Young Talent Takes the Floor at WMD Open Gym

[program_tooltip program_id='1226083' first='West' last='Michigan Drive'] held its Open Gym on Sunday afternoon at Wellspring Prep High School, bringing together players from several age groups for an opportunity to compete and showcase their skills. The first group on the floor featured the 13U and 14U players, making them the youngest group in attendance. The players went through drill work before putting those skills to the test in competitive 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 action. There was plenty of young talent on the court, with several players catching my eye through their skill, effort, and competitiveness. Here are a few of the young players who made their presence felt at the WMD Open Gym.    Sariyah may have been the youngest player in the gym, but her performance certainly didn't look that way. The 2033 guard was one of the top players on the floor, showing impressive confidence and skill throughout the WMD Open Gym. She displayed tight handles and finished through contact during the drills before carrying that same attacking mentality into the 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 action. Sariyah was shifty with the ball, using moves such as a hesitation and double low crossover to get by defenders and attack the basket. She also knocked down shots from beyond the arc and was active on the glass, collecting rebounds and offensive boards. Defensively, she showed good hands and consistently competed on that end of the floor. Her combination of skill, quickness, and competitiveness was impressive for the youngest player in attendance.       Mia showed a nice scoring touch and ability to make plays at both ends during the WMD Open Gym. She knocked down shots from beyond the arc and displayed impressive footwork during 5-on-5 action, using a smooth step-through move to create a scoring opportunity. Mia also turned defense into offense by taking a steal coast to coast for a finish. Her shooting, footwork, and ability to capitalize in transition made for a strong showing.       Joslyn showed a versatile offensive game during the WMD Open Gym, making plays both inside and from the perimeter. She knocked down a three and displayed good passing ability in the pick-and-roll, delivering a well-timed pass to a teammate. Joslyn also showed strong hands in traffic, catching a pick-and-roll pass in a crowd and turning it into a bucket. She finished through contact and demonstrated solid footwork around the basket, including the ability to get back to the basket and create a scoring opportunity. Her combination of passing, toughness, and interior footwork made for a strong showing.     Leah showed a nice feel for the game during the WMD Open Gym. She displayed strong court vision and delivered a great pass to create an opportunity for a teammate. On the defensive end, she was a pesky presence who competed hard and made things difficult for opposing players. Her combination of playmaking and defensive energy made her someone who caught my eye.     Emery showed a strong attacking mentality during the WMD Open Gym. She consistently looked to get downhill and put pressure on the defense, while also staying active on the glass and pulling down rebounds. Her ability to attack the basket and contribute on the boards gave her team a valuable presence on both ends of the floor.     Isla brought plenty of toughness and energy to the floor during the WMD Open Gym. She competed hard defensively and consistently found ways to make winning plays through her effort. Isla was especially active around the basket, tracking down a couple of long offensive rebounds and giving her team extra possessions. Her defensive intensity and relentless hustle stood out throughout the afternoon.

West Michigan Drive held its Open Gym on Sunday afternoon at Wellspring Prep High School, bringing together players from several age groups for an opportunity to compete and showcase their skills. The first group on the floor featured the 13U and 14U players, making them the youngest group in attendance. The players went through drill work before putting those skills to the test in competitive 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 action. There was plenty of young talent on the court, with several players catching my eye through their skill, effort, and competitiveness. Here are a few of the young players who made their presence felt at the WMD Open Gym.