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Michigan’s top high school girls basketball players: Meet the state’s best guards (pt. 2)

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Over the next week, we’ll be taking a look at some of the top players across the Michigan girl’s basketball scene this season. This list will begin to cover the state’s premiere guards.

There are hundreds of standout basketball players in Michigan and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.

The following athletes will be included in the Michigan girls basketball best guards poll posted on Monday, February 6.

Michigan’s top high school girls basketball players: Meet the state’s best guards (pt. 1)

Note: Some stats have been updated more recently than others.


Junahya Johnson, senior, University Prep

Behind the strong play of their guards, the Panthers are off to a 9-3 start and are undefeated (6-0) in their conference. Johnson runs the point for Cindele Patton’s group and is averaging 15 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists. 

"She’s a good floor general that can create her own shot and get her team involved,” coach Patton said.

Kenyatta Jackson, junior, University Prep

Jackson is the other half of the Panthers “one-two punch.” She’s averaging 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists at the shooting guard spot. 

"She’s a lockdown defender that's great at playing off the ball and will back door you in a heartbeat," Patton said.

Stella Poota, sophomore, St. Mary’s Prep

Poota has become a “scoring machine,” according to coach Dan Heath. And, much to his chagrin, she’s only a sophomore. She’s averaging 17 points, three assists and an impressive seven steals per outing. 

“She’s deadly in the open floor,” Heath said. “Some kids are shooters. This kid is a raw scoring machine just starting to scratch the surface of her potential. She has never played travel ball and she is completely off the radar — a true natural talent just starting to realize her potential.”

Maya Anderson, junior, Cass Tech

Anderson is a three-year varsity starter who is being recruited and offered Division I scholarships on the regular. A 5-foot-8 point guard, Anderson is “a special athlete with superior basketball skills,” coach LaTonya Tate said. 

“She is a great scorer, with the ability to finish at the rim. She has 3-point shooting ability and is a special passer as well.” 

Anderson is an all-conference player who is considered one of the state’s top guards.

Kate Stemmer, junior, Saline

A Northwood University commit, Stemmer is averaging 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals per game for Saline, which has soared to a 13-2 start. 

“She is a tenacious defender that can dictate games with her defense alone,” coach Leigh Ann Roehm said. “She is relentless and goes harder than any player I have ever coached.” 

Stemmer is also a great rebounder for her size and is on pace to break the all time steal record in Saline school history. 

“Offensively, she is a terrific 3-point shooter and can get to the rim off the bounce,” Roehm said. 

Stemmer was an honorable mention all-state player last season.

Keira Roehm, freshman, Saline

Roehm has burst onto the scene as a freshman and established herself as a threat in the back court alongside Stemmer. The combo guard is averaging 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals per outing. She’s also lighting it up from deep, having already made 49 3-pointers through 15 games.

 “She has come in and made a huge impact as a freshman,” coach Roehm said. “She definitely doesn't play like a freshman.” 

She’s hit a pair of game-winning shots for Saline this season, too.

Kosette Bartels, senior, Richmond

While things haven’t always been smooth sailing for Richmond this season, Bartels has been one of the bright spots. She’s averaging a dozen points per game, but has been even more impactful as a leader keeping the group together. 

“She does all the little things that make our team competitive,” coach Bryan Schorman said. “It’s been a blessing to be able to coach such a hard working individual.”

Summer Davis, junior, West Bloomfield

Summer Davis is committed to Michigan State University, and she was a key part of West Bloomfield’s 2022 Division 1 title.

Indya Davis, junior, West Bloomfield

Indya Davis, Summer’s sister, is also committed to Michigan State. Davis scored a game-high 21 points in a win over Detroit Edison on January 31.

Kaylee Glidden, senior, Pennfield

Glidden is a talented combo guard who has been running the point for the Panthers. She’s averaging 19 points, eight rebounds, 4.5 assists, two steals and three 3-point makes per game. She’s also a two-year captain and was a second-team all-state player last year.

“For our program, she is a generational player who will do whatever it takes to win and has raised the level of play of her teammates with her work ethic and leadership skills,” coach Todd Grennes said. 

Glidden is closing in on 1,000 career points and has already broken four school records.

Brook Simpson, junior, Belding

Simpson tore her ACL during her sophomore season and underwent a new technique for her surgery. She told the Sentinel-Standard that she does not expect to play this season. She is committed to playing college basketball at Dayton University.

Julie Ashbaugh, junior, Grant

“Julie is the catalyst for what we do on the floor,” coach Josh Delamater said. And, with a team of girls all of whom are 5-foot-9 or under, the team’s strength is perimeter play, where they can take advantage of speed and athleticism. “That starts with Julie,” Delamater said, ‘There are very few girls in our area that can take the ball the length of the court as quickly as she does and that puts an amazing amount of pressure on other teams.” Ashbaugh is averaging 20.4 points, nine rebounds, 2.6 assists and four steals per game.

