Season Preview: Northern Michigan Fab 40 21-30

After a one year hiatus. I'm going to take on the daunting task of composing a list of the top 40 players in Northern Michigan. It is a herculean task as this is a vast geographic region.   I am including the UP and the Lakeshore/Interstate 10 corridor. The Upper Peninsula is two years removed from a legitimate Mr Basketball candidate (Foster Wonders). While also only year removed from nearly taking two stare championships back across the bridge (Menominee/Ewen-Trout Creek) This is going to encompass a lot of rural land and a lot of players. But it's also a lot of players that do not get as much coverage statewide. I'm going to do four equal installments of 10 to get to the Fab 40.   Sticking with the purpose of this site I am going to focus primarily on college potential and not chiefly statistical output. In most cases (not all) this focus will also exclude players who will most likely play other sports at the next level.   Be sure to check out #'s 31–40. Following is part 2 #'s 21-30 in reverse order.   30. Ashtyn Simerson 5-10 2023 Mesick Hard nosed and quick point guard is coming off of leading the Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season. Earned first team West Michigan D League all conference honors in the process. Active and aggressive defender. Also shows good leadership qualities. Will be needed as Mesick will be breaking in a new head coach pretty close to the start of the season. Another prospect who showed he can play with anyone in the region at the Trevor Huffman Elite camp (there will be plenty on this list) Mesick slides back down to Division 4 this year where they could be a factor.   29. Kelan Pletcher 5-10 2023 Ellsworth Small scoring guard who has done a lot of winning for the Lancers. Averaged 20 points per game to earn first team All Northern Lakes conference honors. I've caught him the last two years in losses in the regional semi finals. Showed a lot of growth between his sophomore and junior seasons. If he can make another leap. Has a chance to put himself on some radars. Like a lot of players on this list. Accomplished multi sport athlete at a very small school.   28. [player_tooltip player_id='1212756' first='Hudson' last='Hodgins'] 6-1 2023 West Branch Ogemaw Heights Like [player_tooltip player_id='1214775' first='Will' last='Chye'] from the first group of ten. Hodgins is most likely going to play baseball at the next level. But he is a pretty good basketball player as well. Ran with a good Parallel 45 squad this spring/summer. His travel coach raved about his defensive intensity and competitiveness. In the regular season is a big time scorer. Averaged 22.6 points per game. Has been a four year varsity contributor for the Falcons.   27. Jacob McRee 6-4 2025 Mesick Ashtyn Simerson (see above) is the present for the Bulldog program. This forward is the future. If you like the 2025 Cull twins (Jesse and Dempsey) from Davison. This could be their Up North triplet. Similar floor stretching game. But athletic enough to make plays at the rim. Fluid athlete who moves extremely well for his size. Came off the bench last season for a good team. Should step into a bigger role in the coming season. Keep your eyes open. There is some Trevin Winkle (Calvin) potential with this player.   26. [player_tooltip player_id='1616018' first='Drake' last='Koepke'] 6-1 2025 Bellaire Like McRee another young player with a lot of long term potential. What sets Koepke apart is the ability to possibly be a tall point guard. That seems to be his natural position right now. And he appears to have more growing to do. In addition to the height. Has a long lanky frame. Coaches son who comes from a basketball family. But more importantly plays that way. Very active in grassroots basketball. Which should help gain exposure and competition in the next three years.   25. [player_tooltip player_id='1523041' first='Cameron' last='Peterson'] 5-10 2024 Rudyard Young point who has done nothing but win thus far in his high school career. Advanced all the way to the final four as freshman. Followed by a quarterfinal appearance and a one loss regular season. Stocky build makes him more of a power guard. Good shooter with a confident smooth release. Has also had success in AAU with the Michigan Ballers. Averaged nearly 11 points per game within a balanced attack. Statistical profile could jump as the Bulldogs lose a lot of production.   24. [player_tooltip player_id='1439046' first='Gavin' last='Goetz'] 6-5 2025 Cadillac Like a lot 2025's on this list. This is a bet on long term upside. Contributed as a freshman on a quarterfinal squad. That gives you an idea of his talent. Has a bruising frame and already is a mismatch down low. Fluid athlete with good straight line and lateral quickness. Good basketball bloodlines. Cousin of former Mr Basketball and Michigan St standout Matt Costello. The statistics still won't pop this year. As the Vikings remain a deep and talented unit. But this is a player to put on your radar. Especially if he continues to grow vertically.   23. Neil Imhe 6-5 2023 Glen Lake Physical development is what makes this forward such an intriguing prospect. Was all arms and legs when I first saw him last summer. Didn't even recognize him at a team camp this year. Has filled out his lanky frame nicely. Long arms and quick feet give him excellent long term potential defensively. Offensively is explosive athletically and easily makes plays at and above the rim. Well tested as he has ran with Parallel 45 the last two summers. Will form an excellent front court duo with 6-7 Michigan Tech commitment [player_tooltip player_id='985668' first='Luke' last='Hazelton']   22. [player_tooltip player_id='986884' first='Luke' last='Gorzinski'] 5-10 2023 Powers North Central Like Peterson another Upper Peninsula guard who has done a whole bunch of winning. However Gorzinski has done most of this on the gridiron. Has quarterbacked the Jets to back-to-back state championships in the 8 man division. Will be going for a three peat this Saturday. Goes without saying he's a good leader with winning intangibles. No slouch on the hardwood. The only unanimous selection on the Skyline Central Conference basketball team. Also was the only junior on the Peninsula wide Division 4 first team. A four year contributor. He will lead a vaunted basketball program (three state championships 2015-2017) with a lot of young talent into its next phase.   21. [player_tooltip player_id='2348893' first='Lincoln' last='Hicks'] 5-11 2024 Manton (pictured) Speaking of vaunted programs. Manton has recently churned out two impressive point guards in Jaden Perry (Lake Superior St) and Kaleb Moore. Hicks is next up off that assembly line. However he is a completely different type of point guard. Perry and Moore were pick-and-roll wizards who were not very big. Hicks is explosive in the open court and fearless going to the basket. Go to move is a sweeping in and out crossover dribble. Effective move due his long arms. This length helps him play bigger than his listed height. Needs to develop a more consistent outside shot. Role will change significantly this year. The Rangers will have a new coach and graduate a lot from last years squad.

After a one year hiatus. I'm going to take on the daunting task of composing a list of the top 40 players in Northern Michigan. It is a herculean task as this is a vast geographic region.