The Main Event: Rising Stars – 2028’s
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The Main Event is one of my favorite tournaments to cover during the grassroots season. It’s an opportunity to witness most of Michigan’s top teams competing under one roof. This past weekend, I spent over 20 hours in the gym…
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Continue ReadingThe Main Event is one of my favorite tournaments to cover during the grassroots season. It’s an opportunity to witness most of Michigan’s top teams competing under one roof. This past weekend, I spent over 20 hours in the gym and tried to observe as many prospects as possible! Here are some of the 2028’s that caught my eye.
Macy Donovan
Macy Donovan
Donovan played up like many of the 2028’s in this article, but she not only played up…she played up on the Mystics top team, and completely held her own! She is an efficient shooter with a quick release and knocked down multiple shots behind the arc on the weekend. My favorite play she had was a no-look left-handed pass while leading a break that resulted in a bucket for her teammate. She will be a player to keep an eye on for the next few years.
Emma McLaughlin
Emma McLaughlin
McLaughlin and her talented Mystics team showcased their skills by playing up a grade level at the Main Event. Emma impressed everyone with her athleticism, as she was able to block shots of bigger players. She played with great intensity and managed to get her hands on the ball for a ton of deflections. Her shooting skills were also noteworthy as she connected on a couple of shots from behind the arc. I’m excited to see how her game will continue to grow over the next few years.
I first saw Mahabir at the Headliners Invitation, and I was excited to see her play again and see how much her game has grown since last fall, she didn’t disappoint. She is a leader on the floor for her team and constantly communicates. She has a quick first step to beat her defenders to get to the rim, and her ball-handling skills are top-notch. She will be a player to watch in the Michigan Class of 2028.
Highlights
Kenley Slanger Kenley Slanger 5'8" | PG Rockford | 2028 MI
Kenley Slanger Kenley Slanger 5'8" | PG Rockford | 2028 MI
Slanger was living at the free-throw line this weekend. She is not afraid to get downhill and finish through the contact. She can also shoot the rock! She is not just offensive-minded and gets the job done on the defensive end of the court as well, getting numerous steals in the games I watched. She will be one to keep an eye on over the next few years.
Jana Honeycutt
Jana Honeycutt
Honeycutt displayed an impressive performance around the rim at the Main Event. She exhibited excellent footwork and could finish with either hand. The crowd was excited when she executed a nice Euro-step finish. Additionally, she is an exceptional rim runner and protector. I am eagerly looking forward to watching her game grow and evolve over the next few years.
Joslyn Ode
Joslyn Ode
Ode was another player playing up a couple of divisions, and you would not know from just watching. She plays well beyond her years and is a high-IQ player. My favorite thing when watching Josie play was watching her get a defensive rebound and lead the break…she had her head up and a dime was coming every single time. She is going to be a fun one to watch in the next few years.
Madison Repicky
Madison Repicky
Repicky was another player who played up a division. She is a high-IQ player who handles pressure well. She has next-level ball-handling and passing skills. I watched her knock down a few corner 3’s with a nice stroke. I look forward to watching Madison over the next few years.