Zero Star Showcase: Freshman Phenom in the U.P.

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Girls Hoops is breaking a new trail this weekend. [program_tooltip program_id='923712' first='Prepare' last='2 Win Basketball'] and AdvantEdge Sports Training have combined forces to present the first-ever Zero Star Showcase at Northern Michigan University. Middle/High School boys and girls prospects from the Zero Star travel basketball program are putting their best basketball on display with live Prep Girls Hoops coverage and college coaches in the gym. This is a monumental moment for Michigan girls' basketball recruiting and coverage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":879008,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/20240325_142416-crop-1536x1009-1711391481.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-879008" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jenna Maki, 2024, Ishpeming, Breslin Center, Mar. 22</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The seed was planted in March of 2024 during the state semifinals when I watched prospects Ella Mason from Negaunee and Jenna Maki of Ishpeming blow the roof off the Breslin Center. Both were soon-to-be graduating seniors who, quite frankly, should have been on our radar sooner and more heavily recruited by colleges in the state. That day, I realized an entire peninsula of Michigan was being missed, and I vowed never to let another Yooper girls basketball prospect graduate without being known by Prep Girls Hoops, seen, and evaluated by college coaches. Many schools with great basketball players in the U.P. do not make it to the big dance at the Breslin Center, and those kids deserve an opportunity to be noticed. I met Advantedge Sports Training and [program_tooltip program_id='928192' first='Zero' last='Star Basketball'] owner/director Dustin Brancheau when he brought his [program_tooltip program_id='928192' first='Zero' last='Star Basketball'] teams to our Prep Girls Hoops Live tournament. There, I discovered many additional prospects with college basketball pedigree. <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/05/prep-live-17u-morning-session-notes/">Read More</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1261138,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/PXL_20240624_002006959.MP_-crop-3657x2401-1750431982.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1261138" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Zero Star Practice, Republic Jr/Sr High School, Michigamme, June 23rd, 2024.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After driving up with Cleary University Assistant Coach Jerry Wallace for a Zero Star Girls Basketball practice almost a year ago to the day, it was clear that this needed to become an annual event. I started the&nbsp;<a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/12/yooper-hoopers-week-one/">“Yooper Hooper”</a>&nbsp;article series to give U.P. prospects Prep Girls Hoops coverage during their high school season, and I'm excited to see many of those girls competing this weekend. Dustin and I have high hopes for the U.P., and this Zero Star Showcase marks the beginning of what will be a marquee event for Yooper boys' and girls' basketball prospects for years to come. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1261643,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/PXL_20250621_160130832.MP_-crop-3724x2445-1750607531.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1261643" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Zero Star 13U-17U teams, Zero Star Showcase, Vandament Arena, Marquette, June 21st, 2025. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The format and sequence of the showcase provided D2, D3, and JUCO coaches with the opportunity to conduct a thorough evaluation of the prospects. Individual skill drills in essential fundamentals, small-sided games, and 5v5 scrimmaging enabled the girls to show their best qualities while receiving maximum ball touches. Here are several 2027 prospects, along with an incoming freshman who appears poised to make an immediate impact at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["902865"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-685afe4c31dc9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Makayla has length and versatility that make her a dynamic prospect. Makayla was an effective downhill scorer during the games. She used a high pick-up move to avoid a defender and score a layup off two feet. Makayla froze her defender with a shot-fake and drove by with a burst for the layup. She knows when to make the extra pass and showed true toughness by playing through pain at the Zero Star Showcase. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1247299"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-685ad2f8b0561"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Addi had an impressive day, and she looks ready for a breakout junior season. Addi makes smart reads and cuts off the ball. She went back door to score a smooth reverse layup and converted multiple contested layups with both hands throughout the day. Addi kept her arms active on defense and used that length to deflect passes for steals. She has a quick release with sound shooting mechanics and drained a corner three. Addi had another strong showing at the Zero Star Showcase. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["885003"],"_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":1263113,"_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-685afe4c31ec3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ahnaka will be a key contributor again this winter, and she showed her potential at the Zero Star Showcase. Ahnaka is a deadly shooter if you leave her open, and she showed it during the games. Ahnaka buried a wing three and added a deep corner triple beyond the college line. She scored a left-handed layup off the dribble and drove downhill with a burst to score layups off two feet during the 1v1 segment. Ahnaka moved to open space during 2v2 and drilled a smooth jumper up top off the catch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1227188"],"_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":1263111,"_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-685ad2f8b04a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Avery is a point guard who will be turning heads as a freshman at Marquette this winter. She put on a dazzling display with her elusive ball-handling and confidence at the Zero Star showcase. Avery used a nasty behind-the-back, hesitation, crossover combination to create separation, then hung in mid-air to finish her layup. Her fast footwork kept ball-handlers bottled up on defense, and she attacked downhill with explosive bursts off the bounce. Avery created space using quick lateral dribbles while maintaining a wide, balanced stance, then accelerated by her defender to score a layup off two feet. She dropped in contested floaters, finished many tough layups throughout the day, and drained a smooth free-throw jumper off the dribble. Avery fired passes to open teammates and used a sweet spin move on a drive from the wing to beat her defender for a layup. She's a prospect for college coaches to pay attention to, and we would love to watch her compete at our Freshman Showcase in August!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["904979"],"_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":1263115,"_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-685ad2f8b050d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sadie is back from injury, and she was one of the most impactful two-way players in the 2027 group at the Zero Star Showcase. Sadie doesn't get fooled on defense; she stays disciplined and forces misses with her quick feet. Sadie knocked down threes from the corners during the shooting drills, drained a pure wing triple off the catch in 2v2, and added a tough left-handed layup. She exploded past her defender from the wing and climbed the ladder to score the contested layup. Sadie drove down the baseline and threw an excellent left-handed hammer pass to a teammate on the perimeter. She chased the ball all over the court, secured offensive rebounds, and used great pivots to score a contested floater. Sadie handles the ball confidently with both hands and creates open shots for teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1219954"],"_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":1263117,"_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-685afe4c31f71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bailey stood out for Calumet at the Breslin Center, and she had a solid day at the Zero Star Showcase. Bailey spun her defender with a furious combination of crossover dribbles and made a split-second transfer to score the layup. She ripped the ball away clean and snagged a steal on the perimeter. I noted that Bailey changes hands well while handling the ball, and she knocked down threes with confidence from the corner. Bailey beat her girl to the basket, driving baseline, and finished the layup. Her athleticism, aggressive defense, and scoring presence will be exciting to watch again this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["902756"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-685afe4c31fba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ruby made plays that showed her potential at the Zero Star Showcase. Ruby is a perimeter threat, and she made the defense pay by draining a three-pointer up top off a screen. Ruby finished a full-speed layup in transition, worked hard to deny entry passes to cutters, and dished passes to open teammates when her shot wasn't there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->