The future of girls basketball was on full display in Oakland, California, at the 20th Annual Gems In The Gym Fresh Faces Myles McGowan Classic.
For two decades, Gems In The Gym has created opportunities for young student-athletes to compete, gain exposure and begin building their names on a bigger stage. The 2026 edition was once again loaded with talent, including a strong collection of middle school prospects who showed why the future of girls basketball continues to look incredibly bright.
Among the many young players who caught my attention were six prospects who deserve recognition as our latest Faces on the Rise:
Lilicca Giometti
Marley Hui-Bytof
Ava Ubaka
Kalei Douglas
Reisha Mitchell
Deyjah Green
What makes this group exciting is that each prospect is still in the early stages of her basketball journey. There is plenty of development ahead, but the combination of confidence, competitiveness, skill and potential displayed throughout the event made these six players difficult to overlook.
The Next Generation Is Coming
Events like Gems In The Gym provide an opportunity to identify young prospects before their names become nationally recognized.
That is what makes evaluating the middle school level so exciting.
These players are still growing physically, learning the game and developing their individual identities on the basketball court. Where they are today isn’t necessarily where they’ll be two, three or four years from now—and that is exactly what makes their potential so intriguing.
Lilicca Giometti, Marley Hui-Bytof, Ava Ubaka, Kalei Douglas, Reisha Mitchell and Deyjah Green all gave us a reason to keep watching.
Some may emerge as high-major prospects. Others could develop into highly recruited Division I players as they progress through their high school careers. The journey will be different for every athlete, but each has already shown qualities that make them worth tracking nationally.
Exposure Starts Early
The basketball recruiting landscape continues to evolve, and exposure is becoming increasingly important at younger ages.
That doesn’t mean rushing the recruiting process. It means identifying talent, documenting development and giving deserving student-athletes opportunities to have their performances recognized.
That is one of the reasons events such as Gems In The Gym remain so valuable.
Young athletes get an opportunity to compete against talented players from different areas, while scouts, evaluators and media platforms get an early look at prospects who could become household names within the girls basketball community over the next several years.
For GC3 Hoops, Faces on the Rise will continue highlighting those players who are beginning to separate themselves and deserve a place on the national radar.
Remember These Names
The fun part is watching what happens next.
A year from now, these players could look completely different.
Two years from now, their recruiting profiles could begin exploding.
By the time they reach their varsity high school years, some of the names introduced today could be among the most talked-about prospects in their respective classes.
That’s why we’re putting the spotlight on them now.
Lilicca Giometti. Marley Hui-Bytof. Ava Ubaka. Kalei Douglas. Reisha Mitchell. Deyjah Green.
Remember the names.
They are Faces on the Rise, and the next generation of girls basketball is already beginning to make its presence felt.
Read the Full Player Evaluations
Want the detailed scouting breakdowns on all six prospects?
Read the complete “GITG: Fresh Faces On The Rise” evaluations at Prep Girls Hoops:
https://www.prepgirlshoops.com/2026/08/gitg-fresh-faces-on-the-rise/
Stay locked into GC3Hoops.com and GC3 Hoops National Exposure as we continue identifying and highlighting the next generation of girls basketball talent.
