Brawl for Ball: West Michigan Breakouts

While it’s evolved into a premiere Midwest AAU event. The Brawl for the Ball featured plenty of home region standouts. Following are a six pack of standouts from the deep and talented field. Class of [player_tooltip player_id="1214779" first="Marshaun" last="Flakes"] 6-2 East Kentwood Due to the prevalence of blue chip prospects. The West Michigan Patriots were perhaps the highest profile group in the field. On the surface one might propose the unheralded Flakes as a glue guy. But when the ball tipped. He showed that he more than just belonged. He was a key cog in the attack that made it all the way to the tournament finals. Threaded the needle of constantly attacking the basket. While also looking for a plethora of highly talented teammates. With new head coach Mike Thomas watching on Sunday. Flakes made his case to be a focal point of the Falcons high powered backcourt attack. That attack will also feature [player_tooltip player_id="1438849" first="Jah" last="Hatchett"] who was making noise on the weekend with the Grand Rapids Storm’s 2025 squad. [player_tooltip player_id="1431579" first="Jacob" last="DeHaan"] 6-0 Grand Rapids South Christian Like Flakes a more unheralded member of the MBA squad that dramatically defeated the West Michigan Patriots in the finale. The drama came from DeHaan who hit the tournament winning shot as time expired. But beyond the buzzer beating theatrics. DeHaan was solid all weekend. While [player_tooltip player_id="1077675" first="Harrison" last="Sorrelle"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1213117" first="Parker" last="Swartz"] provided scoring from the mid range and at the rim. DeHaan ably manned the point. Picked his spits well and was quite efficient offensively. Finished with 22 points in the aforementioned championship contest. Also showed the ability to play off the ball. That will be key with the presence of 2024 point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1223499" first="Jake" last="Vermaas"]. Needless to say the Sailors are going to have quite an offensive attack in the upcoming season. DeHaan should be a key cog. Davion Goins 6-6 Cassopolis Is Cassopolis in West Michigan? I’m going with yes. Tucked away in a small district in Southwestern corner of state. Goins is flying under the radar. “Flying” being the operative word. Simply put Goins is a next level above the rim athlete. Uses huge hands, wingspan, and explosive vertical to finish easily at the rim. Good for at least one flush a game. Helped his 5Star squad made up of mostly Northern Indiana players make the 17U semi finals. It’s not all highlights. Can handle the ball and knock down shots when needed. But will need to work on expanding his perimeter game to find a home at the next level. I’ve been fortunate to watch him quite a bit on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Selfishly I’d like to see him attend one the campus elite camps in August that features a combine. It would be nice to have some numbers to back up the eye test on his measurables. Class of 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1356986" first="Cameron" last="Regnerus"] 6-7 Grandville (pictured) Regnerus is on this list due his defensive upside. He is quite skinny and still a little methodical in the post. But I would put his long term defensive potential up against anyone in the state. Has the 1-2 punch that an elite shot blocker needs. Extreme length and well schooled verticality. Just isn’t going to pick up unnecessary fouls by sapping wildly at the ball. Often block shots with two hands. Keeping the ball in his possession in the process. Has good lateral quickness to stay in front of ball handlers in the two man game as well. There are shot blockers. Then there rim protectors where the opposing team eventually gives up going into the paint. Regnerus is the latter. I have seen in it on more than one instance. Offensively has good hands and is a good finisher at and above the rim. Competes hard for space on the block despite not having a lot of girth. Led West Michigan Future to a appearance in the semi finals of the top 17U division. Still has a little ways to go to be a finished product. But has a lot of time to do it with a ton of potential. [player_tooltip player_id="1359511" first="Brayden" last="Szamrej"] 6-1 Hudsonville I can’t include Regnerus and overlook the point guard who set up a lot of his easy baskets. Szamrej is an advanced operator is the two man game. Excels at finding cutters and roll men with quick one handed passes off the dribble. I would not call him a slight point guard. Has a solid frame with good vertical size for the position at 6-1. Pass first point guard. But he is streaky shooter who can get hot from beyond the arc. Had a 29 point outing early in the tournament. When his shot is falling passing lanes really open up. With his size needs to become a better finisher at the rim. With two years of development that should not be a problem. Also plays for one better point guard teachers in the state. In Hudsonville head coach and former Hope standout Eric Elliot. He will be well schooled. Like Regnerus the arrow is pointed way up in his development. Class of 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="1438243" first="Elija" last="Langston"] 6-6 Muskegon Like it’s lakeshore counterpart Benton Harbor. Muskegon isn’t a program that rebuilds it just reloads. With a slight hole at the four position for next season. Langston is the next man up. Played with a very good REACH squad that was largely guard based. Made his own offense by being active on the offensive glass. Fluid athlete who ran the court very well. Is stepping into a nice spot with the Big Reds. Will get to focus on doing the dirty work down low while the GLIAC bound backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id="987274" first="Jordan" last="Briggs"] (Wayne St) and Anthony Sydnor (Ferris St) get him some easy shots. A lot potential for this long young post prospect.