Gabrielle Reynolds, junior, West Ottawa

Reynolds has the West Ottawa points in a game scoring record at 33.

“She’s a really super athlete, she’s really humble, and she treats other people really well,” former head coach Paul Chapman told The West Ottawan.

Izzy Nooe, sophomore, South Lyon

Just a sophomore, Nooe has already impressed coach Christopher Schroudt enough for him to give her the title of “floor general.” 

At 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game, she’s doing “all the little things coaches get excited about,” Schroudt said. “She communicates on defense, dives on loose balls, recognizes defenses, all while playing 30 minutes a game.”

Regan Finkbeiner, senior, Hemlock

In her four years, Finkbeiner has collected quite the list of accomplishments. She’s earned everything from all-area, to all-conference, to all-state nods and recently surpassed 1,200 career points. 

This season, she’s averaging 16.1 points, 3.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and a 5.1 steals per game for coach Scott Neumeyer’s Hemlock group.

Sela Lefler, senior, North Farmington

Lefler is the engine that drives North Farmington. She’s averaging 17.3 points, four rebounds, two assists and four steals for coach Jeffrey Simpson’s team. North Farmington is off to a perfect 16-0 start and is no doubt in consideration as the state’s top team.

Na’Kiya Bonner, junior, Detroit Edison

Bonner is one of three Michigan high school girls basketball players committed to the University of Toledo. Bonner’s strength is her ability to see the floor.

"It comes natural to me," she told 247sports. "I will work on my passing but I would have to say it comes natural to me. But I developed my passing due to my older brother. He was a point guard and a good passer. Sometimes we would play one-on-one, but I would really study his game."

Chloe Perry, senior, Dexter

Perry is averaging 17 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.9 steals per game for Dexter at the guard spot. Previously an all-conference honorable mention, Perry is Dexter’s leader.

“She is one of the hardest workers and one of the toughest to ever play in our program,” coach Lauren Thompson said. “She is unique in that she can shoot from the outside but can also get to the rim at will. In addition, Chloe is an incredible role model for our youth basketball players and works as a referee and coach for our youth basketball program.”

Samone Andrews, junior, Dakota

“She is the glue that holds our team together,” coach Phil McCune said of his guard. Andrews has started for Dakota since day one as a freshman. 

This season, she’s tallying 15 points, five rebounds, 4.5 steals and three assists per game. 

“Off the court, Samone is a kind young lady that is always looking out for others. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to coach Samone,” McCune said.

Macey Fegan, senior, Standish-Sterling

Fegan is Standish-Sterling’s career scoring record holder. She averaged 29.9 points per game in her junior season and she is a two-time Division 2 All-State selection. She will play college basketball at the University of Toledo.

Cadence Dykstra, senior, West Catholic

Dykstra is also committed to play college basketball at the University of Toledo. She led Grand Rapids West Catholic to the Division 2 title game last season.

Lily Zeinstra, junior, Byron Center

Zeinstra, a Butler commit, has turned into a force for Byron Center (12-3). She’s averaging 17.5 points per game on 57 percent from the field, but has also become a formidable rebounder, notching 9.1 per game to go along with her 3.4 assists and 3.3 steals. She also shoots nearly 85 percent from the line.

Maggie Napont, senior, St. Francis

“Maggie is a quiet leader, but is absolutely relentless,” coach Adam Warren said. “She is a consistent scorer and can shoot from anywhere on the court as well as finish at the basket with contact.” 

Napont is up to 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.7 steals per game and has maintained excellent shooting percentages of 53 percent from the field and 55 percent from deep. 

“In addition to her instinctive offensive skills, she also sees her player and the ball at all times on defense — always looking for the steal,” Warren said. “Maggie will look to step up in pressure situations.”

Gwyneth Bramer, senior, St. Francis

At 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game, Bramer is a bit of a multi-positional player. 

“Gwyn is a unique player who blends guard-like skills with a strong post game,” Warren said. “Gwyn has a great mid-range game, but she can also shoot the three when needed. Defensively, she can guard the wing or the post and has the ability to leap and get blocks. The moment is never too big for Gwyn.”

Ashley Forner, junior, Bloomfield Hills

Forner has helped lead Bloomfield Hills to an 11-2 start, including an undefeated 6-0 record in conference play. She’s averaging 15 points per game as well as a pair of steals. 

“She’s a great scorer, gets out on the run and will make you pay in transition,” coach Kristen Massey said. “She’s a long defender and although doesn't reflect in steals all of the time, she's able to alternate shots and impact the game doing the intangibles.”

Macy Brown, senior, East Grand Rapids

Brown is a 6-foot guard committed to the Michigan Wolverines. Brown was on the AP Division 1 All-State team as a junior last season, and she has led East Grand Rapids to an 11-4 record this season. 


Jack Butler contributed to this article.