MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

Weekend showcases are all the rage when it comes to Michigan high school basketball.

There are more and more showcases each year (maybe too many). But we have some annual events that, in our opinion, stand just a little above the rest.

Here are our favorite annual showcases to attend:

Horatio Williams Kick-off Classic @ North Farmington

A great way to begin each season, often featuring a mix of the best east-side teams in the state. This event supports a great cause and always creates a basketball-friendly environment. This year’s slate has not been officially announced, but most of the confirmed teams will be state-title contenders.

The Invite at Calvin University

One of my favorite overall events. Calvin has an amazing venue with varied seating and tremendous staff. They make the best walking tacos and the event always runs smoothly. The Invite, run by the Storm AAU team, features either three or four games of Grand Rapids’ best teams. Usually, a top D1 team will play a top D2 team. This is a must-attend event if you want to see the GR area’s best squads.

The DZone Invitational at Hazel Park

The D Zone knows basketball and how to put on a great event. This year’s version will be played over the course of five days leading up to Christmas Eve. One thing I like about this event is it includes plenty of “title favorites”, but it also shines a light on a lot of good teams who aren’t always featured in other showcases. If you follow The D Zone all year, this is a good way to support all the hard work they put into covering high school basketball.

Aquinas Alumni Classic at Aquinas College

Teams like Waterford Mott, Clarkston, GR West Catholic and Lansing Catholic are currently in the annual rotation, and they all have intriguing rosters. Aquinas has a smaller gym, but it has a newer vibe and is a great venue with no bad seat. My only small complaint is parking can sometimes be tough here.

Mike Turner Classic at Albion College

This is a very underrated day of basketball. Rick Palmer at Brother Rice, Mike Thomas at East Kentwood and a host of other head coaches and great programs are showcased each year at the beginning of January. Albion has a rich basketball history, which is on full display at this event. You might come for Brother Rice, but stay for smaller teams like Concord who are D4 state title contenders not often featured at big events.

GottaGetIt Hoop Classic at East Kentwood

Pound-for-pound my favorite one-day event of the year. East Kentwood is a great venue with fantastic concessions (usually Chick-fil-A) and an incredible slate of basketball games. GottaGetIt games pit some of the east-side’s top teams against the best from the west. This culminates in a competitive environment to get an early glimpse at which side of the state can make a big statement.

2K26 Invite at Grand Rapids Community College

I’ve been going to this event for over a decade. It’s had name changes and multiple venue changes but has always remained an elite event. Now split into two great days of basketball, the 2K26 Invite features state-title contenders from all over the state. They also have a couple elite teams from Illinois and Ohio in the field this year. Both Saturdays this event takes place are a must to attend every winter.