MHSAA Preview: Final Division III Preseason Top Ten
December 1st is here, so lets wrap things up. If you are a regular reader you are familiar with my thought process. I will link the two previous rollouts from the summer and fall. Consequently, these capsules will be brief. You can find more detail at those links below if you would like
Initial Top Ten here
Six more here
1. Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (21-2)
Overview: There are still Lions playing in Pontiac? Only sports fans of certain age will get that reference. Team that came out of nowhere and made a trip to the final game. They return arguably the top overall player in the division regardless of grade. Did it with a first-year coach. Logic says that they will be more comfortable in year two of the system.
Concerns: As stated, they came out of nowhere last year and were led by a freshman. They are not sneaking up on anyone this year. They did lose a second highly touted freshman to transfer. Consequently, they will be pretty thin along the frontline. Played a unique schedule last year. I think it kept them pretty fresh and slightly under the radar in March. How will they fare against a full slate this year? As the ranking indicates. I’m not too concerned about the answers to these questions. But they are questions nonetheless.
Key Players: Lewis Lovejoy 5-10 Soph (pictured at top), Da’Vontae Grandison 6-4 Sr, Dontrail Grandison 6-2 Sr,
2. Pewamo-Westphalia (24-4)
Overview: I’ve been a big believer in this team and their top player for quite some time. Now seniors, this might be the best core in the state. They have size down low and are athletically dynamic in the backcourt. They run good action within a regimented system. They are coming off a semifinal appearance in two sports (basketball, and football) The football loss was especially bitter. I can’t imagine motivation is going to be an issue after the heartbreaking gridiron loss to Menominee (see below) They have depth, college talent, and postseason success in multiple sports. There is a lot to like here.
Concerns: If you are regular reader. The same concern as last year. They are dominant within their conference. How tested are going to be outside of these confines. They have scheduled aggressively once again. But with the size of their league, they don’t get too many bites at the nonconference apple. If you read the section above— I don’t have too many concerns.
Key Players: Grady Eklund 6-3 Sr (Northwood commit) Trent Piggot 6-5 Sr Tyler Spitzley 6-3 Sr, Ty Thelen 5-11 Sr (Northwood commit FB) Logan Farmer 6-2 Soph
3. north Muskegon (23-2)
Overview: Similar to the team they fell to in the regional final, Pewamo-Westphalia. A cohesive group that has done a lot of winning in multiple sports. Led by a very talented college bound point guard. With plenty of help on the perimeter and size on the block. They also run good stuff with a solid well established system in place.
Concerns: Once again similar to Pewamo, not too many concerns. I could just copy and paste stuff at this point. Once again, not sure how much they will be pushed in conference. Unlike Pewamo, their conference isn’t as big in terms of quantity of schools. Games with teams like Ludington and possibly Walled Lake Western will be huge.
Key Players: Adam Dugener 6-0 Sr (Alma commit) Braylen Burrel 6-1 Sr, David Markiewicz 6-5 Soph
4. Detriot Loyola (13-13)
Overview: With Riverview Gabriel Richard’s dominant run to the title last year. The Detroit Catholic League has really been flexing their muscle over the last few years. Is Detroit Loyola ready to take over that role? There is a lot to work with. They have a solid senior point guard. Along with a twin tower look down low. I was very impressed with their talent level when I caught them during team camps.
Concerns: A twelve loss regular season isn’t ideal. I love when teams schedule aggressively. To be the best, you have to beat the best. However, you don’t want to take too many lumps playing in arguably the toughest league in the state.
Key Players: Martez Davis 5-9 Sr, Deandre Dann 6-5 Sr, Donovan Clark 6-5 Soph
5. Schoolcraft (20-7)
Overview: I did not anticipate ranking this group when June began. Then Jimmy Miller happened. The 6-9 Wayne St commit showed such rapid improvement that other scouts were asking me if Schoolcraft had added a transfer. Along with Lovejoy and Eklund (see above) Miller is in the conversation for the top overall player in the division. The Eagles are much more than a one man show. They have good shooters that could get plenty of open looks off of the post attack.
Concerns: Depth and health. When I saw them last year they were only dressing about eight players. They didn’t have a ton dressed when I saw them in a recent scrimmage. However, that could be because of the next point, health. Schoolcraft might not have had their full bench as their football team was preparing for a state final game. Not sure how many multi-sport athletes they have. But the miles could start to add up for this group.
