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<p>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.</p>
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<p><a href="https://videogamehistory.fandom.com/wiki/NBA_Jam">Read more about the history of NBA JAM</a></p>
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<p><strong>MICHIGAN JAM! HS Article Series</strong></p>
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<p>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”. <strong>Rating</strong> <strong>Breakdown</strong>: 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)</p>
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<p><strong>MICHIGAN JAM! Ratings Explained:</strong> 0=Not Observed, 1-2=Rare, 3=Average, 4=Above Average, 5=Advanced, 6=Elite</p>
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<p><strong>Speed</strong> is ball handling, acceleration, and quickness, <strong>3 pts </strong>is shooting 3s efficiently more often than not, <strong>Dunks</strong> is leaping ability, elevation, and/or height, <strong>Defense</strong> is steals, deflections, shutting down your position, and <strong>Final Rating</strong> 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.</p>
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<p>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 Grand Haven, Catholic Central, and West Catholic!</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grand Haven Buccaneers</h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-GrandHaven-1.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1307316" /></figure>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='943220' first='Georgia' last='Reinecke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='807315' first='Mallory' last='Woiteshek']</strong></p>
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<p>Ships will be on the lookout for this terrific tandem from Grand Haven on the open seas this winter. Their go-to play in the video game would be Jason Williams to Chris Webber style alley-oop lobs for glass shattering slams--Boomshakalacka! Mallory has a treasure chest that's starting to glow with D1 offers. She was a Player of the Year Finalist and followed that up with a fantastic AAU season--she's ranked #2 in Michigan's 2027 class. Mallory is mobile, athletic, long, and aggressive. She's a human flyswatter in the paint and a nuisance for shooters on the perimeter. Mallory finishes well with both hands, motors in transition to score layups, and is becoming a threat from three-point range. Georgia is a team player who contributes in all areas on the court. She gives the Bucs a spark with her three-point shooting, anticipates shots off the rim, and races in to secure offensive rebounds. Georgia is a confident finisher around the basket, moves to space without the ball, communicates, and sets the tone with her defensive effort. This West Side duo will be fun to watch this winter. </p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grand Rapids Catholic Central Cougars</h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-GrandRapidsCatholicCentral.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1307302" /></figure>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='734966' first='Hailey' last='Durland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='734941' first='Jaya' last='Chandler']</strong></p>
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<p>This Catholic Central backcourt has speed, athleticism, and explosive playmaking abilities. Hailey picks pockets on defense and has a relentless motor. She shifts gears and blows by defenders with a variety of combo dribbles and finishes layups with finesse. Hailey has great vision, precise passing, poise under pressure, and can light it up from three-point range. Jaya came to PGH Expo last year and dominated, earning Danyle's MVP award and a First Team selection. Her athletic advantage produces blocks on the defensive end, wreaks havoc on opposing ball-handlers, and ends plays with high-flying finishes at the rim. Jaya attacks gaps with her quick dribble and dishes passes to open teammates when the defense collapses. She's a threat from outside and can score inside using good footwork. These guards would be must-see TV in PGH Michigan JAM. </p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grand Rapids West Catholic</h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-GrandRapidsWestCatholic.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1307306" /></figure>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865141' first='Alexis' last='Asekomeh'] and [player_tooltip player_id='800599' first='Kenley' last='Slanger']</strong></p>
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<p>Alexis and Kenley are a pair of prospects who look to lead West Catholic back to the state finals after their runner-up finish last season. Alexis was a Player of the Year Finalist last season and has secured big offers this summer. She's a fierce rebounder and a powerful finisher inside. Alexis plays with strength on both ends of the court and muscles through defenders on her way to the rim. Alexis scored off two feet and is a force on the offensive glass. She protects the rim as a shot blocker, has good footwork, and her athleticism turns heads. Kenley is a court general with x-ray vision, sixth sense passing instincts, and confident ball-handling. Her length and aggressive defense causes challenges for opposing guards. She creates steals, deflections, takes charges, and closes driving lanes. Kenley can post up score inside and change hands to score with either hand. She's a scrappy rebounder looking to score as soon as she touches the ball. These Falcons are birds of prey and West Catholic is a preseason top ten team in D2.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">UPCOMING EVENTS</h2>
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<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>
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<p><a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/1653/register/the-expo-michigan">Register for The Expo</a></p>
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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.
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