Buchanan’s Tyler Flynn and Niles’ Gabe Stokes will take part in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s (MHSAA) Reaching Higher showcases at Milford High School July 16.

The Bucks’ Brooke Wesner will participate in the girls portion of the event, now in its sixth year, which will be July 23 at Milford.

Reaching Higher gathers more than 200 athletes who have aspirations of playing at the collegiate level. Participants will train and scrimmage under the direction of high school coaches from throughout the state as well as in front of college coaches from all three levels of the NCAA, the NAIA and junior colleges.

Last year 40 coaches, including 13 Division I schools, attended the showcase.

Reaching Higher is about more than just basketball. It is a joint effort between the MHSAA and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM).

There are classroom sessions for the student-athletes and their parents as well as on-court drills and scrimmages. Reaching Higher was developed to give athletes an idea of what it takes to become a college player and how to succeed in the college atmosphere.

A BCAM committee selected the players. The process began in December with nominations from high school coaches. The committee made their selections in February.