MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

School is officially out for the summer, so high school sports get a little break. But even though they are out of sight, it doesn’t mean they are forgotten. It’s never too early to look ahead. In the spirit of the recent “what if” interest, spearheaded by Marvel Studios, and college basketball’s meteoric transfer craze, we’re going to look at five transfers we’d like to see.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association prohibits open transfers, unless the player’s family moves to the new school district. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun with a couple “what ifs”.

Our only real rule when constructing this list was that the hypothetical transfers had to make sense geographically.

Here are five transfers we’d like to see in Michigan high school basketball before the 2023-24 season: (all grade levels are for the 2023-24 season)

1. Gaylord SF Luke Gelow to Cadillac – Gelow, a 6-4 Sr. forward who can score at every level, would make a profound impact on almost any high school roster in Michigan. But, in this scenario, a move to Cadillac would help lift the Vikings, who will move up to Division 1 next season. Cadillac already has a formidable frontcourt with 6-6 Sr. Charlie Howell, 6-5 Jr. Gavin Goetz, and 6-6 Jr. Kyle McGowan, but Gelow’s presence would give them some more perimeter athleticism and shooting. Cadillac lost a nail-biter in its D2 quarterfinal last season. With virtually everyone returning, the Vikings could use one more piece to get over the hump in a new division.
2. Davison PG Greg Lawson to Flint Powers – The Davison to Powers exodus continues in this scenario. Lawson, a nationally ranked, 6-2-point guard joins former teammates Dempsey Ray Cull and Jessie James Cull, 6-6 junior twins, in the move to the former Class B powerhouse. Lawson, a powerfully build PG, would join a starting lineup consisting of the Cull twins, returning all-conference junior Javontae Ross (6-1) and versatile junior Vincent Bates Jr. (6-3) in what would be an instant Division 2 state-title caliber team for the next two years. Lawson has multiple Power 5 D1 college offers, and the rest of this starting lineup will also likely suit up at the next level.
3. Grandville PF Cameron Regnerus to Grand Rapids Northview – We saw Regnerus in person last season and he dominated the post. He has since committed to Grand Valley State. At 6-8, he can use his length to score in the paint but can also knock down some mid-range shots. He’s an excellent shot blocker and rebounder. Northview has three next-level guards, headlined by recent Western Michigan commit E.J. Ryans, a 6-3 PG with a smooth jumper. Northview’s backcourt also features super sophomore Cameron Ryans (6-4) and junior shooter Brady Swartz (6-5). This hypothetical would give Northview one of the most well-rounded starting lineups in the state.
4. Onsted C Ayden Davis to Chelsea – Chelsea, which started five guards last season, made it to the quarterfinals. While the Bulldogs return three starters, including future D1 college guard Joey Cabana, a 6-2 senior, and rising 6-4 senior Jake Stephens, they haven’t had much of a post presence. Davis, a 6-10 destroyer in the paint, boasts a soft touch around the rim, a plethora of post moves and an almost unmovable body while rebounding. The trio of Cabana, Davis and Stephens would give our hypothetical Flint Powers side a good run for their D2 state-title money.
5. Zeeland East and West merger – So, this one is obviously the most unrealistic. But it’s also the most fun. Bear with us. The two Zeeland schools each have around 1,000 students, firmly planting them in D1 territory. Both teams also boast multiple next-level players. However, separated, they might struggle to have enough firepower to reach the Breslin Center. Together, they have one of the best rosters we’ve ever seen. Here is what a potential standard eight-man rotation could look like with the two schools merged:

• Merritt Alderink 6-7 Sr. with D1 college offers
• Layne Risdon 6-9 Sr. with a recent D2 offer from Michigan Tech
• B.J. Walker 6-3 Jr. who has been blowing up in AAU ball this spring/summer
• Myles Steffen 6-4 Sr. who can lead an offense and shoot from outside
• Lukas Baker 6-5 Sr. who offers steady presence on offense and defense
• Caleb Claerbaut 6-7 So. with a great 3-point shot
• Orion Yant 6-5 Sr. who is a great finisher and rebounder
• Trenton Bolthouse 6-2 Jr. with smooth jumper and quiet leadership