St Francis Northern Michigan Showcase Preview

Coming one weekend after Cadillac kicked off the Northern Michigan Saturday showcase season. Traverse City St Francis will host the first annual Northern Michigan Showcase. An ambitious five game slate pitting some of the best teams in the state among all four divisions.

Following is preview of the event. Highlighting some of the names to know and things to watch out for.

Game 1- Lake Leelanau St Mary’s vs McBain Northern Michigan Christian

For many of the teams in the field. This will be first time they have ever met. Not so with the game one opponents. Last season McBain Northern Michigan Christian (NMC) went into March with 20-0 record and a #1 state ranking as well. Their run was stymied at the regional final level in a classic matchup with Lake Leelanau St Mary’s. St Mary’s followed that up by advancing all the way to semi finals at the Breslin Center. On paper St Mary’s would appear to be the favorite with a better record and the return of almost their entire rotation.

However don’t let NMC’s record fool you. They were without star player Blake DeZeeuw through mid January due to a fractured foot. Because of the injuries DeZeeuw doesn’t have the statewide reputation of other well known Northern Michigan prospects. But trust me he can play with anybody in the region and is “one” of the better Division IV players in the entire state.

The quotes are necessary because of his opponent on the other side of the court. If there is anyone who can match DeZeeuw’s talent level in the division. It’s St Mary’s senior Dylan Barnowski. Though playing different positions. They have similar games and profiles. They are both long, lanky, left handed athletes. Barnowski (6-1) is a dynamic lead guard. While DeZeeuw (6-5) is a “jack of all trades” versatile forward.

As is usually the case. All that ink probably means that those two will probably cancel each other out. With the game hinging on a different matchup. Barnowski’s four year partner in crime has been 6-2 post Shawn Bramer. Bramer is a competitive and skilled player who is a bull around the basket. I have only ever really seen him struggle with length. NMC has plenty of length even beyond DeZeeuw. Watch out for junior 6-5 post Ethan Bennett.

If you haven’t been there. St Francis has a nice old gym. But it’s not very big. Beyond just that reason. You might want to get to the gym early. This has a chance to be one of the better games of the day.

Game 2- Glen Lake vs Wayne Memorial

Hailing from the Detroit area. I can’t imagine Wayne Memorial is going to bring a student section. If they did. You could cue up the “he’s a freshman” chants. The Zebras (great mascot) will be led by one the top 2026 prospects in the entire state in Carlos Medlock Jr. (5-10) The scoring point guard has already received a Division 1 offer from Cleveland St. He did this before even stepping foot in a high school hallway. Dad was an excellent player at Eastern Michigan. Medlock is not alone in the youth movement. I caught Jaylon Allen with Medlock this summer on a very good Michigan Hurricanes AAU squad.

While the Zebras will bring an excellent backcourt. It will be interesting to see how much size they have. They will need it against Glen Lake’s imposing front court of Neil Imhe (6-5) and Luke Hazelton (6-7) Hazelton is a four year starter and the headliner of the duo. The Michigan Tech commitment is a skilled and wide bodied lefty who creates matchup problems with abilty to play inside and and out. However don’t forget Imhe who has a complete opposite body and game. The lean forward is capable of playing well above the rim. Don’t be surprised if he uses his length to try and disrupt the Wayne Memorial guards.

Game 3- Traverse City West vs Ferndale

The Titans are young rebuilding squad that is playing in its second straight Saturday showcase. They pushed a good Grand Rapids Union team last Saturday in Cadillac. They are led by sophomore point guard Lincoln Lockhart. Lockhart has held up well against a difficult schedule all year. Facing the likes of Noah Adamczyk (Bloomfield Hills) and just last week Marquan Ross (Union).

However this might be his and more importantly his team’s toughest opponent of the year. Ferndale is coming off of back-to-back final four appearances. While they don’t feature the high level D1 talent of previous years squads. They are loaded with talent and size up and down the roster. Senior point guard Cameron Reed (6-0) is an explosive jet of point guard who will be playing somewhere next year. Christopher Williams (6-5) is a junior forward who will be following him on that path in two years.

