MHSAA Rankings: January Division III Top Ten

As the calendar flips to 2025 and with holiday tournaments and showcases winding down. It’s a great time to look at a “not quite” mid season top 10. I’ll begin with Michigan’s smallest classification. I’ll give you a top 10 with corresponding resumes and concerns. For good measure, I’ll provide some additional teams to watch with notes.

If you want to check my work you can find my final preseason top 10 here

** current records in parentheses**

1. Riverview Gabriel Richard (6-2)

Resume: Full disclosure— I haven’t seen this two loss team at their best. So I put them here with a bit of trepidation. That being said, the first time I saw them they were less then 24 hours removed from a football state championship game. When you take a macro look at this squad. It’s hard to match their collection of top level talent. When you couple it with the fact that this is an experienced and battle tested group after a run to last years semifinals. It’s going to take more than two losses to good teams to dislodge them from this spot. The three point loss to undefeated Division II Flint Powers Catholic is about as “good” of a loss as you can have. As long as point guard Luke Westerdale and 6-8 post Charles Kage (Saginaw Valley St) are suiting up for the Pioneers they should be in pretty good shape.

Concerns: In the same breathe that I talk about the top level talent. I’m not sure they have much depth beyond their starting five. If that’s motivating, and I’m just wrong— I’m fine with that. Depth is also built throughout the year, so it could always come as younger players develop.

2. Jackson Lumen Christi (8-0)

Resume: With a perfect record against a difficult schedule it was tempting to give the Titans the top spot. They have offensive weapons that stretch among all four classes. Frankly too many to list in what is supposed to be a brief capsule. Like Riverview Richard they are tournament tested athletes on the gridiron and hardwood. They have a state championship head coach in Josh Tropea. So why not #1? They have played Riverview Richard three times in the last 12 month. Richard owns the 2-1 edge. They will play again on January 21st. If we are even at 2-2 after that night. We might have a new #1.

Concerns: Do they have enough size down low? In 21st century three happy basketball the answer is probably yes. That being said, there are some teams on this list that have some serious size on the block.

3. Pewamo-Westphalia (6-2)

Resume: A two game losing streak coming out of Christmas isn’t ideal. However losses to Grand Rapids South Christian (Division II) and Flint Carman Ainsworth (Division I) on neutral courts are not bad losses. If you follow me in this and other spaces you know I am a big fan of junior Grady Eklund (pictured) The 6-3 guard might be one of the top overall talents in the division. I have also been impressed with 6-5 junior Trent Piggot. Piggot is is wide bodied prospect who also flashed the ability to stretch the floor against South Christian. I didn’t see that from him this summer.

Concerns: Let’s get a whole region mad at me now. In past years you could always count on the CMAC being one of the most difficult small school conferences in the state. I’ll just say this, looking at the early results and program attrition— that does not appear to be the case. Fortunately they have been extremely aggressive in the four non conference games they get. Will that be enough for March?

4. Schoolcraft (6-3)

Resume: Might be a little recency bias as I saw this group this weekend. They are talented and have height at every position. Featuring a 6-4 quasi point guard in senior Tucker Walther. They also have a rising 6-9 center in junior Jimmy Miller. The physical development in Miller from the sumner to this past weekend is striking. In this job, you get skeptical when a young player is listed at 6-9. Miller is a legitimate 6-9 with skills and mobility. Everyone on the team can shoot. Yes they have three losses. However they have faced a gauntlet of a schedule. That gauntlet will continue through 2025.

Concerns: About that gauntlet… The Eagles only listed and dressed nine players on their roster this weekend. All nine looked they could play. However can a thin bench hold up against a schedule this stiff? A bench that short doesn’t leave much margin for error or injury.

5. Detroit Central (6-2)

Resume: Covering grassroots basketball I have long been impressed with head coach De’John Curd. I’m not surprised he is turning this former PSL power around. I am surprised it is happening this quickly. As this is a young squad that was below .500 last year. They have a rising junior center in Jeremiah Gray who runs about 6-7 250 pounds. They have excellent guards in juniors Tyre Acuff and Jaden McDonald.

