MHSAA Preview: seven more for Division II

As December 1st and the start of the regular season begins to approach. I will kick this long running ranking rollout into high gear. If you are a regular reader you know the drill. Bigger enrollments means more talent, which equates to more talented teams.

So I’m not going to settle for top 15 in Division II. After giving you five additional teams in Division IV, and six additional teams in Division III. Let’s jump from six to…. Nope not going to do it Gen Z. Keeping it simple here. Seven additional teams in alphabetical order with last year’s record in parentheses.

You can find the original top 10 here

benton Harbor (15-8)

After a slight rebuilding year, this perennial power might be ready to roar back into contention. Junior Kesean Hobbs should lead the Tiger. The lanky 6-5 do-it-all forward is a little under the radar after playing with an Indiana AAU squad this spring/summer. Hobbs should get help from sophomore guard Zamier Clayton. The 6-2 point guard should be much more comfortable in his role after providing solid contributions as a freshman. He is uber explosive athletically while showing maturity as a point guard. One of my favorites in Michigan’s still emerging 2028 class.

They are not very big down low. However they added even more backcourt firepower with a transfer from the Grand Rapids area in junior Camren Hull. If you scan this blurb, you will not see the word senior. I might be early with this group. Talent has funny way of speeding timelines up however. There is certainly talent in this historic program.

Dearborn Divine Child (13-11)

Head Coach Eric Evans has a good young squad coming off of a very up and down regular season. A series of good wins against good teams. Along with some head scratching losses. That is what a young team will do though. The Falcons attack will be fronted by dynamic 6-3 junior combo guard Malik Bush. The point guard should be manned by sophomore Joe Arnold. Arnold tested himself by running with The Family on the EYBL circuit this spring/summer.

Playing for Evans, Arnold will be well schooled in the finer points of point guard play. If Bush can continue to develop and take the next step as player. The Falcons have the talent to compete with the best teams in the division. Like Benton Harbor, I might be a year early with this group.

Detroit University Prep (19-6)

Five regular season losses and a district title is a good year considering the gauntlet that the Panthers face in the Detroit Charter school league. They will have uncommon perimeter size in the form of the senior duo of Maurice Jackson and Chris Byrd.

Jackson is 6-5, versatile, with a long and lanky frame. Bryd is built similarly and has the corresponding skillset. Both players have waited their turn on some deep and talented UPrep squads. They graduated a very good point guard from last years squad in Dimaunye Smith-Powe (Central St) If his production and leadership can be replaced, the talent remains for another strong year.

Holland Christian (17-9)

In the past I have referenced the West Michigan parochial school hegemony that has existed for the better of the past decade. That has generally been centered around four schools. Three of them are ranked in the initial top ten that you can reference above.

I haven’t included the Maroons in the past. That might change this year. Christian almost always features a tall and deep frontline. This year, they have will feature a dynamic perimeter attack. Senior Titus Spencer isn’t very big but is explosive with ball in his hands. He puts constant pressure on the rim despite a sub six foot frame. Size and more firepower on the perimeter will come from Jake Holcombe. The 6-5 senior had a strong spring/summer accumulating plenty of small college interest in the process. He committed to the new staff at Division III national power Trine (IN).

Paw Paw (19-4)

A excellent squad coming off a good year from the “town so nice, they named it twice. If you don’t like my Dad joke moniker. Perhaps “Point Guard U” would suffice. That is what they have taken to calling the team on social media. As a small team loaded with good backcourt play. It is an accurate descriptor.

Senior Truman Brennan is very talented could be considered the head of the snake. Fellow senior Eli Sonnenberg has battled injuries early in his career. If healthy he should form a dynamic duo with Brennan. Neither of them should have to worry about guarding the other teams best perimeter option. That task will most likely go to Kaelin Tate. The junior is also a gridiron standout who uses that mindset to be a defensive stopper. He is skilled on the offensive end as well. Last year’s road victory over Breslin bound Grand Rapids Catholic Central provided a window into this group’s ceiling. If the frontcourt develops, that ceiling could be raised further.

st Clair (19-6)

This is placement is a reflection of my belief in Braylon Frantz (pictured) The senior has long been one of my favorites in Michigan’s 2026 class. Has the size and skillset to play both backcourt positions. As one of the top leapers in state, plays much bigger than his listed height of 6-1. The physical profile makes him the quintessential and rare “power guard”. He can do it all, including score in the post.

While an impressive individual talent. St Clair will not be a one man show. Fellow senior Evan Trudeau has similar physical profile and game. The pair combined to lead the Saints to solid regular season last year. They won a district and I thought they might be lined up for an even deeper run. Before a surprising loss to…

Yale (22-4)

The Bulldogs avenged an early season lopsided loss to St Clair to advance to the regional final. While they lost there, this capped off one of the best seasons in school history. They also tied atop a competitive Blue Water conference with a talented Imlay City squad.

While they graduate quite a bit of production. They return their best player in senior guard Jackson Kohler (not that one) The 6-0 guard and coaches son will look to cap off what has been an outstanding career. If players like junior guard Tyler Debbs can continue to improve. The Bulldogs should be able to ride the momentum from last historic success.