MSHAA Rankings: February Finals Division I

With one week left in the season. While it wasn’t planned. I now realize that I have provided preseason rankings. Followed up by midseason ranking in January (midterms) Perhaps it’s the former high school teacher in me. It just seems only appropriate to deliver some final rankings/grades.

I’ll provide a link to the previous rankings. They are detailed with key players and strengths and weaknesses. These are final rankings. A little secret about final grades. At least from my experience. Personally, they were very brief and straightforward. Summer was calling. Throw a bubble sheet into a machine called a scantron to get a final grade. Maybe this is why I don’t teach anymore….

I only bring that up to say these will also be brief and straightforward. Leaning heavily on the resumes the teams have put together. This is NOT who I am necessarily picking to win the state championship. We’ll do some bracketology next weekend. If you would like more detail on the teams, follow the links below.

Preseason 10 here

January 10 here

**Note: I tried to do the previous rankings just team and resume focused. Leaving out individual names. A little too difficult in with all the talent in Division I**

1. Orchard Lake St Mary’s (14-6)

Yes, six losses is a bunch of losses. However only one those losses came at full strength to team from the state of Michigan. Trey McKenney (Michigan) is back from injury and just led St Mary’s to another Catholic League title. If he were to face foul trouble. Sharod Barnes (Western Michigan) and Isaiah Hines now have experience carrying the load. Just not many weaknesses on this uber talented defending state championship team.

2. Detroit UD Jesuit (18-3)

For two years running, the only team that has defeated St Mary’s at full strength in the state. Leroy Blyden Jr (Toledo) has put together an electric senior season. They have size and depth up and down their rotation. Like St Mary’s not many weaknesses with this unit. While they only left the metro Detroit area one time. They faced a gauntlet of a schedule.

3. East Lansing (19-1)

A highlight reel team that appears motivated to make shortest road trip possible to the state finals. When it is all said and done, their entire perimeter rotation could be playing Division I basketball. With that being said, do they have enough size on the block? They offset that with a transition attack that appears at times appears unstoppable. For psychological purposes they do hold a regular season win over St Mary’s when McKenney was injured. For what it’s worth, they also beat them in the summer with McKenny playing.

4. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (18-2)

An extremely impressive regular season for a Warrior squad that lost a high profile out of state in the transfer this summer. Similar to East Lansing, as they have a deep perimeter attack. This unit is more defensively oriented. Also like East Lansing, they hold a victory over a Trey-less St Mary’s. Unlike East Lansing they have size on the block with 6-9 junior center Trevor Smith.

5. Muskegon (17-2)

Highly impressive resume. Their only looses came to #4 on this list and the #1 team in Division II (Warren Lincoln) Another team that does not have many weaknesses. The only major question is health. Losing junior wing James Martin to an arm injury. That appears to have galvanized the Big Reds as another “James”, North Muskegon transfer James Young has stepped into that role. They also have an experienced big game point guard along with next level talent and size on the block.

6. Rockford (19-2)

A super impressive start to the season for a squad that had St Mary’s on the ropes before Christmas. Like Muskegon, they have dealt with an injury to one of the better players. If junior Jake Bascom is fully recovered from a hamstring. This group will be tough to beat. If not, they might be a little thin along the frontline. After the red hot start it doesn’t feel like they are playing their best basketball heading into the tournament. With this type of talent, that can change quickly.

7. Wayne Memorial (18-2)

Spoiler alert— this might be the preseason #1 team next year. The junior backcourt of Carlos Medlock Jr and Jaylohn Allen are dynamic enough to do it THIS year well. Only loses have come to the aforementioned St Mary’s and Birmingham Groves (see below) Can the late blooming senior duo of Austin Tory and Joshua Dennis give them enough size on the block?

8. Lansing Waverly (17-3)

If anyone is going to stop East Lansing this year. It is most likely this group. Two of their three losses came to the Trojans. One by a razor thin margin. Junior Xavier Pendergrass has transformed his frame and put together a breakout campaign on the block. They have an experienced head coach and a good backcourt.

9. Grand Rapids Northview (16-4)

You just can’t overlook the high level duo that leads this team. Brady Swartz (Western Michigan) has put together a monster senior campaign. Junior Cam Ryans is arguably the top junior in the state. They do not have a bad loss. One was a quadruple overtime classic against one of the top teams in Ohio.

10. Marquette (18-2)

The question with this Upper Peninsula group isn’t talent. Michigan Tech commitment Jacob MacPhee is a top 20 player in the state. The question is which trip to Traverse City showed the real Marquette team? The 2024 trip saw them lose to both Traverse City Central and West. The second trip saw then defeat Detroit Cass Tech. They also hold a road victory over Grand Blanc. They have the talent to play with anyone below the bridge. With a tournament road that includes Central, West, and Cadillac. Will they get a chance to prove it.

Honorable Mention

Ann Arbor Huron (16-4) As last years run to the Breslin Center showed. You simply cannot count out the River Rats. Macari Moore (Iowa St) is good enough to carry a team by himself. There is enough talent around Moore that he does not have to.

Birmingham Groves (15-5) Like Grand Rapids Northview, it’s hard to overlook Groves’ college bound duo. Joshua Gibson (Alabama-Huntsville) and John Simpson (Northwood) can play with anyome. If you count grassroots basketball these two have won a LOT of basketball games in the last 365 days. Can they keep it going through March?

Detroit Renaissance (14-7) Call me a child of the 90’s. But all my life, the champion of the Detroit PSL is a state championship contender. When that state champion features arguably the top backcourt in the state— you have to consider the Phoenix. It will be interesting to see how they play against St Mary’s in the Operation Friendship contest.

Hudsonville (14-5) Can’t imagine only having one team from the OK Red on this list. Hudsonville has five losses but have played a brutal schedule both in and out of conference. They have a recent victory over #6 on this list. A team to watch the next few years, as I really like junior Jovaan Daniels and sophomore Alex Armstong.

Warren Fitzgerald (19-2) The last spot is a big bet on junior Keandre Burtin. The emerging 6-7 post is criminally underrated. 6-3 senior Cyrus Mpeba has also flown under the radar for much of his career. Perhaps the Spartans can get hot in March and change that.