Headliners Invitational: HS Team Wings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ray Kimball and I joined forces to offer the first-ever Headliners Invitational Showcase back in November of 2023. After taking a sabbatical in 2024, our conviction became undeniably strong that the Headliners needed to return and become a staple event in the community. The inspiration for the Headliners Invitational Showcase came after observing elite camps and prospect camps across the state. There were pieces of traditional showcase formats (games/scrimmaging), college elite camps, and prospect camps that I liked, but something was missing from the equation. The ideal format became apparent as I reflected upon my goal for joining Prep Girls Hoops in the first place: to identify and help girls basketball prospects be recruited by college coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1962647,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/10/Screenshot_20261026-130404.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1962647" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Headliners Invitational Showcase, High School Session, Portland, Oct. 25, 2026. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An event where girls would have the opportunity to: 1) Work with college coaches who want to recruit them, 2) Be evaluated by college coaches who fit their level of ability, and 3) Receive comprehensive media coverage by Prep Girls Hoops scouts was clearly needed for prospects in the community. Every prospect is unique, and the traditional showcase format may not be the best fit for everyone. Those girls need opportunities to demonstrate their skills through small-sided games and drills in front of college coaches--not just games. That's exactly why drills emphasizing different skill areas, 3v3, and 5v5 games were all included at the Headliners Invitational. The format was chosen to set prospects up for success in front of the scouts and college coaches. Every prospect had a reversible jersey with a number that corresponded to the information in the college coaches' event packets. College programs D2, D3, NAIA, NCCAA, and JUCO across the state received an invitation to this event, with several border state programs also included. Time was built into the event for prospects to speak with college coaches after their sessions. An exciting segment was added to the event this year, with Make Shots trainer Mike Soukup putting both the high school and middle school participants through a shooting workout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1962651,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/10/PXL_20261025_170659670-edited.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1962651" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Headliners Invitational Showcase, Middle School Session, Portland, Oct. 25, 2026. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were no middle school showcases offered in the state back in 2023, so it became clear that we had a great opportunity to provide an exceptional first experience for middle schoolers. Since college coaches are recruiting/evaluating high schoolers and our PGH coverage prioritizes high school prospects during their AAU and high school seasons, having a middle school session became very important. Middle schoolers not only worked with college coaches, but also had the opportunity to train with current Lansing Community College players. Jocelyn Kotowicz (2025, St. Johns) ran a Q &amp; A segment with the participants and provided valuable insight about what it's like to be a college basketball player. Every middle schooler is on the Prep Girls Hoops radar ahead of their high school career and will be promoted on our platform. By attending a showcase before their freshman year, these middle schoolers will be better prepared for high-stakes environments in front of college coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1962653,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/10/PXL_20261025_171248343.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1962653" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Coach Mike Soukop, Make Shots Clinic, Headliners Invitational Showcase, Portland, Oct. 25, 2026. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1962696,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/10/Screenshot_20261026-131438.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1962696" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Coach Ray Kimball, Lansing Community College, Co-Director Headliners Invitational Showcase, Portland, Oct. 25, 2026. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My coverage focused primarily on Team Wings and Team Lynx during the high school session. Here are evaluations of the high schoolers who represented Team Wings during session one at the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/prepare-2-win-basketball/"></a><strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/prepare-2-win-basketball/"></a><strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/program/prepare-2-win-basketball/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='923712' first='Prepare' last='2 Win Basketball']</strong></a></strong></strong> Headliners Invitational Showcase:</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-6adf7147129d7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Maddie has length and versatility that make her capable of contributing at multiple positions. She worked hard to make an impact as a rebounder and high-pointed the ball to secure an offensive rebound in a crowd. Maddie was very active on the offensive boards during the games for Team Wings and went up strong to score putbacks. She utilized the dribble, then made a good transfer to score a short jumper with touch. She changed speeds and hands effectively in the open court and showed off her range by sinking a smooth three from the wing. Maddie had a solid day at the Headliners Invitational Showcase and will be a prospect to follow at Forest Hills Eastern this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1249691"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1963837,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6adf714712d40"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">You won't find a tougher player in the backcourt than Madison. She goes down hard and immediately pops up for the next play. Madison contested layups and didn't allow anything easy. She sprinted back to catch a breakaway and attempted to block the layup attempt. Madison finished well with her left off two feet and pivoted to create space to drop in a soft floater off the glass. Madison hustles back in transition, is aggressive on the ball and in the gap, and doesn't give up layups. She swiped the ball away and raced up the court to score a fast break bucket with her left. Madison is a three-point threat and she drained a deep wing three off the catch with a quick release. Madison delivered an impressive performance at the Headliners Invitational Showcase. She's a shifty, all-out effort, two-way game wrecker and was one of the top point guards in the gym. