Reviewing “The Clash”
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The featured image is of Leila Nelson Leila Nelson 5'7" | PG Calvin Christian | 2026 State MI (2026) of Calvin Christian High School and the West Michigan Crush . Last weekend I attended a couple of days of The…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Leila Nelson Leila Nelson 5'7" | PG Calvin Christian | 2026 State MI (2026) of Calvin Christian High School and the West Michigan Crush .
Last weekend I attended a couple of days of The Clash…a long-time “live” period event that tends to draw several of the Midwest’s better teams and programs. As I primarily cover Indiana, I was focused on those teams, however I did happen to see the following ladies play, and I was impressed with their game as well. Below is a look at six prospects from Michigan and two prospects from Ohio I was able to see compete against the Indiana teams I was there to watch.
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Savina Anhalt
Savina Anhalt
Savina is a skillful combo forward who showcased quite a bit of versatility when I was able to see her. She is extremely long and wiry, fairly fluid athletically, and she even has a little bounce to her. She has some skill around the basket and the perimeter, but she looked most effective in the mid-post, whether it was shooting the 15-footer or attacking the basket for scores. She could use a little more strength for the next level, but otherwise I felt like she was a kid who could see quite a bit of interest from some of the better small colleges in the region.
Avery Avery Server | 2025 OH was one of the more entertaining prospects I saw all weekend. She is another versatile combo forward who can play at all three levels. She has an athletic frame, solid strength, and she can run & jump. She knocked down a couple of perimeter jumpers in catch & shoot situations, but she also put it on the floor and attacked the basket aggressively. She has a nose for the ball, gets a lot of put-back baskets, and she can defend three positions. I can see her drawing a wide variety of interest, from Division-I schools to elite small colleges.
Bayli was another enjoyable watch from Friday night’s action, and she brings a lot of energy to the floor. She is extremely strong and aggressive, very active, and she will make a lot of the hustle plays other girls just don’t want to. She showed a solid handle and the ability to make a shot outside, but she was best attacking the basket North/South. Defensively, it didn’t matter who she was on, she was going to be physical and win the matchup. She also rebounded the ball at a high level for a 5’7-5’8 off-guard. I think she could be a steal as a “culture” type of kid.
Carly & Erica Thorbahn
Carly & Erica Thorbahn
I wanted to include these two in the same description, because they are very similar. They are both in the 5’7-5’8 range, strong, and incredibly active. They each play with tremendous motors and have no quit to their game. They have the “twin instinct” and are just in sync with each other, but that helps their teammates find a rhythm as well. They can handle it a little, attack and score, or knock down open rhythm jumpers consistently. All in all, they are just ballplayers who are always on attack, whether they are on offense or defense.
Alli is a nice-sized forward/post who can play inside-out offensively with her skillset. She has some touch from around the perimeter, and that helps her pull her defender away from the lane. But she also has good hands and footwork around the block, and she can make post-moves either direction. She was active, and she also operated in the mid-post, so she makes herself tough to defend. When she was on defense, she did a nice job of protecting the paint, she was able to help defend ball-screens with her activity, and she pursued rebounds and used her physicality.
Highlights
Leila is a really exciting younger prospect who still has a couple of years of high school ball left in front of her. She is extremely long and wiry, she has speed, and she’s somewhat bouncy. I was most impressed with her willingness to accept contact as she attacked the basket, and she kept her balance and finished in a variety of ways at odd angles, often drawing and-1s. She showed a quiet toughness, and I think once she gets stronger, she could be even more consistent scoring it. She does have some touch outside, but as she continues to gain strength, she’ll be almost automatic.
Highlights
Averie is extremely intriguing, because she already has skill/talent and she has room to continue improving and grow physically. She is about 5’10-5’11, but she’s incredibly long and wiry. She has the scoring capability and touch of a small forward or shooting guard. She can hit catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, but she also drove the ball fairly well and finished around defenders because of her length. She is already an effective and talented ballplayer, but as she continues to add strength/weight to her frame and continues to develop her skillset, watch out!!