Top of the Class from the David Barnes Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, I had the honor to watch 100 boys and girls play in a fundraiser showcase in honor of David Barnes. David was a fierce competitor on the basketball court for Goodrich High School and Grand Valley State, yet his greatest fight was sinus cancer. Unfortunately, David lost his battle with cancer at the age of 30; still, cancer did not get the final word as David's legacy carries on in this event and in an eponymous scholarship. While you read my humble thoughts on the day, I also hope that you will consider being part of this showcase in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top shooter: [player_tooltip player_id='1137837' first='Evan' last='Haroldson'] | Dexter 2023 | 6'4 Wing</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While there were a lot of good shooters at the DBS, Evan was the kid that put the most pressure on the defense from deep. Evan was money from deep in transition situations; he has a variety of pull up and side step moves to get into his three. He shot for a high percentage off of screens as well. Making matters worse, he is a crafty finisher and a slippery passer, so pressuring up on him is a dangerous proposition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top creator: [player_tooltip player_id='1176043' first='Gabe' last='Sweat'] | Monroe 2023 | 5'10 PG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the height listing might be a little generous, do not let his size foul you- he can score. I want to call him a scoring point guard, but that diminishes his passing and the innate ability to know when to shoot and when to pass. Gabe doesn't make bad reads, and he made a lot of reads because no one could stay in front of him. He is fearless going into the trees, where he out rebounded numerous players that had him by several inches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top hustle man: [player_tooltip player_id='1112310' first='Drew' last='Kozel'] | L'anse Creuse North 2024 | 6'4 Wing</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have to admit that I never officially sat down to watch Drew's game; I always happened to be on the next court. I wish I would have taken the time to fully watch him play because he was making plays every time I looked over to the next court. He was relentless on rebounds, tireless on defense and in transition, and active in keeping plays alive. He routinely beat three kids out for a rebound. Drew, I promise to post up at your court the next time you play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top IQ: [player_tooltip player_id='1223500' first='Brian' last='Everhart'] | Marine City Cardinal Mooney 2024 | 6' Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This kid is a terror in the defensive passing lanes. No player baited passes as well as Brian did; in fact, the other team refused to pass to his side of the floor. His spacing is just a thing of beauty. He also jumped several drivers before pulling out to recover, which caused bad shots and bad passes. I'd have won a few more games as a coach with a kid like this on my team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Defender: [player_tooltip player_id='1431592' first='Peyton' last='TerMeer'] | Corunna 2023 | 6'2 CG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is no slight to his offense- the man can score from all three levels. Still, I loved his defense. There is an intensity and fire in his movements. He flat out locks you up and never takes a second off a possession. He is smart and will outwork people for the boards. He plays just like coaches want every player to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Sportsmanship: [player_tooltip player_id='1289694' first='Sean' last='Wesolek'] | Bay City John Glenn 2025 | 6'5 Post</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was something contagious about Sean: his smile. He looked like a kid that was just having fun, and his smile infected all those around him, including his opponents. His friendly chatter diffused a couple of moments as players were getting upset by calls, lifted teammates after misses, and led to an enjoyable experience. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->