PGH Michigan JAM 2025: Renaissance, FHN, Goodrich

I am excited to announce the release of the “MICHIGAN JAM” series. During my 2024 summer vacation, I visited an old-school arcade that happened to include an edition of “NBA JAM,” the ultimate retro basketball video game. This game became famous during the 90s at the arcade and on numerous gaming consoles. The original game was released by Midway in 1993 and featured players from NBA rosters. Each NBA team featured two players who competed in 2 on 2 with no subs. Later additions to the game included 3-5 players, which gave gamers the ability to sub new players into the games. The game's exaggerated graphics, high-flying dunks, and lack of fouls made it wildly unique and popular amongst gamers.   <a href="https://videogamehistory.fandom.com/wiki/NBA_Jam">Read more about the history of NBA JAM</a>   MICHIGAN JAM! HS Article Series   This article series, modeled after the original “NBA JAM”, will include 2 players per team. There is an Eastern Conference and a Western Conference. Two high school players from the same team are included as a “Dynamic Duo”. Each player will be assigned a fictitious rating for physical and skill attributes based on the criteria of the original “NBA JAM”. Rating Breakdown: Overall speed/6, Shooting skill from 3 pt/6, Skill at dunking/6, Overall defensive skill/6. The overall rating is out of 24 (rating criteria are modeled using the original “NBA JAM”). Some of the original ratings of players from “NBA JAM”: Tim Hardaway-speed 5/6, 3 pts 4/6, dunks 1/6, defense 4/6, Final 14/24, Charles Barkley-speed 4/6, 3 pts 3/6, dunks 6/6, def 1/6, Final 14/24, Scottie Pippen-speed 5/6, 3 pts 4/6, dunks 6/6, def 5/6, Final 20/24. Best Rated Teams: New York Knicks (33 pts), Charlotte Hornets (32 pts), Chicago Bulls (32 pts no MJ), Sacramento Kings (30)   MICHIGAN JAM! Ratings Explained: 0=Not Observed, 1-2=Rare, 3=Average, 4=Above Average, 5=Advanced, 6=Elite   Speed is ball handling, acceleration, and quickness, 3 pts is shooting 3s efficiently more often than not, Dunks is leaping ability, elevation, and/or height, Defense is steals, deflections, shutting down your position, and Final Rating is the sum of all those categories out of 24 points. As you can see, legends of the NBA game, including Hall of Famers, don't rate over 20! This is meant to be a lighthearted and fun way of learning about some of the great duos in the state and not to be taken too seriously. There were 27 teams in the original “NBA JAM”, but I have expanded the total to 19 teams per conference.   Throughout the next few weeks, each team will have its video game graphic released in articles and on X! With that in mind, let's meet the dynamic duos from Carleton Airport, Clarkston, and Detroit Edison!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Detroit Renaissance Phoenix</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-DetroitRenaissance-v2.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1306649" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='617318' first='Jaebri'an' last='Autry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='932753' first='Kassidy' last='Cain']   If you like athleticism, speed, and aggressiveness on both ends, you're going to love this dynamic duo from Renni. Detroit Renaissance is a top-five D1 team heading into the 2025 season, and these two will be crucial to their success this winter. JB is a jack-of-all-trades prospect who has the strength, toughness, and quickness to lock down guards and forwards on the defensive end. She's a furious rebounder who finishes at the rim and drives with a burst to the basket. Kassidy is a floor general who has the ball on a string. She's a shifty slasher with an excellent finishing touch around the basket. Kassidy dishes passes on the money to open teammates, buries triples, and turns up the heat to force turnovers on defense. These two were PGH Player of the Year Finalists last season and are a terrific two-way tandem.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Forest Hills Northern</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-ForestHillsNorthern.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1306650" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='615942' first='Abby' last='Sietsema'] and [player_tooltip player_id='848305' first='Molly' last='Sietsema']   Abby and Molly are two sisters who were PGH Player of the Year Finalists last season, and they look even better heading into the 2025 season. Both have length and versatility that make them a daunting matchup for opposing teams. Abby rips the nets with her three-point shooting and has the crafty handles to burn defenders off the dribble. She finishes through contact and converts free throws at a high rate from the line. Abby has phenomenal footwork, blocks shots, and is capable of excelling inside or on the perimeter. She will continue her career at Grand Valley State following graduation. Molly is a sophomore whose stock is going through the roof right now. Receiving D1 offers from Akron and Murray State, Molly's play during the summer has gained a following. She handles the ball confidently with both hands and covers ground quickly with her long strides. Molly blocks shots and has excellent footwork in the paint. She attacks with a burst off the dribble and finishes strong through contact. Forest Hills Northern won the O.K. White last year, and the Sietsema sisters look ready to keep them on top.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Goodrich Martians</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-Goodrich.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1306680" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='614704' first='Kayla' last='Hairston'] and [player_tooltip player_id='807312' first='Baylor' last='Lauinger']   The Goodrich Martians are stacked with talent again as they roll into the 2025 season ranked top five in D2. Kayla and Baylor will be their leaders in the backcourt. Kayla is twitchy and elusive with the ball in her hands. She creates separation from defenders with fast dribble combinations. Kayla zooms by to drop silky smooth floaters in the bucket and can finish effectively with either hand. She's a scrappy on-ball defender who picks pockets and turns steals into two points. Kayla will continue her basketball career at Northwood upon graduation. Baylor is a slasher who knows when to pass and when to score. She's clutch in big moments, finishes with strength at the rim, and dishes great passes to teammates when driving lanes close. Baylor is a lockdown defender who pursues rebounds with a relentless effort that creates extra scoring opportunities for her team. She picked up a D2 offer from Northwood in June and added an O.T. Tourney MVP at team camp. These two guards are a dynamic duo that will be turning heads again this winter for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">UPCOMING EVENTS</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/07/The-Expo.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1267338" /></figure>   <a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/1653/register/the-expo-michigan">Register for The Expo</a>

I am excited to announce the release of the “MICHIGAN JAM” series. During my 2024 summer vacation, I visited an old-school arcade that happened to include an edition of “NBA JAM,” the ultimate retro basketball video game. This game became famous during the 90s at the arcade and on numerous gaming consoles. The original game was released by Midway in 1993 and featured players from NBA rosters. Each NBA team featured two players who competed in 2 on 2 with no subs. Later additions to the game included 3-5 players, which gave gamers the ability to sub new players into the games. The game's exaggerated graphics, high-flying dunks, and lack of fouls made it wildly unique and popular amongst gamers.