2024 SEASON PREVIEW: KLAA WEST
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High school tryouts are on the horizon, just over a month away. Growing up, I remember the excitement of reading preview magazines for my favorite sports teams and learning about key players before the season started. The enthusiasm and excitement I have for the Michigan Varsity Girls Basketball season has been building since the end of AAU, which leads into my endeavor to write these conference preview articles. Every coach and team in the state has the desire to perform better than they did the previous season in their conference and in the playoffs. Each year there are coaching changes, graduations, transfers, and varsity additions that shift the dynamics of teams in the conference. The Kensington Lakes Activities Association consists of 16 teams separated into an East and West division. Teams play two games against division opponents and a KLAA Conference crossover game to end the season. Belleville won the East division title and KLAA Championship game, while Howell won the West division title. Six head coaches from the KLAA conference participated in the preseason coaches poll and those results will be shared below. Each KLAA West team has a brief team preview and impact player featured below.
COACHES POLL (6 Responses of 16)
Q: Who will be the KLAA Conference Champion?
Coaches: Belleville 83.3%, Howell 16.7%
Bell: Belleville, (runner-up Howell)
Q: Who will be the KLAA East Division Champion?
A: Belleville 100%
Bell: Belleville, (runner-up Wayne Memorial)
Q: Who will be the KLAA West Division Champion?
A: Howell 100%
Bell: Howell, (runner-up Hartland)
Q: Who is the KLAA Conference Pre-Season MVP? (Best Player in the conference)
A:
Sydney Savoury
Sydney
Savoury
5'11" | SG
Belleville | 2027
State
#10
Nation
MI
83.3%, Gabrielle Piepho 16.7%
Bell:
Sydney Savoury
Sydney
Savoury
5'11" | SG
Belleville | 2027
State
#10
Nation
MI
(runner-up
Colleena Bryant
Colleena
Bryant
5'6" | PG
Wayne Memorial | 2025
State
MI
)
Q: Who will be the 2024-25 KLAA West Darkhorse team? (A team that wins and significantly performs better than expected compared to last season)
A: Northville 50%, Brighton 16.7%, Plymouth 16.7%, Salem 16.7%
Bell: Northville
Q: Who will be the 2024-25 KLAA East Darkhorse team? (A team that wins and significantly performs better than expected compared to last season)
A: Dearborn 50%, Livonia Stevenson 50%
Bell: Livonia Stevenson
2023-24 Season Results
KLAA Conference Champion: Belleville, runner-up Howell, KLAA East Division Champion: Belleville, KLAA West Division Champion: Howell, KLAA MVP:
Sydney Savoury
Sydney
Savoury
5'11" | SG
Belleville | 2027
State
#10
Nation
MI
, Darkhorse Teams: Dearborn and Canton.
Brighton
Brighton is a consistent contender in the KLAA West. The Bulldogs went 9-5 in 2023 and have finished top three in the standings for five of the past six seasons. They will face an uphill climb to reach that landmark once again this season, losing two college basketball players and All-Conference selections to graduation: Noelle Ebel (2024, Alma) and Sophia Moir (2024, Kalamazoo College). Brighton returns senior leader and future college basketball commit
Ellie Pierson
Ellie
Pierson
5'9" | SF
Brighton | 2025
State
MI
(2025, Olivet) and their All-Conference power forward
Sophia Heady
Sophia
Heady
6'0" | PF
Brighton | 2025
State
MI
(2025, SVSU Lacrosse).
Anna Minnick
Anna
Minnick
5'5" | CG
Brighton | 2027
State
MI
(2027) is a two-way guard to be excited about because of how effective she has played on the travel circuit and PGH Expo during the off-season. Honorable Mention nominee
Gracyn Houck
Gracyn
Houck
5'8" | SG/SF
Brighton | 2027
State
MI
(2027) is the player I expect to jump the fence for the Bulldogs and become a go-to playmaker in 2024.
Gracyn frequently demonstrated playmaking abilities against tough competition on the travel circuit and looked like a top dog on the court this fall. Gracyn competes aggressively on defense to create steals and battles for rebounds. She has excellent balance and accuracy shooting mid-range or 3-point jumpers off the dribble. Gracyn uses her fancy footwork inside to create space for floaters and is very effective at scoring contested shots around the basket. Gracyn's ball-handling poise under pressure, court vision, and awareness cutting without the ball make her an effective combo guard. Gracyn is a breakout candidate who I anticipate to be in the conversation for an All-Conference nomination this season.
Highlights
Canton
Canton had an outstanding 2023 season. After a 5-9 finish in 2022, the team flipped the script with a 9-5 record in the division and district title against their border rival Salem. The Chiefs will have a very new-looking team in 2024. They graduate multiple college-level basketball players including dominant All-Conference Select Team member Justice Tramble (2024, South Carolina State). All-Conference selections Marisa Cribari (2024) and Maya Joiner (2024) have graduated as well. Honorable Mention multi-sport athlete Ava Murphy (2025) will step into a leading role for the Chiefs with promising underclassman sharpshooter Devyn Reiger. The Canton Chiefs have one of the top post prospects in the 2027 class,
McKinsey Berlin
McKinsey
Berlin
6'2" | PF
Canton | 2027
State
MI
; she appears ready to grab the baton and become a premier prospect in the West division.
