MHSAA Preview: Division IV Preseason Top 10

Let’s start the process of wrapping up one of the longest running ranking rollouts you will see with the MHSAA’s smallest classification, Division IV. Beginning in June and running through the present. I’ve given you 15 teams to watch— minus numerical rankings.

Now let’s whittle it down to a final ten and assign some rankings. For brevity and since it’s already been covered. The team capsules will be brief. You can follow the links below if you would like a more in depth look at the teams and their backgrounds.

June Top 10 here

August Additional Five here

1. Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian (24-5)

Strengths: State championship experience and pedigree. It seems to travel with this program. Full disclosure, I thought they would lose to the team at #2 after struggling to get past St Ignace in the semifinals last year. They made me look foolish with a dominant victory to claim their sixth state championship. Anyone who expects a steep drop off with this storied program will probably look just as foolish. They will have a strong presence in the post and return and one of the best guards in the division. That’s a pretty good foundation to rebuild upon.

Concerns: They will undoubtedly reload…. But they do lose a TON of production from last year’s squad. There are a bunch of familiar names from the JV program. However this could be a rocky start.

Key Players: Senior 5-11 PG Keaton Blanker (Grace Christian), Senior 6-7 C Joey Mellon, Junior 5-10 SG Clayton Rowlander

2. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (26-4)

Strengths:Pound-for-pound, might have been the best perimeter defensive team I saw last year— regardless of class. They really get after defensively. The three headed backcourt monster thar fronted that attack all return. They should be better offensively this year. Well coached squad that now has deep postseason experience.

Concerns: While return virtually their entire rotation. They graduate some serious beef down low with Brayden Halliday. If they can’t replace him, they might be a little thin on the frontline.

Key Players: Senior 5-9 PG Grady Pieratt, Senior SG 5-11 Brody Cherry, Junior 5-10 PG Noah Zeien, Senior 6-2 PF Jason Boge

3. allen Park Inter-City Baptist (23-5)

Strengths: They return two key pieces of their rotation from a semi final appearance team that fell to the Sacred Heart (see above) They have one of the more successful active head coaches in the state with Mark Kraatz. While they made a deep run, I doubt they were pleased with their semifinal performance. They should have little more motivation than your average Breslin Center participant.

Concerns: How will they respond to the expectations this year? While they do have two important returnees. Neither will be seniors. They graduated three senior starters. Are the juniors ready to take on a more active leadership role?

Key Players: Junior 5-10 PG Ethan Esse, Junior 6-3 SF Carlos Jackson,

4. Frankfort (17-8)

Strengths: I have a soft spot for leaning towards dynamic guard play. Especially in a division bereft of big men. I really the senior backcourt of the Panthers. Head coach Dan Loney always seems to have his teams ready in March. They are ducking no one in terms of scheduling. Including an ambitious early season match up with Grand Rapids South Christian.

Concerns: While I love the backcourt. The graduation of Bryce Plesha (Adrian) along the frontline will be a big loss. Is the backcourt going to be able run teams off the court or will a consistent post game develop?

Key Players: Senior 6-0 PG Carter Kerby, Senior 5-10 PG Tristan Griffin, Sophomore 5-9 PG Sam Volkema

5. Crystal Falls-Forest Park (22-5)

Strengths: A physical group of athletes coming off a state championship in the 8-man division. More importantly, they are also coming a quarterfinal appearance on the hardwood from last season. Not a group that will lack for confidence or be intimidated by anyone.

Concerns: As with any school from a remote Upper Peninsula location. How much will they be tested in the regular season? The four loss regular season from last year suggests otherwise. How quickly can they transition from the gridiron to the hardwood.

Key Players: Sophomore 6-2 SG Vic Giuliani, Senior 6-5 C Kevin Giuliani (270 lbs as well) Senior 6-3 SF Kevin Showers

6. Detroit Douglass (20-6)

Strengths: The 2021 Division IV state champions are talented and coming off a close regional loss to the #3 team on this list. They will play a gauntlet of a schedule that few teams in the division will be able to match.

Concerns: No way to sugarcoat it— this will be an extremely young team. With their name and recent success, the target will be in their back. Like the team that vanquished them last year (Inter-City Baptist) can this youthful group handle the increased expectations?

Key Players: Freshman 6-3 SF Joshua Brooks, Sophomore 5-8 PF Jacobi Nathan, Sophomore 6-2 SG Kamari Howard

7. Bellaire (21-5)

Strengths: A talented senior duo that has been playing together for four years should be highly motivated in their last ride together. Might have a little extra bounce in their step. As that team that eliminated last in a regional final has moved up a division (Glen Lake)

Concerns: What type of production can that get outside of their dynamic duo. The Eagles were one of the better three point shooting teams in the state. It can be easy to fall in love with the three. Can they diversify their offensive attack?

Key Players: Senior 6-5 PF Jayden Hanson, Senior 6-2 PG Drake Koepke, Senior 6-2 C Dawson Derrer

8. Adrian Lenawee Christian (20-4)

Strengths: They will feature perhaps the top overall talent in the division. They tested themselves this summer during the team camp season. They should be highly motivated after an early upset short circuited what could have been a deep tournament run.

Concerns: While they return a top talent. The loss of senior guard Brandon Summer will difficult to overcome. Is there a steady point guard ready to step into his shoes?

Key Players: Junior 6-4 SG Jaxon Salenbien, Senior 6-2 SF Aidan Kaulins, Junior 5-8 PG Daniel Scrupsky

9. Pickford (17-6)

Strengths: The Panthers are a battled tested group of successful multi sport athletes. They will be anchored by experienced and dynamic guard play.

Concerns: Like their UP brethren, Forest Park. Pickford is only starting practice this week after making the 8- man football finals. Can they bounce back quickly and be up to speed by March? Like a lot of teams on this list, they have a good backcourt. Can their frontline develop on the fly?

Key Players: Senior 6-1 SG Eli MacDonald, Senior 5-9 PG Tommy Storey, Junior 6-0 PG Gunner Bennin

10. Buckley (15-10)

Strengths: The Bears should be more comfortable in the second year of head coach Josh Gray’s system. That will haven experienced four year star to rely upon. He is additionally one of the best shooters in the state. They also have some good underclassmen coming up through the system to work in. Coming off a district title.

Concerns: Will the aforementioned underclassmen be ready to step up. Stop me if you heard this before— not much size along the frontline. As the ten losses from last season showed. They play in a difficult conference with schools from larger divisions.

Key Players: Senior 6-3 SG Landon Kulawiak, Freshman 6-3 PF Kaiden Proffer, Freshman 5-9 PG Parker Breithaupt