Way-to-early MHSAA Division I Rankings

ByJonathon Gilbert

As the team camp season has kicked off in earnest in the past week. It seems to be a good time to do very early check in on the upcoming MHSAA Basketball season. A very “subject to change” top 10 in each classification. Before we get going a few important caveats:

1. This is high school basketball— if an omission offends or bothers anyone than I apolo… Nope I don’t apologize. Just meant to serve as a primer for fans and coaches. If it fires anybody up or serves as bulletin board material. That is perfectly fine by me.
2. This is high school basketball— if you feel like you have a good understanding of the transfer process in Michigan. Maybe we can assign you inflation. If you are 100 percent certain you know what particular division a team is going to be in. Once again hats off to you. This is my best guess based on the numbers and info at my disposal. PLEASE let me know if I have made any egregious mistakes.
3. I know I can be a bit long winded. So at least on this first list I’m going to limit myself to talking about 2-3 players per team We’ll expand as we get closer to the season and I get more definitive info.

** Those caveats have been present in all three previews. I’m going to add one more for Division I. There are some killer leagues in this classification. I’m going to limit myself to two teams from an individual conference. Maybe closer to the season we can do a conference preview of the Catholic League, PSL, and Saginaw Valley leagues**

**Last years record in parentheses. All players are seniors unless noted**

  1. Detroit Cass Tech (27-1) Not going to over complicate this. When you are the defending champion and you return your top player. You get the top spot. When that player also happens to be one the breakout performers in the nation. That just cements that position even further. Darius Acuff enters his junior year with some serious recruiting momentum. Now holding offers from blue blooded programs like Kentucky and Michigan St. Acuff is the the type of talent who can singularly carry a team. Doesn’t need to with the Technicians. Should be joined in the backcourt by blue chip sophomore football standout Corey Sadler. They should be a little bigger along the frontline as well. With 6-6 senior Amari Johnson holding it down on the block.
  2. Orchard Lake St Mary’s (16-11) Where to start? So much talent on the roster. Even with the new additions. The attack will begin and end in the same place it has the last two season. Trey McKenney (pictured) is now a junior and has clearly established himself as an elite national talent. His running mate the last two years Sharod Barnes is developing nicely and could be ready for a breakout season. As an added bonus. With the presence of Isaiah Hines (Jr) and Peyton Kemp (Fr) he should be able to move off the ball this year. I said I was only going to talk about 2–3 players per team. Hard to do that with this group. You can’t forget about Daniel Smythe who might just be the best shooter in the state. This team is loaded. 
  3. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (22-2) At the risk of angering Warrior nation. I’ll go full disclosure here. Up until a month ago. I had no intention of putting this group in a top 10 ranking. I thought it was going to be a year of transition and a lot of Warren Marshall IV. A funny thing happened on the way to a deadline. First and foremost Marshall exploded this spring on the EYBL and is a legitimate next level wing prospect. The transfer of 6-9 sophomore big Trevor Smith further bolstered the lineup. However the icing on the cake was addition of top 5 national sophomore Elijah Williams. Williams is the son of new Pistons head coach Monty Williams. That is a serious infusion of talent for a program where the cupboard wasn’t exactly bare to begin with. If they gel quickly this will be a tough team to beat.
  4. Muskegon (26-3) Death, taxes, and Muskegon basketball in the state championship discussion. One of the more consistent programs in the state came up one win short from a title last season. The Big Red juggernaut has largely been built on the back of tough no nonsense guards. While they will undoubtedly have good guard play. They will be a big squad this year. Seniors Terrance Davis (6-6) and Stanley Cunningham (6-5) along with junior Elijah Langston (6-7) should man the blocks with plenty of depth behind them. Like St Mary’s just too much talent to stop at three players. After graduating two guards to the GLIAC. Even the guards will be big this year. Montrel Oliver (6-4) and sophomore James Martin (6-3) will hold down the 2/3 spots. If sophomore Arquez Petty can develop at the point. This will be pretty close to a complete team. 
  5. East Lansing (16-10) The young Trojans kind of snuck up everyone last year. Advancing all the way the quarterfinals with an upset victory over Kalamazoo Central. They return much of that squad and appear primed to run it back. They should be led by juniors Cameron Hutson (6-5) and Jayce Branson (6-3). Both have had good springs playing on the EYBL circuit. Christian Dunn (6-7) will provide senior leadership and a big presence in the paint. There is a plethora of good point guards and plenty of depth on the roster as well.
  6. Ann Arbor Huron (23-3) From Spartan country to Wolverine territory. The River Rats (great mascot) will be led by junior Macari Moore. Moore is a 6-4 power guard who has really blown up this spring. Recently playing well at the Nike Elite 100 camp. He will joined by a good supporting cast that includes Mohamed Doumbouya. The 6-3 lefty will provide senior leadership for a program that is always well disciplined with solid role definition among its players.
  7. Detroit King (13-9) This is a bet on the talent of Chas Lewless. The San Diego commit will be near the top of ballot for Mr Basketball. Lewless should also be more settled at King. As last year was his first year in the program. It appears King might be adding another impactful transfer or two. Even if those transfers go through or not (never know with the MHSAA) I’m going to keep King here. Lewless is simply that good. Has had an excellent spring on the Adidas circuit. Should be poised for a big senior season.
  8. East Kentwood (18-7) Last season was a serious year of transition for the program. A new coach. New players transferring in. Some returning back from a prep school. Injuries also played a role in a slow start. Despite all of the change. Still ended up winning an outright title in the gauntlet that is the OK Red. While also taking a district before falling to Muskegon. The Falcons have a serious backcourt combo. Juniors Jah Hatchett and Darryl Thompkins Jr are two of the best point guards in state— period. Playing on the same team. With a year under their belt. Their chemistry and role definition should be improved. EK will also get the benefit a full healthy year from Christian Humphrey-Rembert. The versatile 6-9 forward joined the team around Christmas and dealt with an injury soon after. Now with a full offseason to acclimate to the program. He could fulfill his immense physical potential in his senior season.
  9. Grand Rapids Northview (19-5) The Division I version of Warren Lincoln. It’s a family affair at Northview. Recent Western Michigan commitment EJ Ryans will step into a featured role in his senior season. The slender 6-4 point guard has always been a pass first guard. Might need to be a little more selfish this year and showcase the offensive repertoire. The second option will be his younger brother sophomore Cameron Ryans. Ryans is a similar height but with a completely different build and game than his brother. He is a powerfully built explosive athlete. Already was able to “bully ball” opponents as a freshman. Speaking of brothers. Junior Brady Swartz will look to fill the scoring vacated by his bother Parker (Malone OH) Brady is slightly shorter than his older sibling. However possesses a similar mature perimeter scoring skill set. There is a lot young talent in this program as well that could develop quickly.
  10. Grand Blanc (25-3) This was once a young group that was supposed to struggle in a six week COVID shortened season. This group was supposed to take a step back after Ty Rodgers late fall transfer out of state. Surely they were supposed to struggle after losing their head coach and another out of state transfer or two. All three of those seasons ended at the Breslin Center in championship contention. So now on their third head coach in three years. With do everything guard RJ Taylor playing at Northern Iowa. Surely this is the year the program takes a big step back. As you can probably tell from the ranking. I’ll believe it when I see it. Bryce O’Mara (6-7) is a prototype modern stretch four prospect coming off a good spring. I like the talent of wings Anthony Perdue and junior Donnie Huddleston. Like Muskegon, if the young guards develop quickly. This program will stay near the top of the division.

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