Event Preview: Northern Michigan Showcase
In its fourth year, the Northern Michigan Showcase returns to the classic old gym at Traverse City St Francis. While presenting its standard ambitious five game slate. The event takes on a slightly different flavor this year. By adding three of the top teams from the Upper Peninsula. The Showcase is about as geographically diverse as any showcase slate. From all the way in the central time zone of the far western reaches of the UP, to a big Division I school from West Michigan. This will be good day featuring the top teams and players in the state of Michigan.
Below is a preview of all five games and players to watch in each contest. Current record in parentheses
Baldwin (15-3) vs Traverse City Christian (18-0)
On paper, this Division IV contest is arguably the best matchup of the day. Two dichotomous programs. A historically successful program coming off a bit of down period (Baldwin) Against a program with virtually no history, looking to finish off a long climb to the top of the division. (Traverse City Christian) The Sabers are powered by the 6-4 forward duo of senior Garrett Schultz and junior Ethan Johns. I thought this group might struggle after the loss of their point guard due to injury. They have not. Showing the resiliency and depth in their program. Junior Sam Bigger has also stepped up in his first year in the program.
Christian runs a unique zone, that most likely be the key to this game, Can that loom slow down Baldwin’s 6-3 senior wing Chance Dockery. The lanky wing has the size and skill to easily shoot over most defenders. If the duo of Shultz and Johns slow down Dockery. The Panthers have a nice second option in junior point guard Pierre Johnson. Trying to counter Johnson in the backcourt should be sophomore Isaac Torbet. With Bigger, Torbet is has stepped up nicely after the Sabers injuries in the backcourt.
Ishpeming Westwood (17-1) vs Glen Lake (14-3)
If you don’t believe that the opener is the best game on paper. Depending on your metric, the second one is pretty close. It is certainly the matchup with most recent history. A rematch of last year’s regional final. Where Ishpeming Westwood used a zone defense to run away from a favored and bigger Glen Lake.
The matchup will also feature something you rarely see at the Division III level. A face off of two signed and committed GLIAC college prospects. The Patriots will feature 6-4 do it all forward Ethan Marta. Marta is arguably the top player in the Upper Peninsula this year. He has committed to Michigan Tech and continued his momentum from last year into a big senior season.
For Glen Lake, it starts, begins, and ends with 6-6 post Jacob Plamondon. Plamondon broke out in this gym two years ago. Putting up a huge stat line against the host squad as a sophomore. He hasn’t looked back from that game and is now arguably one of the best low post prospects in the state. The Grand Valley St commit is a bucket if he catches it deep enough. He has expanded his game on the perimeter in the past year… but he hasn’t forgotten where he has came from. The paint is the bread and butter. He has elite lane agility and strength. It is complemented with a soft touch around the basket.
As is usually the case in a big time individual matchup. The contest will most like come down to the supporting casts. Max Lamerson is a 6-4 sophomore and quite the second option for Glen Lake. Is physically advanced like Plamondon, but is explosive in transition and a good shooter from beyond the arc. Marta is a forward. He most likely will not be matched up 1-on-1 with Plamondon. Can 6-2 senior Caden Balzarini and company hold up in the low post? If they can’t, will the Westwood zone flummox Glen Lake once again. This one could be a tournament preview.
Grandville (10-7) vs Traverse City West (10-4)
While the first two games are excellent games on paper. If next level college prospects are what you looking for… game #3 is for you. While Grandville comes in with seven losses. They have mostly came in the rugged OK Red conference. Arguably the deepest league in the state. They also have a loss against Detroit Catholic Central who will be playing for a Detroit Catholic League championship later this week.
Throwing out the seven losses, what are we left with? Probably the most talented team in the field. Led by junior Carter Wade, a unique point guard with plenty of skill. Injuries have hampered the start of Wade’s career. He is a powerfully built and stocky point guard who has played with the Bulldogs since his freshman year. If you don’t know the name Heyden Jeremie yet, you soon will. The 6-4 freshmen is already an elite athlete that you will not need a program to identify. Just watch warmups and look for the player who looks like a D1 football player. More than just an athlete though. He is skilled, composed, and has stuffed the stat sheet all year.
