MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

If the Hallmark channel can run Christmas in July, so can we.

The Michigan prep boys basketball season doesn’t officially start until the end of November, but with district assignments already posted, it’s never too early to look ahead.

Schools with exciting rosters made the move down to Division 4 this offseason, making them favorites to advance to East Lansing in March.

A few of the D4 quadrants are jam-packed with talented teams, while at least one appears to be set up heavily in favor of one team.

Let’s take a look at our summer predictions for D4 Final 4:

D4 – Quadrant 1

Winner: St. Ignace

Contenders: Dollar Bay, Watersmeet, Munising, Rudyard, Ewen-Trout Creek

Key Players:

Jonny Ingalls, 6-0, St. Ignace
Ethan McLean 6-3, St. Ignace
Trevor Nolan, 5-8, Munising
Jack Dusseault, 6-3, Munising
Asher Garrison, 5-10, Watersmeet
Liam Tourtillot, 6-0, Dollar Bay
Cade Besonen, 6-0, Ewen-Trout Creek

St. Ignace returns a plethora of players from last year’s squad that reached the Division 3 quarterfinals. St. Ignace might have made a long run again in D3, but they enter the season heavy favorites having moved down a division. Ingalls will likely play at the next level with great basketball pedigree, I.Q. and ability. He can light up the gym from beyond the arc and set the pace as a lead guard. McLean is a physical forward who can also shoot. St. Ignace has more shooters in Shawn Kingsbury, Nick Halberg and Trevor Visnaw.

Watch out for Munising. The defending D4 state champs return three starters from last year’s squad, all of whom will still only be juniors this season. They might have the confidence and firepower to topple St. Ignace.

D4 – Quadrant 2

Winner: Saginaw Nouvel

Contenders: Hillman, Bellaire, Frankfort, Maple City Glen Lake, Buckley, Fruitport Cavalry

Key Players:

M.J. Yeager, 5-10, Nouvel
Donny Yeager, 5-10, Nouvel
Trenton Taratuta, 6-4, Hillman
Jayden Hanson, 6-4, Bellaire
Drake Koepke, 6-1, Bellaire
Carter Kerby, 5-11, Frankfort
Peyton Viehman, 6-6, MC Glen Lake
Jacob Plamondon, 6-5, MC Glen Lake
Landon Kulowiak, 6-3, Buckley
Bradley Richards, 6-5, Fruitport Cavalry

On paper, this is by far the deepest and most difficult quadrant to navigate through. Nouvel has two of the best shooters in the state in the Yeager twins. Hillman, led by do-it-all guard Taratuta, made the D4 quarterfinals last season. Frankfort reached the Breslin Center last season, losing in the state semifinals, and Kerby might end up the best player in this quadrant. Glen Lake will have a major size advantage, while Fruitport Cavalry has some terrific athletes.

All the teams listed here could get hot at the right time and make the run to the Breslin Center, but my money is on Nouvel right now, dropping down from D3 with an explosive backcourt.

D4 – Quadrant 3

Winner: Tri-Unity Christian

Contenders: Bellevue, Gobles, Kalamazoo Phoenix

Key Players:

Jordan VanKlompenberg, 6-1, Tri-Unity
Owen Rosendall, 5-11, Tri-Unity
Aden Newberry, 6-6, Gobles

On paper, by far the weakest quadrant, which sets up nicely for Tri-Unity, who lost the state finals last season and has made it to the Breslin Center each of the last three years. Tri-Unity doesn’t have a star, but it boasts a balanced lineup capable of getting hot from beyond the arc. It just seems unlikely someone in this quadrant will beat Tri-Unity, but as they say, “that’s why they play the games”.

D4 – Quadrant 4

Winner: Adrian Lenawee Christian

Contenders: Taylor Trillium, Detroit Douglass, Cardinal Mooney

Key Players:

Jaxon Salenbien, 6-3, Adrian Lenawee
Brandon Summer, 6-2, Adrian Lenawee
Keymarryon Fishburn, 6-2, Taylor Trillium
Sharone Russ, 6-2, Taylor Trillium
Anthony Buford, 6-3, Detroit Douglass
Brian Everhart, 6-0, Cardinal Mooney
Daniel Rice, 6-1, Cardinal Mooney

There will be more teams to consider here as the season progresses, but these four seem the most likely, right now, to make the run. Adrian Lenawee’s backcourt his size, skill and leadership, which usually leads to March success. Trillium lost in the quarterfinals last year and return a young, athletic lineup with great guards and some height. Douglass has been a threat ever since it dropped into Division 4, and that won’t change this season. Cardinal Mooney lost a couple of key contributors from last season’s state semifinal run, but still has enough talent left to do some damage.

Final Four: St. Ignace, Saginaw Nouvel, Tri-Unity, Adrian Lenawee