Michigan Shock Heading To Charlotte For Summer Basketball Playoff



The Michigan Shock program has gotten off to a fast start this spring, and Coach Mark Williams is confident  that his squad will continue to improve as the temperature rises.

“We’re excited because we have a very, very good team,” Williams said. “This team really can do everything well. They share the basketball, and they know how to move the basketball. They play team ball at both ends, on offense and defense, and they get after it on the glass.”

The Shock will face their biggest test of the season when they travel to Charlotte, NC for the 2015 ASGR Summer Basketball Playoff. The event, which will feature many of the top club programs from across the country, will be held at the Carolina Courts facility.

Leading the way for the Shock will be Samantha “Sam” Thomas, a 6-0 athlete who is rated as the No. 34 prospect nationally in the Class of 2017 by the All Star Girls Report.

“Sam is a versatile athlete who could really play any of the five positions,” Wiliams said. “She usually plays the four spot for us, but we play her at the point sometimes. I think she will probably be a three at the next level. (ASGR has Thomas listed as a point guard.) She is great at handling the ball, she sees the floor, she can shoot the three well, and she has a nice touch inside.

“The biggest thing with Sam is her basketball IQ. Her dad is a basketball coach, and she is our coach on the floor. She always maintains her composure, and she is so consistent. You can always count on Sam because she just doesn’t have a bad game.”

Thomas will get plenty of support from the Shock’s balanced roster, with Antoinette Miller (2016, 5-6, PG) and Bridget Hintz (2016, 6-4, C) topping the list.

“Antoinette is a scoring point guard,” Williams said. “She sees the floor and she is a great passer, but she can also create her own shot and she has great range from the perimeter. She is also a very good rebounder even though she is only 5-6. She doesn’t mind mixing it up. Antoinette is also a kid who will get you that big steal you need at the end of a game. She just has an uncanny knack for coming up with the ball.

“Bridget is a left-handed, back to the basket type post player who does really well on the low block. She has a number of nice post moves, and if it’s not there she will kick it out to a shooter. She gets us a lot of offensive rebounds, and she is a good defender.”