Posted Tuesday, April 13, 2021

   The Mick McCabe Miss Basketball award trophy is staying at the Detroit Edison Public School Academy Early College of Excellence for yet another year.

   Damiya “Dee Dee” Hagemann was named the 2021 recipient of the award for the top senior in the state by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan in a ceremony on Tuesday, March 13, at Edison.

   In voting by BCAM members, Hagemann compiled 2,413 points to outdistance Bree Salenbien of Adrian Lenawee Christian (2,185), East Grand Rapids’ Jillian Brown (2,175), Morasha Wiggins of Kalamazoo Central (1,899) and Wayne’s Alanna Micheaux (994).

   Hagemann, a 5-foot-7 point guard, has signed with Michigan State University.

    She averaged 17.4 points, 9.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 steals this season. And in her four seasons, Edison is 85-2 with two state championships with her on the court.

   If it wasn’t for the pandemic, Hagemann would most likely have four state championships. The Michigan High School Athletic Association shut down last season’s tournament before the regional final at the start of the pandemic. This season, a teammate tested positive for COVID-19, forcing Edison to withdraw from the tournament just before it began.

   Former Edison teammates Gabrielle Elliot (Clemson) won the award in 2020. Rickea Jackson (Mississippi State) won the award in 2019. It is the first time in the 40 years of the award that a school has had three Miss Basketball winners in a row.

   “I would like to thank BCAM for this recognition,” Hagemann said at the ceremony. “I’ve been working my entire life to be the best player possible, and I’m so honored to have my hard work recognized in this way. Most importantly, I have the opportunity to work with some of the best teammates anyone could ask for at DEPSA.

   “Of course, the previous two Miss Basketball awardees, but really each and every one of my teammates and coaches has pushed me to be the best player I can be. I would not be in the position that I am today without all my teammates and coaches. This award is really for all of us.”

   Hagemann’s future coach had glowing comments about her future point guard:

   “Her feel and vision for the game was off the charts,” Michigan State University coach Suzy Merchant said. “Recruiting her, the one thing I always told her was she was the female version of Cassius Winston (University of Detroit Jesuit/Michigan State University). She’s a kid that can really, really pass the ball — set kids up — she’s great in ball screens, but at the same time if you need a bucket or a free throw she can get you one. She and Cassius play very similar. They’re winners, they make everybody around them better and yet they’ll step up when needed. Very classy kid from a very classy program.”

   Her current coach also had great things to say about Hagemann. "She probably would give this award up to be able to play for another state championship. She even stressed that to me. She sent me this long text message, like ‘I don’t believe it’s over,’ and I said, ‘Well, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel,’ and she said, ‘I don’t care about that. I wanted to win,’ said Edison coach Monique Brown.

   “You know, she had to follow Rickea, she had to follow Gabby, and this was her team. She’s special. She became a great leader. She was good when she got here, but she kept improving. She’s a very special talent, extremely high basketball IQ. She’s going to do well at State. I know because she had to fight her way and she had to continue to fight all the way for her minutes.”

   Hagemann might not be the last consecutive Miss Basketball winner from Edison too, as junior Ruby Whitehorn is another highly skilled player on the team and could potentially win the award next year. This season, Whitehorn averaged 19.75 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3.5 steals.