The League Standouts - Part 1

Grassroots Tournaments has a Middle School league for schools around the Grand Rapids area, and I caught some games this past weekend to see what youngsters should be on my radar. Let's take a look at some standouts on the day.    Sky, a talented sixth-grader, plays with a maturity well beyond her years. She combines athleticism with impressive size, making her a standout on both ends of the floor. Sky's quick first step allows her to drive past defenders, including one baseline drive where she scored with ease. In transition, she runs the floor hard, creating opportunities, and she's relentless on the boards, fighting for rebounds on both ends. Sky's ability to finish off two feet shows her poise, while her defensive instincts make her a disruptive force, highlighted by a huge perimeter block. Adding to her versatility, she confidently sank a corner three, underscoring her potential as a future all-around threat. I look forward to watching Sky for years to come.     Evie is a versatile left-handed player with great size, able to impact the game both inside and out. Her hustle sets her apart, as she's constantly diving on the floor for loose balls and making gritty plays. Evie moves well without the ball, finding open lanes to slash to the basket. She showcased her offensive skillset with a coast-to-coast finish after a steal and by knocking down a smooth corner three. Her ability to blow past defenders and finish strong on the left side highlights her agility and control, making her a dynamic presence on the court. I'm excited to watch her this winter with MBA.     Delaney is a scrappy guard who plays with tenacity on both ends of the court. She's a tough, relentless defender, constantly coming away with steals and disrupting the offense. On the other end, Delaney can get downhill quickly, attacking the basket with confidence and skill. Her energy and hustle make her a key asset to any team. I'm excited to watch her play with MBA this winter.     Kenzie is a skilled point guard with a smooth style of play and a great feel for the game. She excels at setting up her teammates, using her vision and passing ability to create scoring opportunities. On defense, Kenzie leverages her length to disrupt opponents, collecting blocks and deflections that keep her team in control. She's a reliable ball-handler, able to navigate through pressure, and she's relentless on the offensive glass, often securing extra possessions. With a solid three-point shot, Kenzie brings versatility and impact on both ends of the floor.     Harper showcased her versatility and skill with an impressive performance at The League last weekend. She was a force on the boards, grabbing numerous offensive rebounds and converting them into put-backs, displaying her relentless work ethic. Harper also showed her shooting range by knocking down multiple three-pointers and adding a strong outside threat to her game. On defense, she protected the paint with several blocks, and her ability to drive and dish kept the defense on its heels. Rockford has a history of developing top talent, and Harper looks ready to step up as their next standout.     Olivia, a guard for Rockford, put on an impressive display of skill and grit this past weekend at The League. She's a smart and precise passer, particularly effective in transition, where she keeps the temp high and finds open teammates. Olivia finishes well in traffic, confidently using both hands around the rim, and her aggressive play saw her frequently at the free-throw line. She also excelled on the offensive boards, creating second-chance opportunities for her team. One highlight was her baseline rip move to blow past her defender and score in heavy traffic, showing her poise and finishing ability.

Grassroots Tournaments has a Middle School league for schools around the Grand Rapids area, and I caught some games this past weekend to see what youngsters should be on my radar. Let's take a look at some standouts on the day.