Sophomore Standouts in the OK Conference
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I’ve had the opportunity to check out a handful of prospects in the 2024 class that have made a name for themselves and are contributing in a major way for their respective programs. Below are seven sophomores I’ve seen in…
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Continue ReadingI’ve had the opportunity to check out a handful of prospects in the 2024 class that have made a name for themselves and are contributing in a major way for their respective programs. Below are seven sophomores I’ve seen in person this year that have stood out the most.
Durral Brooks Durral Brooks 6'2" | PG Grand Rapids Catholic Central | 2024 State MI , 6’2 G, Catholic Central
The top prospect I’ve seen in the 2024 class is without a doubt, Durral Brooks Durral Brooks 6'2" | PG Grand Rapids Catholic Central | 2024 State MI . He has all the tools to become a high major prospect when it’s all said and done. I haven’t seen an exact measurement on his wingspan, but he has the type of length that is coveted at the highest level and uses it to be an effective disruptor on the defensive end. Offensively, Durral is at his best when he gets downhill with his dribble-drive. Not too many defenders at this level have proven to have the lateral quickness to stay in front of Durral. Although he’s still developing physically, Durral has shown he can finish through contact and thrives doing so in transition. As of early January 2022, Durral has three Division 1 offers. Expect that list to grow tenfold as Durral continues to progress.
EJ Ryans EJ Ryans 6'4" | SG Northview | 2024 State #224 Nation MI , 6’4 G, Northview
I’ve seen more of EJ Ryan’s game than any other prospect in the 2022 class and what sticks out to me above everything else is EJ’s vision and passing ability. EJ is a highly effective passer in both the half-court and transition and does a great job of setting his teammates up with on-the-mark passes. A big reason why he’s an advanced distributor as only a sophomore is his ability to read a defense and make a great decision on the fly. EJ also has a smooth-looking jumper that would be called upon more often if not for the depth of talent on his Northview team. Defensively, EJ uses his length to cause frequent turnovers. His speed and ability to jump passing lanes is a strength and one of the many reasons he’s largely considered a top-five prospect in the state in the 2024 class.
Jonas VanderWoude Jonas VanderWoude 6'3" | PG Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI , 6’3 G, Forest Hills Central
Jonas transferred into Forest Hills Central from Grand Rapids Christian this past summer and by doing so, raised the ceiling of the Ranger’s ceiling this season by adding another big-time scorer to its rotation. Jonas is one of the best shooters in the area from the 2024 class and has an argument for one of the area’s best shooters period. If you watch his tape, Jonas does a good job of consistently squaring his feet to the basket and releasing his shot with a smooth and repetitive stroke. Jonas is deadly in spot-up situations and can also be effective in off-the-bounce shot opportunities. Aside from his shooting, Jonas has a scrappiness to his game that leads to grabbing loose balls and making overall winning plays.
Derrick King Jr., 5’11 G Ottawa Hills
One of the top bucket getters in the 2024 class is 5’11 guard out of Ottawa Hills, Derrick King Jr. Derrick plays with an upperclassmen’s level of poise and does a great job of exploiting a defense’s weakness. Derrick is a knockdown shooter in the midrange and has the range to be dangerous from the perimeter. In my opinion, Derrick is at his best when he’s drawing contact in the paint due to his ability to convert tough shots through a crowd.
Jake Vermaas Jake Vermaas 6'2" | SG South Christian | 2024 State MI , 6’2 G, South Christian
Another great shooter from the 2023 class is South Christian’s
Jake Vermaas
Jake
Vermaas
6'2" | SG
South Christian | 2024
State
MI
. It’s hard to find a more repetitive/textbook shooting form than Jake’s, which is a big reason why he’s finding so much success at such an early point in his career. Jake doesn’t need much time to get his shot up and has proven to be a dead-eye shooter from all spots on the perimeter. In addition to his shooting, Jake has shown flashes of being a point guard that can create for his teammates with his dribble-drive. Expect Jaker to be a staple for South Christian’s basketball program for years to come.
Cameron Regnerus Cameron Regnerus 6'7" | PF Grandville | 2024 State MI , 6’6 F, Grandville
Cameron has quickly become one of the area’s top rim protectors after a strong start to the 2021-22 season. In a game I saw him play against Northview, Cameron had a handful of blocks on close-range shots from Northview. Several of those blocked shots were a result of Cameron coming across the paint on help side and erasing a point-blank look. Offensively, Cameron’s footwork with his back to the basket has looked advanced at times, allowing him to get great looks near the rim.
Jaylan Ouwingwa, 6’6 F, Grand Rapids Christian
Jaylan has been a defensive leader for a young Grand Rapids Christian team that is still establishing an identity for themselves through early January. Jaylan’s effort and motor have been a consistent staple for the Eagles and are plays that don’t always show up on the scorebook, but ultimately is what translates to extra possessions and winning the game. Jaylan does a great job of anticipating opposing big’s shots and blocking the ball at its apex. The same anticipation and athleticism flash when Jaylan steps into passing lanes and creates turnovers that lead to transition opportunities for Christian.