Zero Star Showcase: Top Performers

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.   <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>   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>   <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>   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 <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/12/yooper-hoopers-week-one/">“Yooper Hooper”</a> 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.   <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>   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. After taking drills and games into account, these are the seven prospects who stood out during the showcase as the Top Performers.   Every D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO should take a serious look at these U.P. prospects.    I expected Piper to stand out as one of the best prospects in the gym at the Zero Star Showcase--that's exactly what she did. Piper swished a couple of moonshot three-pointers from well beyond the college line during the games. She blew by a defender baseline and made a quick transfer to her left hand for the finish off two feet. Piper used a shifty crossover to score a drive-by again with her left and scored another contested layup off two feet. She never quits on a play, securing an offensive rebound off a miss and delivering the assist. Piper created steals with her active defense and penetrated gaps with explosive quickness off the dribble. She is a 2027 point guard who has the qualities needed to be a heavily targeted college prospect and earned recognition as a Top Performer.     Jenessa is an Ishpeming prospect whose dominant performances during the D4 State Finals in 2024 helped inspire this showcase. Her qualities that burned bright at the Breslin were on full display at the Zero Star Showcase. Jenessa started strong by burying three-pointers at a high rate from the wings and corners during shooting drills. She made a great dump-off assist driving downhill after a dribble hand-off during the 2v2 segment. Jenessa's abilities and athleticism separated her during the games. She drove with a burst downhill to score many contested layups off one and two feet. Her length and quickness closed passing windows and driving lanes on the defensive end. Jenessa buried corner threes, used explosive crossover-jab dribbles to create separation from defenders, and secured rebounds. She threw passes on a rope to open teammates and finished layups through contact off hard cuts to the basket. Jenessa drove hard from the wing, initiated contact with her shoulder, and changed hands quickly in the air to convert a tough, contested layup off two feet. She asserted herself all day, earning recognition as a Top Performer and securing an offer from Michigan Tech.     Ellie has length, athleticism, and two-way abilities that make her an exciting 2027 college prospect in the [program_tooltip program_id='928192' first='Zero' last='Star Basketball'] program. Ellie filled the hoop with three-pointers during the shooting drills and buried another with a confident wrist snapping follow-through during 2v2. She turned in a dominant performance during the games. Ellie has fantastic footwork and scoring instincts as a back-to-the-basket guard. She sealed a defender to catch an entry pass and scored a drop-step finish with a soft touch off the glass. Ellie turned on the jets to score a full-court layup after grabbing a defensive rebound and added an offensive rebound put-back with her left hand off two feet. Ellie kept defenders off balance by catching passes ready to shoot on the perimeter and staring down the rim. She pinned defenders with strong seals in the post and drained a sweet spin dribble turnaround jumper. Ellie paused briefly and exploded past her defender to score a layup off the dribble. She created steals on defense and was a Top Performer.     Gracie grabbed my attention at practice a year ago, and she's only gotten better since. Gracie fit right in against the older girls and was the best 2028 prospect on the court at the Zero Star Showcase. She knocked down triples during the three-point shooting drills and really shined during the 2v2 segment. Gracie used a jab move and attacked downhill to score a contested layup off the glass. She drove middle, spun, and used an excellent step-through to score another tough shot at the rim. Gracie drove by a defender with a burst to score a layup off two feet and scored contested layups with both hands. She buried a fadeaway, straightaway triple, elbow jumper, and a drop-step layup off the glass. Gracie continued to stand out during the games, swiping the ball away on defense and taking it the other way to score a contested layup. She snagged a defensive rebound, raced down the court, initiated contact with her shoulder, and scored off two feet. Gracie absorbed contact and used the glass to finish tough shots all day. She was a Top Performer, and I'm excited to follow her high school career at Newberry.     Gretel is a 2027 guard from Negaunee who was one of the best prospects in the gym at the Zero Star Showcase. Gretel immediately separated herself during the ball-handling segment. Her inside-outs, crossovers, between-the-legs, and behind-the-back combinations were quick, low, fluid, and controlled. She paced the group across the floor with a wide/athletic stance and fast feet. Gretel was an efficient perimeter shooter, knocking down three-pointers and mid-range jumpers throughout the day. She was a coach on the court with a high basketball IQ. Gretel impressed me when she pointed out strategy during games and noticed the team was settling for good shots instead of great shots. She scored an offensive rebound put-back, dished a great jump pass assist off the dribble, and created several steals on defense. Gretel penetrated gaps with her dribble, pushed the tempo, and made unselfish passes. She was a Top Performer with the leadership, strength, athleticism, and skills on both ends to be a highly recruited college prospect.     Clare makes winning plays and does whatever she needs to do to help the team succeed. She's a versatile forward prospect with skills, mobility, athleticism, and determination that stand out. Clare made smart decisions with the ball, communicated with teammates, and showed good footwork around the basket. She knocked down threes from different spots during the shooting drills and finished contested layups with both hands off two feet. Clare worked relentlessly to secure rebounds on both ends, finished offensive rebound put-backs, and chased down 50/50 balls. I noted that Clare was a great interior defender and passer out of the post. She dished a great jump pass entry assist and several more to cutters with her back to the basket. Clare has the foot speed, strength, and length to protect the rim and defend the perimeter. She was a Top Performer at the Zero Star Showcase and should be on more college radars right now.     Kara is a Baraga point guard who has proven time and again that she belongs in the same elite category as the undersized guards who are highly ranked and recruited in the 2026 class. She erased all doubts with a showstopping performance in the spotlight against top competition at the MBA Mother's Day Classic and provided more supporting evidence at the Zero Star Showcase. Kara has a deadly three-point shot. She was efficient during the three-point shooting drills and continued her sharpshooting during the games. Kara peaked at a screener up top and then launched a moon shot from the logo that ripped the net. She swished another deep three from well beyond the college line on the wing. Kara used crafty footwork to hit fadeaway jumpers and score against contesting defenders. She changed directions suddenly, using shifty combo dribbles, and converted impressive veer finishes off the glass. She caught a pass in transition, moved the defender with a jab step, and drove by to drop in a pizza pie floater at the rim. Kara was a Top Performer and has the defensive tenacity, fearlessness, elusive ball-handling, passing vision, three-point accuracy, finishing dexterity, and swagger needed to be successful at the college level.

Prep Girls Hoops is breaking a new trail this weekend. Prepare 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.