Louis O’Neal Classic: Players to watch

After normally being held on Martin Luther King Day in the past. The Louis O’Neal High School Classic will shift to season tip off Saturday event. The new date produces the same deep and talented field.

Following are twenty players to watch from the ambitious and geographically diverse seven game slate. The schedule and flyer for the event is attached below.

Arnell Somlar 5-7 2026 Bay City All Saints Burst on to the Tri-cities basketball scene in a major way as a freshman. The small scoring point guard will look to build on that momentum in the early season showcase.

Ryan Patterson 6-6 2024 St Helen Charlton Heston Academy One of the biggest players in the field will hail from one the smaller schools. Patterson runs about 280 and has a soft touch from the beyond the three point line. If he is able to show increased athleticism in his senior season. He could be a late blooming small college prospect.

Mi’Trevion Hughes 6-1 2024 Bridgeport A rebuilding Bearcat program should be led by this dynamic senior guard. Despite retooling the Bearcats are not easing into their schedule. As they will travel to Lansing for another high profile showcase the next weekend. 

Sean Wesolek 6-6 2025 Bay City John Glen (pictured) A complete post prospect who is only missing elite vertical size. Has a wide but athletic frame that he uses wisely on the block. Establishes deep post position with ease. Has a soft touch around the basket with both hands, Has improved as a finisher with increased lift. Good passer out of the high post who can initiate offense. Coming off an excellent summer with The Process on the Prep Hoops Circuit.

Easton Day 6-2 2025 Mt Pleasant A player emblematic of the recent success in the Oiler program. Nothing too flashy. A fundamentally sound and versatile scorer. Like Wesolek, coming off an excellent summer on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Day ran with the REAL Basketball organization. Played last year on a deep regular season squad that pushed perennial power Grand Blanc to the brink in the state tournament.

Jakobie Boose 6-2 2024 Flint Hamady If there is a more electric finisher in the field— then I really want to see him. Boose is a breath taking athlete with elite bounce. More than just a dunker though. Has a deep and effortless touch from beyond the arc. Can use his athleticism to get his shot off whenever he wants. Interesting to see how a somewhat new look Hamady squad retools.

Phoenix Glassnor 5-11 2025 Warren De La Salle Perhaps has the highest profile of any player in the field. One of the better natural scorers you will see. Just has a nose for basket. Three level scorer is an overused cliche. Glassnor is a “whatever is necessary” scorer. Strong three sport standout who jumps off of two feet. Already has earned Division I offers and interest

Armoni Portis 6-2 2025 Warren De La Salle Portis had a similar reputation to Glassnor entering high school. Got off to a slightly slower start though. Now entering his junior year. Portis feels poised to take off for the Pilots (that was bad— I apologize) Portis is bigger than Glassnor and might be more explosive athletically.

Nnaemeka Ikechi 6-7 2024 Warren De La Salle The recent Army commitment is coming off an excellent summer with the Grand Rapids Storm. Will be stepping into big shoes as the Pilots have a hole on the frontline with Michael Sulaka now at Western Michigan. If Ikechi plays like he did this summer he should be more than up to the task.

Nick Speiser 6-5 2024 Warren De La Salle Ikechi should not be responsible for filling that front court void by all by himself. Depending on how he is utilized. Speiser could be an ideal stretch four prospect. Has patiently waited his turn. After a good summer with the Michigan Goonies he appears ready to pop. Has the ability to play on the perimeter if needed. If you read above— that probably won’t be needed. Could be the x-factor for the Pilots this season.

Dempsey Cull 6-6 2025 Flint Powers Catholic If you like sweet shooting twin brothers. This will be the event for you. The Cull twins will represent the first of two on the night. After sitting all last season due to a transfer. Dempsey and Jesse should be anxious and ready for this contest. More than just deep shooters. They have both expanded their game to the perimeter with improved ball handling as they have aged.

Jesse Cull 6-6 2025 Flint Powers Catholic I first caught the Cull’s at a elite camp as middle schoolers just before the pandemic (man that seems like a long time ago) I only mention it to underscore the fact that I have seen them play a LOT. Despite that I cannot tell them apart. As much as I hate to do it. You can copy and paste everything from Dempsey’s profile down here.

Javontae Ross 5-11 2025 Flint Powers Catholic I have been watching the Cull twins for quite some time. Ross popped up on my radar this summer. Did this with an outstanding performance at a Wayne St Elite camp that was loaded with next level guards. Has elite change of direction ability and is explosive in the open court.

Shane Rykse 6-3 2024 Schoolcraft The recent Spring Arbor commitment is one the better shooters you will see anywhere— period. Has already authored an illustrious high school career with one year left. Over the course of his career he showed improved playmaking and ball handling ability. I’m convinced he came out of the womb shooting, so don’t have to worry about that.

Tucker Walther 6-4 2025 Schoolcraft Walther is a long and lanky backcourt prospect who is a nice complement to Rykse. He is coming off a nice summer with the Strictly Skills AAU program on the Adidas Gold Circuit.

Mason Struck 6-6 2024 Chesaning Coming off a successful maiden voyage on the gridiron. Struck returns to the familiar surroundings of the hardwood. Versatile player who can score both at and away from the basket. With Chesaning dropping down a classification. Struck could be one of the top players statewide in Division III.

Carter Patrick 6-1 2024 Cass City High scoring lefty led the Red Hawks to a two loss campaign last season. Falling to eventual stare champion Flint Beecher in the regional semifinals. Versatile guard who can play both backcourt positions. Could really earn some additional attention with a strong game against Nouvel and their standout backcourt.

Jack Wilson 6-6 2025 Saginaw Nouvel As you will see below. The strength of the Nouvel squad is clearly in the backcourt. However Wilson is rapidly improving down on the block and will help the Panthers vary their attack. He has good size and is beginning to develop into his full potential. Should be Nouvel’s number three option in the coming year.

MJ Yeager 5-9 2024 Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Like the Cull twins from earlier in the day. High level shooting twin brothers will be main attraction in the closing contest. Unlike the Cull twins. This group did not need to improve their ball handling. They have been a high level playmaking duo for their entire career. They are not very big but that is about all you could knock them for. They are in constant motion off ball. Making them a difficult defensive assignment.

Donny Yeager 5-9 2024 Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Like the Cull twins. I can’t tell these guys apart after years of watching them. So copy and paste everything from above. I’ll close by adding something about the Nouvel squad. After dropping back down to the more familiar Division IV classification. Expectations are high in Panther country for a deep run. Defeating a solid Division III squad at premier event would be a nice way for Nouvel to announce themselves statewide.