Fall Rankings Update: 2029 New Additions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The evaluation and rankings process was expedited this spring and summer due to the volume of Prep Girls Hoops tournaments in Michigan and mass participation by clubs and teams on our Prep Girls Hoops Circuit. The Prep Girls Hoops College Tour series and Prep Girls Hoops Michigan State Tournament gave us five chances to see prospects compete locally right here in Michigan. Nearly every club with college prospects in Michigan competed in front of our scouts at one Prep Girls Hoops tournament, with many clubs attending more than one tournament. This reality created the perfect environment for us to evaluate prospects from across the state against various levels of competition. We've continued to evaluate prospects at elite camps, individual showcases, and fall leagues throughout August, September, and now into October. Our Freshman Showcase hit a new PR with 90+ participants, while The Expo also hit new highs for attendance with 100+ registrations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After actively evaluating the 2029 prospects, we now have 310 players ranked and on the Watch List. Height, size, speed, athleticism, fundamental skill development, the position a player is projected to play at the next level, and performance in different competitive settings are all taken into account. Our goal with every class is to accurately group prospects into the correct categories of college potential/projection. By the end of senior year, each class breaks down into clear categories: Power Four/D1+, D1/D2+, D2/NAIA+/D3+/JUCO+, NAIA/D3/JUCO, and NAIA/D3 reserve. As I've written many times, the levels of college basketball intersect, cross, and differ in competitive ability throughout all the divisions. All high school classes do not have the same size, talent, or level of college talent. However, based on my tracking of commitments over the past three years, there appears to be a predictable trend in Michigan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking data from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 classes into consideration, there could be approximately 410 or more prospects per grade who can play some level of college basketball. Some multisport athletes don't play travel basketball or play in remote areas where we don't get the opportunity to identify them for our rankings, despite our best efforts. Based on averages from the past three classes, I expect anywhere from 10-20 D1 commits, 20-30 D2 commits, and 125-140 NAIA/D3/JUCO commits in a particular class. If you'd like to learn more about the rankings and evaluation process, please utilize the thorough articles below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/how-we-rank/">How We Rank</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2025/09/michigan-rankings-in-depth/">Michigan Rankings All-Access</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1809101"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac915a18fcac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Maddie made a great first impression at the PGH Expo with her length, athleticism, versatility as a guard-wing-forward, and ability to penetrate with a burst to get downhill on her drives. She creates matchup challenges and makes her presence felt as a determined rebounder. Maddie took that momentum into the Fall League and stood out in front of Danyle, showing good instincts and awareness on defense, staying active in the passing lanes to create steals, and demonstrating confidence as a perimeter shooter, hitting the open three. She had a productive freshman year and looks ready for an even bigger sophomore season at Forest Hills Eastern.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1254805"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac915a18fce1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mekai was one of the most impactful two-way players in the gym at the HBCU Showcase. She zooms around the court and causes a disruption on defense with her scrappy ball pressure. Mekai intercepts passes, pokes the ball out to create steals, then takes them the other way in top gear to score fast-break layups. She's an effective facilitator, has shifty handles, goes up strong to finish in traffic, and works hard to contribute as a rebounder. Mekai is a point guard who stuffs the stat sheet and will be a welcome addition to the American International Academy program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1877532"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac915a18fd05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Claire had her rockstar moment at Oakland Team Camp. Her shiftiness off the dribble, finishing finesse with both hands at the rim, precision passing, rebounding efforts, speed in the open court, and accuracy from three-point range stood out. Claire captured Danyle's attention at Fall League by impacting games as a rebounder, scoring in traffic from difficult angles, and her ability to beat defenders off the dribble. She's been on a roll the past few months and will be an impactful guard in Rockford's rotation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1926421"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac915a18fd24"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DeMiya came to the PGH Expo and delivered a knockout performance, solidifying her spot in the rankings. She has a powerful, quick, compact, and athletic build that's going to make life very difficult for guards trying to match up this winter. DeMiya slashes to the hoop and finishes with strength in traffic, impacts games with her defensive effort, rebounds, and facilitates the ball effectively with good court vision. She showed leadership qualities, communication, positive energy, and engagement in games and from the sideline that are a premium at the next level. DeMiya can knock down the open shot from three-point range, and her versatility will be an advantage for Avondale this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1823594"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac915a18fd43"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A.J. is a prospect whose potential stood out during observations of [program_tooltip program_id='715695' first='Michigan' last='Vice'] during the spring and summer. She can knock down shots from beyond the arc and in the mid-range, accelerate downhill with a burst off the dribble to get past defenders, and finish with either hand around the basket. A.J.'s athleticism and hops help her out jump defenders to secure offensive rebounds, then score contested layups in traffic. She has good instincts off the ball, makes smart cuts, and uses her quickness to stop dribble penetration on the defensive end. Plymouth graduated key seniors from their lineup, and A.J. looks like a player ready to make a noticeable impact this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->