MHSAA Midseason Division II Top 10

After giving you Michigan’s two smallest classifications last week. I’ll tackle the big boys now that we are at the halfway point. Similar to the smaller classifications, I’ll give you a top 10 along with brief capsules including resumes and concerns. I’ll also provide some additional teams to watch

If you want to check my work from the preseason you find it here

**current record in parentheses**

1. Flint Powers Catholic (11-0)

Resume: Yes, other teams have bigger reputations and more college level talent. But if you did a blind resume check similar to a Bubble watch in March. It would be hard not go give the nod at the top to this group. A defending semifinalist that is undefeated against a tough schedule. They also did it without their senior point Jovantae Ross who was injured at the beginning of the year. Junior Clarkston transfer Andrew Caldwell (pictured in center) has given them a perimeter versatility that they did not have last year. They have depth and size on the bench. They score so easily.

Concerns: While they score easily, I’m not so sure about their ability to defend. When I see them it feels someone is always in foul trouble. They haven’t ducked anyone out of conference. However the Flint/Saginaw area isn’t the gauntlet it used to be with population shifts and school closures.

2. Romulus Summit Academy North (11-1)

Resume: I can tell on myself. With a transfer out of the program and a coaching change. I didn’t rank this group in the preseason. Quite a miss. They are loaded with guards. Amir Perryman can play with anyone and Andrew Ashwood is criminally underrated. Their best win of the year might have flown under the radar. From my grassroots coverage, I’m aware of the Rich Township program out of the Chicago area. That’s a very good team that the Dragons beat early in the year. Beating Ferndale on their home court and handling Old Redford and Renaissance are equally impressive. Simply put, if Powers wasn’t undefeated this group would have the top spot.

Concerns: You just have to take one glance at the roster. While they have guards for days, do they have enough size down low? Versatile 6-5 junior Chance Houser will probably serve as the answer to that question.

3. Warren Lincoln (8-4)

Resume: You really have to tip your hat to head coach Wydell Henry and how he schedules. They do have four losses, but they have just as many impressive wins. With the recent win over Muskegon this weekend serving as prime example. Essentially cancels out the close loss to Grand Rapids Northview from the previous weekend. They are defending state champions for a reason. A four pronged perimeter attack that no one in the state can match. Oak Park transfer Geon Hutchins (Northern Iowa) appears to have fit right in.

Concerns: Similar to last year, are they going to have enough size on the block? Didn’t matter last year. They are even smaller on the frontline this year. They have struggled with health so far. Will they be at full strength come March? They were the last time I saw them.

4. Detroit Old Redford (9-1)

Resume: Might have the best mix of talent and size 1-8 in the entire division. West Bloomfield transfer Drew Wilson had added some extreme perimeter firepower. Jaquan Stennis is a big presence in the paint and in transition. The schedule has been stiff and the win over River Rogue this weekend was impressive. They are tournament tested after a Division III final appearance last year.

Concerns: While this is tested group. It is still quite young. Both players listed above are juniors. With their schedule, going up to Division III should not be problematic in terms of competition. However you wonder about the physiological grind a tougher road to the Breslin Center might take.

5. Hudsonville Unity Christian (12-1)

Resume: This group is reminiscent of the Crusaders 2019 state championship team. They have a bit of everything. Size, depth, and scoring from the wing and point positions. They have an experienced state championship coach. Their only loss was close and came in a cross town rivalry with the very good public school program. They have a litany of good wins already. Many before the calendar turned to 2025.

Resume: Taken in full, the schedule is extremely tough. That being said, it does appear to let up a bit late. Are they going to be ready to go for March? They are very talented. However, who is the go to player when they need a bucket? I have seen them quite a bit, and I can’t answer that question. That could be a strength.

6. Kingsford (9-2)

Resume: Deep and talented squad from the Upper Peninsula has the talent to play with anyone. They won both games in their lone trip below the bridge. Defeating a talented but very young Jackson team in the process. They have college level talent senior Gavin Grondin (Lake Superior St) and Morgan Sleik (Carroll) Tournament tested after a close quarterfinal loss to the #1 team on this list last year. The moment and pressure of rankings will not be too big for them.