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Highlights
Hartland
Hartland made a historic run in 2021, winning the conference championship and finishing as state runner-up to West Bloomfield in the finals. The program has a 14-14 division record the past two seasons and will be looking to contend once again for a division championship in 2024. The Eagles will have to do so without their two towers in the paint, Sarah Rekowski (2024, WMU) and All-Conference Selection Aubree Meyer (2024, Siena Heights), both of whom will be playing college basketball this winter. However, they bring back All-Conference guard
Izzy Depestel
Izzy
Depestel
5'6" | PG/SG
Hartland | 2025
State
MI
(2025) and Honorable Mention Jaylen Nokovich (2027). Hartland will bounce back this season: they have the senior leadership, head coaching experience, and roster depth to do so. Incoming freshman
Brinley Neuer
Brinley
Neuer
5'7" | PG
Hartland | 2028
State
MI
has been electric this fall and I expect the Eagles to be a serious contender in the West this season.
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Highlights
Howell
Howell ended the regular season as West Division champions in 2023 with a 10-4 division record. They have won the West two of the past three years and are the favorites to do so again in 2024, according to the Coaches Poll. The Highlanders bring back the bulk of their starters including All-Conference selections
Alison Farr
Alison
Farr
5'5" | CG
Howell | 2025
State
MI
(2025),
Gabby Piepho
Gabby
Piepho
5'8" | SG
Howell | 2026
State
MI
(2026),
MJ Mikus
MJ
Mikus
5'7" | PG
Howell | 2025
State
MI
(2025, Aquinas), and
Kylie Pung
Kylie
Pung
5'10" | SG
Howell | 2025
State
MI
(2025). Howell loses versatile Honorable Mention forward Lexi Le (2024, Ferris State XC & Field), but 2026 guard
Hannah Ralko
Hannah
Ralko
5'7" | CG
Howell | 2026
State
MI
and 2026 forward
MacKenzi Duthie
MacKenzi
Duthie
5'11" | PF
Howell | 2026
State
MI
look ready to take a giant leap this season for the Highlanders.
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Highlights
Northville
Northville is looking to rebound after a 2-12 division record in 2023. They struggled against divisional opponents, but ended the season on a high note, winning two playoff games against LVC teams. The Mustangs head into the new season without two important graduates: All-Conference Select Nikki Grech (2025) and Honorable Mention Miranda Link (2025). Northville is the clear Darkhorse favorite to gain ground in the West this winter according to the Coaches Poll. Their promising group of pesky guards provided plenty of reasons for optimism during the off-season.
Carly Pelon
Carly
Pelon
5'3" | CG
Northville | 2026
State
MI
(2026),
Sophia Fraas
Sophia
Fraas
5'8" | SG/SF
Northville | 2027
State
MI
(2027), and
Peyton Sivier
Peyton
Sivier
5'9" | CG
Northville | 2027
State
MI
(2027) led their team to success at Northwood during the summer, including some solid victories against respectable teams in the OT tournament. Although summer basketball does not guarantee future success, I've seen enough from this hungry team to feel confident in predicting a noticeable improvement in 2024.
Peyton made a great impression on both of our scouts at Northwood Team Camp in July. She pressured the ball on defense to create turnovers and dished accurate passes to teammates. Peyton has good ball-handling control, knocks down outside shots, and scores downhill off the dribble. She is a breakout candidate for Northville this winter and will have a significant role in their 2024 season.
Highlights
Novi
Novi has enjoyed playoff success, despite their 7-21 division record the past two seasons. The Wildcats have played their best ball in March, making a run to win two straight district titles in 2022 and 2023. They will have an uphill battle this winter after losing two college-level prospects and leaders on the court: All-Conference Select Jordyn Popyk (2024, Gannon) and Honorable Mention Anna Lindsey (2024). The Wildcats will have a new look this winter and I am interested to see who steps up in 2024.
Sydney Hartke
Sydney
Hartke
5'10" | SF
Novi | 2027
State
MI
Sydney Hartke
Sydney
Hartke
5'10" | SF
Novi | 2027
State
MI
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Mackenzie Dicken
Mackenzie
Dicken
5'4" | PG
Plymouth | 2026
State
MI
(2026) and center
Annie Flavin
Annie
Flavin
6'1" | C
Plymouth | 2026
State
MI
(2026) give them an edge on both ends. I expect Plymouth to finish in the top half of the division standings in 2024.
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Highlights
Salem
Salem won the West Division title in 2022 and finished in the upper half of the standings with an 8-6 record in 2023. They look to repeat that success without Miss Basketball finalist, All-Conference Selection, and the best 2024 college basketball prospect in the division: Madison Morson (2024, CMU). The Rocks also graduate key contributing forward Abby Resovsky (2024), but they bring back outstanding power forward an All-Conference selection
Leilah Howard
Leilah
Howard
5'11" | PF
Salem | 2025
State
MI
. Several guards will need to step up for Salem to achieve similar success in 2024.
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Highlights
At the Buzzer
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 coachevanbell@gmail.com
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