MHSAA Preview: a Post Summer Division I Top Ten
A funny thing happened on the way to a deadline… I had intended to do a post June ranking for all four of Michigan’s classifications. I was successful in doing Divisions III and IV. This is where I would normally make a quip about needing an editor on my eponymous website.
However, a lack of focus is not to be blamed for the delay. Quite the contrary in fact. In my years of doing this. I have never been flooded with so many transfer rumors at Michigan’s highest levels (often true) These rumors were compounded by a spate of serious injuries to key players. These kept me from pulling the publish trigger on my long gestating lists.
As we near the end of September, and with myself heading out to fall leagues this past weekend. It’s time to rip the band aid off in Division I.
First a quick word about details. Bigger divisions, means bigger enrollments, and deeper teams. At a later point I’ll try and give you as much of a rotation as possible. With some exceptions, I’ll try and limit capsules three players a piece.
Secondly, this is meant to be a merely a snapshot and a completely fluid list. If you disagree, feel free to let me know.
**last year’s record in parentheses**
1. East Lansing (28-1)
Are they the biggest team? Are they deepest team? I’m pretty confident both of those answers are no. What they are is a one loss defending state champion returning perhaps the top tandem in the state. The Spartan legacy duo of senior KJ Torbert (6-3) and junior Kingston Thomas (6-4) are extremely talented. Beyond that, they are fierce competitors who simply do not lose many basketball games.
There is some graduation attrition but the cupboard is far from bare. If 6-6 senior Dequarius Stewart can hold up down low. It will give the Trojans young but talented but young perimeter reinforcements time to develop. Come March East Lansing could be making the shortest road trip possible to repeat as state champions.
2. Rockford (22-3)
The second and third spots were tough to separate. In a word, to the victors go the spoils. Rockford was victorious over Muskegon in one of the more thrilling games of the state tournament last year, so I’ll give them the lean at the tape.
The Rams will be fronted by Central Michigan commit Jake Bascom. The do it all 6-5 forward will shoulder a heavy load as the Rams graduate quite a bit of experience from last years squad. However if sophomore superstars Eli Wolfe (6-1) and Josh Bascom (6-3) are ready to take the next step there will be no drop off. The rotation. There is a plenty of talent outside of the top three in this deep rotation
3. Muskegon (20-3)
Muskegon is similar to their District final foe. A perennial power that graduated a lot of production. However they possess senior a Division leader surrounded by a young but very talented replenishing core.
The senior leader is Detroit Mercy commit James Martin. The 6-3 wing is perhaps the most electric transition prospect in the state. He has rounded out the rest of his game, and is coming off a strong run on the prestigious EYBL circuit. The young core will led by sophomores Lou Gresset (6-2) and William Whyms (6-5) They will not have the size and depth of previous Big Red squads. But senior Kyren Noble (6-5) is talented and plays bigger than his listed height. For what it’s worth, Muskegon was the only team to defeat East Lansing last year.
4. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (22-3)
After emphatically defeating #3 on the list in the regular season last year. This squad has a strong case be a little higher. I do have some questions about health and how a very highly touted freshman class will impact the season. However I don’t generally wrote about freshman until they play (these are kids just starting high school) and with my orthopedic history I try to be sensitive to injury recoveries as well (IYKYK)
What I do know is Senior Greg Grays Jr (6-2) will be one of the top guards in the entire state. He had an outstanding spring and summer and should be ready for a big senior campaign. Senior Jacob Lamb (6-2) looks poised to take on a bigger role after being an excellent bench contributor last season. If the youth develops and and the low post presence is back to full health. This top five ranking could look low come January or March.
5. Detroit Cass Tech (19-4)
Entering the spring I had no intention of ranking this team. I had watched them lose in person to a talented Marquette squad. They followed that up by losing their first game of the state tournament to Grosse Pointe North. The young squad appeared to be year or two away.
Then came June. I was very impressed with the improvement shown by this unit at the BCAM Reaching Higher Event. The improvement has been spearheaded by 6-1 junior guard Stevie Hall. He appears to have taken the next step physically and is now a top 150 recruit nationally in the 2027 class. He is not alone in the 2027 class. Trevon Parham is smaller (5-10) but has a similarly explosive backcourt game. However strong guard play is not new for the Technicians. I am intrigued to see how much 6-8 junior Amari Wright is able to contribute down low this year. I might be a year early with this junior laden group.
6. Grand Rapids Northview (19-6)
Like Brother Rice (#4 above) this is a very talented and deep group with some question marks coming into the season. Unless I missed something this will be the only team on this list with a new head coach. Former longtime Grand Rapids Union head coach Brandeon Guyton is experienced on the bench, but it is nevertheless something to monitor. Also similar to the Brother Rice they have some talented freshmen and transfers that they will working into already deep rotation. That’s a lot of change for what has been a pretty stable program.
One thing that is not a question is senior Cameron Ryans. The 6-5 Western Michigan commit is poised to wrap up a stellar four year career with a Mr Basketball campaign. At the high school level the versatile Ryans can play and guard all five positions. Key returnees from last year are 6-3 point guard Anthony Willis and 6-4 combo forward Izzy Hatibu. Both are juniors and are coming off of strong AAU runs with the Grand Rapids Storm.
7. Detroit Martin Luther King (21-6)
This defensively minded unit isn’t going to win the mix tape wars (are those still a thing?) What they are going to do is win a lot of games. It starts down low with 6-9 junior center Tyler Hunter. Hunter is perhaps the most imposing post prospect in the state. The offensive game is coming along and he is beginning to attract Division I interest.
The Crusaders will feature strong guard play in seniors Derrick Kilgore Jr (6-2) and Drew Floyd (5-9). They are two different types of lead guard prospects. They provide a diverse look to King backcourt. tHunter isn’t alone on the block as 6-4 senior Mareon Knott is a versatile and dynamic forward.
8. Kalamazoo Central (19-5)
I have been high on this group for a while. An experienced group that has taken some lumps in the past. They are now virtually all seniors and look poised to take the next step as a program. Like King (see above) it starts down low with 6-8 senior Isaiah Theodile, who might be the best finisher at the rim in the state. Simply put, if a guard can get it anywhere near the cup, he can go get it.
Fortunately for the Maroon Giants, they have those type of guards. I was very impressed with Kameron Bean this summer with the West Michigan Lakers. He is jet with the ball in his hands and is a good passer. Taveon Vaughn should be more comfortable in his second year in the program after transferring from Loy Norrix last year. There is plenty of depth outside of that top three.
9. Detroit Catholic Central (12-13)
Not the prettiest record from last year. However the Detroit Catholic League was a gauntlet last year and the Shamrocks return most of their rotation. They should be led by a pair of versatile forwards in Senior Jackson Bowden and junior Andrew Walker.
The x-factor could be the development of junior Wycell Davis. Davis appeared to be taking the next step with various AAU teams this spring/summer. All three prospects run about 6-4 and are multi talented. Consequently, the wing position is rather shored up. If the post and point positions develop (there is talent at those spots as well) this squad could greatly improve on their record this year.
10. Lansing Waverly (20-4)
We began the list in the capital city and we will end there. This team to Detroit King. Fronted by an old school punishing frontline. Xavier Pendergrass (6-7) and Derek Thomas II (6-3) are tough duo who can play inside and out.
There is ample backcourt help in juniors CJ Gomez (5-11) and DJ Pope (6-1) as well. This is a deep and talented rotation who plays the type of game that can topple East Lansing. Could this be the year?
