MHSAA Preview: Division III Preseason Top 10
Let’s continue the process of wrapping up one of the longest running ranking rollouts you will see with the Division III classification. Beginning in June and running through the present. I’ve given you 15 teams to watch— minus numerical rankings.
Now let’s whittle it down to a final ten and assign some rankings. For brevity and since it’s already been covered. The team capsules will be brief. You can follow the links below if you would like a more depth look at the teams and their backgrounds.
June Top 10 here
October Additional Five here
1. Riverview Gabriel Richard (23-4)
Strengths: Arguably the best starting five in the division. Frankly it might be by a pretty significant margin. They have a little bit of everything. Point guard play, shooting, and next level size. Nearly made the final game last year (dramatic OT loss) and return just about everyone. The motivation should be extremely high with this senior laden squad.
Concerns: On the court— not too many. Didn’t play much of bench last year. I think they will have more depth this year. Not sure how many multi-sport athletes they have? But the football team is still playing and getting ready for a state championship game this weekend. Accordingly could get off to a slow start.
Key Players: Senior 6-0 PG Luke Westerdale, Senior 6-8 C Charles Kage (Saginaw Valley St) Senior 5-10 SG Nick Sobush, Senior 6-4 SF Drew Everingham
2. Pewamo-Westphalia (23-3)
Strengths: Super consistent state championship winning program in multiple sports. They might feature their best individual talent during this run of excellence (Eklund) They have size both in the paint and out on the perimeter. Well coached and run nice disciplined sets.
Concerns: Playing in a large conference. They don’t get much of a chance to test themselves in the non conference. Will that affect them in March? They were upset by Grand Rapids area parochial school last year that played a tough slate. This could be a younger squad than what the Pirates are used to fielding. I might be a year early with this group.
Key Players: Junior 6-3 PG Grady Eklund, Junior 6-5 C Trevor Piggot, Senior 5-10 SG Reece Thelen
3. McBain (25-3)
Strengths: One the most consistent programs in Northern Michigan will have another state championship caliber squad. They might feature the best 1-2 punch in the division (Rodenbaugh, Heuker) I was on a bit of an island last year as I had this group #1 for most of the year. I’m not going to go to those lofty heights just yet.
Concerns: While they are undoubtedly big and strong. They will not feature the overwhelming height advantage they featured last year. They do lose a LOT of production from last year’s squad. They have reinforcements coming from a strong JV program. How quickly will they be ready?
Key Players: Senior 6-4 G/F Ben Rodenbaugh, Sophomore 6-5 SF/PF Clayton Heuker, Senior 6-0 SG Aidan Koetje
4. Jackson Lumen Christi (22-5)
Strengths: A deep and well coached rotation with plenty of backcourt firepower. A state championship head coach in Josh Tropea. He will know how to manage a deep bench. They schedule aggressively and should well tested by March.
Concerns: This seems to be a theme as I compose these lists. No surprise here, but the Titans are playing for a state championship on the gridiron this weekend. Will that impact the start of the season? Will the players already committed to the next level come out or graduate early and enroll? I was a big fan of an underclassmen who transferred out of the program. They have more than enough depth to overcome that departure.
Key Players: Senior 5-10 PG Luke Tropea, Senior 6-1 SG Kadale Williams (Centeal Michigan FB commit) Freshman 5-10 PG Broden Burgess
5. Schoolcraft (22-4)
Strengths: If you follow me on various platforms, you know I was big believer in the Eagles recently graduated Shane Rykse (Spring Arbor) So much that I was prepared look beyond Schoolcraft as a state championship contender. Then I saw them play in June. They are still very tall (I wouldn’t say big) and very talented. They will probably be more balanced this year. They could be dangerous and more efficient offensively.
Concerns: As I qualified above. This is a tall team but I wouldn’t say there is a lot of beef on the frontline. When they need a bucket who takes it this year (probably Walther) That has not been a question for the last three years.
Key Players: Senior 6-4 G/F Tucker Walther, Junior 6-9 PF Jimmy Miller, Senior 6-5 SF Luke Rykse
6. Menominee (20-7)
Strengths: Came within a whisker of a trip to the Breslin Center. Suffering an OT loss to #3 on this list in the quarterfinal round. They will feature arguably the top junior in the Upper Peninsula. They are well coached and run really efficient next level sets that get plenty of open looks.
Concerns: Strong and physical team. However not a lot of size on the frontline. They lose of lot of production from last years squad. Do they have the program depth to offset the departures?
Key Players: Junior 6-4 SF Tanner Theuerkauf, Junior 6-1 SG Darrent Butler, Senior 5-9 PG Kaiden Bell
7. Iron Mountain (22-2)
Strengths: An experienced and talented group that has done a lot of regular season winning in the last three years. Led by one of the top senior talents in the Upper Peninsula (Kangas) Should be highly motivated after back-to-back eliminations at the district round.
Concerns: About those eliminations…. The question isn’t success November through February. That has been repeatedly proven. Can they get the March Menominee monkey off their back? Even though I put the Maroons one spot higher. The Mountaineers have the talent and experience to do it this year.
Key Players: Senior 6-6 G/F Oskar Kangas, Senior 5-10 PG Gerald Sampoll-Torres, Sophomore 6-1/G/F Brayden Kassin
8. Flint New Standard (16-7)
Strengths: With perennial power Flint Beecher moving down to Division IV. Does “Flint Elite” have the talent to step into the gap? In a word— yes. They also have an uber experienced state championship head coach in Greg McMath. The stars have aligned for Warriors. Can they put it all together and fulfill the promise this young program has shown the last few years?
Concerns: It was just one setting, so it take it for it is worth. However I wasn’t blown away by this group during a team cam in June. Could have been missing some guys or working new guys in. But it’s hard to get that image out of my head. If they are fully constituted, they have some of best talent in the division. Do they have the time gel as a complete unit?
Key Players: Junior 6-1 PG Jeffrey Turner, Junior 5-9 PG Deion Wright, 6-5 Senior PF Jhirnea Harris
9. Maple City-Glen Lake (22-5)
Strengths: Resilient unit that ended up in the quarterfinals after the rare mid season coaching change. You would think a full offseason program with state championship head Jason Bradford would only make them better. Speaking of “strength”, program is loaded with next level athletes who are going to play something at the next level.
Concerns: While they appeared in the quarterfinals last year. It was at the Division IV level. Can they do it again while moving up a classification? History and the talent in the program says they can. The secondary concern is a little more personal. I broadcasted their second round playoff football defeat to Beal City. No nice way to say it— they got beat up in that game. Broken toes, separated shoulders, it was MASH unit by the end. How healthy will they be to start the season?
Key Players: Junior 6-6 C Jacob Plamondon, Senior 6-3 SF Benji Allen (Grand Valley St Football commit) Senior SG Michael Houtteman
10. LeRoy-Pine River (15-8)
Strengths: Serious size… size that would travel well at the Class A level. Group that largely stuck together and won a lot of games at the JV level. Outside of the size they have a skilled versatile forward to carry the scoring load (Gugle)
Concerns: While they have won a lot as a JV unit. Varsity basketball isn’t JV basketball. Faded a bit after a quick start last year. Could use a little more backcourt production. The potential is there for that to happen.
Key Players: Junior 6-3 SF Mason Gugle, Junior 6-8 C Stone Walker, Senior 6-6 PF Trevor Holmquist, Junior 6-0 SG Eli Smith
