MI College Tour III Grand Valley: Owning the Glass

The PGH MI College Tour made its third stop at Grand Valley State University, where a full slate of games across both gyms kept the energy high throughout the day. While action was taking place in multiple locations, I was stationed in the rec gym from start to finish on Saturday, getting an up-close look at the 15U, 16U, and 17U groups as they took the floor.   The theme of the day shifted to the interior, as players made their presence felt by owning the glass. Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, several prospects consistently battled for rebounds on both ends, creating second-chance opportunities and limiting opponents to one shot. Whether it was securing tough boards in traffic, carving out space with physicality, or pursuing the ball with relentless effort, these players showed a strong commitment to doing the dirty work. With college coaches in attendance, the effort, toughness, and impact on the boards stood out, as players found ways to influence the game beyond scoring.    Kariya, a post player for 5Star, made her presence felt during the MI College Tour III stop at Grand Valley on Saturday with a strong showing on the interior. She displayed reliable hands and a soft finish around the basket, converting efficiently in close. She was active on the glass at both ends, consistently securing rebounds and creating extra opportunities for her team. Kariya also brought a physical edge in the post, holding her ground and competing inside, while showing touch on a smooth turnaround jumper.     Mia, a post player for the Goonies, made a strong impact during the MI College Tour III stop at Grand Valley on Saturday by doing the subtle things that make a big difference. She consistently set solid screens to free up teammates and create scoring opportunities. On the glass, she was active on both ends, securing rebounds and giving her team extra possessions. Defensively, she protected the rim well, altering shots and holding down the paint. Offensively, she showed versatility, able to face up and attack or operate with her back to the basket.     Emory, a guard for [program_tooltip program_id='1226083' first='West' last='Michigan Drive'], stood out during the MI College Tour III stop at Grand Valley on Saturday with her length, athleticism, and relentless work on the glass. She rebounded at a high rate, especially on the offensive end, consistently creating extra possessions with her effort and pursuit. She also showed the ability to get downhill in transition, putting pressure on the defense. For college coaches in search of a guard who can impact the game on the boards, Emory made a strong case with her performance.     Kendall, a post player for Kalamazoo Basketball Academy, made her presence felt during the MI College Tour III stop at Grand Valley on Saturday with her work on the interior. She was active on the glass at both ends, consistently securing rebounds and giving her team extra possessions. Defensively, she protected the rim and anchored the paint. Offensively, she did a great job establishing position, sealing her defender effectively to create scoring opportunities inside.     Ryenn, a post player for the Mystics, turned in a dominant performance during the MI College Tour III stop at Grand Valley on Saturday. She controlled the glass, rebounding at a high rate and consistently creating extra possessions for her team. Defensively, she anchored the paint as an elite rim protector, altering and contesting shots throughout. On the offensive end, she showed versatility with the ability to score both inside and step out to contribute beyond the paint. Her strong weekend performance is sure to elevate her stock, and she added to it by picking up an offer from Hope College.

The PGH MI College Tour made its third stop at Grand Valley State University, where a full slate of games across both gyms kept the energy high throughout the day. While action was taking place in multiple locations, I was stationed in the rec gym from start to finish on Saturday, getting an up-close look at the 15U, 16U, and 17U groups as they took the floor.