MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

High school boys basketball is in a great place entering the upcoming season.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association recently announced that schools can travel out of state to play teams from across the nation.

Not to jinx anything, but it also seems like the days of our top talents transferring out of state has finally stopped. In fact, Michigan seems to get a key out-of-state transfer every year.

Michigan high school boys basketball should feature numerous “super teams” and super players in 2023-24, making it one of the most anticipated winters since the white walkers stormed Westeros.

However, when a state has this many talented players, some seem to fall through the cracks.

Here are some players ready for a big breakout this winter:

Brayden Szamrej 6-1 Sr. Hudsonville – Plays with poise. That’s the first thing that jumps off the page with this prospect. Szamrej is a great shooter. He can change a game when hot from beyond the arc, but it’s his poise that sets him apart from other lead guards in the state. He’s a point guard who can shoot, which should make him highly attractive to D2 schools such as Ferris State, Grand Valley, Saginaw Valley or Wayne St.

Braylon Mannan 6-8 Jr. Belleville – Overall, I think the Tigers are a sleeper (more to come on that) to make a long postseason run in March. Mannon’s development will be a key factor why Belleville will challenge to reach the Breslin Center for the second time in three years. Mannon is super athletic. He’s long, and he uses his length well on both ends of the court. Mannon can also step out and hit 3-pointers. He reminds me of former GR Catholic Central and Michigan State standout, Marcus Bingham Jr. If Mannon grows another inch or two he could be a sleeper D1 recruit.

Dylan Smith 6-7 Sr. North Farmington – I haven’t heard much recruiting buzz around this prospect, and I have no idea why. Smith is athletic with a solid base. He can play in the post, work the middle of a zone, and he can drive to the basket. He might be a little bit of a “tweener” in size, but he plays taller than listed. If Smith can score more regularly this winter, he could and should garner D2 consideration.

Nassim Mashhour 6-3 Sr. Dearborn – Might be the most underrated prospect in the state. Looks like he can outrun a deer. Plays with athleticism and grace. He can lead the offense or score 25 as needed. Great outside shooter with a nice stroke. With more exposure, I feel like he could be in for a major recruiting boon. Dearborn made it to the regional final last season. A similar run, led by Mashhour, could lead to some impressive college offers.

Carter Meerman 6-0 Sr. Grand Rapids Catholic Central – As I can attest, sometimes people are just at the wrong high school at the wrong time. In most four-year stretches, Meerman probably would have scored 1,500 points in high school. However, he’s played in the shadow of Mr. Basketball candidates Jack Karasinski and Kaden Brown, as well as Michigan commit Durral Brooks. Brooks is still there, but the rest have graduated. Meerman is an elite shooter with great potential at getting to the rim. He could average over 20 points per game this season and have his pick of the D2 litter.

Dominic Krzesowiak 6-5 Jr. Romulus Summit – Krzesowiak boasts one of the best pure shooting strokes in the state. He uses his length well to create space for 3-pointers. Summit lost most of its size from last year’s state semifinal team. If Krzesowiak can add some physicality, while also showcasing the ability to create his own shot, he could see a meteoric rise in his recruitment. Either way, if he makes enough shots from beyond the arc, college coaches will pay attention to a 6-5 shooting guard.

Jah Hatchett 5-11 Jr. East Kentwood – Hatchett plays with fire, intensity and passion. He can really take over a game. Hatchett is a solid outside shooter, but his real strength is getting to the basket. With Mike Thomas coaching him, he could be the next great Michigan high school guard. It’s high praise, but he has some Cassius Winston to his game. Hatchett uses his physicality to his advantage. Now an upperclassman, he could really start dominating the west side of the state. A flurry of impressive offers are certainly just around the corner.

Donnie Huddleston 6-2 Jr. Grand Blanc – They lost their leaders; they’ve lost coaches in consecutive seasons; and they didn’t have much of a history before reaching the Breslin Center each of the last three seasons, but the immediate future is still bright for the Bearcats. Huddleston looks the part with smooth athleticism and a terrific outside shot. He had a solid game against Cass Tech at the Breslin Center, and I expect him to build off that momentum now that he will be one of the team’s main scorers. The sky is the limit for this prospect. It would not surprise me if he ended up with multiple D2 or maybe even D1 scholarships when all said and done.

Xavier Johnson 6-4 Jr. U.D. Jesuit – I love his game. Aggressive going to the basket. He’s not afraid to dunk on someone. He always seems to be around the ball. Great rebounder for his height and terrific finisher around the rim. He might be a more consistent 3-point stroke away from being a D1 recruit. He has a couple years to figure that out. He’s one of a couple players at Jesuit who will benefit from Sonny Wilson’s graduation. Few in the state can match up athletically.

Amari Johnson 6-6 Sr. Cass Tech – Super sleeper here, but what I’ve seen of this prospect I’ve been impressed. The defending Division 1 state champs have one of the best returning backcourts in the state, but have an opening in the frontcourt. I expect Johnson to seize that opportunity and have a senior season similar to Travon Cooper (who is now playing D2 college basketball). Johnson is a bit of an enigma as a prospect, but I’m banking on a big senior year.

Tory James 6-1 Jr. West Bloomfield – A bit of a throwback guard who can really shoot the rock. James has almost perfect form on his shot. It looks like it’d be impossible for him to miss. James showcased terrific ball-handling capabilities and should be more aggressive getting to the rim. West Bloomfield in general might be a sleeper this season. James and fellow guard Donnie Watts III should be fun to watch as upperclassmen backcourt leaders.