Powerful Players From The Holiday Classic – Part 1
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The Best of Michigan Holiday Classic held true to it’s name and was a classic indeed. There was elite teams and talent throughout the day on Saturday. I’m going to give you a list of standout players from 3 games…
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Continue ReadingThe Best of Michigan Holiday Classic held true to it’s name and was a classic indeed. There was elite teams and talent throughout the day on Saturday. I’m going to give you a list of standout players from 3 games at the event. The games include Lowell victory against Midland Dow, a Butler Prep victory against Arbor Prep, and a Bolingbrooke win against Westfield Prep. Let’s take a closer look at some powerful players in those games.
Baker is one of the highest ranked prospects in the class of 2024 and she more than looked the part on Saturday in Lowell’s game against Dow. She did a nice job using her length to enhance her perimeter defense. Baker was able to make Dow redirect passes and stepped into the passing lane on occasion. She even picked up at least 2 blocks on the day. Baker was athletic offensively and drew fouls on a baseline take to the rim and a drive through traffic. She finished with a game high 26 points.
Highlights
Adams was a huge factor in the paint on Saturday. So much so that I don’t think her numbers did justice to her influence on the game as a whole. By controlling the lane, she often forced her opponents to settle for extended mid range jumpers and 3 point shots. When Adams did get a look at the rim, it was almost guaranteed to be a very high percentage scoring opportunity. She rebounded the ball high and extended possessions by working the offensive glass.
Bueno turned a lot of heads at the Best of Michigan Holiday Classic. While she finished with a game high 18 points, it was her 2 way play that impressed me the most. Bueno was able to pressure opposing guards and made it tough to find a rhythm. She picked up a couple timely steals in the game. Bueno shot the ball very well from beyond the arc in the corners, especially off catch and shoots. She was able to play effectively at any pace, both setting the offense in the half court and getting out in transition with the dribble and the pass.
Wright brought a lot to the table on Saturday. Her numbers probably don’t jump off the page, but to people in the gym, her game stood out. There were even whispers in the crowd about her. Those whisper definitely revolved around the toughness and grit she brought to the floor. Wright was Westfield Prep’s best rebounder on Saturday and she really worked the offensive glass, On at least 2 occasions she turned offensive rebounds into points on the scoreboard.
Bush flat out played really tough against Butler Prep. She played stronger than her size and proved that she can still excel in a physical game. Bush was able to handle the ball effectively and shot well from behind the arc. It felt like her triples were keeping Arbor Prep within striking distance four a while. Bush has a very bright future as a high level lead guard in Michigan.