Concerns: I pegged them as head and shoulders above other teams in the Upper Peninsula. So the two losses are troubling. However Marquette and Iron Mountain are good teams and the losses were close. I’m told they are not at full health at the moment. Health is always a factor in March.

7. Grand Rapids South Christian (8-3)

Resume: After losing three of their first four. The Sailors are rolling pretty good. It’s hard to overlook the Senior inside out duo of 6-4 Carson Vis (Western Michigan) and 6-8 Davis Kemper. That might be the best duo in the division. The schedule gets tough once again with a contest against Grand Rapids Northview this week. This unit has a ton of big game experience in multiple sports throughout their career.

Concerns: Is there enough in the rotation outside of Vis and Kemper? Can junior JJ Modderman (6-6) become more comfortable is his role in the second semester? I would like the see the backcourt step up a little to ease some of Vis’ perimeter scoring demands.

8. Freeland (9-2)

Resume: Very similar to the team directly above them on this list. The Eagles have a high level inside out duo. However the Freeland duo is a bit younger. Junior Wilson Huckeby might be the best shooter in the state. While Tristan Comer is a load near the basket with a high skill level. They don’t have a bad loss.

Concerns: Production beyond the top two was sparse when I saw them. The rest of the rotation got their points largely out very disciplined sets that they run with precision. Those sets become a little harder with advanced scouting in March. Not a ton of deep tournament experience with this group yet.

9. Whitehall (10-2)

Resume: They obviously will not be undefeated like last year’s group. However they have tested themselves significantly out of conference. They don’t have a bad loss. Only fell to Division I opponents Hudsonville and Grand Blanc. The down low senior duo of Camden Thompson (Western Michigan) and Kal Koehler are a tough matchup.

Concerns: Are they going to get enough from the backcourt to make a deep March run? I mentioned they are testing themselves. They have Rockford this week. How they fare against that buzzsaw should be a good barometer.

10. Bay City John Glenn (11-2)

Resume: I had no intention of ranking this group when I saw them earlier in the year. As they were struggling with the injury loss of their top player. However they recovered nicely and just defeated Freeland. They have steady guard play from juniors Danzell Calhoun and Meech Ward. They have versatility in 6-7 senior Jimmy McCrum. I also like the potential of 6-3 sophomore Connor Wood.

Concerns: About that injury. Can they get 6-6 Hope commit Sean Wesolek back from a broken foot? If they do, the talent on the floor with take a big step up. What type of shape will he be in after a long lay off? How will the rotation adjust to adding someone late? It would be a nice problem for the Bobcats to have.

Honorable Mention

Adrian (10-1) Senior guard Stevie Elam continues to show that Milwaukee has snagged a serious steal in recruiting. Junior Jaxson Francis has developed into a second option. Their only loss came to a Detroit University Prep squad listed below.

Berrien Springs (9-2) Recent Oregon signee JJ Frakes has the Shamrocks rolling with a victory over perennial division power Benton Harbor. The have a solid point guard in junior Brady Blasko and size with senior Alex O’Dell.

Detroit University Prep (10-4) Probably the toughest cut. I ranked them in the preseason and I really like their guards. Almost all of their losses came early and to good teams. If they beat Old Redford in their next one, this will look silly

Parchment (9-2) Outside of #’s 2 and 3 on this list the Panthers might have the best backcourt in the division. Ferris St signee Jalen Kampen can play with anyone. While junior Donjae Gilmore is breaking out and relieving the scoring load on Kampen. Their losses came early and they could surprise in March.

Yale (12-1) Blame it on the Ivy League. Your first inclination is to look at name and region and assume they haven’t played anyone. However the resume is pretty good. Their only loss is to a good team (St Clair) They have quality wins over teams like Imlay City and Harbor Beach. Talent? The name game strikes again. Junior guard Jackson Kohler is really good, but he is the second best “Jackson Kohler” in the state.