The Stage: Michigan Standouts

While not necessarily having the quantity of players of their midwestern state neighbors. Michigan made up for it with quality. Following are five mitten bred players that caught my eye at The Stage in Indianapolis. [player_tooltip player_id="1223485" first="Jake" last="Stephens"] 6-3 2024 Chelsea (pictured at top of article) It takes some moxie for an Ann Arbor area player to suit up for Denzel Valentine’s AAU team (that’s a joke) You’re showing some next level confidence if you are going to don the #45 for said squad (that’s not a joke) You better have some serious court sense and next level passing to wear that number. This is Stephens’ game to a tee. I first caught him with the Michigan Lightning last spring. I was highly impressed with the previously mentioned intangibles that are uncommon in a player so young. He always plays with his head up and is the rare pass first forward. Similarly to teammate [player_tooltip player_id="1112372" first="Braylon" last="Isom"]. Essentially played the point forward on the weekend. He was very patient and adjusted well when teams hedged out on the high ball screen that he was feasting on through most of the weekend. Plays at his own pace and is more than just a facilitator. Scored 16 points in a Saturday victory. Along with 10 points in a highly contested overtime loss against KC Silver Spurs to close out the weekend. The only thing really missing from his game is top shelf athleticism and a knock down outside shot. Everything else is already there. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/94E8D52D-DB76-4E7C-9468-49570208BE42-rotated.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1428502" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/94E8D52D-DB76-4E7C-9468-49570208BE42-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1137837" first="Evan" last="Haroldson"] 6-4 2023 Dexter Much like Stephens. Haroldson’s impact isn’t necessarily going to show up in a box score. As teammate [player_tooltip player_id="1077679" first="Hutch" last="Ward"] went off 31 points. It should be noted that many of those points were set up by assists from Haroldson. Has a little bit of flair to his game. As one of those assists was of the no look variety in transition. Has a well put together athletic frame. Appeared to have no difficulty making plays well above the rim. Excellent elevation on his jump shot with corresponding text book form. My first time catching this prospect in live game action. Looking forward to more opportunities as his Michigan Cagers squad will be a full participant on the Prep Hoops Circuit. [player_tooltip player_id="1067868" first="Kenoly" last="Jones"] 6-0 2022 Livonia Stevenson Had a huge scoring weekend in leading Supreme Elite to an undefeated record. Dropped a 40 spot in a victory against Memphis based Team Rutledge. Didn’t just do it as some outside gunner. Was equally efficient driving to the hoop as he was shooting from beyond the arc. Showed a tight handle with a little bit of flair sprinkled in. Has a good basketball pedigree and has grown up around the game. As a 2022 prospect is using the spring season to raise his stock for college coaches. If he keeps playing like he did at The Stage. That should not be a problem. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/D8208B43-D816-47EE-A1FC-15E0EBD32201-rotated-crop-2640x1734-1649871175.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1428561" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/D8208B43-D816-47EE-A1FC-15E0EBD32201-rotated-crop-2640x1734-1649871175-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Zander Woodruff 6-2 2024 Lainsburg My first time catching this prospect and I came away impressed. Has the three L’s going for him. Long, lanky, and left handed. Played off the ball but has a good enough handle to play the point as well. While he is very skilled. He is also a 2024 who looks like a 2024 prospect. Will need to add strength in the upper body to take the next step. But he is long strider which makes him very explosive in the open court. Had a huge euro-step and-1 finish in DV45’s last game on Sunday. As that game came down to the wire. Did not shrink from the moment and wanted the ball in his hands. Has a smooth and easy release from beyond arc and is a aggressive driver. Scored in double figures in both games. A lot for potential for this player as his frame fills out in the next two years. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/4-Donovan-McDonald.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1427635" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/4-Donovan-McDonald-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1076004" first="Donovan" last="McDonald"] 6-7 2023 Croswell-Lexington Sometimes you learn more about player when they don’t have their best game. Had a tough matchup on Saturday night with M24 Legends and their big 6-8 Khareem Thompson. So McDonald put in most of his work defensively. Didn’t hang his head and kept fighting through an early deficit and Thompson’s outstanding play. In the second half he began to settle in and find his spots offensively. Helped that his pick roll partner was high school teammate [player_tooltip player_id="1076038" first="Trey" last="Kolakovich"]. McDonald’s game has expanded and he is more than just a hard charging roll man. Can step out and hit the three in pick and pop situations. Did that late to bring his Hopson Elite squad back into the game and eventually take the win. Finished with a hard earned 13 points. With 11 of them coming in the second half.