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Mandy Piechowski has committed to Michigan State.Top Basketball Players
DeHaan plays complete game
Allyssa DeHaan went to Mexico to help build a house for a homeless family, but prefers to stay close to home to attend college.
Jareica Hughes excels in spite of her 5-3 height.
China Threatt has recovered from a knee injury last season.
Keisha Hines has received college attention as a junior.
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1. ALLYSSA DEHAAN
(C, Grandville)
GRANDVILLE -- Most of the premier girls basketball players in the state were busy this summer competing in AAU tournaments or All-American camps across the country.
But Grandville's Allyssa DeHaan is not like most quality players. She is different in size. She also has a different agenda. Her life is not just basketball.
At 6-foot-8, DeHaan is one of the tallest players in the country -- high school, college or professional. She has the ability to control a game with her scoring, rebounding or shot blocking.
DeHaan was highly recruited by all the national powers, but wanted to play close to home. She narrowed her choices to Michigan State, Division II Grand Valley State and NAIA Cornerstone College. She chose the Spartans.
DeHaan averaged 26 points, 12.9 rebounds and 9.8 blocks last season to help Grandville reach the Class A quarterfinals.
DeHaan, who hasn't played AAU ball since middle school, went on a 10-day church mission July 6-16 to Mexico to help build a home for a family.
"My church had a mission to build a house for a family that lost their's to a fire," DeHaan said. "We had 27 of us on the mission and built it in four days.
"It was a lot of fun. I did a lot of things that other (shorter) people couldn't like paint the trim. I also mixed a lot of cement. It was a great experience."
Now, DeHaan is ready to get back on the court. But just how good is she?
"She impacts a game like few others," Lansing Catholic Central coach Dan Doneth said. "She obviously can score, but she has a great set of hands and is a very good passer. Defensively, she just alters everything. Players think they have a layup and the next thing you know the ball's swatted away. She's a great player."
DeHaan said she handles the attention -- from media, coaches and fans -- better than she did as a freshman or sophomore.
Of course, she no longer has to worry about college coaches attending practice and games now that she has decided on Michigan State.
"She's a great young lady to coach," Grandville coach Charlie DeRyke said. "Her priorities are right on the money. The other girls love her. She's always been a quick learner. She has great coordination and has matured a lot since her sophomore year."
DeHaan feels Grandville has a chance to make it to East Lansing to play for a state championship.
"We're excited about the season," DeHaan said. "We have four players back. We worked hard this summer during team camp."
2. MANDY PIECHOWSKI
(G, Utica)
Piechowski has tremendous quickness, outstanding ballhandling skills and great range. A 5-9 senior, she averaged 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. She has committed to Michigan State.
3. JAREICA HUGHES
(G, Southfield-Lathrup)
An outstanding ballhandler who is excellent in transition. She averaged 16 points, five assists and four steals. A 5-foot-3 senior, she is being recruited by North Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky, Texas Christian, Purdue, Louisville and Eastern Michigan.
4. JASMINE STONE
(F-C, Detroit King)
A tremendous athlete, Stone can dominate at both ends of the court. She is a strong rebounder and shot blocker and does a great job of scoring around the basket. She averaged 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks last season. A 6-3 senior, she has narrowed her college choices to Temple, DePaul, Louisville, Syracuse and UNLV.
5. SIREECE BASS
(G, Detroit Pershing)
Bass, who missed most of last season because of lupus, had a tremendous summer in AAU competition. She was also selected as one of the top players in the Adidas All-American camp. She is a tremendous athlete with outstanding quickness and ballhandling skills. A 5-7 senior, she has committed to Michigan.
6. CHINA THREATT
(G, Auburn Hills Avondale)
Threatt is back to full strength after sustaining a season-ending knee injury two games into last season. A 5-9 senior, she has outstanding quickness, can play a number of positions and is at her best in the open court. She is being recruited by Minnesota, Syracuse, DePaul and UNLV.
7. KALYN MCPHERSON
(G, Traverse City West)
A physical player with outstanding skills at both ends. Can score in transition or from the perimeter. A 5-8 senior, she averaged 29.5 points, 11 rebounds and three steals last season. She has committed to Michigan.
8. KELLIE WATSON
(G-F, Ionia)
Already high on the radar of national college powers, Watson is an outstanding all-around player. A 6-2 sophomore, she has the ability to play the point, score off the dribble or defend a post player inside. She averaged 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals as a freshman.
9. JANELLE HARRIS
(G-F, Detroit Renaissance)
Harris, a 6-foot senior, has returned to full strength after missing most of last season because of a knee injury. She has the inside game to play the post and the ballhandling skills to run the offense. She is being recruited by Syracuse, North Carolina State and Providence.
10. RANDALL HURST
(F, West Bloomfield)
A physical player, Hurst handles the ball well and can score from the perimeter as well as inside. A 6-foot senior, she averaged 18.5 points and 13 rebounds and is being recruited by Wisconsin, Indiana, Memphis, West Virginia, Toledo and Detroit Mercy.
