Clarkston, MI: For Ball with the Best, LBI is taking this opportunity to take a more broad look at the Mitten’s 8th-grade girls basketball landscape. Although no one looked ready to take the bull by the horns, these players and teams took steps toward making a claim as the Mitten’s best!
Let’s take an inside look at the Top 3, 8th-grade teams at Ball With The Best…
Michigan Storm Elite (McCree)
Teams are going to have up and downs as the travel season travails on, but there are a few that will have more ups than downs because of their ability to overcome adversity and not allow themselves to get too high or too low. Michigan Storm Elite (MSE) is one of those teams. Whether attempting to weather the storm of an upset bid vs. Pistons Elite or digging in and trouncing an excellent Michigan Crossover team in the final, MSE remained poised and confident in accomplishing their goal: to win the Ball with the Best Championship. Jada McCree is a smooth lefty with high basketball I.Q. that allows the game to come to her. Backcourt running mate, Zar’ria Mitchell, is the good compliment in that she adds a little more power off the dribble to MSE’s offensive attack. Both are excellent ball handlers and shoot the ball well enough to keep teams honest. McCree and Mitchell’s best attribute is they rarely turn the ball over, giving MSE opportunities to have quality possessions. Deandrea Smith provides the grit and swag for MSE. She is tough and relentless attacking the basket is were she does most of her damage. Paris Bass offers good athleticism and really good footwork on her up and under move in the post. She also showed the ability to effectively take like size players off the bounce from the perimeter. But if I could point to one kid that could be the X-factor for this team, then it would be PF Armani Strozier. At 6-1, Armani used her intimidating frame to dominate at times. I have the feeling Strozier is just scratching the surface of her potential and so is MSE.
Michigan Crossover (Brown)
So far, the Michigan Crossover have been the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the Mitten’s travel basketball scene, which could imply that they need to figure a few things out before they hit their stride. The Crossover has some big-time potential in their backcourt in Devin Hagemann, Aysia Yokely, and Dakota Alston. Hagemann is a jet-quick PG who can breakdown just about any defender one on one. She is also able to cause havoc for opposing teams with the relentless nature in which she puts pressure on the ball. Aysia Yokely is the team’s sharpshooter. She made several triples in Crossover’s run to the final. Lefty, Dakota Alston, offers the most offensive versatility of the three with her ability to shoot with range and get to the paint off the dribble and finish. Amiyah Reynolds was clutch in Crossover’s semi-final win over the Michigan Mystics with game-tying and go-ahead baskets in the final minute. Reynolds is also an excellent defender as she showed the ability to guard the other teams best players whether on the perimeter or in the post. The Crossover has added length in Yasmyn Palmer and Nylan Cannon who are developing and improving as time goes on. Sydney Hendrix was consistent at Ball with the Best. She showed the ability to knock down the mid-range jumper and score off the dribble with either hand from inside the arc. She plays hard and gets rebounds, and that makes her a vital piece for Crossover.
Michigan Mystics Black (McAllister)
The Mystics played solid basketball throughout the event, just coming up short in a one-point loss to the Michigan Crossover on a controversial play as time ran out in their Ball With The Best semi-final game. However, the Mystics proved they are a force to be reckoned with. They continue to get consistent PG play from Layne Sleight. She’s a tough, hard-nosed player that always seems to know what the Mystics are trying to accomplish on the offensive end. Sleight is arguably the most underrated PG of the top teams. Alexis Boyke was unstoppable at times. She’s a very skilled post player that showed the ability to be effective outside of the paint as well. I’d argue that no one in the Mitten, in the 2023 class has better offensive skill in the post than Boyke. Adalyn Moore was a revelation in the game vs. the Mystics. Her game-high 16 points seemed to be enough to get the Mystics over the hump as she was able to bully smaller guards and score at will in the paint posting up or off the dribble. Finally, there is Macey Fegan who is the engine of the team. Whether Fegan was causing havoc at the top of the 2-3, or scoring on smaller guards in the post, she continued to establish herself as a force and a top 5 player in Michigan’s 2023 class.
A player I can’t wait to see more of…
2023 Jillian Gomez 5’10” SF Pistons Elite
There are a lot of ingredients needed to have good team chemistry. When you can find a majority of those ingredients in one player, then you have a good start. Jillian Gomez did a lot of things this weekend to help an improving Pistons Elite squad compete with some of Michigan’s best. Gomez is a physical presence that was able to do a little bit of everything for her team. She set great screens for her teammates. She helped stave off pressure defenses with her ball handling and ability to pass. Gomez was a force on the boards as well. It didn’t take long to see that Gomez is the type of kid coaches love to coach and players love to play with.
Ball with the Best Top 5 8th Grade Teams
1. Michigan Storm - Toughest team in the gym
2. Michigan Crossover - Very strong guard play
3. Michigan Mystics - Consistent play from starters to the bench
4. Saginaw Triple Threat - Next team up to challenge top teams
5. Pistons Elite Blue - On the verge of taking the next step
2. Michigan Crossover - Very strong guard play
3. Michigan Mystics - Consistent play from starters to the bench
4. Saginaw Triple Threat - Next team up to challenge top teams
5. Pistons Elite Blue - On the verge of taking the next step
Ball with the Best Top 5 Player Performances in 8th grade Final Four
2023 Amiyah Reynolds (Michigan Crossover) Semi-Final game vs. Michigan Mystics
Team-high 11 points including the tying and go-ahead baskets in the final minute.
Team-high 11 points including the tying and go-ahead baskets in the final minute.
2023 Adalyn Moore (Michigan Mystics) Semi-Final game vs. Michigan Crossover
Had a game-high 16 points, was unstoppable when in the paint on post up or dribble drive.
Had a game-high 16 points, was unstoppable when in the paint on post up or dribble drive.
2023 Deandrea Smith (Michigan Storm) Final game vs. Michigan Crossover
Though scoring was spread out among six players for MSE, Smith’s baskets were tough and seemed to thwart any attempt at a Crossover comeback.
Though scoring was spread out among six players for MSE, Smith’s baskets were tough and seemed to thwart any attempt at a Crossover comeback.
2023 Jada McCree (Michigan Storm) Final game vs. Michigan Crossover
Always poised, always under control as she netted a three and added a few assist in the Storms 18-4 outburst to begin the championship game.
Always poised, always under control as she netted a three and added a few assist in the Storms 18-4 outburst to begin the championship game.
2023 Macey Fegan (Michigan Mystics) Semi-Final game vs. Michigan Crossover
Macey was unstoppable early, helping the Mystics get out to a quick lead.
Macey was unstoppable early, helping the Mystics get out to a quick lead.