I feel bad leaving some of their other players out. Alleviate my guilt with this exercise. Get the program on Saturday and get out a pencil or pen. Put a mark next to each name. That is the list of guys who can hurt you. They can all seriously play.

Game 4- Cadillac vs Grand Blanc

The one loss Cadillac Vikings come into the showcase with a head of steam. A thirty point road victory over an undefeated and #3 ranked Ludington squad provides some serious momentum. They also sit alone atop the always competitive Big North Conference.

If you have been following Michigan high basketball the last three years. You do not need me to tell you this. Saturday’s game is going to be a bit of a step up in weight class from the Big North. Grand Blanc is coming off a two straight Division 1 state finals appearances. Winning two years ago before falling last year. The one constant in all of that has been senior point guard RJ Taylor.

Mr Basketball candidates do not play often in Northern Michigan. I’m not predicting he is going to win. Though I would be shocked if he is not in the top 2. However if you come expecting a highlight reel show in warm ups. Save yourself some time and go get in what I’m sure will be a long line for popcorn. The show isn’t going to start until the ball tips. I once described his game as point guard doctoral dissertation. Nothing has changed my stance— oh yeah I almost forgot. I first wrote that when he was eight grader playing up three age levels in AAU.

So….. the Vikings should just look for moral victories and try to compete? This might not age well. But it’s my site. Am I going to fire myself? Cadillac can win this game. Grand Blanc was fortunate to defeat a Rockford squad last weekend that is very similar to Cadillac stylistically.

How? RJ Taylor is going to do his thing. He is just that good. Has a frequent lob partner is Ferris St two sport commitment Tae Boyd (6-3). If Taylor and Boyd are clicking the Bobcats are tough to beat. However the Vikings have a multi sport standout of their own who just might be able to slow Boyd down. If you don’t know the name Charlie Howell. You will in the next two years. The 6-5 junior forward has a chance to make a statement with his play Saturday. Has the athleticism, length, and intangibles to be just as much of matchup problem for Grand Blanc as Boyd will be for Cadillac. Howell scored 25 in the Vikings aforementioned win over Ludington.

However he won’t have to do it alone. Cadillac is a deep squad with plenty of other players who can hurt you. Jaden Montague (6-3) will need to use his size to try and slow Taylor down just a little. This should be a good one.

Game 5- Traverse City St Francis vs Detroit Cass Tech

I don’t know the organizers of this event that well. However when this day was being put together in the summer— I doubt they saw this happening in its first year.

What is this you might ask? Detroit Cass Tech is going to roll up I 75 with a 15-0 record and the number ranking in Michigan’s highest classification. While the biggest Cass Tech fan might disagree. If given truth serum they might still think this could happen— next year.

Cass is a young squad this is slightly ahead of schedule. They are led by sophomore guard Darius Acuff (6-3). Acuff is one of top sophomores in the entire state. They also have an excellent freshman guard in Cory Sadler who is already a blue chip recruit on the gridiron. Led by state championship head coach Steve Hall. This group is tested and tough. They soundly defeated a very good Grand Rapids Northview squad over Christmas. Similarly to Ferndale. I could burn another thousand words just going down this roster. Don’t worry I won’t. Just know this— they are very deep and very good.

Similarly to Cadillac— the host squad is not going serve as some form of sacrificial gladiators (see what I did there) They are good and should have a huge home court advantage. They are not intimidated by Division 1 opponents. They have already defeated a Canton squad featuring two college post players and one of the biggest enrollments in the entire state. If you know anything about St Francis football. Cass Tech’s football exploits will not intimidate them either. They have enough beef to bang with Cass down low.

What St Francis will need to have is a big game from the top player in Northern Michigan Wyatt Nausadis. The 6-4 lefty should be up to task. He has proven this time and again nationally with the Grand Rapids Storm on the Under Armour circuit. The ball will be in his hands a lot. Can he balance shot creation with shot distribution? If the answer is yes. The Glads could pull one the bigger upsets in the state.

That would be quite a way to close the inaugural year of this event. Either way it’s going to be an excellent and hopefully less rare day of high level basketball in Northern Michigan.