MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

March Madness isn’t just for college hoops.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association boys basketball tournament is set to get underway next week with a plethora of contenders in each division.

Grand Rapids Christian and Warren Lincoln have widely been regarded as the top two teams in the division, however, this seems like a pretty open tournament with a lot of title hopefuls.

Here is a look at the toughest districts throughout Division 2:

District 38 – Bay City John Glenn

Teams: Freeland (18-3), Arthur Hill (15-4), Bay City JG (14-7), Essexville Garber (11-10), Carrollton (8-13)

Key Players: Lyna Brooks, 6-3 (Arthur Hill); Boop Hardy, 5-11 (Arthur Hill); Wilson Huckeby, 6-4 (Freeland); Tristian Comer, 6-6 (Freeland); Sean Wesolek, 6-6 (Bay City JG); Cade Wallaker, 6-0 (Essexville-Garber)

Arthur Hill probably won’t be in D2 again anytime soon with Saginaw High merging with them next school year. Brooks and Hardy are both elite athletes who can score in bunches. The Lumberjacks have a handful of great wins. Freeland has two great sophomores in Huckeby (a shooter) and Comer (a post presence), so they might be a year or two away from fully competing from a state title. Yet, they could win the district this year. Bay City JG has the chance to the spoil the party, while Wallaker is the kind of player who could lead E-G on a dream run.

Prediction: Arthur Hill

District 45 – Unity Christian

Teams: GR Christian (18-2), Unity Christian (17-4), South Christian (16-5), Godwin Heights (15-5), Kentwood GR Prep (11-6), Kelloggsville (2-19)

Key Players: Jaylan Ouwinga, 6-9 (GR Christian); Nathan Johnson, 6-5 (GR Christian); T.J. Fisher, 6-4 (Unity Christian); Carson Vis, 6-3 (South Christian); Jake Vermaas, 6-1 (South Christian); Davis Kemper, 6-7 (South Christian)

What a district! Three potential title contenders and only one will make the second week of the tournament (this is why the tournament needs to be seeded). GR Christian dominates with size, athleticism and outside shooting. South Christian has looked a little sluggish offensively at times. They still remain one of the elite teams, though. Unity Christian is finally fully healthy and hasn’t lost since early January. Fisher is an underrated player who returned a few games ago after breaking his neck on a dunk attempt. Godwin has a good record, but it’s highly unlikely anyone but the “big three” makes it through.

Prediction: GR Christian

District 48 – Edwardsburg

Teams: Benton Harbor (21-1), Berrien Springs (15-6), Stevensville-Lakeshore (11-8), Niles (16-5), Edwardsburg (11-8), Dowagiac (8-13)

Key Players: Josiah King, 6-5 (Benton Harbor); Antwan Callahan Jr., 6-2 (Benton Harbor); J.J. Frakes, 6-4 (Berrien Springs); Spencer Gostlin, 6-9 (Stevensville-Lakeshore); Mike Phillips, 6-0 (Niles); Brody Schimpa, 6-2 (Edwardsburg); Matt Anders, 6-5 (Edwardsburg)

Benton Harbor has just one loss, consistently blowing out opponents. The Tigers are great but aren’t very deep. Foul trouble could be an issue, as it was in last week’s loss at Brandywine. Berrien Springs has an exciting, young roster. Frakes is a bouncy guard who loves to dunk and could still play his way onto a D1 roster. Niles, led by a huge game by Phillips, won this district last year. They had a solid season again this winter. Edwardsburg is an underrated squad hosting the division. Both players mentioned above are just juniors, so this team could gain valuable experience this season. Lakeshore started out 2-7 but have been on a tear over the last two months. Imagine if Frakes hadn’t transferred out.

Prediction: Benton Harbor

District 52 – Parma Western

Teams: Adrian (17-3), Onsted (17-4), Parma Western (16-5), Brooklyn Columbia Central (13-8), Tecumseh (14-6), Adrian Madison (10-11)

Key Players: Stevie Elam, 6-2 (Adrian); Sean Parker, 6-2 (Adrian); Ayden Davis, 6-10 (Onsted); Derek Sanders, 6-5 (Brooklyn CC)

This district is pretty evenly balanced. Adrian and Onsted both have future D1 hoopers, with Davis committed to Wright State and Elam, just a junior, the recipient of some D1 offers, already. Those two teams will enter the district as favorites, but Parma Western beat Adrian during the season and Brooklyn CC has the physicality to make life difficult. The winner of this district could make a deep run, as this area has several good teams, but not really an elite one.

Prediction: Adrian

District 63 – Flint Kearsley

Teams: Imlay City (16-5), Flint Kearsley (15-6), Yale (15-5), Croswell-Lexington (14-7), North Branch (11-9)

Key Player: Zander Nash, 6-7 (Imlay City)

With so many seemingly equal teams mashed together in one heated district, it can sometimes take just one player getting on a hot streak to advance. Nash has the size, skill and versatility to be a nightmare mismatch in any game he plays. Imlay City had a rough patch in the middle of the season, but has regained its form in February. Kearsley, Yale and Cros-Lex are all formidable opponents. Every team in this district has a winning record.

Prediction: Imlay City

A little extra: Defending D2 state champions Ferndale and top-three ranked Warren Lincoln are in the same district. The winner has a very real chance to cut down the nets in the Breslin.

Prediction: Ferndale