Concerns: As I stated, I was aware of this group. Saw them in camps this June. However I didn’t rank them or put them in my teams to watch. Thought they might still be a year away. Glad they are proving me wrong. How does a young group handle the attention that their success will now bring?

6. McBain (5-1)

Resume: Similar to last year, I am probably a little higher on this group than others. Call me crazy but I think if you give a Hall of Fame head coach two college basketball players. He’s going to figure it out by March. Senior Ben Rodenbaugh and sophomore Clayton Heuker might be the best forward duo in the division. Both stand about 6-4 and are highly versatile.

Concerns: This team is not as deep as last year’s semifinal squad. That showed in the loss to Beal City. However the Aggies are talented squad (see below) who could be in this list by the end of the year. Will the young players coming up from a talented JV squad be ready by March?

7. North Muskegon (7-0)

Resume: The Norsemen program should be commended for the two run they are on. After an undefeated regular season in 23-24. They are prefect once again heading into 2025. They haven’t done it against cupcakes with early season wins over Menominee and Division I Lapeer. They have a legitimate next level point guard in junior Adam Dugener. I also liked the potential shown by 6-4 freshmen David Markiewicz in early in the season tip-off tournament.

Concerns: I mention Markiewicz because his development will be key. They do not have a lot of size down low. Can senior Braylen Burrel relieve some of the scoring load from Dugener?

8. Maple City-Glen Lake (5-1)

Resume: While the team directly below them might be the tallest team in the division. These are bullies off the block. A team country strong “men” who compete hard and don’t mind contact. Led by 6-6 junior Jacob Plamondon an old school throwback post who presents matchup problems. Grand Valley football commit Benji Allen looks and plays like you would expect a GLIAC football commit to look. They have been well tested with games against a ranked Division IV squad and #10 on this list.

Resume: The loss to Frankfort is a fierce conference rivalry that they will have a chance to avenge. They are working in some highly touted underclassmen. That can be difficult at times with an established group. They were pretty banged up as unit at the conclusion of the football season. Will they be fully healthy by March?

9. LeRoy-Pine River (6-0)

Resume: From top to bottom, might be one of the tallest teams in the division (including Schoolcraft) They are undefeated and living up to the preseason ranking I gave them. Mason Gugle is continuing the momentum from a big grassroots campaign into a big junior season. I had questions about the backcourt early on. Junior Eli Smith seems to be answering those questions.

Concerns: While they are undefeated they really haven’t been tested yet. They have had a peculiar start to the year with three games cancelled or postponed by snow (it’s Northern Michigan) They will get #6 on this list twice along with an honorable mention twice as well. That is a severely back loaded schedule. Two of those postponements have been shoehorned into the end of the year. Will that be too much to be ready for March?

10. Harbor springs (7-1)

Resume: Guard laden team’s only loss was a close one to #6 on this list. They also own a decisive victory over Pickford (a Division IV Honorable Mention) They continue to feature one the top junior backcourts in the division with Braeden Flynn and Rider Bartel.

Concerns: I mentioned both the Pickford and Glen Lake games. Those weren’t the only tough ones in the 2024 slate. That being said, the schedule does seem to be a little front loaded. Will they be peaking in March? Will the developing frontline be ready to complement the outstanding backcourt?

Honorable Mention (Alphabetical Order)

Beal City (4-2) A state championship football program thar is pretty good on the hardwood as well. Handed #6 on this list their only loss. They also have a loss to the #1 team Division IV. Interested to see how they look after a much needed holiday break.

Harbor Beach (6-1) Thumb area program known more their gridiron exploits. Got off to a good start. However began 2025 with their first loss of the year.

Iron Mountain (5-2) Experienced and highly touted group is in on a two game losing streak. The schedule is tough in 2025, but I’m not giving up on this group yet. Still one of the top teams in the Upper Peninsula

Pontiac Arts & Technology (5-0) I might be a little late on this group. Led by one of top 2028 prospects in the state in point Lewis Lovejoy. Also watch out for Terrance and Teyshaun Hicks

Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (7-2) Strong group who has played well against an ambitious schedule. Led by Ken White Jr one of the top sophomore guards in the division. Schedule could make then a sleeper in March.