Grand Rapids Union Scrimmages: Top Performers (Part 1)
This past Tuesday, Grand Rapids Union played host to scrimmages that featured some of the best teams from around the west side of Michigan. There was some great matchups both individually as well as teams head to head. Whether it was big name seniors who are just starting out their senior campaign, or it was promising underclassmen who showed out, there was plenty of talent on display. Here are some of my top performers from Tuesday’s action at Grand Rapids Union:
Carlos “Scooby” Johnson (2020, Benton Harbor) – Johnson is a top-5 player in Michigan’s 2020 class and for good reason. The 6’6″ forward is a matchup nightmare, as he dominates the paint with tough play but will make the defense pay on the perimeter as well. On Tuesday, I watched Johnson first matchup with Seth Millner of Grand Rapids Christian, then matchup with Markeese Hastings of Godwin Heights. Both of these players are talented and experienced seniors who presented a great test to Johnson. He was up to the challenge, however, as he not only held his own, but excelled in both matchups. Johnson really impressed with his ability to grab a defensive rebound then hit the outlet man for an easy transition look.
Seth Millner (2018, Grand Rapids Christian) – Millner will be responsible for a bulk of Grand Rapids Christian’s production this year as they lose 3 of their top 4 from last season. This was the first time I’ve seen Millner as the number one option on his team and he impressed me. He’s a guy who’s lethal attacking from the triple threat position due to his great footwork and ability to use ball fakes and jab steps to get the defender off balance. He did precisely that during the scrimmages, getting to the rim and finishing or drawing fouls, as well as hitting a variety of pull-ups. As a player who’s game isn’t based around creating plays off the dribble, he impressed with his ability to be the go-to scorer in a variety of ways.
Tori Coates (2019, East Kentwood) – Coates is a lefty guard who stands around 5’11”, give or take an inch. He impressed with his ability to create plays for himself or his teammates off the dribble. He has a good deal of athleticism in every sense of the word – there was one play where he took two dribbles attacking the basket and exploded for a poster dunk in traffic. In East Kentwood’s third game of the evening, they matched up with a talented Godwin Heights team, who applied intense pressure defensively. Despite turning the ball over a couple times, as well as missing a couple shots he hit in the previous two games, I saw Coates display good mental toughness as he didn’t get rattled by the pressure and let it change his game.
TJ Jones (2018, Benton Harbor) – The 6’3″ SG impressed me with his smooth shot and overall game. Active on both offense and defense, Jones finished well in transition. What stood out to me most, however, was Jones’ ability to hit pull-up and step-back jumpers from all over the court. A combination of athleticism and a quick, high release allowed him to get these types of shots off with comfort. Benton Harbor is loaded and will have many options so he will have to be effective with limited opportunities, but if he plays like he did at this scrimmage Jones will be a valuable piece for his squad.