MP Hoops Scouting & Analysis

After spending Thursday at the Hope College Men’s Basketball Team Camp, it appears the Grand Rapids area is again ripe with basketball talent.

Here are 10 standout players from Day 2 of the Hope College Men’s Basketball Camp:

Tyler Sandfest, 6-4, Elk Rapids – Tall, aggressive point guard who really sees the court well and can bully defenders getting to the basket. Played calmly, but also showed competitiveness and passion on the court. Dominated a couple games Thursday, on a starting lineup that looked primed for a big upcoming season.

Darion Phillips, 6-2, South Haven – Easy bucket-getter who uses his long limbs to glide past defenders through the paint. Attacks the basket with confidence and skill. Poised for a massive breakout junior season, and should be on everyone’s radar by January. A solid jump shot away from becoming a must-have college recruit.

Roman DeRose, 6-4, Leslie – Strong, with a bevy of tremendous moves around the basket. Great outside shooter who can spot up or create his own looks. Appears to be a D2 college player, but he could use a bit more foot speed to really take his game to the next level. Teammate Joel Cranmore (6-2) is also a very good player, forming an intriguing dynamic duo.

Logan Farmer, 6-3, Pewamo-Westphalia – Broke out with some dominant performances at the Breslin Center last season. Farmer is now the main man at Pewamo and certainly looked up for the task Thursday, pouring in baskets in bunches. Three-level scorer with D1 college potential.

Dayne Ivey, 6-3, Pinconning – Truly immoveable in the paint with a strong base and Herculean upper body. Ran the point at times, but did his main damage on the block, where defenders were effortlessly cleared out. Completely took over the game I saw, backing up his recent D3 college offer.

Caden Smoker, 5-11, Byron Center – Lights-out shooter heading into just his sophomore year, it will be interesting to see how his game develops. Has some recent Bulldogs star Keane Hinkle to his game, but Smoker is even more sturdy. Could be a star as early as this season, leading a quietly athletic squad.

Dexter Lillmars, 6-2, Fruitport – Tall, strong guard who can shoot from deep off the dribble or bully his way into the paint. He was missing some of his fellow starters Thursday, but still played poised basketball. He’s a special talent with an at least D2 college build. Fruitport is a sleeper team this winter, and Lillmars’ dominance will be a big reason why.

Aiden Farr, 6-2, Kent City – What an explosive player. Some kind of show took place every time he touched the ball. Farr was electric off the dribble, drained multiple 3-pointers and demanded the ball as just an upcoming sophomore. Farr might have been the most impressive player on the day. He played with immense confidence and should be on college coach’s radars as he continues to get taller and stronger.

Cam Crowder, 6-4, Forest Hills Northern – His game has become very polished as a tall, strong guard who can score anywhere on the court. He possesses a very solid 3-point stroke as well as the strength to get to the basket. He could play point guard at the next level because he also has elite court vision. If he continues to gain more foot speed, he will easily be a D2 college player.

Gavin Stockwell, 6-0, Grandville – On a team with two household names, it was Stockwell dominating on offense. He effortlessly drained 3-pointers, racked up steals, showcasing his blistering speed to get to the basket and showed strength finishing through traffic. His emergence should make Grandville formidable once again, as a player who could average 12-17 points a game.