DETROIT, Mich.– The Best of Michigan showcase event was held at Martin Lather King High School in downtown Detroit.  For the past six years this event has brought together the premier teams in the state of Michigan regardless of classification.  Previous participants have gone on to claim state titles and even Ms. Basketball honors.  Blue Star Media was in attendance for the first time providing blanket coverage for this event.

Kaela Webb – 5–6 – Point Guard – Detroit Country Day (Mich.) – 2018 – Webb is the franchise Quarterback that leads the Detroit Country Day team. This pint size point guard packs a big punch and she showed the ability to play both in a controlled tempo as well as in transition.  With plenty of speed and quickness, she continuously got her hands on loose balls disrupting things for the opposition.  Webb was at her best playing fast one on one. When the defense played off she punished them with her three point shooting. Webb played bigger than her listed size during her match-up with Toledo Rogers High School from across the border in Ohio. She led all scorers with 24 points in the victory.

Kyra Bussell – 6–2 – Forward – Grand Rapid Catholic Central (Mich.) – 2017 – First looks makes it hard to understand why this big girl kept running to the corner behind the three point line.  By the second quarter it started to make sense.  When left open she will punish you.  Bussell’s size and height serves her well.  Whatever she lacked in athleticism she made up for in her enthusiasm, effort and spirit.  After she fouled out of the game early in the 4th quarter, she stayed “in the game” while cheering on her teammates.  The Central Michigan commit finished with 18 points, the result of six three pointers. Bussell was no slouch on the defensive end either holding her own against the Southfield Lathrup twin towers of Taiye (6-4) & Kehinde Bello (6–3) who are both headed to Minnesota.

Jordan Walker – 5-7 – Point Guard – Muskegon Mona (Mich.) – 2017 – It was just 10 days prior to the date of this game that Walker was cleared for full contact from an ACL injury suffered in June.  While we’re not sure what she looked like prior to the injury, it’s easy to see she’s a no brainer D-I player.  As a lead guard Walker is a solid ball handler that plays within herself and runs the team efficiently.  A Western Michigan Commit, her dependable jump shot extends to behind the three point line.

Rickea Jackson – 6–1 – Guard / Wing Detroit Edison (Mich.) – 2019 – Jackson was the shining star for her team scoring all 16 of her team’s first half points in their lone showing Friday night.  Displaying guard skills with strong basketball instincts, she shot the ball efficiently from behind the arch (5-8).  More importantly she also showed the ability to score from all three levels finishing with a game high 26 points vs Port Huron Northern (Mich.).

Micaela Kelly – 5–8 – Guard – Martin Luther King (Mich.) – 2016 – Headed to DePaul, Kelly was one of the better perimeter shooters during the weekend.  We had the chance to see her twice and she backed up our initial impression.  The 5-8 guard is not just a shooter.  The lone senior on the Martin Luther King Crusaders team did a good job defending especially playing the passing lanes while showing toughness defending bigger girls.

OTHER KEY CONTRIBUTORS

Myka Cromwell – 5-10– Guard – Grand Rapid Catholic Central Cougars (Mich.) – 2017

Monae Palmer – 5–9 – Guard – Robichaud (Mich.) – 2017

Keasja Peace – 6–2 – Forward – Toledo Rogers (Ohio) – 2016 (Michigan signee)

Tanaya Beacham – 6–2 – Forward – Toledo Rogers (Ohio) – 2016 (Toledo signee)

Siyeh Frazier – 5–9 – Guard – Renaissance (Mich.) – 2016 – (Penn State signee)

Jasmine Powell – 5–6 – Detroit Country Day (Mich.) – 2019

Mauriya Barnes – 5–4 – Point Guard – Grand Rapids Catholic (Mich.) – 2019

Kaylee Wasco – 6–2 – Forward – Midland Dow (Mich.) – 2017

Akienreh Johnson – 6-0– Forward – Toledo Rogers (Ohio) – 2016 (Michigan signee)