Showcase Scrimmages: PM Standouts

<p>Around lunchtime the mood in the gym of The Showcase Scrimmages in Grand Rapids changed considerably. Some of the best programs in the state rolled in and lived up to their collective billings. Here are five selected performances out of many that stood to me from this past Wednesday. </p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="1181896" first="Kareem" last="Rozier"] 5-9 2022 Orchard Lake St Mary’s </b>Rozier did something Wednesday that I don’t think I’ve ever seen him do. He lost a game. Alas it was a scrimmage. But this speaks to the intangible strength of his game. Has everything you want in a point guard package except elite size. Lightning quick seemingly always under control. Highly competitive and does not play with any sense entitlement. Accordingly is a bulldog defensively and fights for everything. Seems like a lifetime ago (a pandemic will do that) when I first caught Rozier as a middle schooler leading a lauded Bates Fundamentals squad. Moved onto Chicago based Meanstreets for the EYBL this past summer. Doesn’t matter where he’s at Rozier’s game is going to play well anywhere. Reuniting with former AAU teammate [player_tooltip player_id="787651" first="JaVaughn" last="Hannah"]  for what should be a big senior season. The recent Duquesne commit is my favorite for Mr Basketball due to his game and overall level of statewide exposure. <br /> <br /> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="987285" first="Grant" last="Gondrezick"] 6-2 2023 Benton Harbor </b>One of the reasons Rozier took a loss was the presence of the newest member of the Tiger backcourt. After a transfer from Stevensville Lakshore. Gondrezick quickly made himself at home. Only played in two games on Wednesday but he made them count in a big way. In the win over OLSM he was simply all over the court. Explosive athlete but plays with excellent balance. Not the tallest player but makes up for it with speed and excellent elevation on his jump shot. Played up a age division with the Grand Rapids Storm this summer and it shows. Comes from a family with a rich basketball tradition and that shows as well. Will form a potentially devastating backcourt with [player_tooltip player_id="863960" first="Trucel" last="Singleton"]. Despite a fair amount of attrition. Benton Harbor should remain near the top of the Division 2 pecking order with this addition. </p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="863933" first="Genesis" last="Kemp"] 6-7 2022 Grand Rapids Union (pictured at top of article) </b>Like Rozier Kemp first cut his teeth as middle schooler playing with [player_tooltip player_id="787606" first="Emoni" last="Bates"]. After bouncing around a little Kemp has settled in for his senior season at Union. Considering the newness of his surroundings Kemp played very well. Was very explosive in transition made plays well above the rim. Asserted his size emphatically against a much smaller Traverse City St Francis squad. Against bigger units showed the ability to stretch his game out to the perimeter and even hit a few threes. Aggressive defensively with a few impressive blocked shots. Should form a potent duo with emerging 2023 prospect <b>DNario</b> <b>Paul</b> (6-7) to give the RedHawks an emerging and new frontline. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/150-Hutch-Ward.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1301280" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/150-Hutch-Ward-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="1077679" first="Hutch" last="Ward"] 6-7 2022 Kalamazoo Central </b>The rare high school stretch five. Ward has enough size to play in post at the next level. Also has good speed for his size. Runs the court well and is quick enough laterally to not get exposed in pick and roll situations. But what sets up from other bigs is his deft outside shot. From AAU events, to college elite camps, to this past Wednesday. I have yet to see Ward be off from deep. This ability to stretch the floor really opens things up for super quick point guard [player_tooltip player_id="863965" first="Scott" last="Sims"].  This tandem will make Central a team to watch on the west side in Division 1. </p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="1111924" first="EJ" last="Ryans"] 6-3 2024 Grand Rapids Northview </b>In a field loaded with Division 1 point guard commits. The youngest one present might have been the best long term prospect. Simply put you would never guess this prospect is a underclassmen unless you were told. Extremely mature lead guard game. Already showing a high level of leadership. I witnessed more than one instance of Ryans pulling teammates away from officials and offering encouragement. And oh yeah, he’s really good at basketball too. Size gives him the ability to see over defenses and find the open man. And he has some serious teammates to set up. Belmont commit [player_tooltip player_id="787685" first="Kyler" last="Vanderjagt"] and [player_tooltip player_id="987644" first="Tyran" last="Thomas"] will make Northview perhaps the top Division 1 team in the Grand Rapids area. After proving himself nationally this summer with Indy Heat. Ryans should become a household name statewide this year. </p>