PH Michigan Top 250: All-Star Team

<p>The Prep Girls Hoops Michigan Top 250 was full of talent of all kinds and at all levels. I put together an All-Star lineup from the event based on what I witnessed.</p> <p>* Please remember, there were over 100 players there. I couldn’t possibly see every players best moments. This is strictly based on what I witnessed and is by no means all inclusive.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="787660" first="Ashton" last="Atwater"] (2022, CG, Otsego)</strong></p> <p>"Wow" is an accurate description of Atwater’s evening at the Top 250. He was stellar on both ends of the floor, often times pressuring the ball handler at half court and forcing turnovers. I saw multiple coaches forced to make adjustments because of this. Atwater was equally as stellar using his combination of handles, strength, and foot speed to create looks at the rim.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1111936" first="Joey" last="Cabana"] (2024, SG, Chelsea)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/42-Joey-Cabana.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301182" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/42-Joey-Cabana-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Cabana has always been very talented, but he’s just different right now. He’s become incredibly bouncy and explosive, and has developed the ability to change game momentum with one highlight reel play. Cabana certainly showed off his new pedigree at the Top 250.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="983494" first="Joe" last="Francis"] (2022, SG, Adrian)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/109-Joe-Francis.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301244" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/109-Joe-Francis-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>In my opinion, Francis could be a bona fide star at the next level. He has in the gym range, and when heats up, it’s nearly impossible for the opposing team to not bend. On Saturday, I watched Francis bury 3 DEEP triples and spark a huge run for his team. In fact, every time I glanced in his direction, it felt like he was hitting another one.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="987279" first="Jayden" last="Hardiman"] (2023, C, Warren Mott)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/148-Jayden-Hardiman.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301278" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/148-Jayden-Hardiman-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>There wasn’t anything fancy about what Hardiman did, but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t effective. The big man battled for offensive position under the rim all the way until the last horn sounded. He was active on the glass and picked up a ton of high percentage shots because of his strength under the rim.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="986745" first="Kaden" last="Johnson"] (2022, SF, Hartford)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/136-Kaden-Johnson.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301268" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/136-Kaden-Johnson-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Johnson was as advertised at the Prep Hoops Top 250. I’d say he was easily one of the top 5 players in the gym. He can work on the perimeter and in the paint and showed really soft hands when doing his work down low. Johnson has BIG TIME upside as a player and prospect. He’s very versatile and looked to be in great physical condition.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="863947" first="Grant" last="Pikkaart"] (2022, SF, Portage Central)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/142-Grant-Pikkaart.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301274" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/142-Grant-Pikkaart-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Pikkaart showed that he can score in a plethora of different way. He buried a 3 with a hand in his face, knocked down a catch and shoot triple, picked up an and 1, and also split defenders on a dribble drive and drew a foul. Pikkart also showed a penchant for the pass, hitting a cutter with a crisp pass for the assist.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1223489" first="Dontez" last="Scott"] (2024, PG, Summit Academy)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/35-Dontez-Scott-II.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301176" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/35-Dontez-Scott-II-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Let me be the first to apologize to Dontez for the #42 ranking. Disregard that, as it will change. He can really put the ball on the floor and go to work. He had a nice baseline drive that drew defenders and allowed him to dump the ball to a big for an easy deuce. Scott went to the rim physically, using his strength and balance to shrug off contact.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1213117" first="Parker" last="Swartz"] (2023, SF, Mona Shores)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/127-Parker-Swartz.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301259" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/127-Parker-Swartz-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>I didn’t realize how athletic Swartz is. He was like a pogo stick in the lane, allowing him to finish at and above the rim. Swartz moves fluidly around the court and showed that he could be more than effective in a fast paced game. This is a young man that college coaches will want to keep an eye on.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="863922" first="Brady" last="Titus"] (2022, PG, Tri-Unity Christian)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/8-Brady-Titus.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301148" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/8-Brady-Titus-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>I just don’t get it. Apparently, we’re supposed to worry about his size. What SHOULD make the news is that he’s a bona fide winner and as skilled as almost anyone in the state. I’m sorry, but Titus is a D1 talent. Better yet, he’s exactly the type of young man that you want representing your program. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1112299" first="Jaxson" last="Whitaker"] (2024, SG, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/94-Jaxson-Whitaker.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301233" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/94-Jaxson-Whitaker-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Whitaker has been playing really good basketball and he continued that trend at the Top 250. He’s a scorer at heart and showed on Saturday that he could do it in bunches. He stays focused on his shot, burying triples even with a hand in his face. Whitaker even showed a pretty spin move and finish with the ball under the rim.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>