Michigan State Women’s Basketball: Signee Damiya Hagemann Wins Michigan Miss Basketball

Last week, Detroit Edison senior and Michigan State signee Damiya Hagemann was named as the 40th winner of the Mick McCabe Michigan Miss Basketball award.

Hagemann, a 5-foot-7 point guard, will be the 10th Miss Basketball to play at MSU. She is also the third consecutive Edison player to receive the award. Former teammates Rickea Jackson (2019) and Gabrielle Elliott (2020) form a trio for the honor and the first time a school has had even back-to-back winners in its 40-year history, let alone three in a row.

Overall, Hagemann compiled 2,413 points to beat out Bree Salenbien of Adrian Lenawee Christian (2,185), East Grand Rapids’ Jillian Brown (2,175), Morasha Wiggins of Kalamazoo Central (1,899), and Wayne Memorial’s Alanna Micheaux (994).

Hagemann, ranked as the No. 5 point guard in the country, averaged 17.4 points, 9.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 steals per game as a senior this season. She also was rated as the Detroit Free Press’ No. 1 player for the second straight year.

Speaking about Hagemann, Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant offered the following:

Her feel and vision for the game was off the charts. Recruiting her, the one thing I always told her was she was the female version of Cassius Winston. 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.

Perhaps the most striking statistic about Hagemann and her value as a teammate is this: Detroit Edison is 85-2 with two state championships with her on the court.

Then again, the only reason Hagemann probably hasn’t won four state titles during her time at Edison is the coronavirus. Last year’s tournament shut down before the regional final, and then a teammate tested positive this season, forcing the Pioneers to withdraw from the state tournament prior to the start of the event.

When Hagemann arrives on campus this fall, fans should be excited for the tandem of her and Nia Clouden at the point guard position.