PGH Michigan JAM 2025: Airport, Clarkston, Edison

I am excited to announce the release of the “MICHIGAN JAM” series. During my 2024 summer vacation, I visited an old-school arcade that happened to include an edition of “NBA JAM,” the ultimate retro basketball video game. This game became famous during the 90s at the arcade and on numerous gaming consoles. The original game was released by Midway in 1993 and featured players from NBA rosters. Each NBA team featured two players who competed in 2 on 2 with no subs. Later additions to the game included 3-5 players, which gave gamers the ability to sub new players into the games. The game's exaggerated graphics, high-flying dunks, and lack of fouls made it wildly unique and popular amongst gamers.   <a href="https://videogamehistory.fandom.com/wiki/NBA_Jam">Read more about the history of NBA JAM</a>   MICHIGAN JAM! HS Article Series   This article series, modeled after the original “NBA JAM”, will include 2 players per team. There is an Eastern Conference and a Western Conference. Two high school players from the same team are included as a “Dynamic Duo”. Each player will be assigned a fictitious rating for physical and skill attributes based on the criteria of the original “NBA JAM”. Rating Breakdown: Overall speed/6, Shooting skill from 3 pt/6, Skill at dunking/6, Overall defensive skill/6. The overall rating is out of 24 (rating criteria are modeled using the original “NBA JAM”). Some of the original ratings of players from “NBA JAM”: Tim Hardaway-speed 5/6, 3 pts 4/6, dunks 1/6, defense 4/6, Final 14/24, Charles Barkley-speed 4/6, 3 pts 3/6, dunks 6/6, def 1/6, Final 14/24, Scottie Pippen-speed 5/6, 3 pts 4/6, dunks 6/6, def 5/6, Final 20/24. Best Rated Teams: New York Knicks (33 pts), Charlotte Hornets (32 pts), Chicago Bulls (32 pts no MJ), Sacramento Kings (30)   MICHIGAN JAM! Ratings Explained: 0=Not Observed, 1-2=Rare, 3=Average, 4=Above Average, 5=Advanced, 6=Elite   Speed is ball handling, acceleration, and quickness, 3 pts is shooting 3s efficiently more often than not, Dunks is leaping ability, elevation, and/or height, Defense is steals, deflections, shutting down your position, and Final Rating is the sum of all those categories out of 24 points. As you can see, legends of the NBA game, including Hall of Famers, don't rate over 20! This is meant to be a lighthearted and fun way of learning about some of the great duos in the state and not to be taken too seriously. There were 27 teams in the original “NBA JAM”, but I have expanded the total to 19 teams per conference.   Throughout the next few weeks, each team will have its video game graphic released in articles and on X! With that in mind, let's meet the dynamic duos from Carleton Airport, Clarkston, and Detroit Edison!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Carleton Airport Jets</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-CarletonAirport.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1305217" style="object-fit:cover" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='613963' first='Olivia' last='Gratz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='751167' first='Sophia' last='Mator']   Gratz and Mator are two prospects who fly high in the Carleton Airport backcourt. Olivia went bombs away on New Boston Huron last year, setting a new school record with an explosive 39-point performance. She has a second gear off the dribble. Olivia weaves through defenders with long strides and finishes acrobatic layups with finesse. Her length closes driving lanes and disrupts passes. Olivia makes defenses pay with her three-point shooting when they leave her open. Sophia leads the aerial assault for the Jets. Her sharpshooting from three-point distance puts points on the board in a hurry and keeps defenders on their heels. Sophia uses her active hands and anticipation to pick pockets on defense, then pushes the ball swiftly the other way for layups. She scores with a shooter's touch around the basket and has great footwork.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clarkston Wolves</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-Clarkston-v2.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1307173" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='807284' first='Brooklyn' last='Covert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='614650' first='Elliana' last='Robak']   Brooklyn and Elliana are a pair of prospects who have game-wrecking abilities. Their clutch contributions last season helped Clarkston secure an OAA-Red Championship. Brooklyn is a slashing point guard who is always on the attack. Her up-tempo style constantly puts pressure on opposing defenses. Brooklyn is a precision passer with X-ray vision who can throw rockets or dump the ball off to open teammates. She's shifty and accelerates past defenders to score layups with a burst off the dribble. Brooklyn is a pesky defender with quick feet who can knock down perimeter jumpers. Elliana is the most dangerous weapon in the Clarkston offense. Her deadly three-point accuracy gives the Wolves an advantage--if she doesn't hit at least two in a game, that's a surprise. Elliana has great finishing control with either hand around the basket and fancy footwork. She disrupts passing lanes and turns steals into transition points.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Detroit Edison Pioneers</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-DetroitEdison-1.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1305222" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='751162' first='Nichole' last='James'] and [player_tooltip player_id='614647' first='Marianna' last='Jones']   Nichole and Marianna are two prospects who would dominate the boards in PGH Michigan JAM. They're strong, tough, and relentless, which makes them a formidable force for opponents to stop. Marianna will be playing D1 basketball at Detroit Mercy following graduation. She's ruthless on the offensive glass and finishes putbacks with power off of two feet. Marianna's a vocal leader on the court, and her hard-working defense makes high percentage looks tough to come by. Nichole had a breakout sophomore season for Edison--her next-level attributes earned her an offer from Detroit Mercy in June. Nichole is a passionate competitor with freakish athleticism--she can jump out of the gym. Nichole is a fierce rebounder who muscles through contact to finish around the basket. These two forwards would be slamming dunks down with authority and blocking shots at will in the video game. The Pioneers are a preseason top 5 team in D2, and these two will create matchup problems this winter.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">UPCOMING EVENTS</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/07/The-Expo.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1267338" /></figure>   <a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/1653/register/the-expo-michigan">Register for The Expo</a>

I am excited to announce the release of the “MICHIGAN JAM” series. During my 2024 summer vacation, I visited an old-school arcade that happened to include an edition of “NBA JAM,” the ultimate retro basketball video game. This game became famous during the 90s at the arcade and on numerous gaming consoles. The original game was released by Midway in 1993 and featured players from NBA rosters. Each NBA team featured two players who competed in 2 on 2 with no subs. Later additions to the game included 3-5 players, which gave gamers the ability to sub new players into the games. The game's exaggerated graphics, high-flying dunks, and lack of fouls made it wildly unique and popular amongst gamers.