MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

“Uppers” need love, too.

It’s easy to get caught up in the future D1 athletes lining rosters in Grand Rapids and Detroit, but every year at the Breslin Center at least U.P. team captures our hearts.

The U.P. has several intriguing teams who will be fighting for a chance to take the long drive to East Lansing in just over a month.

Big and small teams from all over the U.P. have the talent, drive and just a little bit of a chip on their shoulders.

Here are some of the top teams north of the Mackinac Bridge:

Marquette

Record: 13-3
Key Players: Jacob MacPhee, 6-6, Jr. | Jaxon Jurmu, 6-0, Jr.
Key Wins: Kingsford, St. Ignace, Menominee (2)

Road to the Breslin:
Long travel days can make it tough for Marquette to enjoy a long run in the tournament. However, Marquette will likely be the favorite in its district. From there, it will likely have to face Cadillac in the regional semifinal. Another win would likely pit Marquette up against either Muskegon, Reeths-Puffer or Saginaw Heritage in the regional final. A quarterfinal matchup would pit Marquette up against any number of Grand Rapids teams such as GR Northview, Rockford or East Kentwood.

Kingsford

Record: 15-2
Key Players: Gavin Grondin, 6-1, Jr. | Morgan Sleik, 6-4, Jr. | Jacob  Markworth, 6-5, Sr.
Key Wins: Negaunee (2), Crystal Falls FP, Menominee, Norway

Road to the Breslin:
Kingsford has a user-friendly road to the Breslin Center – at least on paper. They should be heavy favorites in their district, and then might play a very winnable game over Boyne City in the regional semifinal. Kingsford’s regional final matchup would likely be against Ludington or underrated Reed City. A potential quarterfinal matchup against Saginaw, Arthur Hill, Freeland or Flint Powers would be very difficult.

Iron Mountain

Record: 15-1
Key Players: Oskar Kangas, 6-6, Jr. | Gerald Sampoll-Torres, 5-10, Jr. | Reece Kangas, 6-1, Sr. | Kaden Sheldon, 6-3, Sr.
Key Wins: Kingsford, Neguanee (2), Norway

Road to the Breslin:
They have a brutal road. Menominee, who just beat Iron Mountain in overtime, awaits in the district. One-loss Painsdale-Jeffers should be the regional semifinal matchup. Electric Charlevoix or Harbor Springs could be ready to spoil the party in the regional final. The quarterfinal would likely be against McBain or Benzie Central.

Menominee

Record: 12-4
Key Players: Trevor Theuerkauf, 5-10, Sr. | Tanner Theuerkauf, 5-10, Sr.
Key Wins: Iron Mountain, Marinette (WI), St. Ignace, Benzie Central

Road to the Breslin:
A thrilling district final against Iron Mountain would potentially catapult the winner all the way to East Lansing. Menominee would then likely face Painsdale-Jeffers in the regional semifinals. Pesky Charlevoix or up-and-coming Harbor Springs could be waiting in the regional final. McBain or Benzie Central seem most likely to be waiting in the quarterfinal.

Painesdale-Jeffers

Record: 17-1
Key Players: Levi Frahm, 6-1, Sr.
Key Wins: Lake Linden-Hubbell (2), Ishpeming Westwood (2)

Road to the Breslin:
Painsdale, who moved up to D3 this season, hasn’t had quite as tough a schedule as the two teams listed above. However, Frahm is one of the state’s best guards and could carry this team to the Breslin if hot. Painsdale will have to beat Iron Mountain or Menominee in the regional semifinal, Harbor Springs or Charlevoix in the regional final. McBain, Benzie Central or Sanford Meridian will likely await in the quarterfinal.

St. Ignace

Record: 11-5
Key Players: Jonny Ingalls, 6-0, Sr. | Ethan McLean, 6-2, Sr. | Shawn Kingsbury, 5-9, Sr.
Key Wins: Gaylord, Pickford, Harbor Springs, Rudyard, Boyne City, Sault Ste. Marie

Road to the Breslin:
Despite the five losses, has arguably the best resume of any U.P. team. Moved from D3 down to D4 this season. Should have a relatively easy road to the regional finals where Pickford, Rudyard or defending D4 state champs Munising will be waiting. A win would propel St. Ignace to the quarterfinals to likely play Crystal Falls Forest Park or Lake Linden-Hubbell.

Crystal Falls Forest Park

Record: 14-2
Key Players: Kevin Guiliani, 6-5, Jr. | Vic Guiliani, 6-0, Fr. | Gavin Showers, 6-2, Jr. | Gaven Rintula, 5-11, Sr.
Key Wins: Norway

Road to the Breslin:
CFFP will have to beat Watersmeet and Norway in the district. A regional finals matchup against Lake Linden-Hubbell could be a tough game against two current two-loss teams. The quarterfinal would be very tough against either St. Ignace, Pickford, Munising or Rudyard. This might not be as impressive a resume as St. Ignace’s, but CFFP played Kingsford and Munising tough, proving it can hang with the U.P.’s top squads.

Munising

Record: 13-4
Key Players: Trevor Nolan, 5-8, Jr. | Jack Dusseault, 6-4, Jr. | Carson Kienitz, 6-3, Jr.
Key Wins: Rudyard, Crystal Falls Forest Park, Ishpeming

Road to the Breslin:
They have the same road as the other D4 teams listed above. Teams like Munising, CFFP, St. Ignace, Pickford, Rudyard and Lake Linden-Hubbell are all very close in talent. It should be a spirited, entertaining road to the Breslin.

Pickford

Record: 14-1
Key Players: Eli MacDonald, Jr. | Gunner Brennin, So.
Key Wins: Manistique, Rudyard, Munising

Road to the Breslin:
Pickford will face a tough matchup against Rudyard in the district. It will then have to likely face Munising and St. Ignace in the regional. A tough matchup against Crystal Falls Forest Park could await in the quarterfinal.