Airport Showcase: Starting Five

On Monday, I journeyed southbound down I-275 to attend the 12th annual Airport Basketball Showcase Event in Carleton. This showcase provides a great opportunity for me to evaluate downriver prospects, while also giving new high school teams Prep Girls Hoops coverage. With games from 10 AM to 7:30 PM, there was plenty of basketball to watch throughout the day. The event was well organized and operated by the host. Dozens of prospects emerged throughout the day, but here are the five top performers who cracked my starting lineup.    I don't remember seeing a point guard lined up for the opening tip, but that's exactly what Madleen did to start the game, and she won it for the Rams. Madleen's perimeter pressure, three-point shooting, dribble penetration, tough finishing off hard drives to the basket, and expert facilitating gave Flat Rock a huge advantage in the backcourt. She penetrated the defense, forced the help to commit to her dribble, and dropped off passes to open teammates around the basket. Madleen froze her defender with a shot-fake, drove by, avoided the help using a euro-step, and converted the tough finish. She protected the ball with her shoulder to score a tough, contested layup with her left hand in transition. Madleen led the team in scoring with 27 points (3 3PT), secured five rebounds, dished out five assists, and had three steals in the win.     Nyla is a senior guard who should be on more college radars right now. She put her best on display during the Airport Showcase for South Lyon East. Nyla was persistent on the offensive glass, drove with long strides and a burst to the basket for layups, and stepped into a pass with confidence to bury a wing three. She ripped the ball to keep it from being tied up in a crowd, knocked down mid-range jumpers, and kept ball-handlers uncomfortable with her pressure. Nyla is a dynamic two-way playmaker for the undefeated Cougars. She finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and five steals.     Keira started the game hot from beyond the arc and continued to strike all game for the Hornets. She buried a smooth wing triple off the dribble and drained three more. Keira worked hard to secure rebounds, distributed the ball effectively to teammates, and drove with determination through the teeth of the defense to score a strong and-one layup with her left. She led the team with 19 points (4 3PT), grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out three assists.     Anna has the speed, length, athleticism, motor, and skill to be a highly recruited college prospect. She left no doubt about that at the Airport Showcase. Anna was in the zone right from the opening tip, scoring 10 of 12 for Belding in the first quarter. She drilled a smooth wing three, aggressively ripped the ball away, scored a strong offensive rebound put back, and used her quick hands to produce a steal. Anna gets downhill in a hurry and explodes through the lane. She used a sweet high pick-up move to convert a left-handed layup on a straight line drive and took a DHO straight to the rim for a tough and-one: completed the three-point play at the line. Anna drilled a corner three off the catch, scored another high pick-up layup on a drive, dished out a great dump-off assist, and outworked a defender to secure an offensive rebound. Anna led the Kicking Mules with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals.     It's been exciting to see Harper develop fundamentally and physically into one of Michigan's top 2027 post prospects. She checked all the boxes during Saline's win at the Airport Showcase. Harper protected the rim, moved her feet, and used excellent shot-blocking technique to avoid fouling. Her communication was loud and constant on the defensive end, which kept teammates from being blindsided by screens. Harper muscled into position for offensive rebounds, scored put-backs, and pinned defenders on her hip to catch entry passes for high percentage shots. She used effective drop steps and pivots to get the angle for rim front finishes. Harper turned in a dominant double-double performance with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks.

On Monday, I journeyed southbound down I-275 to attend the 12th annual Airport Basketball Showcase Event in Carleton. This showcase provides a great opportunity for me to evaluate downriver prospects, while also giving new high school teams Prep Girls Hoops coverage. With games from 10 AM to 7:30 PM, there was plenty of basketball to watch throughout the day. The event was well organized and operated by the host. Dozens of prospects emerged throughout the day, but here are the five top performers who cracked my starting lineup.