Highlights From The Midwest – The Finale

After doing the Midwest gauntlet of Kentucky and Ohio, I am fascinated with how all these young ladies keep grinding through a very difficult schedule. These were the girls from around the country who impressed me by running through the tape for the last event of the season and the final event in some of their AAU careers at Select Events - The Finale.    A guard that can handle and attack for AEBL, what Leah did best in Ohio was shoot it. Several teams struggled to stay in front of AEBL players and decided to try some zone. When they did, Leah made them pay. She found soft spots in the zone and banged open 3-pointers and still managed to get her shots off and score as the close outs came harder. It was a clinic.     There is a reason that Morgan won a 2025 FIBA U16 AmeriCup Gold Medal for Team USA and it was on full display with AEBL in Ohio. The reason is that she is one of the most versatile guards in America and a true PG. She controls tempo, scores when she wants to and makes sure all her teammates are involved. Playing 17U as a 2028, there was not a guard in Ohio that could contain her. Defensively, she wreaks havoc on opposing guards.     Mia and her twin sister Kate normally go hand in hand for YKS, however, in a win over MCW Starz, it was Mia whose talents stuck out most. In a game where MCW would not go away, Mia sent them packing with multiple daggers from deep 3 to tilt the game in their favor for good. She gets out in transition and finishes and is just as comfortable pushing tempo     A silky smooth perimeter player for the Northwest Blazers Montana, Madison is the clear leader on the court for her team. She exudes confidence and did not fear the moment. When games got tight she delivered time and time again. Whether it was a deep 3, a no look dime or a finish at the rim, Madison had everything she needed in her bag of tricks in Ohio.     Down to just 5 players in the Power 24 Quarterfinals against the Minnesota Suns, everyone had to step up and make plays and Kaely did as much as anyone on the floor. She played with an absolutely relentless motor, was on the floor after loose balls and creating turnovers on defense. When the opposition knocked off her goggles, she just kept going. Though undersized, she repeatedly got in the lane and finished with tear drop floater and iced the win for her team at the line late.     With just 5 players and all their other size on the bench with injury in a big Power 24 Quarterfinal matchup with the Minnesota Suns, Caroline stepped up and did whatever was needed to help her YKS team get the win. She showed great footwork in the post and the ability to finish with both hands. She was a force on the boards at both ends and a physical presence in the paint all game long.

After doing the Midwest gauntlet of Kentucky and Ohio, I am fascinated with how all these young ladies keep grinding through a very difficult schedule. These were the girls from around the country who impressed me by running through the tape for the last event of the season and the final event in some of their AAU careers at Select Events - The Finale.