MHSAA Preview: Final Preseason Division I Top Ten

December 1st is here, so lets wrap things up. If you are a regular reader you are familiar with my thought process. I will link the two previous rollouts from the summer and fall. Consequently, these capsules will be brief. You can find more detail at those links below if you would like

Initial Top Ten here

The Next Eight here

1. East Lansing (28-1)

Overview: If someone wants to accuse me of a lack originality. I can take it. Not overthinking this. The defending champions returning the best duo in the state is enough for me. If you’ve seen their star player (Torbert) simply decide he is not going to lose a game. Be it in a big game, or at a open run in an empty fieldhouse You will understand why this team is so difficult to beat.

Concerns: It is going to be a much different team than last year. I don’t think they will have the depth to run as much as they did. Still will probably run more than most, but could be more half court centric. If they do shade this way, do they have the size down low?

Key Players: KJ Torbert 6-3 Sr (Bowling Green commit) Kingston Thomas 6-5 Jr, Dequarius Stewart 6-6 Sr

2. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (22-3)

Overview: Brother Rice has used some impact additions to jump to the top of an aways competitive Catholic League. They have plenty of perimeter firepower, size, and depth everywhere. The expectations will high with a few of the programs in the league going through some transitions.

Concerns: It sure isn’t talent. But there are challenges presented by that talent. Adding one of the top freshman in nation in not something that most teams deal with. Even rarer is adding a top player from Europe (especially in Michigan) How healthy will their starting center be after a significant injury absence? Good and unique problems to have.

Key Players: Greg Grays Jr 6-3 Sr (Detroit Mercy commit) Trevor Smith 6-8 Sr Jacob Lamb 6-2 Sr, Jordan McDaniel 5-10 Fr (pictured) Stefan Banica 6-7 Soph

3. Rockford (22-3)

Overview: A stacked rotation that has a little bit of everything. Shooting, size, and multiple dynamic playmakers. With a brother tandem at the forefront. It goes without saying this group has excellent chemistry and plays together well.

Concerns: Health, simply put every member of this team has dealt with some type of game missing injury in the past year. I’m not going blast a young person’s health info out there (this is high school sports) but they are not completely healthy right now.

Key Players: Jake Bascom 6-6 Sr (Central Michigan commit) Eli Wolfe 6-1 Soph, Josh Bascom 6-3 Soph, Dylan Gross 5-9 Sr, Drew Ferwerda 6-7 Jr, Jace Opoku-Agyeman 6-0 Fr

4. Muskegon (20-3)

Overview: The Big Red machine just keeps rolling along. One thing I can’t escape with this group. When head coach Keith Guy has had senior Division I talent. Muskegon has been in serious state title contention. He has that this year (Martin) Much more than a one man show though. There is talent up and down the roster. He will be adding players from one of the best JV teams in the state from last year.

Concerns: They will not be a big as last year. However, they were REALLY big last year. They still have size. It is just young and will take some time to develop. Across the board the youth from the stacked JV program will also neec time to adjust.

Key Players: James Martin 6-3 Sr (Detroit Mercy commit) Ehman Guster 6-0 Sr, Arquez Petty 5-10 Sr, Ky’ren Noble 6-6 Sr, Tyson Worthington 6-1 Jr, William Whyms 6-5 Soph, AJ Lambers 6-1 Fr

5. Detroit Martin Luther King (21-6)

Overview: What an old school PSL power that I grew up watching looks like. Plenty of offensive juice, but built on defense and toughness. They have really good guards and next level size on the block. Not going to win the “mix tape” battle. But they are going to win a lot of games.

Concerns: Not too many. Could be more explosive and aggressive offensively. Not sure they need to though. They are highly physical and face a gauntlet. Will they be fresh in March?

Key Players: Steven Jones 6-3 Sr, Tyler Hunter 6-9 Jr, Drew Floyd 5-9 Sr, Derrick Kilgore Jr 6-1 Sr, Mareon Knott 6-4 Sr

6. Grand Rapids Northview (19-6)

Overview: They return a Mr Basketball favorite with plenty of talent surrounding him. Size on the perimeter and on the block. Multiple options at the point guard spot. Should be hungry group after coming up a little short on expectations last season.

Concerns: Chemistry and continuity. Program dealing with a late coaching change. Experienced new head coach didn’t get to work the group in June. Additionally they are working in some transfers and a highly touted freshman. That’s a lot on the plate.

Key Players: Cam Ryans 6-5 Sr (Western Michigan commit) Anthony Willis 6-3 Jr, Izzy Hatibu 6-5 Jr, Jaylen Perry 6-6 Jr Brayden Williams 6-2 Jr, Yamil Jimenez 6-5 Fr

7. Kalamazoo Central (19-5)

Overview: Talented group with size that has taken some lumps in past years. Now ready to break out as seniors. Had a high level transfer from out of state. They have a Division I center in the paint. Surrounded by speed merchant point guards.

Concerns: The aforementioned transfer was a late and did get to play with the squad in June. Do they have enough perimeter shooting? The expectations statewide are higher this year. How do they handle a bigger target on their back?

Key Players: Isaiah Theodile 6-7 Sr (Oakland commit) Davier White 6-5 Jr, Kameron Bean 6-1 Sr, Taveon Vaughn 6-0 Sr, Jonathan Edwards 6-0 Sr, TJ Terrentine 6-3 Sr

8. Detroit Cass Tech (19-4)

Overview: Cass continue to pump out state contenders on the backs of a well schooled defensive system and next level college talent. Their star player took a jump developmentally in the spring/summer and looks poised for big junior year. They have some size along the frontline after not being very big in their recent run of success.

Concerns: They lost a starter to transfer that dimmed my expectations slightly. Consequently they might not have the overwhelming level of perimeter depth that previous squads featured. Who is the second option going to be offensively? As teams will key in on their first option.

Key Players: Stevie Hall 6-1 Jr, Jacob Figaro 6-2 Sr, Sebastian Thrower 6-1 Sr, Zavier Scott 6-4 Jr, Ransom Thomas 6-2 Jr, Armani Wright 6-8 Jr

9. Wayne Memorial (25-4)

Overview: There is a lot focus on what they lost. Perhaps not enough on what the defending finalist returns. Led by an four year player and MAC recruit, the Zebras still have plenty of offensive firepower. They add two impact transfers. One practiced with the program last year. Smoothing the transition. From watching during the team camp season. This will be a motivated group. Eager to prove the doubters wrong once again.

Concerns: Losing a player to transfer is always tough. No other way to say it. The ball was in Carlos Medlock’s hands a lot last year. Who is going to fill that ball handling role? The frontline is still rather thin. That did not really affect them last year. Though they might be smaller this year.

Key Players: Jaylohn Allen 6-3 Sr (Toledo commit) Cyrus Goins 6-6 Sr, Jeremiah Smith 6-3 Jr, Chase Dyer 6-2 Sr

10. Lansing Waverly (20-4)

Overview: Started in the Capital City and I’ll close things out there. The Detroit King of mid Michigan. An old school, tough as nails, no frills group. They have size down low and ample depth on the perimeter. It is a senior laden group that has pushed #1 on this list in the past.

Concerns: While they have plenty of size on the block. The guards are not very big. They compete hard and there is depth, so it might not matter. Just would like to see a little more girth. Lansing is a gauntlet of good teams this year. With high expectations, do they keep things together if they hit a rough patch?

Key Players: Xavier Pendergrass 6-7 Sr, Derrick Thomas II 6-4 Sr CJ Gomez 5-11 Jr, Cayden Ali 6-0 Sr, DJ Pope 6-1 Jr