Mitten Prep Hoops Scouting & Analysis

Boys basketball district finals start Friday night across the state of Michigan, and already teams with Final Four aspirations will face off in massive battles.

Friday promises to be an important night in figuring out who will make the trip to East Lansing in a couple weeks.

Here are some major district final matchups to track:

District 3: Flint Carman Ainsworth vs. Saginaw United

The newly-minted Saginaw United (a combination of Saginaw High and Arthur Hill) has wasted no time proving to be a state-title threat. Carman-Ainsworth possesses one of the most underrated lineups in the state and could gain some new fans with a long run.

District 4: Rockford vs. Muskegon

Two top-seven teams face off in a game that should be happening in the quarterfinals. For some reason Rockford was moved into this district, and now one of the best teams in the state won’t make it past the first week. The winner of this game has a very legitimate chance to win a state title.

District 8: Byron Center vs. East Kentwood

Byron Center has looked like world beaters at times with a perfect blend of playmaking, shooting and size. Skeptics will look at East Kentwood’s record and wonder why they are on this list, but head coach Mike Thomas has three state titles and a young, hungry squad starting to hit their stride.

District 11: East Lansing vs. Lansing Waverly

No. 3 (EL) vs. No. 7 (Waverly) in our final rankings face off in a must-watch game. East Lansing beat Waverly twice in the regular season, but edged them by just two points the second time around. The winner of this game will become the favorites to reach the Breslin.

District 15: Ann Arbor Huron vs. Ann Arbor Skyline

The River Rats are led by a Power-4 D1 commit and a D2 knockdown shooting guard. They aren’t deep, but can still light up the scoreboard. Skyline has dealt with numerous injuries, but they were considered a top-15 team to start the season and are now back to full health.

District 23: U of D Jesuit vs. Detroit Renaissance

Jesuit finished No. 2 in our rankings, while a late surge lifted Renaissance up to 15. The Cubs were undefeated most of their season and possess one of the best starting lineups in the state. Renaissance, led by a likely pair of Mr. Basketball candidates, can light up the scoreboard in a hurry.

District 24: Brother Rice vs. Birmingham Groves

Rice, ranked No. 4, might be the best defensive team in the state with a rotation of eight 3-point shooters. Groves survived a tough schedule to finish 12th in our rankings. A pair of D2 college guards make them a matchup nightmare.