Way-to-early MHSAA Division II Rankings

ByJonathon Gilbert

As the team camp season has kicked off in earnest in the past week. It seems to be a good time to do very early check in on the upcoming MHSAA Basketball season. A very “subject to change” top 10 (kind of) in each classification. Before we get going a few important caveats:

1. This is high school basketball— if an omission offends or bothers anyone than I apolo… Nope I don’t apologize. Just meant to serve as a primer for fans and coaches. If it fires anybody up or serves as bulletin board material. That is perfectly fine by me.
2. This is high school basketball— if you feel like you have a good understanding of the transfer process in Michigan. Maybe we can assign you inflation. If you are 100 percent certain you know what particular division a team is going to be in. Once again hats off to you. This is my best guess based on the numbers and info at my disposal. PLEASE let me know if I have made any egregious mistakes.
3. I know I can be a bit long winded. So at least on this first list I’m going to limit myself to talking about 2-3 players per team We’ll expand as we get closer to the season and I get more definitive info.

After doing Divisions III and IV last week. We’ll move onto to Division II today. As you will see. Even with some difficult cuts. I’m going to give you a little more than a top 10.

*Last years records in parentheses. All players are seniors unless noted

division II

  1. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (16-7) Yes this team loses a lot from last years squad. Yes they did not win a game in the state tournament. However I grew up in the LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor Pioneer) and Marcus Taylor (Lansing Waverly) eras. Meaning one way or another. Seemingly the top senior in the state always finds a way to be on top squad when the dust settles. I’ll acknowledge it’s not the most scientific method. However it seems to hold true more often than not. Durral “Phat Phat” Brooks fits that criteria this year. The Michigan commit already has championship DNA. Earning a title as freshman. This was a small squad last year. They should have more size in the upcoming campaign. They will get a full year from Isaiah Hamlet (6-7) after a transfer. Carter Meerman should step into more of a featured role. Beyond him the perimeter talent is extremely deep. 
  2. Warren Michigan Collegiate (20-3) You could basically take everything I wrote about Brooks above and repeat it for this group. The Cougars lose a lot from last years regional finalist. However they return 6-8 Dylan Grant. Grant is one the top seniors in the state and huge matchup problem with his size and explosiveness. His running mate will be versatile Nathaniel Savage. If the young guards can develop quickly. This rather new program should not miss a beat next year. 
  3. Warren Lincoln (19-5) From top to bottom. Might be the most talented team in the division. They will be led by the familial junior backcourt of Moses (5-7) and Markus Blackwell (6-1) Both juniors have had huge grassroots campaigns. Playing up an age division with REACH Legends. Together they might be the best overall backcourt in the state (the unit at #4 has a case) Front court help will come from TJ Minor (6-5) and Kamari Barden (6-6). The Abe’s (great mascot) are also off to a good start this summer as well. 
  4. Grand Rapids South Christian (25-4) With a bit of distance. Perhaps not enough was written about how much this program accomplished last year. Welcomed a new coach (new to high school basketball) in the fall. Said coach was given very little practice time as the Sailors won a football state championship. Understandably began the season 1-2. Then after they got their sea legs and looked prime for a deep March run. Star sophomore Carson Vis suffered a gruesome double arm fracture in regionals. Ending his season. Despite all this still made the finals where they fell to Ferndale. That is a lot adversity to go along with a lot of success. Returns arguably the best duo in the state in Vis and Jake Vermaas. However they lose a lot of size and senior leadership in Jake DeHaan (Toledo FB) and Sam Medendorp (Aquinas). That is quite a void to fill. I think they have depth to fill it. Just a question of how quickly that can develop.
  5. Grand Rapids Christian (20-6) Talented and deep group checks almost all the boxes you need for success. Senior leadership at the point guard position—Malachi Hooser. Explosive transition wing scorer— Nate Johnson Intimidating post presence— Jaylan Ouwinga (6-9) If the Eagles are able to sprinkle in some outside shooting. This could be the team to beat among the murders row of Grand Rapids area parochial schools. 
  6. Chelsea (21-6) The Bulldogs have just about everything except size. The senior duo of Joey Cabana and Jake Stephens (pictured) complement each other well. Where Cabana is an athletic, explosive, and dynamic scorer. Stephens is a cerebral, fundamental wizard who can pass like a seasoned floor general. The inverses are also true. Don’t sell Stephens short as a scorer. While Cabana can also excel as a distributor. Fortunately I don’t think either player will have to play much point. That is due to the emergence of junior guard Drew Blanton. Blanton has had excellent spring in grassroots basketball. The shooter should be able to step into a larger role this season.
  7. Romulus Summit Academy North (25-3) Similar to the South Christian squad that they lost to in the semifinals. Very talented group that loses a lot of size and senior leadership. The Dragons will be led by senior guard Dontez Scott Jr. If juniors Amir Perryman and Dominic Krzesowiak can take the next step in their development. This ranking could look painfully low come March. The ceiling for this program is very high. Helps having a state championship head coach on the sidelines. That should make the transition go much smoother.
  8. Flint Hamady (19-5) The Hawks are an athletic and explosive squad coming off a regional final appearance. They are led by Jakobie Boose. The 6-1 two guard is one the best athletes in the state. Electric in transition and finishes well above the rim. The post will be manned by 6-5 junior Warren Cain. A bigger prospect than Boose but just as explosive above the rim. Don’t sleep on Amari’yunn Blythe. A 6-3 junior guard who been making noise playing for an out of state AAU squad. This is an extremely talented team.
    * It appears Amari’yunn Smith Blythe has transferred— that might affect an update in Division III. I’m going to keep Hamady in this spot
  9. Saginaw (21-7) This group loses a lot from last year’s semifinal squad. However I guess I’m a sucker for a good story line. This will supposedly be the last year of Saginaw High basketball. As I type it. I can’t believe I just wrote that sentence. One of the— no make that THE storied program of Michigan high school basketball is going to look differently after this season. With all that history I have a hard time believing they will struggle. Thankfully the cupboard is not bare despite the departures. Junior Torrion Stevenson Jr should be ready to step into the full time point guard role after two years of contributing on varsity. The post should be manned by Brandon McCune (6-4) and sophomore Ahijah Eichelberger (6-6). 
  10. Olivet (21-2) As you will see below. The final spot was a tough one. Two similar programs. Olivet and Onsted. Two schools with two of the smaller enrollments in the division. However they also feature some big time talent. I’m going to give the nod to Olivet due to their head to head victory last season. The Eagles graduate some talent. They also will have a new coach and join a different division of their conference. But they also return do-everything guard Bo Lincoln. He will be joined by Bryce Wine (6-3) Wine has put together a good spring playing with Truth Sports on the Prep Hoops Circuit.

10B Onsted (18-5) I’ll acknowledge it’s a bit a cop out. But I checked with my editor (that’s me) and got the go ahead to sneak this squad in at 10B. They will feature Ayden Davis. A traditional 6-9 old school post who is also very skilled. Will battle with Dylan Grant (see above) to be the best senior post in the entire state. Watch out for sophomore Rylan Henagan. There is talent up and down this roster.

And…….

Watch out for— Hudsonville Unity Christian (18-10) I can’t in good conscience put Catholic Central at #1 and leave out the team that eliminated them in the tournament. It has nothing to do with optics. I also think they are going to be better than they were last year. TJ Fisher is one of the more underrated guards in the region. He has had an excellent spring with the West Michigan Lakers. Junior Jake Chapman will man the post. Don’t sleep on the Crusaders.

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