MBA Mother’s Day Classic: 16U Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MBA Mother's Day Classic has quickly become one of my favorite annual tournaments to cover. The facility at MSA Woodland and format creates a great opportunity to evaluate many prospects throughout the day. I appreciated the structure of having a one-day event, with 2026 and 2027 teams competing at the same facility in different time slots. The gym was packed for the 2026 games with D2 (GLIAC) and D3 (MIAA) coaches, while JUCO D2 (MCCAA) and NAIA (Crossroads, WHAC) coaches were also well represented. MBA did a phenomenal job hosting. They anticipated the flood of coaches and had plenty of chairs spread out along the baselines. MBA also had bleachers available for spectators and families to use. The hot concessions allowed me to stay all day without leaving the facility! This tournament provided a unique opportunity to evaluate&nbsp;<a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/zero-star-basketball/"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></a><strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/zero-star-basketball/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='928192' first='Zero' last='Star Basketball']</strong></a>&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;, an Upper Peninsula travel program based in Marquette, against some of Michigan's top prospects and teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are four forwards who competed well for their teams during the 16U games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["865141"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1248124,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-682b22c9a3595"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alexis showed her strength and athletic potential with [program_tooltip program_id='713442' first='MBA' last='UAA'] 2027 at the Mother's Day Classic. She powered through contact to score a determined and-one layup, then finished a strong offensive rebound put-back. Alexis was a physical and tenacious rebounder who the defense struggled to keep off the offensive glass. She converted multiple layups off two feet and has one of the highest ceilings in this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["807918"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1248136,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-682b22c9a35f7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dy'Nasti had a strong day for [program_tooltip program_id='713442' first='MBA' last='UAA'] 2027 at the Mother's Day Classic. She was aggressive inside on defense and had many blocks on the day. Dy'Nasti knocked down free throws and finished dump-off passes with layups. She utilized the spin move to score a fadeaway jumper off the glass and used the spin again to score a layup off two feet. Dy'Nasti jumped up with her hands high to secure an offensive rebound at its highest point and then finished the put-back off two feet. Dy'Nasti won her rebounding battles and was a force inside all day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["982007"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1248138,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-682b22c9a363d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mia was an exciting surprise at the MBA Mother's Day Classic. A 6-foot-plus forward with mobility and perimeter shooting abilities is a unicorn at the high school level. Mia grabbed my attention with a confident three-pointer up top and continued to impress by using crossover dribbles to create separation from defenders. Mia battled to secure rebounds and scored an offensive rebound put-back. She has sound shooting mechanics, swishing consecutive free throws with a high release. Mia showed she's a perimeter threat by draining two more triples from the wing and the corner with a wrist-snapping follow-through. She's going to be a prospect to follow these next few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["912513"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1248128,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-682b22c9a367c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kyra didn't have a varsity team to play for last season as Lansing Catholic did not field a team, so I was thrilled to see her back on the court for [program_tooltip program_id='713442' first='MBA' last='UAA'] 2027 at the Mother's Day Classic. She scored a nice drop-step layup with a soft touch off the glass, stepped outside to drain a wing three, and knocked down a mid-range jumper. Kyra made a great backdoor cut, caught the pass, transferred the ball quickly, and finished the layup off two feet through contact--then swished her free throw. Kyra scored another layup with touch off a screen and roll--she has the height and skills to be a solid prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->