Johnson is the centerpiece of this team, but all parts work well together to make a masterpiece. This squad's team chemistry coupled with last year's round one loss will be fuel for a great run into this year's state tournament.

Ann Arbor Pioneer
Although they were missing their top rebounder and scorer in Asaria Turman'19, Pioneer did not skip a beat which led them to take home the Sweet 16 Platinum Division Championship. Their quickness and athleticism was just too much for teams at times. They get up and down the court, share the ball and crash the boards. Even when they were visibly exhausted, they still played hard. This young group was fun to watch and will be tough to beat or many years to come.