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<p>Michigan high school girls basketball is just over a month away from getting underway, which means it's time to start looking ahead to the 2026-27 season. Over the next several weeks, I'll be rolling out plenty of preseason coverage, including division previews, conference previews, team previews and players to watch throughout the state. I've also started reaching out to varsity coaches about team previews when I have their contact information. If you're a varsity coach and would like to have your team featured in a season preview, please feel free to reach out to me at <a href="mailto:danyle.bowers@gmail.com">danyle.bowers@gmail.com</a>. I'm excited to get the high school coverage started and begin taking a closer look at what's ahead this winter.</p>
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<p>The list of returning talent in Division 1 is a long one, and the first group only scratched the surface of the players who should make an impact across Michigan this winter. With proven All-State players, college commits and talented underclassmen throughout the division, there will be plenty of familiar names back on the floor for the 2026-27 season. Some are coming off big individual seasons, while others played key roles in conference championships and deep postseason runs. With another talented group still to highlight, here's a look at more of the big names returning to Division 1 and some of the players I'll be keeping a close eye on throughout the high school season.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Allie returns for her senior season after earning Second Team All-State honors as a junior and putting together a strong all-around season for the Eagles. She averaged 17.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and four steals per game while helping lead her team to a 20-4 record and a CHSL Central West championship. Allie was also very efficient offensively, shooting 49 percent from the floor, 39.2 percent from behind the arc and 89 percent from the free-throw line. Her ability to score at an efficient rate while also creating for teammates, rebounding and making plays defensively gives her the ability to impact the game in several different ways. Allie has already made her college decision, committing to Northwood University, and enters her senior season as another one of the big names to know in Division 1.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Sydney returns for her senior season at East Lansing after earning Second Team All-State honors as a junior. She averaged 16.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game while helping the Trojans finish with a 16-8 record. Sydney's scoring and work on the glass were important pieces of East Lansing's success, and she enters her final high school season closing in on a major career milestone. With 918 career points, she needs just 82 more to reach 1,000, giving her an opportunity to hit that mark early in her senior year. After establishing herself as an All-State player last season, Sydney will once again be an important piece for East Lansing and will have an opportunity to build on an impressive junior campaign. She is another experienced Division 1 player I'll be keeping a close eye on as the season gets underway.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">OJ is one of the younger names on this list, but she has already established herself as a player to know in Division 1. She earned All-State Honorable Mention recognition as a freshman while helping Bay City Western finish 13-11, and she already holds multiple Division I offers with three high school seasons still ahead of her. I had the opportunity to watch OJ during the summer, and her ability to attack the basket immediately caught my attention. She plays well off two feet, uses excellent body control around the rim and stays balanced when finishing through contact. OJ can also create for others, showing the ability to draw defenders into the lane before finding an open teammate. Defensively, her length allows her to disrupt plays and gives her versatility on that end of the floor. With her combination of size, finishing ability, playmaking and defensive tools, OJ has a chance to take a big step forward during her sophomore season and will be one of the young players I'm excited to follow this winter.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Ella returns for her junior season at Midland after earning All-State Honorable Mention recognition as a sophomore and helping lead the Chemics to a 20-6 record. Midland put together a strong postseason run before falling in the regional final to eventual Division 1 state champion Muskegon. I had the opportunity to watch Ella during the summer, and the long guard showed the versatility that makes her such an important piece for Midland. She can knock down shots from beyond the arc, create off the dribble and attack the basket, while also showing the composure to handle pressure and make good decisions with the ball. Defensively, her length can cause problems, and she showed the ability to create turnovers and quickly turn them into opportunities for teammates. Ella has already made her college decision, committing to Saginaw Valley State University. With two high school seasons still ahead of her, she will be a player to watch as Midland looks to build on last year's success.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Nylah made an immediate impact during her freshman season at Fraser, earning All-State Honorable Mention recognition while helping the Ramblers put together an impressive 24-3 season that included conference, district and regional championships. She has already established herself as one of the top young post players in Michigan, using her size and strength to be a force around the basket. Nylah has strong hands, good footwork in the paint and the ability to finish efficiently off two feet, while also making her presence felt as a rebounder on both ends of the floor. Defensively, she gives Fraser a rim protector who can alter and block shots around the basket. What makes her even more intriguing is the development of her offensive game away from the rim, including the ability and willingness to step into mid-range jumpers. After accomplishing so much in her first varsity season, Nylah will be one of the young Division 1 players to watch closely as she heads into her sophomore year.</p>
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Michigan high school girls basketball is just over a month away from getting underway, which means it's time to start looking ahead to the 2026-27 season. Over the next several weeks, I'll be rolling out plenty of preseason coverage, including division previews, conference previews, team previews and players to watch throughout the state. I've also started reaching out to varsity coaches about team previews when I have their contact information. If you're a varsity coach and would like to have your team featured in a season preview, please feel free to reach out to me at danyle.bowers@gmail.com. I'm excited to get the high school coverage started and begin taking a closer look at what's ahead this winter.
