MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

Hoops season is finally upon us, and once again Michigan has tons of intriguing storylines.

The players below could emerge as D1 or D2 recruits this season. Many juniors who aren’t mentioned are college-level recruits, but these are ones who could quietly emerge as high-level prospects.

Here are some juniors ready to breakout this season:

Dean Lewis, 6-5, Walled Lake Western – Athletic wing with a long wingspan and fast-developing skillset. As he continues to add more muscle and build more confidence calling his own number, he could be an exciting prospect over the next two seasons.

Nate Sidney, 6-3, Ann Arbor Huron – A beast when he runs the point. A solidly built point-forward who is a one-man wrecking crew when driving the lane. He might also play quite a bit in the post on an undersized Huron squad, showcasing his versatility.

Mason Hitchcock, 6-4, Bloomfield Hills – Athletic wing with an improving shot. Physically impressive at the high school level, and his developing overall skillset points to a major upperclassman jump in production and recruiting.

Marcel Brown-El, 6-2, U of D Jesuit – Looked poised and confident this summer with his new team. Solid outside shot with a high basketball I.Q. Plays within himself and can control a tempo. Could emerge as a lead scorer or facilitator.

Harper Huntington, 6-2, Grand Haven – Great athlete with a lethal outside shot. I think he will be a scoring point guard at the next level, someone who can shoot, pass and control the pace. Big-time player who is really flying under the radar – even in his own GR area.

Cam Crowder, 6-3, Forest Hills Northern – Bigger, stronger and more of a versatile threat on both ends of the court. On a sleeper team that could produce a couple higher-level recruits. Crowder will play point guard quite a bit as an able distributer and shooter.

Anthony Willis, 6-3, & Izzy Hatibu, 6-5, GR Northview – Two great juniors who have been slightly overshadowed by Western Michigan commit Cameron Ryans. Willis is a long point guard with a nice outside shot. Consistency has been his issue thus far. Hatibu is one of the best defenders in the entire state. Can his offensive game catch up?

Alex Armstrong, 6-5, Hudsonville – Long and athletic, Armstrong has battled injuries and inconsistent play thus far. Added strength will allow him to get to the rim and use his mid-range shooting to keep defenses honest. If he can showcase more consistent confidence, he’s a major breakout candidate.

Connor Brown, 6-6, North Farmington – True banger in the post who plays with a nasty streak. Would be a perfect Tom Izzo recruit if he was three inches taller. Great finisher around the rim with solid footwork and does well staying out of foul trouble.

Shae Eggleston, 6-4, River Rouge – He’s been making splash plays since his first games as a freshman. Now a junior, it’s time for Eggleston to enjoy a true breakout. His recruitment has been quiet recently, but he’s on a young, vibrant team that will have lots of eyes on it.

Tre Parham, 5-9, Saginaw United – Crafty lead guard with a dangerous outside shot. Very underrated overall and will now get the chance to shine in Saginaw, where he will have a chance to run the show.

Quenten Graham, 6-3, Warren Fitzgerald – Fitzgerald is in seemingly every showcase in the state this season. In all seriousness, Graham was incredible at times over the summer as a tall, strong lead guard. The sky is the limit for his upside and future.

Tory Robinson, 6-4, Waterford Mott – Tall, rangy point guard with a great feel for the game. Smooth athlete who sees the whole court and has developed a versatile offensive game. Great passer, who is still finding his identity on offense but has immense upside.

Arber Ljajcaj, 6-9, L’Anse Creuse North – Grew three inches over the summer and has become a potential D1 recruit. Another growth spurt to a true 6-11 would out him in Power-4 territory. Game still needs to be refined on both ends of the court, but the potential is certainly there.

Braylon Taylor, 5-9, GR Christian – One of the quickest guards in the state. He is also lethal from beyond the arc. Despite obvious size concerns, he’s one of the state’s more skilled players. Coach’s son who plays hard and knows how to score in a variety of ways.

Taj Williams, 6-0, Ludington – Sometimes location is everything, and Williams is just a bit off the beaten path. Ludington has a great team, and Williams could lead most teams as a solid, sometimes explosive point guard. He can score, dish and control tempo and could become a household name throughout the state.

Seth Hahnenberg, 6-6, Lansing Catholic – Entered high school as a potential top-10 player in the class. Has taken a bit longer to develop but has the size and strength to be at least a D2 college wing. Once his ball-handling and shooting become more consistent, he could flirt with 20 points per game as an upperclassman.

Levi Heeringa, 6-8, Calvin Christian – Fast riser late in the summer; another in a long line of tall athletic bigs out of Calvin Christian. Will need to keep adding strength and more refined post moves, but he’s an overall intriguing talent.

De’Vontae Grandison, 6-4, ATAP – Might be a better college fit than his superstar teammate. Grandison has the length, strength and skill to be a great college basketball player. He can score in bunches with a blend of outside shooting and getting to the basket.

A.J. Patterson, 6-5, Burton Bendle – Could be the main piece on a serious sleeper team in Division 3. Patterson is a versatile backcourt player who might even bring the ball up at times. He’s going to be very difficult to guard for most smaller schools.