Key Players: Jimmy Miller 6-9 Sr (Wayne St commit) Kodee Bienz 6-2 Jr, Ty Goddard 5-10 Jr
6. Jackson Lumen Christi (23-4)
Overview: If Detroit Loyola isn’t ready to carry the Catholic League torch. The Titans already have experience doing it. Just couldn’t get past the aforementioned Riverview Richard last year. They might have been the second best team in the state. They still have plenty of talent left from that unit. They are competing with #1 on this list for the most perimeter firepower in the division.
Concerns: Size and youth. When I caught them in the summer, I was surprised by how small they were on the frontline. Lumen Christi just wrapped up their 14th state football title, so that size might have been in the weight room. It will be interesting to see how much size they have in the regular season. Their talented rotation is quite young.
Key Players: Ashton Callan 6-2 Soph, Jonathan Morgan 6-1 Jr, George Grossbach 6-1 Sr, Broden Burgess 5-11 Soph Amarion Clay 5-10 Sr, Zack Tropea 5-9 Jr
7. Ishpeming Westwood (22-6)
Overview: Group that really snuck up on people in the north. Making a surprise semi-final appearance. They have a college player returning as their headliner. Along with plenty of other production. They are a good defensive team that ran a difficult zone that flummoxed some of the top teams in March.
Concerns: Not the biggest lineup you will see. Didn’t slow them down in March. However, the Northern part of the bracket is full of some big teams (see below) As with any team in Upper Peninsula. How much will they be tested in the regular season? They won’t sneak up on teams this year. How will they handle that change in role?
Key Players: Ethan Marta 6-3 Sr (Michigan Tech commit) AJ Pizziola 5-10 Sr, Caden Balzarini 6-2 Sr Louis Salmi 5-10 Sr
8. Maple City Glen Lake (24-3)
Overview: From the shores of the Sleeping Bear Dunes comes a “country strong” group that you would think came out of America’s heartland. Led by a Division II post commit. There is plenty of size outside of their bell cow. No more farming references, I promise. The backcourt is young but developing. They are coache’s kids who play intelligent floor games. They should be able to feed their beefy frontline good looks. They have a state championship winning head coach on the bench as well.
Concerns: The perimeter attack. The aforementioned Ishpemimg Westwood zone forced them to the perimeter in a regional final loss. Their star player has experienced some injury scares in the last few months.
Key Players: Jacob Plamondon 6-6 Sr (Grand Valley St commit) Toby Bradford 5-11 Jr, Gabe Hazelton 5-11 Jr, Max Lamerson 6-3 Soph, Dominic Stein 6-2 Jr
9. McBain (23-3)
Overview: Nothing flashy, just a winning equation that has worked for twenty plus years from the rural district outside of Cadillac. Defense, rebounding, and well utilized size. This formula carried the program to another quarterfinal appearance. Despite graduating a very underrated player that will be hard to replace. Not much will change in coming year.
Concerns: As stated above, the graduation of Ben Rodenbaugh (Trine) will be tough to replace. They will not have the depth and overwhelming size that prior teams have featured. The loss of their top player could be harder for this group to overcome. The Highland conference will be tougher than it has been in a while. They might carry more losses into the postseason than they are used to. That could be a good thing.
Key Players: Clayton Heuker 6-5 Jr, Colton Haverkamp 6-3 Sr, Josh Rodenbaugh 6-3 Jr
10. Menominee (13-12)
Overview: I caught this group early in the season last year. I was surprised they posted 11 regular season losses. They were talented and were coming off a quarterfinal appearance. This speaks to how tough the Upper Peninsula was last year. They return virtually their entire team. They are a competitive group of winners who just won a football stats championship. Defeating #’s 2 and 5 on this list. They are not going to be intimidated by anyone. I normally wonder how much a UP team will be tested. Not with this group. Beginning with a trip to Petoskey this weekend. They are traveling often to play top competition.
Concerns: While they are very dynamic athletically, they are not very big along the frontline. How healthy and fresh will they be after appearing in a state championship and the corresponding travel. As someone who called a playoff game up there a few weeks ago. That is a long way away.
Key Players: Tanner Theuerkauf 6-4 Sr, Darrent Butler 6-1 Sr, Dylan Beal 5-11 Jr
