The Exclusive: 15U-16U Standouts from Day One
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The latest event on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit schedule emanated from M14 Hoops Academy and Supreme Courts in the Chicago metropolitan area. And it did not disappoint. Friday’s slate of matchups featured an abbreviated set of contests that lasted…
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Continue ReadingThe latest event on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit schedule emanated from M14 Hoops Academy and Supreme Courts in the Chicago metropolitan area. And it did not disappoint.
Friday’s slate of matchups featured an abbreviated set of contests that lasted mostly that evening. The talent was still overflowing as there were teams from many areas of the country that descended upon Chicago to take part.
Plenty of those talents that managed stellar showings are from the 15U and 16U classes. With the number of 2024 and 2025 teams that made the trip, it was a bit difficult narrowing down which ones really stood out. But a few did.
Annamaria Luna Annamaria Luna 5'6" | PG Wauwatosa West | 2024 WI – 2024 – Milwaukee HS – Wisconsin Playground Club 2024 National – A player in Wisconsin who plays for Wauwatosa West with a winning attitude. She has also played volleyball throughout her athletic career. Basketball wise, she has the ability to collect multiple steals a game as well as the ability to drain multiple 3-pointers in any matchup. Luna is listed at 5-foot-9 and has been one of the primary scoring throughout her career with the Trojans. She also is proficient with her passes and ball handling in addition to having an overall mindset to the game that will get many a coach’s attention.
Lillian Barnes Lillian Barnes 5'11" | SF Valparaiso | 2026 State IN – 2025 – Ben Franklin MS – City Elite Basketball 2025 – Barnes has the ability to take her career far. A Valparaiso product from the basketball-rich state that is Indiana, she has already gained her fair share of attention this AAU season. Barnes displays impressive handles and great court vision as a passer. If she gets fouled, she is likely to head to the free throw line and sink her opportunities at the stripe. Barnes can deliver strong finishes at the cup and block shots as a defender. In Friday’s abbreviated slate of games at M14 Hoops Academy, she had a 12-point performance against Chapman Basketball Academy 2025.
Nina Garner – 2025 – Munster HS – City Elite Basketball 2025 – Nina can Garner a lot for any team whose colors she is sporting. She is the lone participant of this year’s City Elite Basketball 2025 squad who stands at least six feet. Garner will make tough shots and is not afraid of contact that can place her at the free throw line. She will get creative with her shot selection and can deliver bank shots off the glass. Garner also stands ready on defense to box out in case of an opponent’s missed free throw. Garner scored 18 points in her team’s Friday evening matchup with Chapman Basketball Academy 2025.
Lillian Merow Lillian Merow 6'2" | C Port Washington | 2025 State WI – 2025 – Homestead HS – Chapman Basketball Academy 2025 – Merow stood tall on Friday afternoon at M14 Hoops like one of Chicago’s iconic skyscrapers. Previously listed as having attended Port Washington HS, She is a 6-foot-2 big who causes matchup problems in the interior. Merow is an efficient scorer who converts on her high-percentage shot opportunities. Her consistency is complimented by what she manages to accomplish as a rebounder and an overall defensive anchor. She scored 12 points in what was a Chapman Basketball Academy 2025 win over City Elite Basketball 2025.
Anisa Barnett – 2025 – Homestead HS – Chapman Basketball Academy 2025 – One of the four from Homestead that are listed on Chapman Basketball Academy 2025’s roster, Barnett is an all-around workhorse on the court. Live period or none, Barnett gets the job done. She does so with her ability to drive to the rim and make tough shots. She makes sure that she finishes any shot she takes. Barnett is skilled as a floor runner which comes in useful when running transition plays and some of those transition opportunities are created by the tough defense she plays on opposing ball carriers. Barnett had 14 points and only one foul called against her in her team’s win on Friday evening over City Elite Basketball 2025.
Grace Zortman – 2025 – Homestead HS – Chapman Basketball Academy 2025 – Zortman plays the game with plenty of Grace. With the four from the Highlanders as part of the Chapman Basketball Academy 2025 team, chemistry is not an issue here. What is an issue for opposing teams is how Zortman delivers strong finishes at the rim and has no problems drawing contact to get to the free throw line. She emphasizes steals and giving her team additional offensive opportunities. Zortman also does the little things such as battling for 50-50 balls. She had 10 points in her team’s win on Friday over City Elite Basketball 2025.
Makenzie Luehring – 2025 – Kettle Moraine Lutheran – Chapman Basketball Academy 2025 – Luehring sticks out as unique when looking at the Chapman Basketball Academy 2025 roster as she is one of the five not from Homestead. Luehring is a hard defensive worker that can force opposing teams into turnovers. How she uses her speed and quickness translates over from the track and field and cross country disciplines where she has also competed. Luehring also will bolster a team’s offensive output via what she does from deep – and at the free throw line after drawing contact. She scored all 12 of her points in the second half as Chapman Basketball Academy 2025 pulled away in the second quarter against City Elite Basketball 2025.