The Showcase: First Team Performers

In it’s first official iteration (long live the Red Hawk Showcase) The Showcase at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids lived up to the hype. The standout contest of the six game slate was overtime thriller in which Grand Rapids Northview maintained its perfect record against a very good Birmingham Brother Rice squad. Following is my All-Showcase First Team. Second Team to come tomorrow and further analysis throughout the week. Point Guard- [player_tooltip player_id="986241" first="Bryce" last="Eaton"] 5-10 2023 Detroit Edison In my preview column for the event. I tried to hone in on five players who could make statement on Saturday. Nobody made a louder statement than this point guard from the Motor City. Going up against perhaps one of the best backcourts in the state in Benton Harbor. Eaton had his way in leading the Pioneers to an emphatic victory. Fast is not an appropriate adjective. Adding the qualifier of “really” doesn’t help much either. I’m going to go with “hyper charged”. Seemed to move around the court at a different speed than everyone else on the court. But paradoxically never seemed to be in a hurry. Played under the control and distributed the ball well to his teammates. However when points were needed. Knew how to get them quickly. Scored seven straight during the track meet known as the second quarter. This gave Edison a lead they did not relinquish the duration of the contest. Shows a very tight handle. But it was more than just flashy. Was efficient with little wasted motion. Did have the gym buzzing after a dribble breakdown and quick rise in the mid range. Finished with a game high 19 points. Plays for a high profile AAU squad with The Family. A big summer on the EYBL could see his recruitment really take off. Two Guard- [player_tooltip player_id="863940" first="Jacob" last="Wallace"] 6-4 2022 Williamston Wallace is the consummate three level scorer. Finished with a game high 21 points. But stood out on the defensive end Saturday. Was at the front of a suffocating Williamston press that turned Grand Rapids Union over quite a bit. Turned defense into offense quickly scoring eight points in the first quarter. Accumulated five steals on the day. Tough hard nosed player who has always showed the ability to absorb and finish through contact. Continued to show that on Saturday. Outside of quick put backs off steals. Did most of his damage in that forgotten area of the court known as the mid range. Does this with an always lethal float game. Will be needed at the next level as he is not an overwhelming athlete. However I seem to remember writing something similar about a player from Michigan named Ryan Rollins. After two All MAC years at Toledo. Rollins showed me what he thinks about my athletic concerns and ability to finish at the rim. As Wallace similarly heads just across the border to be a Rocket. He has the game and attitude to accomplish a similar feat. Swing Man- [player_tooltip player_id="787685" first="Kyler" last="Vanderjagt"] 6-4 2022 Grand Rapids Northview (pictured at top of article) If I had to pick an MVP for the entire event it would be Vanderjagt. Would get the nod due to both statistical prowess and clutch play. The definition of power guard. Vanderjagt did most of his damage close to the basket. Much like a dominant post player. Vanderjagt was close to automatic when catching the ball on the block. But he wasn’t just playing bully ball Saturday. The skilled guard has very little weaknesses to his game. Played excellent defense as well against a high powered Brother Rice attack. But saved his best for last. With Northview trailing by three. Vanderjagt hit a clutch three to send it to overtime. Then followed with the first basket of OT to set the tone for the extra period. The Belmont commit finished with an event high 27 points. In the process provided a true “Mr. Basketball” moment on a big stage. In one of the more wide open years in recent memory. That could go a long way in deciding the award. “Stretch” Four- [player_tooltip player_id="863927" first="Treyvon" last="Lewis"] 6-5 2022 Ferndale After Vanderjagt’s stellar performance. Lewis stepped up in the main event to remind voters there was more than one Mr. Basketball candidate in Saturday’s field. Lewis got off to slow start but turned it on the second half to allow Ferndale to earn a big victory over a good Muskegon squad. The use of the term “stretch” is simply for tournament team placement. Lewis is a wing all the way. That being said he did not back down at all from a stout Big Red frontline. Has excellent elevation on his jump shot and the ability to hang in the air. This allowed him to deftly avoid Muskegon’s shot blocking tandem of [player_tooltip player_id="1211149" first="Ethan" last="Hill"] (Saginaw Valley St) and 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1112301" first="TJ" last="Davis"]. Lewis is usually good for one high flying finish a game. He got one late in transition. The seasoned offensive game combined with the ability to play above the rim could make him a steal for Drew Valentine at Loyola (IL). Finished with a game high 21points. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/157_Max-BurtonPrepHoops-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1061927" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/157_Max-BurtonPrepHoops-2-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a> Center- [player_tooltip player_id="863935" first="Max" last="Burton"] 6-10 2022 Williamston Burton turned in a workmanlike stat line of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Workmanlike may sound bland but I thought it was exactly what his team needed to earn the win. In the past Burton has let his advanced wing game take him out to the perimeter. Hasn’t been an issue in past years as Williamston has had good front court depth throughout his career. Now in his senior campaign it’s Burton’s show down low. His Saturday performance shows he is adjusting nicely to the role. Had some solid lengthy competition in the form of Grand Rapids Union’s [player_tooltip player_id="863933" first="Genesis" last="Kemp"]. While Kemp played well. Burton protected the rim and was an imposing defensive presence. Collected two blocks while also forcing plenty of hurries and alterations. Did not completely abandon the perimeter. Hit two deep threes as a reminder of the potential he has at the next level. The folks in Mount Pleasant won’t like me treading on hallowed ground with a future Bronco. But could have a similar stretch four career as his travel team coach John Simons (Central Michigan) Solid all around play earned the game MVP for the Western Michigan commit.