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.

Flint Beecher has dominated this level over the last 15-plus years, but for the first time in a while, Beecher might not enter the season among the on-paper favorites.

Division 3 usually provides some exciting moments throughout the tournament, as it stretches from the tips of the Upper Peninsula to the Ohio border.

Here is a look at our projected D3 final four:

D3 – Quadrant 1

Winner: McBain

Contenders: Iron Mountain, Benzie Central, Manton, Traverse City St. Francis, Sanford Meridian, Harbor Springs

Key Players:

Oskar Kangas, 6-6, Iron Mountain
Reece Kangas, 6-1, Iron Mountain
Evan Haverkamp, 6-8, McBain
Ben Rodenbaugh, 6-3, McBain
Jaxon Childers, 6-2, Benzie Central
Miles Pritchett, 6-6, Benzie Central
Lincoln Hicks, 6-0, Manton
Sawyer Moloy, 6-6, Sanford Meridian
Braeden Flynn, 5-10, Harbor Springs

The McBain talent machine keeps on churning, and this year’s team might be one of its best all time. McBain has size in Haverkamp, Rodenbaugh, 6-5 freshman Clayton Hueker and 6-4 forward Darrious Pena. Few teams at this level will be able to match that.

Benzie Central should have a nice bounce-back season with a plethora of scoring options in the backcourt and frontcourt. Iron Mountain has established a solid program over the past five years, and the Kangas’ can light up the scoreboard and keep opposing teams off it. Watch out for Harbor Springs and Manton.

D3 – Quadrant 2

Winner: Watervliet

Contenders: Schoolcraft, Brandywine, Calvin Christian, Pewamo-Westphalia, Covenant Christian

Key Players:

Jacob Pleyer, 6-3, Watervliet
Kaiden Bierhalter, 6-3, Watervliet
Shane Rykse, 6-3, Schoolcraft
Tucker Walther, 6-4, Schoolcraft
Matt Elderkin, 6-5, Calvin Christian
Grady Eklund, 6-3, Pewamo
Kash Pohl, 5-10, Pewamo
Nylen Goins, 5-9, Brandywine
Jamier Palmer, 6-1, Brandywine
Jeremiah Palmer, 6-1, Brandywine
Brody Johnson, 6-3, Hartford

It’s not because I live in Watervliet, but the Panthers are my pick to make a Breslin run this winter. Pleyer, one of the top sophomores in the state, missed last year’s postseason with an injury. He will be determined to lead his team past Brandywine, who just barely beat Watervliet even without Pleyer.

Speaking of Brandywine, it returns four starters from last year’s Breslin-bound squad. Goins is a rising sophomore, and the Palmer twins are athletic and terrific on defense. Pewamo and Calvin Christian return athletic lineups with some star power.

Watch out for Schoolcraft. Rykse is the best player in the quadrant, and Walther isn’t too far behind. If they get hot at the right time, they could make it back to the Breslin Center following a one-year absence.

D3 – Quadrant 3

Winner: Riverview Gabriel Richard

Contenders: Clinton, Chesaning, Laingsburg, Stockbridge, Jackson Lumen Christi, Jonesville

Key Players:

Mason Struck, 6-6, Chesaning
Chaz Slankard, 6-3, Chesaning
Zander Woodruff, 6-3, Laingsburg
Shannon Henderson, 6-9, Stockbridge
Kegan Collins, 6-1, Stockbridge
Luke Tropea, 5-10, Lumen Christi
Warrick Elder, 6-0, Jonesville
Preston Cruz, 6-2, Clinton
Luke Westerdale, 6-1, Gabriel Richard
Nick Sobush, 5-11, Gabriel Richard
Charles Kage, 6-8, Gabriel Richard
Drew Everingham, 6-4, Gabriel Richard

Gabriel Richard is loaded. All four players mentioned above are juniors, and it’s not a stretch to say they are favorites to win the state championship each of the next two years. Great guards, solid shooters, and a rising post presence make this a dangerous team in D3.

Chesaning made the move down from D2 and it has an elite post presence in Struck. Stockbridge also has a rising post player in Henderson. Lumen Christi has a plethora of talent in the backcourt and frontcourt. They could be a sleeper team to make the quarterfinal potentially against Gabriel Richard.

Keep an eye on Laingsburg. Woodruff is a crafty scorer who has also shown solid leadership skills. Even though they lost a lot, they still have some talent to hang their hat on.

D3 – Quadrant 4

Winner: Old Redford

Contenders: Flint Beecher, Detroit Loyola, New Haven, Burton Madison

Key Players:

Jaquon Stennis, 6-8, Old Redford
Kaeson Mayes, 6-2, Old Redford
Derrick Kilgore, 5-11, Old Redford
Kenyonta Menifield, 5-9, Flint Beecher
Wasir James, 6-8, Flint Beecher
Trevor Oliver, 5-11, Detroit Loyola
Raphael Johnson, 6-1, Detroit Loyola

Tp clarify, Beecher is still going to be a great team. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if they again made a trip to East Lansing. But, standing in their way is a young, exuberant Old Redford squad ripe with Division 1 college talent. Stennis seemingly gets a new D1 offer every day, while Mayes also has a D1 offer. Kilgore ran the show and really impressed me the couple times I saw them last season. He’s a great lead guard and lethal shooter.

Loyola has retooled its roster to again contend. Known for almost always having great guards, Loyola should live up to that billing this season with Oliver and Johnson leading the way.

Watch out for Burton Madison. I saw them obliterate a really solid Kalamazoo Hackett squad last year, and they were very young.

Final Four: McBain, Watervliet, Riverview Gabriel Richard, Old Redford