Way-to-early MHSAA Division III Rankings

ByJonathon Gilbert

With the recent passing of the NBA Draft Deadline. It seems all the national college basketball writers are releasing their revised top 25 lists. This time also happens to coincide with the conclusion of the spring AAU period.

When you combine it with beginning of the team camps all across the state of Michigan. This seems like a decent flashpoint to do a mid summer high school basketball check in.

I’ll provide a few important caveats. Similarly to the Bracketolgy series I did at the start of the MHSAA playoffs:
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 starting with Division IV. We’ll stay in order and move up to Division III. Last year’s records in parentheses.
Note: All players are seniors unless noted

Division III 

  1. Flint Beecher (26-4) Might seem like taking the easy way out to just pick the defending champion. However until I see someone beat this program consistently in March. I’m sticking with Buc town. Yes they lose a lot. However they return a good point guard and a good post game. That is usually enough at this division. I expect them to reload at the other positions. Point guard Keyonta Menefield (5-9) is the straw that stirs the drink. The will have a pair of 6-8 posts in Wasir James and Elijah Pitts. Due to their gauntlet schedule. They will probably will not be at the top of polls when the season ends. However as the showed last year. Polls don’t raise banners. I’m keeping Beecher at the top. 
  2. Detroit Old Redford Academy (16-6) I write this with a tad bit of trepidation. It has nothing to do with talent. I already misplaced a few teams in my division IV poll that I will have to change. According the numbers I have. This group will be sliding to Division III next year. If that is the indeed the case they are easily the most talented team in the division. The only catch is the talent is young. They will be lead by the sophomore duo of Jaquan Stennis Jr (pictured) and Derrick Kilgore Jr. Stennis (6-7) is arguably the top player in the 2026 class regardless of division. Kilgore (5-11) is an athletic point guard with both scoring and playmaking potential. Junior Kason Mayes will provide additional backcourt help. There is also size in the front court beyond Stennis. If this group stays intact and does not opt up to Division II. They should be a factor.
  3. McBain (20-6) Last year Traverse St Francis was just bigger, better, and stronger than everyone else in Northern Michigan. Rode that all the way to the final game where they had the lead against Flint Beecher at halftime. This year that team is McBain. They return almost their entire squad from a team that lost to St Francis is the regional final. They have depth and serious size. They could (I don’t think they will) trot out a starring five where the shortest player is 6-4. They will be led by 6-8 senior center Evan Haverkamp. The perimeter firepower will come from 6-5 junior guard/forward Ben Rodenbaugh. Both players have had good springs with REAL Basketball. If they choose to bring up some talented underclassmen. They could go beyond 10 deep in their rotation.
  4. Riverview Gabriel Richard (17-5) Talented squad has posted a really strong two year run. Just haven’t been able to get past two time semifinalist Ecorse at the regional round. That could change this year. Led by two of the better juniors in the entire division. Luke Westerdale is an excellent shooter and all around backcourt prospect. Charles Kage is an emerging 6-7 post who can also stretch the floor. Further backcourt help will come from 5-11 senior point guard Nick Sobush. 
  5. Niles Brandywine (25-3) The polar opposite of the McBain squad listed above. They are talented and deep. However they have very little size. They return virtually their entire roster from a semifinal squad. Their only regular season losses were to Benton Harbor (no shame there) The law firm of Palmer & Palmer will lead the high powered offense. Jamier and Jaremiah Palmer are a pair 6-0 dynamic scoring guards. They are able to play off the ball due the presence 5-9 sophomore point guard Nylen Goins. Should be able get size from somewhere. Who knows maybe their 6-8 superintendent Travis Walker can finagle some more MHSAA eligibility. 
  6. Lainsburg (25-1) When you run the table against in the always competitive CMAC you are legit state championship caliber program. When you return your best player in Zander Woodruff. You are looking at a preseason state contending team. Woodruff is a 6-2 high scoring lefty guard who can play with anyone. Has showed two years running with DV45 (Denzel Valentine’s AAU squad) Battle tested group with big game experience. Made it to the quarterfinals last year where they fell to Ecorse. 
  7. Grandville Calvin Christian (24-2) An odds on favorite to advance to the Breslin Center last season. Upset by Pewamo-Westphalia in the regional final. One of the many Grand Rapids area parochial schools that doesn’t necessarily rebuild. They just reload. Matt Elderkin (6-5) will step into the leadership void left by Carson DeHaan. There will be depth and they will be tested in the OK-Silver. 
  8. Schoolcraft (16-8) The Eagles went through a year of transition after winning the state championship two years ago. A new coach and a much smaller frontline were the biggest factors in this adjustment. Now in year two I think they are ready to get back into title contention with one of the best backcourts in the entire division. They are led by Shane Rykse. Simply put one the better shooters you will see anywhere. Not just a shooter though. He is also pushing 6-4 and has playmaking ability as a point guard. He will be joined by junior guard Tucker Walther. Walther has a similar frame to Ryske. While he is not the level of shooter of Ryske (few are) He has showed a scoring touch in a good spring with Strictly Skills on the grassroots circuit.
  9. Iron Mountain (21-2) Similar to Schoolcraft. Another program with state championship pedigree that has reloaded nicely. I think this group will be hungry after getting upset by Menominee in the districts. They return much of their production and will be led by junior Oskar Kangas. Kangas is a versatile 6-5 forward who has played well with a Wisconsin based AAU program for a few years running. Should be one of the better teams n the Upper Peninsula regardless of division.
  10. Watervliet (20-4) The Panthers return virtually their entire squad. They were rolling along pretty good until a late injury derailed some of their momentum last season. They will led by Kaiden Bierhalter. A powerfully built 6-4 forward who also excels on the gridiron. The x-factor will the development of Jacob Pleyer. Pleyer missed the second half of the season after an ankle injury. If he is fully recovered. The dynamic 6-3 shooting guard will be one of the better sophomores in the entire state.

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