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1605274"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1963831,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6adf714712945"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sydney set the standard in drills for taking handoffs and immediately turning the corner to attack in a straight line, accelerating to the rim and finishing full-speed layups comfortably with either hand. Her cerebral instincts, unselfish facilitating, polished skill set, and impactful two-way presence checked all the point guard boxes in games for the Wings. She attacked with a burst to score layups and sprinted in to secure offensive rebounds. Sydney created multiple steals by deflecting passes in the gap and also generated a turnover with her full-court pressure. She put great touch on her lob passes and made selfless one-more passes to create wide-open looks for her teammates. Sydney is a deadly perimeter threat, and the opponent learned the hard way when she drained a silky smooth pull-up three off the bounce up top and another from the wing. Sydney froze a defender with a pocket hesi dribble, then shifted gears to split the gap for a drive-by layup. She was one of the most complete point guards at the Headliners Invitational Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1814789"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1963841,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6adf714712bd1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jaylyn is a guard who can play multiple positions and roles. She's a team player who does whatever needs to be done to help the team be successful. Jaylyn excelled in the 3v3 environment. She makes smart reads, doesn't force the issue, and moves to open space. Jaylyn caught passes balanced with her feet set and drained a wing three, then a smooth corner jumper. She was active in games as a rebounder, pushed the tempo in transition, and drove downhill to score a speedy layup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1963821"],"_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-6ae207319e3ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Maelyn made a great first impression at the Headliners Invitational Showcase. Her quick hands and perimeter pressure created deflections and steals on the defensive end. Maelyn ripped by off the dribble to score a floater and took the ball hard to the hole for a layup in traffic. She put great touch on her lob passes and worked hard to move her feet and stop dribble penetration. Maelyn chased after rebounds and changed hands well in the paint to get her shot off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1812756"],"_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-6adf714712a57"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jeahna is a senior I was excited to see on the registration list ahead of the Headliners Invitational Showcase. She finished well off two feet and used a good fake pass move to create a scoring angle on a drive. Jeahna went into a defender with a strong shoulder, used a drop step, and powered through contact for the layup. She turned in back-to-back highlights, closing out hard to block a shot on the perimeter, then burying a smooth wing three on the offensive end. Jeahna is a very accurate spot shooter, pivots well to keep her balance, and shoots well from the free-throw line. She will be a great addition to a college program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["945453"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1963826,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6adf714712cc5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grace has size and skill that translate to the next level as a forward. She's strong and physical, which showed especially on defense and as a rebounder. Grace held her position against posts trying to back her down, used textbook wall-up technique, and blocked the shot. She recognized an opening and cut hard to the basket for a catch-and-finish layup. Grace gave her team an edge inside at the Headliners Invitational Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1834934"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1963823,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6adf714712b50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Haydyn is a scrappy, bulldog-type point guard who causes havoc with her aggressive pressure on defense and drives with an extra burst to the basket. She finished with a good touch around the basket and looked determined to get to the rim at the Headliners Invitational Showcase. Haydyn showed her outside range by sinking a triple from the slot and shot confidently from beyond the arc throughout the day. She knocked down free throws after forcing fouls on her assertive drives and was effective as a facilitator, making strong skip passes to the corner and hitting a cutter in stride with a bullet overhead pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1338609"],"_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-6adf714712ad4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Taylor will be the prospect to watch at Bay City Central this season, and she looks ready to make a huge splash in the Saginaw Valley League as a freshman. Taylor is a well-rounded point guard, and her comprehensive impact on the floor has stood out on multiple occasions. She turned in another solid all-around effort at the Headliners Invitational Showcase. Taylor found herself matched up against a post and held her ground, deflecting the shot away. She demonstrated excellent vision and made accurate kick-outs to open shooters off dribble penetration. Taylor made smart reads and one-more passes to create open looks for teammates. She jumped up to snatch an inbounds pass and made the defender pay for giving her too much room by draining a deep straightaway three off the dribble. That confidence is exciting to see in a freshman. Taylor anticipated passes on the defensive end to generate steals and turned in a productive effort. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1249777"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1963846,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6adf714712c4d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Katie was one of the stronger, taller, and most physical forwards at the Headliners Invitational Showcase. Her mobility, toughness, and aggressive style wear down opponents on both ends of the court. She finished well with her left off two feet, used textbook box-out technique to secure rebounds, drove assertively to the basket to score a layup, made her presence felt as a rebounder, and knocked down a free throw with confidence after forcing the defense to send her to the line. Her high motor and imposing strength make it a challenge for defenders to keep her from getting the inside advantage. Katie can step outside and shoot the three; she'll be a force for Saranac this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->