LBI Mitten Opening–2027s Standing Out

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several of Michigan's best teams and prospects flooded Belleville High School for the LBI Mitten Opening on Wednesday, November 26th. Here are some of the 2027 prospects who stood out during my time watching the games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["807274"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6929e0f3804f1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sydney is Michigan's top prospect, and she proved it again at the LBI Mitten Opening. Sydney drained many three-pointers from different spots with a silky smooth release off the dribble, including a deep moonshot up top. She split defenders with quick crossovers and finished with strength at the rim. Sydney closed out hard to block a shot on the perimeter and showed pinpoint accuracy on her lob passes through tight windows ahead in transition to open teammates. Sydney's physical strength, fine-tuned offensive skills, active defense, and rebounding effort give Belleville an advantage against any team they play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1449649,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Courtney Dyer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gabriel Richard","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6929e0f3805c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Courtney was one of the best surprises at the LBI Mitten Opening. She's stepping into a prominent role this season, and her performance for FGR on Wednesday helped them earn a hard-fought victory. She moved to open space around the basket and used effective drop-steps to score contested layups. Courtney worked hard to secure offensive rebounds, converted put-backs, and scored a tough and-one through contact off two feet. Her length, physicality, and effort in the post will be an asset for FGR this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751145"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6929e0f380616"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harlem is a top five prospect and our top ranked point guard in the 2027 class--she played like it for Groves at the LBI Mitten Opening. I saw Harlem hit at least five triples in one game, including some nasty step-backs, and smooth shots off crossover combinations. The best players want the ball in crucial moments. Harlem weaved her way past defenders to score a tough bucket, giving Groves the lead in the closing seconds of the 4th quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["962124"],"_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":1449641,"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6929e0f380673"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Aryana is a guard whose stock went up at the LBI Mitten Opening. Her shifty ball-handling, court vision, defensive effort, constant rebounding, and uptempo style caught my attention. Aryana snagged a defensive board, pushed it up the court with both hands, side-stepped a defender using a euro-step, and finished the layup with her left hand. Aryana split the gap with a quick crossover dribble, accelerated, and finished with the layup. I noted that Aryana had good command of the ball, and she's a solid prospect from Mumford to keep on your radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["807281"],"_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":1449632,"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6929e0f3806cb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Layla has quickness, length, polished skills, and the instincts of a true point guard prospect. She separated herself with Belleville at the LBI Mitten Opening and is going to be moving up in our next rankings update as a result. Layla kept hands active on defense to create steals, jumped into the passing lanes, and applied heavy pressure on the perimeter to force turnovers. She attacked off the dribble in top gear and used a smooth high pick-up move to finish the layup. Layla used textbook footwork to maintain good defensive positioning in transition and force a missed shot without fouling. She finished layups well off two feet, converted an acrobatic floater, and drained three-pointers with confidence. Layla is about to have a huge year for the Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->