MHSAA Division IV June Outlook
In the throes of the June team camp season. It’s natural to look ahead and begin to identify the top teams for next year. While still sorting out the transfer portal for many of the top teams in the larger divisions. I feel like I have seen enough to take a shot at Michigan’s smallest classification.
Since I know the world is waiting with bated breath (sarcasm) I’ll tease out the suspense further. I’m not going to rank them. I’ll give you ten teams to watch in alphabetical order (by their MHSAA listed name) You could probably deduct pretty easily the top three if you follow high school basketball.
Closer to the beginning of the season. Or maybe even July. I’ll put some numbers next to the names and possibly shake up the teams depending on what I see or hear.
As always this is high school sports. This is meant to be fun and hopefully informative for fans. I have no agenda or affiliation with any of these teams. If you disagree, or some team uses this as motivation. I am perfectly fine with that. You can light me up on social media— that’s your prerogative. I’ve been through much worse. Or feel free to reach out and tell me what I am missing….this is meant to be an early and fluid list
**last years record in parentheses**
Adrian Lenawee Christian (20-4) The Cougars proved the adage that coaches love to hate. It’s tough to beat a good three times. Falling to twice defeated Britton-Deerfield in a district upset. They lose a lot from last year’s team, especially in the backcourt. However as long junior Jaxon Salenbien is around the Cougars will be in the mix. Salenbien is a versatile player who is trending towards being the top college prospect in the division. He is skilled enough to play all five positions in this classification. Whatever his squad needs this year. The 6-4 Swiss Army knife should be able to provide it.
Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (23-5) Experienced and seasoned head coaches often say you learn more from losses than a victory. The Chargers have an uber experienced and successful longtime head coach in Mark Kraatz. I imagine he has been using his team’s decisive semifinal loss to Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (see below) as a motivational tool. The Irish stymied then pretty good defensively in their last game of the season. If the Chargers can take the next step defensively they could be state championship quality. They have plenty of offensive firepower returning. Led by juniors Ethan Esse (5-11) and Carlos Jackson (6-3) Few teams in the division will have a better junior duo.
Belliare (21-5) This is a group that has been building toward this year for quite some time. Seniors Jayden Hanson and Drake Koepke have been four year players. They might be the top Division IV duo in Northern Michigan…if not the entire the state for the division as well. Hanson is the 6-5 post prospect who can also step out the perimeter. Koepke is the inverse. A lengthy 6-2 guard who has size to play down low if needed. After some graduation losses can the Eagles find a third scorer? That will be the key to success for this group.
Crystal Falls Forrest Park (22-5) I’m not going to pretend I get up to the remote Upper Peninsula for many games. I do not get up for some, but not many. However over the years I have developed some pretty good sources. In unison they tell me 6-0 sophomore Vic Giuliani is the next man up from the region. That is pretty high praise. It’s not like this is an untested youthful group either. They return plenty of production for a team whose season ended in a quarterfinal loss to St Ignace. With Saints rebuilding and Munising moving up to Division III. The Trojans should be the top Division IV squad in the UP.
Flint Beecher (10-17) Like the hardened region it represents. People have seemingly been waiting to count out Beecher for a while. Don’t let last year’s record fool you. An eligibility issue was responsible for the majority of those losses. While last year was thought to be a down campaign. They were still a buzzer beater away from defeating eventual Division III finalists Detroit Old Redford in the quarterfinals. Even with a new coach and playing in a new division. I still expect Beecher to be a factor in March. Despite what the regular season record might say. As far as personnel. If senior Elijah Pitts is still around. The Buccaneers will feature top flight talent in the division.
Fowler (17-8) It just doesn’t feel right to do an early list and leave out a team from Central Michigan Athletic Conference. The CMAC has arguably been the best small school conference in the state for quite some time. Despite their eight losses, the Eagles were state championship caliber. They showed this by giving eventual champ Tri Unity Christian their closest game in the tournament (seven points) Many of their losses were also to Division III teams as well. They do graduate quite a bit. However I was impressed with 6-6 Alex Halfmann at an Elite camp at Ferris St in early June. Showed good size and a skill set for the division. If there are more players of Halmann’s ilk coming up. The Eagles should be just fine.
Frankfort (17-8) This might not sound like a ringing endorsement, but stick with me for a second. The loss of Bryce Plesha (Adrian) will be big in the post. I’m not sure they have the size in the program to replace him. That being said, they have a few things working in their favor. Head coach Dan Loney is one of the best young coaches in Northern Michigan. He will have this group ready when it counts. He will also have an experienced senior backcourt in Carter Kerby and Tristin Griffin. Kerby is a dynamic guard with plenty of big game experience. He plays with a swagger and confidence that will make him a tough out in March. Griffin should be more comfortable this year. After making the transition from a home school as a junior. They both had nice grassroots campaigns with Parallel 45
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (26-4) Simply put if they could crack the code in the division that is Tri-Unity Christian. We would be talking about a defending state champion. Tri Unity handled them pretty easily twice last year. In all honesty heading into the state final game. I thought the Irish would win, and the early season contest was a bit of an outlier. I was clearly wrong. However that shows how impressive this team was during the tournament. They will have to replace some frontline production. However if that still have the three headed backcourt monster consisting of seniors Grady Piertt and Brody Cherry. Along with junior point guard Noah Zeien. The Irish will be tough to beat.
Traverse City Christian (16-7) As a small parochial school in the largest city by far in Northern Michigan. This program has been a bit of a sleeping giant for a while. After patient building by experienced head Rene LaFreniere (son—not the Hall of Famer) The Sabers might be ready for a seat at the big boy table. In past few years they have pushed Breslin contenders like Lake Leelanau St Mary’s and McBain Northern Michigan Christian to the brink. Last year they won 8 of their last 9 regular season games before falling in the district opener to Frankfort (see above) Led by 6-2 senior three point marksmen Reece Broderick. The guard heavy squad might be ready to take the next step.
Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian (24-5) I’ll break my rule and drop the spoiler alert of the century. This team will be #1 when I choose to rank this division— gasp! I know really going out on a limb on that one. They will lose some significant perimeter firepower. However Keaton Blanker (pictured) just wrapped up an excellent spring with the West Michigan Lakers. Playing with more offensive assertiveness of late. The 5-10 guard could be the top overall senior prospect in the division. They will get reinforcements from their deep program to offset the graduation losses. When you have the best player playing in program with this rich of a tradition. That is tough to beat or bet against.
