Zero Star Showcase: 16U and 17U Prospects to Know

After a monumental first offering of the [program_tooltip program_id='928192' first='Zero' last='Star Basketball'] Showcase in 2025, I journeyed back to the U.P. for the second year of what has become a staple event on my annual Prep Girls Hoops Michigan coverage schedule.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/20240325_142416-crop-1536x1009-1711391481.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-879008" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jenna Maki, 2024, Ishpeming, Breslin Center, Mar. 22</figcaption></figure>   The seed was planted in March of 2024 during the State Semifinals when I watched prospects Ella Mason from Negaunee and Jenna Maki of Ishpeming blow the roof off the Breslin Center. Both were soon-to-be graduating seniors who, quite frankly, should have been on our radar sooner and more heavily recruited by colleges in the state. That day, I realized an entire peninsula of Michigan was being missed, and I vowed never to let another Yooper girls' basketball prospect graduate without being seen, known, and evaluated by Prep Girls Hoops. Many schools with great basketball players in the U.P. do not make it to the big dance at the Breslin Center, and those kids deserve an opportunity to be noticed. I met Advantedge Sports Training and [program_tooltip program_id='928192' first='Zero' last='Star Basketball'] owner/director Dustin Brancheau when he brought his [program_tooltip program_id='928192' first='Zero' last='Star Basketball'] teams to our Prep Girls Hoops Live tournament. There, I discovered many additional prospects with a college basketball pedigree. <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/05/prep-live-17u-morning-session-notes/">Read More</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/PXL_20240624_002006959.MP_-crop-3657x2401-1750431982.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1261138" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Zero Star Practice, Republic Jr/Sr High School, Michigamme, June 23rd, 2024.</figcaption></figure>   After driving up with Cleary University Assistant Coach Jerry Wallace for a Zero Star Girls Basketball practice almost two years ago, it was clear that this showcase needed to become an annual event. I started the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/12/yooper-hoopers-week-one/">“Yooper Hooper”</a> article series to give U.P. prospects Prep Girls Hoops coverage during their high school season, and I've been able to see many of the high school girls prior to this because of an intentional effort. Dustin and I have high hopes for the U.P., and this Zero Star Showcase will continue to be a marquee event for Yooper girls' basketball prospects for years to come.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/PXL_20250621_160130832.MP_-crop-3724x2445-1750607531.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1261643" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Zero Star 13U-17U teams, Zero Star Showcase, Vandament Arena, Marquette, June 21st, 2025. </figcaption></figure>   16 college programs were able to evaluate the prospects. Many D2, D3, and JUCO college coaches watched from the baseline, while several others livestreamed the event. The showcase's format and sequence provided an opportunity to conduct a thorough evaluation of the prospects. Individual skill drills in essential fundamentals, small-sided games, and 5v5 scrimmaging enabled the girls to show their best qualities while receiving maximum ball touches. Here are several 16U and 17U prospects from session two to have on your radar:   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/06/PXL_20260611_005725336.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1868579" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">16U and 17U Teams, Zero Star Showcase, Negaunee, June 10th, 2026.</figcaption></figure>    Breyelle is a scrappy guard who impressed me in Grand Rapids a year ago, and I was excited to see her on the court during the Zero Star Showcase. During the 2v2 segment, Breyelle took a handoff downhill with a burst for a layup and cut backdoor for a nice catch-and-finish layup off two feet. She made a good recovery to block a shot from behind and timed up another layup attempt to swat the shot away in front of the basket. Breyelle gets downhill. She got the edge off the dribble and made a smooth transfer to her right for a layup during 1v1, then side-stepped her defender with a fancy euro-step to put the ball straight through the net. Breyelle used her shoulder to move the defender, kept her balance, then powered up off two feet for the bucket. She was active and aggressive during the games. Breyelle swished a corner three, chased down a breakaway to swipe the ball away from an unsuspecting ball-handler, and dished out passes to open teammates for assists.     Makayla has the versatility, size, length, and fundamental skill set needed to excel inside as a forward or out on the perimeter as a guard. She delivered a solid performance at the Zero Star Showcase. Makayla protects the paint as a shot blocker and has the closeout speed to disrupt shots on the perimeter. She drove with a strong shoulder through contact, then finished the contested layup off two feet using the glass. Makayla attacked with a burst to beat her defender down the baseline to score another bucket off two. She showed her outside range, sinking a deep slot three, worked hard inside to deflect entry passes into the post, and was an active rebounder. Makayla is a big stock riser who should have plenty of interest at the next level before all is said and done.     Ellie has length, athleticism, and a versatile skill set at the guard spot that make her a highly talented college prospect. She answered a triple with her own smooth three from the corner and shot the ball confidently from beyond the arc throughout the event. Ellie can slash to the basket off the dribble and convert difficult shots in contested situations. She attacked on a hard-nosed drive down the baseline, created a scoring angle with a spin, then dropped in the contested floater off two feet. Her anticipation and length generate steals on the defensive end. Ellie had a solid day at the Zero Star Showcase and is one of the top backcourt prospects in the UP.     Gracie's strong, mobile, and physical frame makes her a challenging matchup for guards and posts. She muscled her way to the block during the 2v2 segment, driving through contact down the baseline, then sank a smooth fadeaway jumper over her defender. Gracie showed her outside range, burying a deep corner three off the catch with confidence. She can score with her back to the basket, face-up and slash to the rim off the dribble, and pop outside to hit perimeter jumpers. Gracie moves her feet well laterally and holds her ground to stifle straight-line drives. She's a versatile small forward, one of the top UP prospects in her class, and was an exciting player to watch during the Zero Star Showcase.     Princess has promising athleticism and potential. She has good instincts off the ball. Princess moves to open space on the court and makes quick basket cuts after passing to give teammates an open target. During the 2v2 segment, she showed good balance off step-back dribbles and shot the ball confidently from the outside. Princess gets into position for high percentage looks at the basket.     Aybri played hard on both sides of the court throughout the Zero Star Showcase. She picked up a rebound, pushed the ball with pace up the floor to start the fast break, then dished out an assist to an open shooter. Aybri worked to defend in the post and on the perimeter, forcing missed shots without fouling. She was active on the boards and facilitated well, dishing out crisp passes to open teammates.     Alayna used both hands to create space against pressure during the 2v2 segment. She drove down the baseline and made a skip pass to the corner for an assist. Alayna looks to create open looks for others and defends without fouling on the defensive end. She made a good jump pass to a cutter down low for an assist and demonstrated good instincts as a facilitator.     Audrey is a quick guard who can facilitate, shoot the three, and penetrate off the dribble. During the 2v2 segment, Audrey used a crossover to create space from a defender, regained her balance with a pivot, then drained a contested three from the slot. On drives to the basket, she gets to two feet, uses pivots to keep defenders off balance, and switches hands to put up shots in traffic. Audrey went by on a speedy drive during the 1v1 segment to score a difficult contested layup. She used a quick crossover and shifted into top gear to penetrate gaps off the dribble. Audrey knocked down a smooth corner jumper off the catch and had a solid showing at the Zero Star Showcase.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Next U.P. Showcase</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/06/Final-Flyer-Yooper-Girls-1.png?w=792" alt="" class="wp-image-1868521" /></figure>   <a href="https://register.ryzer.com/camp.cfm?sport=4&id=335481">Registration Link</a>

After a monumental first offering of the Zero Star Basketball Showcase in 2025, I journeyed back to the U.P. for the second year of what has become a staple event on my annual Prep Girls Hoops Michigan coverage schedule.