Event Preview: Northern Michigan Showcase
In its third year, the Northern Michigan Showcase has once again lived up to its lofty goal. Bringing up statewide teams from the metro Detroit area to compete in Northern Michigan. Saturday’s schedule presents five high quality games featuring college players, state championship programs, and plenty of atmosphere in St Francis’ small historic game.
If you are heading out or planning on watching the games on a stream. Check out this preview of the ambitious five game slate. The streaming link for the event can be found below.
Stream Link: https://nextlevelbroadcasting.net/2025-Northern-Michigan-Showcase/
Game #1 glen Lake (14-1) vs Walled Lake Western (5-11)
The first game features Glen Lake, one of the top ranked teams in Division III. At press time they have the highest Michigan Power Ranking (MPR) in the entire division. Furthermore, the Laker’s MPR is in the top five regardless of class. They should come in on a ten game winning streak while avenging their early season loss to Frankfort.
The Lakers have appeared in all three showcases and have yet to lose. Including a win in the inaugural event over Wayne Memorial (see below) They will be led by 6-6 junior post Jacob Plamondon. Plamondon had breakout performance in last years event. He followed that up with a huge spring/summer in grassroots basketball. He has a speed/strength combo on the block that is matchup problem for anyone in the state. Grand Valley St football commit Benji Allen might be the best overall athlete in the field. I will also be intrigued to watch some underclassmen who have earned attention early in their careers.
Don’t let the record fool you. The Warriors from suburban Detroit are a young and talented team. They have also dealt with injury adversity early in the year. They will led by the perimeter duo of junior Gavin Roberts (6-2) and sophomore Dean Lewis (6-4) (pictured below) I have caught Lewis more than once at college elite camps and he has next level potential. Also watch out for sophomore Jackson Kazmierski.
Game #2 Cadillac (13-4) vs Canton (11-6)
After a rough start to the season. Cadillac has turned around their season. They are coming off a big victory against Traverse City West that moves them to a tie atop the Big North Conference. By enrollment they all the smallest Division I team in the state. However that is just by enrollment. On the court they have size that most teams envy. The senior duo of Kyle McGowan (6-7) and Gavin Goetz (6-6) present matchup problems for differing reasons. McGown, the Northern Michigan football commit for his strength and lateral quickness. While Goetz is a versatile four year player who can play multiple positions and initiate offense out of the high post.
The size isn’t contained to the post for Cadillac. Part of the reason for Cadillac’s offensive resurgence was the selfless act of a senior going to a reserve role. This allowed 6-6 freshman Domenic Wing (pictured below) to move into starting lineup. Wing has potential to be the next college small forward from a program that is developing quite a track record of pumping them out. Also watch out for senior 6-2 point guard Eli Main who had an outstanding game in the Vikings last Saturday showcase appearance.
While Cadillac is on an outstanding six year run. They are 0-2 in the Northern Michigan Showcase. They will look get a win against the Canton. The Cobras have been on quite a run of sending players it the next level of late. While they might not have that singular talent this year. They are a solid and experienced team that has 10 wins against a difficult schedule. They also have the requisite size in the 6-7 duo of Drew Putnam (Jr) and Liam Wilson (So) to matchup with the Vikings big frontline. The heartbeat of the team though is the senior 6-2 duo of Kessler Blakita and Teddy Winstel. I was impressed with 6-3 junior Nick Hurley in AAU this summer as he ran with Top 1 Select on the Prep Hoops Circuit. This should be a good one.
Game #3 Traverse City West (14-2) vs Wayne Memorial (14-2)
I’ve alluded next talent a few times in the first two games. That is mostly about potential. When game #3 tips you will be watching “no doubt about it” college players. For staters Traverse City West’s Lincoln Lockhart has already wrapped up his recruitment. The 6-1 combo guard has committed ti Trine (IN) one the blue blooded Division III programs in the nation. West is the opposite of their conference leading brethren Cadillac. They don’t feature a ton of size and crop of good senior guards. Lockhart will get support from Mason Zimmerman and Caden Stoops.
This will be a “guard galore” game. As Wayne Memorial features what is perhaps the best backcourt in the entire state. Junior Carlos Medlock Jr (pictured below) began attracting Division I interest before he was even in high school. The 6-0 junior is a possible Mr Basketball candidate next year. He is that good and played outstanding in last year’s event against Cadillac. He will be joined by 6-2 junior combo guard Jaylohn Allen. Allen is just as good as Medlock and was recently offered by Oakland. They are quite a duo who has played a lot basketball together.
All that talk about the guards means the post is where you will find the x-factors. You probably won’t remember Austin Tory from last year’s squad. Not because he wasn’t akey key player for Wayne Memorial. Simply because he looks much different. With a significant a late career growth spurt. The 6-6 senior forward will be facing a similar opponent is the blossoming Carter Grubb. Grubb spent most of his time on West’s JV squad last year. Only a junior, he had a standout spring/summer on the elite camp circuit. He has carried over that play to the regular season.
These mirror image squads should hopefully equate to a competitive back and forth contest.
Game #4 Marquette (14-2) vs Detroit Cass Tech (15-1)
Marquette will make their second trip below the bridge this season with one of the more talented teams they have had in quite some time. They are led 6-6 Michigan Tech commit Jacob MacPhee (pictured at top of article) MacPhee is a modern stretch four who can really shoot it from beyond the arc. He also runs the court fluidly and makes plays easily above the rim. Setting him up will be 6-0 senior point guard Jaxon Jurmu. Jurmu is a deceptively good athlete who will have his hands full against Cass Tech. Marquette’s only two losses came on their aforementioned first trip to the Traverse City where they lost to both Central and West.
It’s not going to get any easier as they draw the Technicans. Cass only two years removed from a state championship. Has almost completely changed over their roster. They are led by the sophomore backcourt of Stevie Hall (6-2) (pictured below) and Trevon Parham (5-9) They are dynamic on both ends of the court. Hall is a tall point guard who is trending towards being a Division I recruit. Parham is a smaller prospect who plays off the ball, but also shows point guard skills. Senior leadership comes from 6-5 Lee Harris who committed to play at Tuskegee next year.
This is Cass Tech’s third year at the Northern Michigan Showcase. They are 2-0. While Marquette is making their inaugural appearance.
Game #5 Traverse City St Francis (6-11) vs Hamtramck (11-8)
The host squad, St Francis comes in with a losing record. However that is slightly deceptive. They are in their first year as an independent and have faced a gauntlet of a schedule. They have the size to compete with a big Hamtramck squad. Coming in the form of the 6-5 senior duo of Isaac Kerr and Isaiah Millward. The backcourt is helmed by three varsity player Harrison Shepard. Also watch out for junior guard Louis Rhein who played well in an early season loss to Jackson.
Hamtramck makes their second showcase appearance after defeating a Breslin bound McBain squad last year. The aforementioned size comes from junior 6-7 post Curtis Flagg Jr. The lanky prospect might be the best athlete you see on the day. He is a big time rim protector whose offensive game is coming along. The senior backcourt duo of Devin Mixon (5-10) and Ty’Ron Jenkins (6-3) are experienced and play their roles well. Jenkins is coming off a 29 point outing against East Kentwood. A sleeper prospect is 6-10 sophomore Kenneth Towns. You won’t need a program to identify this massive prospect. The Warren De La Salle transfer appears to still be working his way in the Hamtramck rotation.
I live in Northern Michigan. It has been a COLD and nasty winter. $10 for five games loaded with college talent is a pretty good deal. Come on out and support local high school basketball if you can.
