MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

Midway through the high school basketball season, things are starting to take shape atop the rankings.

However, every year there are teams that fly a bit under the radar before making a splash in the tournament.

Here are a couple potential sleeper teams ready to bust some brackets when the tournament starts in late February:

Division 1

Grandville – The Bulldogs have perhaps the best starting lineup in the state. That’s not an exaggeration, especially with Isaiah Guyton (6-6) added to the fold and already putting up 30-plus point games. Carter Wade (6-1) is one of the best junior guards in the state. He can shoot, dish and get to the basket with a strong frame. Wings Brendan VanderHart (6-3) and Anthony Richardson (6-5) are lengthy wings who can knock down shots and create their own looks. Freshman forward Heyden Jeremie (6-4) is a load in the post, with physicality belying his years. Grandville heads into Tuesday’s game against Rockford 9-0 on the season, but few are talking about them. If this starting lineup clicks at the right time, the Bulldogs could be playing in East Lansing come March.

Macomb Dakota – It seems like pundits are down on Dakota a bit since the start of the season, but they still have every opportunity to make a Breslin run. At 11-2, their only losses are against highly-rated D2 teams Chandler Park and Unity Christian. Meanwhile, they’ve defeated the likes of UPrep, Port Huron Northern, Chippewa Valley and Warren Lincoln. Led by an explosive guard trio of Tovin Williams (6-3), Nehvir Njoku (6-3) and Benji Jackson (6-0) they have the skill and physicality to keep up with any backcourt in the state. Brayden Lee (6-6) is a high-quality post on both ends of the court, but they lack depth a bit in this area. Sophomore Alex Mikanga (6-5) might need to step up to make a long run. Role players Omar Kasmikha (6-0) and Alfonso Eguia (6-1) play with high intelligence and a great motor.

Division 2

Benton Harbor – Everyone sleeping on this squad, or uneducated on them, will soon be in for a rude awakening. Guard trio Kesean Hobbs (6-4), Zameir Clayton (6-3) and Camren Hull (6-1) suffocate most teams before they can even get to halfcourt. All three will play college basketball, and Hobbs looks every bit a D1 college player. Benton Harbor, 14-1, has dominated their opponents this season, only losing 86-82 against ranked D1 foe Detroit Catholic Central. Corey Sterling is one of the best and most underrated coaches in the state, and he has built a real winner this season. The Grand Rapids private schools get most of the love in this quadrant, but the Tigers could send a public school to the Breslin over all of them.

Dearborn Divine Child – Playing in perhaps the most friendly quadrant in Division 2, Divine Child likely won’t be truly tested until a potential regional final tilt against top-ranked Romulus Summit. At 13-2, Divine Child is cruising past most opponents due to depth and a balanced scoring attack. Junior Malik Bush (6-2) probably has the most upside on the team as a strong guard who doesn’t shy away from defenders. Richard Holland (6-1) can score in bunches or distribute, and is perhaps playing his way onto a college roster at some level. Fellow guards Isaiah Caffey (6-1) and Abe Hourani (6-2) are also capable and consistent scorers. The young frontcourt duo of Denham Butler (6-4) and William Meehan (6-4) are also capable of good games, making this an interesting team down the road.

Division 3

McBain – Since 2000, McBain (9-1) has reached the Breslin Center five times, which is tied for seventh most out of any school in the state. They also just dismantled a very good Pine River team. One of the tallest teams in D3, McBain has somehow flown under the radar this season. Led by juniors Clayton Heuker (6-5) and Josh Rodenbaugh (6-3), McBain also features Drew Hamilton (6-5) and Grayson Guernsey (6-4) in a tall, athletic rotation. If the Ramblers can maintain some consistent guard play, they could tie Romulus and Southfield Christian for the fifth most trips to the Breslin in the last 25 years.

Kalamazoo Phoenix – Playing in what many thought would be the toughest district in D3, teams like Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo Hackett and Kalamazoo Christian have proved violently inconsistent this season. Phoenix (7-2) haven’t played a ton of games but have convincingly defeated some pretty solid teams. Their only two losses were against D1 schools, and both were under 10 points. Led by super athletic big Dequarius Frierson (6-6), this is a menacing D3 team. Junior trio Remire Lockhart (6-0), Jonathan Oldham (6-0) and Kamarion Parker (6-3) are all solid players who can score and defend. This is Phoenix’s first season in D3 and they could make quite the splash.

Division 4

Adrian Lenawee – At 6-4, it can be easy to write off a D4 school with four losses midway through the season. But that would be unwise in Lenawee’s case. Led by perhaps the best player in D4, Jaxon Salenbien (6-4), who is committed to Spring Arbor, Lenawee has the firepower to blast past most teams they will face. Fellow guards Daniel Scrupsky (5-10), Dante Mathews (5-11) and Drew Kirkendall (6-1) have been consistent contributors and continue to get better every week. Most of Lenawee’s losses have come against bigger schools who are also very good. Lenawee has already toppled most of the teams they would face in the tournament, and it’s not a stretch to believe they will be too much for the remaining D3 teams in the area to handle.

Dollar Bay – Speaking of teams familiar with Breslin trips, The Blue Bolts could be on the verge of a third trip to East Lansing in the last 10 years. Most people who attended the finals weekend last year, and bought a program, probably penciled Crystal Falls Forest Park – and their four returning starters – in for a return trip. But as Lee Corso said: “Not so fast”. Dollar Bay, led by a dominant trio of Liam Tourtillot (6-1), Caleb Kentala (5-7) and Baron Colbert (6-2) have already defeated CFFP this season en route to a current 10-1 record. Pickford (11-0) will be another team to potentially navigate around, but Dollar Bay deserves a bit more love and recognition as the tournament fast approaches.