The list of returning talent in Division 1 is a long one, and the first group only scratched the surface of the players who should make an impact across Michigan this winter. With proven All-State players, college commits and talented underclassmen throughout the division, there will be plenty of familiar names back on the floor for the 2026-27 season. Some are coming off big individual seasons, while others played key roles in conference championships and deep postseason runs. With another talented group still to highlight, here's a look at more of the big names returning to Division 1 and some of the players I'll be keeping a close eye on throughout the high school season.
Allie returns for her senior season after earning Second Team All-State honors as a junior and putting together a strong all-around season for the Eagles. She averaged 17.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and four steals per game while helping lead her team to a 20-4 record and a CHSL Central West championship. Allie was also very efficient offensively, shooting 49 percent from the floor, 39.2 percent from behind the arc and 89 percent from the free-throw line. Her ability to score at an efficient rate while also creating for teammates, rebounding and making plays defensively gives her the ability to impact the game in several different ways. Allie has already made her college decision, committing to Northwood University, and enters her senior season as another one of the big names to know in Division 1.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Sydney returns for her senior season at East Lansing after earning Second Team All-State honors as a junior. She averaged 16.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game while helping the Trojans finish with a 16-8 record. Sydney's scoring and work on the glass were important pieces of East Lansing's success, and she enters her final high school season closing in on a major career milestone. With 918 career points, she needs just 82 more to reach 1,000, giving her an opportunity to hit that mark early in her senior year. After establishing herself as an All-State player last season, Sydney will once again be an important piece for East Lansing and will have an opportunity to build on an impressive junior campaign. She is another experienced Division 1 player I'll be keeping a close eye on as the season gets underway.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
OJ is one of the younger names on this list, but she has already established herself as a player to know in Division 1. She earned All-State Honorable Mention recognition as a freshman while helping Bay City Western finish 13-11, and she already holds multiple Division I offers with three high school seasons still ahead of her. I had the opportunity to watch OJ during the summer, and her ability to attack the basket immediately caught my attention. She plays well off two feet, uses excellent body control around the rim and stays balanced when finishing through contact. OJ can also create for others, showing the ability to draw defenders into the lane before finding an open teammate. Defensively, her length allows her to disrupt plays and gives her versatility on that end of the floor. With her combination of size, finishing ability, playmaking and defensive tools, OJ has a chance to take a big step forward during her sophomore season and will be one of the young players I'm excited to follow this winter.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Ella returns for her junior season at Midland after earning All-State Honorable Mention recognition as a sophomore and helping lead the Chemics to a 20-6 record. Midland put together a strong postseason run before falling in the regional final to…
Nylah made an immediate impact during her freshman season at Fraser, earning All-State Honorable Mention recognition while helping the Ramblers put together an impressive 24-3 season that included conference, district and regional championships. She has already established herself as one of the top young post players in Michigan, using her size and strength to be a force around the basket. Nylah has strong hands, good footwork in the paint and the ability to finish efficiently off two feet, while also making her presence felt as a rebounder on both ends of the floor. Defensively, she gives Fraser a rim protector who can alter and block shots around the basket. What makes her even more intriguing is the development of her offensive game away from the rim, including the ability and willingness to step into mid-range jumpers. After accomplishing so much in her first varsity season, Nylah will be one of the young Division 1 players to watch closely as she heads into her sophomore year.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
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