P2W Headliners Invitational: HS Team Wings

When Evan Bell and Ray Kimball teamed up to launch the first-ever Headliners Invitational back in November of 2023, they set out to create something special for the girls basketball community. After taking a short break in 2024, Evan felt strongly that the Headliners needed to return and establish itself as a premier showcase event. The concept for the Headliners Invitational Showcase came from Evan's experiences observing elite and prospect camps across the state. While each had elements he admired—such as live games, skill work, and recruiting opportunities—he noticed there was still something missing. His goal became clear: to build an event that truly helps girls basketball prospects gain exposure and be recruited by college coaches, aligning perfectly with his mission at Prep Girls Hoops. I'm thankful to have the opportunity to help Evan cover this year's event and continue shining a light on the incredible talent in the gym.   Evan Bell and his team designed the Headliners Invitational Showcase to be much more than just another event—it was built with a clear purpose. Evan wanted to create an opportunity for girls to work directly with college coaches who are actively recruiting, be evaluated by programs that match their current level of play, and receive detailed media coverage from Prep Girls Hoops scouts. Recognizing that every player is different and not all thrive in traditional showcase formats, he emphasized skill-based drills, 3v3 competition, and 5v5 gameplay to give each prospect the best chance to shine in front of college coaches. Each participant wore a numbered jersey tied to detailed college coach packets, ensuring visibility and accessibility for recruitment. With 20 colleges pre-registered and dedicated time for players to connect with coaches after sessions, the event was designed for meaningful exposure and development.   Evan also identified a major gap in the landscape—no showcase opportunities for middle school girls in Michigan. To fill that void, he introduced a middle school session that provided an elite experience led by college coaches and special guests like former WNBA player Jennifer Smith (GLCC Head Coach) and Northwood sharpshooter Makenzie Todd (LCC Assistant). Every middle school participant gained exposure on the Prep Girls Hoops platform, ensuring they are on the radar well before high school. I'm grateful to help Evan cover an event that not only connects current prospects with recruiters but also lays the foundation for the next generation of Michigan basketball talent.   My coverage focused primarily on teams Wings, Lynx and Sparks during the showcase. Here are evaluations for High schoolers representing Team Wings during session one at the Prepare 2 Win Headliners Invitational.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/10/image_8e909c.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1353407" style="width:995px;height:auto" /></figure>    Elise was an MVP and top performer for Team Wings, showing why she's a player college coaches need to keep on their radar. She's a smart, tenacious defender who constantly disrupts opponents with her energy and anticipation. Offensively, Elise displayed great court vision and the ability to score at all three levels—whether attacking off the bounce, pulling up in the midrange, or knocking down shots from deep. Her poise, IQ, and versatility make her the kind of guard who elevates everyone around her.     Vanessa brought grit and toughness to Team Wings, standing out with her relentless energy and scrappy play. She consistently attacked her defender off the baseline, showing great body control and awareness as she delivered sharp one-handed passes to open teammates. Her ability to create opportunities through hustle and smart decision-making made her a key playmaker throughout the day.     Caroline made her presence felt for Team Wings with her sharp instincts and well-rounded skill set. She was active on defense, reading plays early and jumping passing lanes to create turnovers. Offensively, she showed great touch with a smooth floater in the lane, connected on shots from beyond the arc, and handled the ball with confidence under pressure. Her ability to impact both ends of the floor made her a steady and valuable contributor.     Summer was a top performer for Team Wings, showcasing her ability to score in a variety of ways. She consistently attacked off the dribble, using her strength and balance to finish through contact and elevate off two feet for controlled, powerful finishes. Her spin move in the lane and up-and-over touch around defenders stood out, displaying her creativity and poise in traffic. On the defensive end, she was just as impactful—using quick hands and strong positioning to force turnovers and make life difficult for opposing guards.     Emily was a top performer for Team Wings, providing a steady and impactful presence on both ends of the floor. She energized her team with back-to-back threes, showcasing her smooth and reliable shooting stroke from deep. Her timing and awareness stood out as she made a smart backdoor cut for an easy finish, constantly finding ways to contribute within the flow of the offense. Emily also displayed strong court vision, delivering crisp passes to set up her teammates and keep the ball moving efficiently.     Julia made her presence felt for Team Wings with her all-around effort and impact on both ends of the court. She showed confidence from long range, knocking down shots from behind the arc when her team needed them most. Defensively, she came up with several key blocks that helped shift momentum and protect the paint. Julia also battled hard on the boards, consistently fighting for rebounds and giving her team extra opportunities through her hustle and determination.     Payton, returning to the Headliners after first attending two years ago, showed just how much her game has grown. Playing for Team Wings, she brought great energy and effort, hustling to track down long rebounds and turning them into opportunities for her team. She handled defensive pressure with poise after securing boards and made several sharp passes that kept the offense flowing. It was great to see her back in action, continuing to compete with confidence and determination.     Remmi was a top performer for Team Wings, showcasing her relentless motor and toughness from start to finish. She consistently outworked opponents, turning hustle plays into easy transition points and energizing her team in the process. One of her highlights came on a crafty and-one finish, using a smooth fake pass before finishing strong through contact. Beyond scoring, she showed great vision off the dribble—drawing defenders in and finding open teammates for quality looks. Remmi's grit, effort, and playmaking made her stand out all day long.

When Evan Bell and Ray Kimball teamed up to launch the first-ever Headliners Invitational back in November of 2023, they set out to create something special for the girls basketball community. After taking a short break in 2024, Evan felt strongly that the Headliners needed to return and establish itself as a premier showcase event. The concept for the Headliners Invitational Showcase came from Evan's experiences observing elite and prospect camps across the state. While each had elements he admired—such as live games, skill work, and recruiting opportunities—he noticed there was still something missing. His goal became clear: to build an event that truly helps girls basketball prospects gain exposure and be recruited by college coaches, aligning perfectly with his mission at Prep Girls Hoops. I'm thankful to have the opportunity to help Evan cover this year's event and continue shining a light on the incredible talent in the gym.