Michigan getting versatility in commitment from 1Nation’s Griggs-Zeigler; ‘The sky’s the limit for me’

[caption id="attachment_5680" align="alignleft" width="300"] 1Nation's Makailah Griggs-Zeigler (right) dribbles around Michigan Premier's Mya Hiram (44) in the championship game of the 16-under division at the LBI April Showers Classic earlier this month. (Photos by Matthew B. Mowery)[/caption] LIVONIA — The 1Nation 16-under squad wasted no time getting to the point in its title-game appearance at the LBI April Showers Classic event a week ago. In the biggest game of the tournament, they put the ball directly in their best player’s hands. It just looked a little odd to see 6-footer Makailah Griggs-Zeigler (2020) — normally a forward during the high school season for Wayne Memorial, and with the physique (and mentality at times) of a tank — running the show from the point guard spot. No big deal, she said. “Not really. I’m a very versatile player. I play a one through five, and I’m going to play my hardest on every possession. Some weekends, I might play the three, some weekends, I might play the one,” the rising junior said after her 19-point performance in 1Nation’s one-point loss to Michigan Premier. “I like to play the one, because I control the game. We have other guards, but just the way our matchup was, I was good at the one. But usually, I play a three or a four.” In all likelihood, that versatility from a six-footer was why she had six Division I scholarship offers on the table. And undoubtedly, it’s that versatility — and physicality — that was so endearing to coach Kim Barnes Arico and the Michigan Wolverines, who will get her services after two more seasons at Wayne. Griggs-Zeigler <a href="https://x.com/Sauce2x/status/988202901242875904">announced her verbal commitment to the University of Michigan on Twitter</a> Sunday evening. Jarvis Mitchell, her high school coach at Wayne Memorial, and the program director of 1Nation Elite, calls Griggs-Zeigler his “bully guard,” and she does bring a level of physicality to the game, particularly when she’s got the ball in her hands on a drive. She won’t necessarily try to go around you, or over you, but she just might go through you. But the six-foot sophomore can do more than just drive, too, displaying very good ball-handling for a taller player, and a deft passing touch. She’s got range out well beyond the 3-point arc, as well. [caption id="attachment_5681" align="alignright" width="300"] 1Nation's Makailah Griggs-Zeigler (10) tries to maintain control of the ball on a drive during the 16-under championship game at the LBI April Showers Classic earlier this month. (Photo by Matthew B. Mowery)[/caption] There’s a distinct possibility that Griggs-Zeigler could wind up running the show more often during the high school season next winter, too, since Wayne Memorial seems to have a glaring vacancy at the point, what with the impending graduation of Miss Basketball <strong>Camree’ Clegg</strong>. “Maybe so. With us losing Cam — and depending on what we have coming in — it’s most likely going to be <strong>Janae Terry</strong> (2019) or me running it,” Griggs-Zeigler agreed. Either way, the Zebras — who went 22-5 and made it to the Class A semifinals four years after an 0-20 season — are going to be a load to deal with. They return Terry and Griggs-Zeigler, along with 2019s <strong>Alana Broadnax</strong>, <strong>Jayah Hicks</strong> and <strong>Sammiyah Hoskin</strong> and 2021 <strong>Alanna Micheaux</strong>. Last year’s run just made Griggs-Zeigler — who earned <a href="http://bit.ly/2uz2M7T">honorable mention all Kensington Lakes Activities Association Black Division honors</a> — that much more hungry. “Yeah, it prepares me for what I have ahead of me,” she said. “To be put at a leadership position, and to have so much pressure on me at the age that I’m at? I mean, the sky’s the limit for me, because this is just preparing me for what I have ahead of me.”