11. LAKEISHA MOSLEY
(C, Detroit Community)
A strong post player, Mosley can score on short jumpers or off putbacks. A 6-1 junior, she is also an outstanding defender. She averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks to help Detroit De Porres win the Class C title. She is being recruited by Michigan State, Tennessee, Connecticut, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and UCLA.
12. TIMIKA WILLIAMS
(C, Southfield-Lathrup)
A dominant inside player, Williams also has developed a solid perimeter game. A strong rebounder and shot blocker, she averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks last season. A 6-1 senior, she is being recruited by Michigan, Purdue, Maryland, West Virginia and Eastern Michigan.
13. KELLY KOHN
(G, Adrian)
A versatile player, Kohn averaged 21 points, seven rebounds, 4.5 steals and three assists last season. A 5-8 senior, she is being recruited by Kansas, Arizona State, Indiana, Pittsburgh, New Mexico and Bowling Green.
14. MOLLY DWYER
(G, Sterling Heights Stevenson)
A high-scoring point guard, the four-year starter averaged 19.8 points, seven rebounds, seven steals and five assists last season. She causes problems defensively with her quickness. A 5-7 senior, she has committed to Western Michigan.
15. CETERA WASHINGTON
(F, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix)
A tremendous athlete, Washington has the ability to play any position. A 6-foot junior, she averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds, seven blocks and five assists. She is being recruited by Michigan State, Michigan, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Eastern Michigan and other MAC schools.
16. LEQUISHA WHITFIELD
(F, Detroit King)
Physical inside, Whitfield can make three-pointers. A 6-1 senior, she averaged 12 points and six rebounds last season. She is being recruited by Michigan, Arizona, North Carolina State, Indiana, Iowa and Northwestern.
17. KEISHA HINES
(C, Auburn Hills Avondale)
An athletic post player, Hines is an outstanding rebounder and defender. She averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocks last season. A 6-2 junior, she is being recruited by Michigan, Kansas State and Purdue.
18. TAYLOR SILAS
(G, Flushing)
Silas has outstanding range and is a strong rebounder. She averaged 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. A 5-10 senior, she has committed to Southwest Missouri State.
19. BRITNI HOUGHTON
(F, Lansing Waverly)
Houghton will be more of the offensive focus with Lauren Aitch moving to Michigan State. A great athlete, she can score off the dribble or make the perimeter shot and is a strong rebounder. A 6-foot senior, she averaged 17.8 points and 8.5 rebounds to help her team win the Class A title. She is being recruited by Michigan, Syracuse and several MAC schools.
20 (tie). BRANDIE RADDE
(G-F, Niles)
An excellent ballhandler and three-point shooter, Radde averaged 16 points, six rebounds, three steals and three assists. A 5-11 senior, she has committed to Louisville.
STEFANI MUNRO
(G, Mt. Clemens)
An outstanding ballhandler, Munro has the ability to score in transition or by making the perimeter shot. She averaged 16 points, five assists and two steals last season with Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse. A 5-9 senior, she is being recruited by Missouri, Eastern Michigan and several other MAC schools.
OTHERS TO WATCH
• Antoinette Richbow, 5-7, Sr., G, Detroit Pershing
• Andrea Doneth, 5-10, Sr., G, Lansing Catholic Central
• Takeya Fortner, 5-7, Sr., G, Flint Northern
• Erica Solomon, 6-2, So., G-F, Detroit Country Day
• Adrianne McNally, 6-0, Sr., G, Pinckney
• Rachelle Folino, 5-11, Sr., F, Novi
• Chelsea Albert, 6-2, Jr., C, Brighton
• Heather Hatter, 6-1, Sr., C, Howell
• Sarah Dreher, 5-11, Sr., F, Niles
• Brooke Heike, 6-0, Sr., C, Romeo
• Michelle Carr, 6-2, Sr., C, Inkster
• Shavelle Little, 5-7, Sr., G, Ann Arbor Huron
• Maria Iaquaniello, Jr., G, Dearborn Divine Child
• Sarah Howe, 5-10, Sr., G, Monroe
• Brittane Russell, 5-3, Sr., G, Southfield-Lathrup
• Brandie Baker, 6-0, So., G, Flint Hamady
• Brittany Jones, 5-7, Jr., G, West Bloomfield
• Liana Boer, 6-2, Sr., C, Sterling Heights Stevenson
• Amy Smith, 5-10, Sr., G, Southgate Anderson
• Lonnie Terrell, 5-11, Jr., G, Inkster
• Kaihla Szunko, 6-1, Sr., C, Saginaw Heritage
• Briana Mitchell, 5-6, Sr., G, Detroit Renaissance
• Jazmin Ellis, 5-9, Jr., G, Troy Athens
• Chelsea Ciba, 5-7, Sr., G, Olivet
• Tara Burgett, 5-10, Sr., F, Climax-Scotts
• Brenna Bankston, 5-10, Jr., F, Frankfort
• Heather Seyfred, 5-7, Sr., G, Bridgman
• Sicily Baker, 6-2, Sr., C, Detroit Community
• Jamila Humes, 5-9, Sr., G, Saginaw Arthur Hill
• Kendra Holman, 5-3, Sr., G, East Grand Rapids
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