Saginaw Valley North Packed with Proven Playmakers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Saginaw Valley North Conference is loaded with returning talent this season, and with several proven playmakers back on the floor, it should be an exciting conference to follow this winter. Saginaw Heritage claimed the conference title a year ago with a 9-1 record, finishing 18-7 overall. Midland was right behind at 8-2, followed closely by Mount Pleasant at 7-3, while Midland Dow finished 4-6 in conference play. Bay City Western and Bay City Central will both be looking to make strides and climb the standings this season. Heritage will have some big shoes to fill following the graduation of conference MVP Alesia Ode, who is now continuing her basketball career at Ferris State University. However, the Hawks still have talent returning and will look to defend their conference championship. With Midland and Mount Pleasant also bringing back talented players, the race at the top could be an interesting one. There is no shortage of talent throughout the Saginaw Valley North, and several players have already established themselves as difference makers at the varsity level. Here are some of the returning players I'll be keeping an eye on this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["932751"],"_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-6aef666b1169c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ellee returns for her junior season at Midland after earning First Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore, and the Northwood University commit should once again be a major presence for the Chemics this winter. The 2028 post player brings an impressive combination of size, versatility and scoring ability that makes her a difficult matchup for opposing defenses. Offensively, Ellee is effective around the basket, using her positioning and footwork to create scoring opportunities and finish with a soft touch. She works hard on the offensive glass, battling for rebounds and turning second-chance opportunities into points. What makes her especially dangerous is her ability to step away from the basket and knock down shots from beyond the arc. Ellee can also face up and attack off the dribble, giving her multiple ways to score. She does a nice job working in pick-and-roll situations and putting herself in position to finish. Defensively, Ellee provides a strong presence in the paint with her shot-blocking ability while also showing the awareness to disrupt passes on the perimeter. After helping Midland finish second in the Saginaw Valley North last season, I expect Elle to play a major role as the Chemics look to challenge for the conference championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["898878"],"_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-6aef666b11702"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kaiya returns for her junior season at Midland after earning First Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore, and the Northwood University commit will once again be a key piece for the Chemics. The 2028 point guard brings an impressive combination of leadership, energy and playmaking ability that makes her such a valuable presence on the floor. One of the things I really like about Kaiya's game is the confidence and enthusiasm she brings to her team. She is a vocal leader who communicates well on both ends of the floor and isn't afraid to step up in big moments. Offensively, Kaiya is a dangerous perimeter shooter who can knock down shots from beyond the arc, but she also has the quickness to get downhill and finish around the basket. She showed that ability during Michigan Jam Live 3v3, where she helped lead Midland to a championship and delivered a clutch three-pointer to seal the title game. Kaiya's competitive mindset and ability to make plays when her team needs them most are qualities that stand out. With Midland coming off a second-place finish in the Saginaw Valley North, I expect Kaiya to be an important leader as the Chemics look to make a run at the conference championship this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["933013"],"_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-6aef666b1174c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Josie returns for her junior season at Saginaw Heritage after earning First Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore, and I expect her to take on an even bigger role for the Hawks this winter. The 2028 guard brings a nice combination of length, athleticism and scoring ability that allows her to make an impact in several different areas of the floor. Offensively, Josie has the ability to score from the mid-range while also using her athleticism to get to the basket and finish around the rim. She does a good job finding scoring opportunities inside and can be difficult for defenders to contain when she gets into the paint. One of the things I really like about Josie's game is her willingness to compete on the glass. She uses her length to track down rebounds on both ends and works hard to create second-chance opportunities, turning offensive boards into putback baskets. Josie put together a strong showing at the Mystics Open Run, displaying the versatility that makes her such an intriguing player to watch. With Saginaw Heritage graduating conference MVP Alesia Ode, who also happens to be Josie's older sister, there will be some big shoes to fill. I expect Josie to embrace the opportunity to take on more responsibility as the Hawks look to defend their Saginaw Valley North championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1204144"],"_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-6aef666b1178f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">OJ enters her sophomore season at Bay City Western after earning First Team All-Conference and All-State Honorable Mention honors as a freshman, and she has already established herself as one of the top young players to watch in the Saginaw Valley North. The 2029 guard brings an impressive combination of size, athleticism and playmaking ability that makes her a difficult matchup for opposing defenses. One of the things that really stands out about OJ's game is her ability to get downhill and finish around the basket. She has excellent body control, plays well off two feet and does a great job maintaining her balance when finishing through contact. OJ is also an unselfish playmaker who can draw defenders into the paint before finding open teammates for scoring opportunities. Defensively, she uses her length to disrupt plays and create problems for opposing guards. With multiple Division I offers already in hand, OJ is quickly establishing herself as a highly regarded prospect in the 2029 class. After an impressive freshman campaign, I'm excited to see how OJ continues to develop her game and build on the success she has already had as one of the top young prospects in Michigan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["866019"],"_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-6aef666b117d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Allie returns for her senior season at Midland Dow after earning First Team All-Conference honors as a junior, and I expect her to be an important piece for the Chargers this winter. The 2027 guard brings a combination of toughness, energy and playmaking ability that allows her to make an impact on both ends of the floor. One of the things I really like about Allie's game is her competitive nature and willingness to do whatever it takes to help her team succeed. Defensively, she applies consistent pressure to opposing ball-handlers, making them work for every opportunity while using her quickness and determination to disrupt the offense. Allie also brings plenty of value on the offensive end, especially with her ability to push the pace in transition. She does a great job keeping her head up, reading the floor and delivering well-timed passes to create scoring opportunities for her teammates. Her scrappy style of play and ability to make winning plays were on display at the Tuesday Night Tune Up with the [program_tooltip program_id='715753' first='Michigan' last='Mystics']. With a couple of college offers already in hand, I'm excited to see where Allie decides to continue her basketball career at the next level. In the meantime, I expect her leadership and experience to be valuable for Midland Dow this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->