Cagers Invitational: Severe Storm Warning! 2025 Guards
In this article:
The 2024 Michigan Cagers Invitational hosted a variety of 2030-2025 travel teams this weekend on May 4th and 5th. College coaches, media, and prospects invaded the Cage Fieldhouse at Swartz Creek to see a number of independent teams face off over the weekend. Michigan Storm was the headliner program, Northern Pride made the long trek from Northern Michigan, and the remaining teams joined in from all across lower Michigan. What made the Cagers Invitational tournament unique and exciting was the number of independent travel clubs competing at the tournament. The college coaches in attendance had the benefit of seeing many JUCO-NAIA prospects who are flying under-the-radar. Here are the 2025 guards who stormed the tournament with their severely sensational skills!
Lauren Walsh
Lauren
Walsh
5’7″ | PG
Penn | 2024
State
IN
was an unstoppable player on the court for
Michigan Storm Elite GUAA
2025 at the Cagers Invitational. She dominated on both ends of the court, attacking her defender with tight crossovers and raining 3’s from multiple spots. Lauren applied pressure to steal the ball away from ball handlers and attacked down the baseline on a drive before dishing an accurate left handed pass to an open teammate.
Maddy Benard
Maddy
Benard
5’9″ | CG
Grosse Pointe South | 2025
State
MI
caused havoc for
Michigan Storm Elite GUAA
2025 with her athleticism, length, and defensive effort at the Cagers Invitational. Maddy rejected two shots in the paint, dribbled with smooth ball handling precision under pressure, and burned defenders in transition with her long push-out dribbles and speed.
Highlights
Gianna Pittiglio Gianna Pittiglio 5’2″ | PG Macomb Dakota | 2026 MI made plays to help Michigan Dream Elite succeed at the Cagers Invitational. She anticipated a pass then jumped it to create a turnover. Gianna used her strength inside to finish multiple buckets off two feet around the rim. She is a guard from Dakota I will definitely want to see more of in the future.
Highlights
Maeve Hadden Maeve Hadden 5’6″ | SF/SG East Lansing | 2025 State MI is a physically imposing guard for Capitol City Express 2025 who make an impact with her relentless motor and effort on both ends. She swiped the ball away many times using her quick defensive footwork to cut off ball handlers and then take the ball away. Maeve shifts gears on her drives to hit the hole fast and caused a foul on her drive through the defense.
Ava Ruster
Ava
Ruster
5'2" | PG
Mason | 2025
State
MI
Ava Ruster
Ava
Ruster
5'2" | PG
Mason | 2025
State
MI
Ava Ruster
Ava
Ruster
5’2″ | PG
Mason | 2025
State
MI
was a crucial factor for
Capitol City Express
during their victory against a tough opponent at the Cagers Invitational. Her offensive game really took flight last weekend as she used a left drive to split the defense, changing to a low dribble, and then scoring with her left off two feet. She froze her defender with an inside out dribbles then finished with another left layup off the glass. Ava caused steals on defense and dished a pretty left-handed assist on her drive. One of her clutch moments came in overtime when she drove past her defender to score a contested scoop layup through contact in the paint.
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Evan Bell is currently a scout for Prep Girls Hoops and Director of Prepare 2 Win Basketball. Our mission at PGH is to cover as many athletes with D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO potential in the state as possible. If you know a prospect off our radar, please DM Evan through Twitter @CoachEvanBell or email him at prepare2winbasketball@gmail.com