I can’t let the kids have all the fun. Senior wing Anthony Richardson is going to play basketball somewhere next year. The 6-6 wing prospect is a late developing prospect who just oozes upside and potential. As if they didn’t need more help. At Christmas, they added Godwin Heights transfer Isaiah Guyton. A sweet shooting 6-7 wing who recently committed to play at Davenport. Don’t forget about underrated forward Brendan Vanderhart. That is a lot of firepower.
Traverse City West should not be fazed though. They have seemingly held serve as the top team in Northern Michigan all year. They remain undefeated in the Big North Conference. That being said, all of their losses have came to teams from West Michigan. This is their chance to get the monkey off their back before the state tournament. I gave you a horde of players from Grandville listed above. Despite all that, I’m not sure any have the size to match Carter Grubb (Lake Superior St commit) on the block. The super bouncy 6-6 post can elevate with the best prospects in the state. He will need to stay out of foul trouble against Grandville’s multi-pronged perimeter attack. West will try and counter that attack with a two headed monster of 6-2 senior guards Blake LaFaive and Owen Ribel.
I’ve given you a lot of players in this one because…well… there are a lot of good players in this one. I’m not going overthink the keys the game here. The group of star players who live up to their earned reputations should win this game.
Menominee (15-3) vs Traverse City Central (9-7)
The penultimate contest should be a fun one. Menominee is the only team in the field with a state championship on their mantle… in football. However, that gives you an idea of the type of athleticism you are dealing with here. These aren’t plodding Western UP kids who are good because they haven’t seen the sun in three months. These are next level suburban Green Bay athletes who can play with anyone. Led by 6-3 senior wing Tanner Theuerkauf who has committed to play football at Northern Michigan.
He was a key sophomore contributor on a Maroon squad that came seconds away from a Breslin Center appearance two years ago. As a quarterback, if he doesn’t advance on the depth chart as quickly as he would like. I could easily see him sliding over from the Mariucci side to the Izzo side of the Wildcats facility and play basketball. He’s good enough to do it. Fellow senior Darrent Butler is skilled 6-1 senior guard to watch as well. This is a deep rotation with the size and athleticism befitting a state championship football team. They have tested themselves with a gauntlet of a schedule that would make one think they are expecting another deep tournament run.
Their opponent will feature arguably the top sophomore combo in the region. Hudson McLean is a versatile 6-4 forward who can play all over the court. Collin Rademacher is an explosive sub-6 foot point guard with plenty of speed and an advanced change of direction ability. Like Grandville, the seven losses have come against a difficult schedule. If senior guards Cassius Feeny and Ethan Rademacher are clicking on the offensive end. The Trojans starring five will be just as explosive as Menominee’s
Central doesn’t feature a a lot of size on the frontline. If Menominee can exploit their depth advantage on the glass. They should be able to win. If it turns into a track meet, Central can win in entertaining fashion.
Pickford (19-0) vs Traverse City St Francis (7-11)
The finale features a reloading host squad against one the Upper Peninsula’s top Division IV units. St Francis is still quite young and has a bright future as a program. Like other teams on this list. They have played a difficult schedule as an independent, so the number of losses is somewhat immaterial.
Names to watch out for are juniors Jake Bixby and Reef Wichern. Skilled players who ran with the HB Rlite AAU program this spring/summer. A name for the deep future is freshman Mikey Bauman. Bauman is a lanky 6-2 wing with plenty of potential. The Glads are building the right away after graduating a special group that appeared in a state final game three years ago. Defeating an undefeated Pickford could be statement making win.
That will not be easy though. Coming off a close quarterfinal loss last year. I thought from my below the bridge vantage point, that they had lost too much production. I was very wrong. Senior guards Gunner Bennin and Caden Wiltfong have the Panthers right back in Breslin Center contention. Junior Carter Yiirs is another solid guard I have caught at some prospect camps downstate. If they have size to keep St Francis off the boards. Pickford could move to an even 20-0 on the season. They have the chance to be the second team (Traverse City Christian) in the field to reach this increasingly rare mark.
