OK Conference Top Prospects: 20-16

<p>With less than two weeks until the first game tips, high school hoops are so close to being back. This is my fourth year covering the West Michigan high school hoops scene and I can confidently say that this is the deepest pool of talent that the greater Grand Rapids/Lakeshore area has seen in that time frame. I've scouted over 100 current high school athletes in the OK Conference and have narrowed my top prospects to watch list down to 20 athletes. Let's start off with players ranked 16-20.</p>   <p></p>   <h3><strong>#16: [player_tooltip player_id='987635' first='Anthony' last='Sydnor III'], 6'0 G, Muskegon 2023</strong></h3>    <p>[player_tooltip player_id='987635' first='Anthony' last='Sydnor III'] is a key returning piece from a Muskegon team that went 14-0 in OK Green play a season ago. The 6'4 guard committed to play at Ferris State University over the summer, joining teammate [player_tooltip player_id='987274' first='Jordan' last='Briggs'] as the second Big Red to pledge to a GLIAC school this offseason. Anthony averaged over 13 points per game in his junior season, earning first-team all-conference accolades. </p>   <p>Anthony is a quick-footed guard who can score in a number of ways. He has a quick first step in dribble drives and uses it to attack the basket. One thing that stands out about Anthony's offensive ability is his willingness to take on contact near the rim. Anthony does a great job of using his frame and strength to get into the chest of a defender, and finish through contact. He's also shown he can finish with both hands in the paint. Anthony's shooting stroke is clean and consistent in spot-up situations, making him a tough guard in the half-court. Defensively, Anthony is one of the better on-ball guards in the area due to his quick first step. Muskegon will be one of the favorites to make it to the Breslin this March, thanks in large part to [player_tooltip player_id='987635' first='Anthony' last='Sydnor III'].</p>   <p></p>   <h3><strong>#17: [player_tooltip player_id='1431582' first='Carson' last='DeHaan'], 6'4 G, Calvin Christian 2023</strong></h3>    <p>The class of 2023 athlete who had the biggest leap in his junior year, in my opinion, was Calvin Christian's [player_tooltip player_id='1431582' first='Carson' last='DeHaan']. Carson racked up the accolades a season ago, earning all-conference, all-region, and all-state honors en route to a 19-4 overall record and an OK Silver outright championship. In one of the most entertaining games I saw in person last season, Carson battled Godwin Heights standout [player_tooltip player_id='902884' first='Jakhary' last='Towns'] shot for shot and came away with the hard-fought road win in a raucous environment. It was the type of performance that shows that Carson has the "It" factor found in ultra-competitive athletes.</p>   <p>What stands out about Carson's game to me the most is his feel for the game overall. He is deliberate with his decisions and by doing so, sets himself and his teammates up with quality looks more often than not. Carson is a Certified Bucket Getter<strong>™</strong> who can fill it up from anywhere in the half-court. Carson does a great job of getting his defender on his heels and pulling up in the midrange. If he feels his defender is giving too much space, he has the ball handling and footwork to create his shot off the dribble with a step back or pull up. As of now, Carson has a handful of offers from the likes of Hope, Calvin College, and others. I fully expect that offer sheet to grow as the season goes on.</p>   <p></p>   <h3>#18: [player_tooltip player_id='1377931' first='Kayden' last='Bird'], 6'5 G, NorthPointe Christian 2023</h3>    <p>One of the best shooters in the area and arguably the state is NorthPointe Christian's [player_tooltip player_id='1377931' first='Kayden' last='Bird']. The senior from NorthPointe committed to play across the street from NPHS at Cornerstone University next season. Standing at 6'5, Kaden is a tough guard for the average defender due to his ability to shoot over defenders. His release point is consistent as is his overall shooting form. Kayden can knock down perimeter jumpers effectively off the dribble, but is deadly in spot-up situations, especially when he gets space in the corner. </p>   <p>Given Kaden's propensity to let it fly from three, defenders will typically close out harder than normal when he gets an open look. Over the course of the summer, I got a chance to see Kaden's development in becoming more than just a shooter. On hard closeouts, Kaden has done a good job of recognizing when the defender is out of position and blows past him to a high-quality look in the midrange. Knocking down these looks consistently is another evolution of Kaden's game and a big reason why Cornerstone University targeted him for their 23" class. </p>   <p></p>   <h3>#19: [player_tooltip player_id='1157486' first='Camden' last='Karel'], 6'8 F, Byron Center 2025</h3>    <p>At the center of the Byron Center resurgence is sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1157486' first='Camden' last='Karel']. Camden is a big-bodied forward who made an impact as just a freshman in his first season of varsity action a year ago. Camden flashed good footwork in the paint as a freshman with a variety of quality low-post moves. What might be the most exciting aspect of Camden's game is his ability to put the ball on the deck and dribble drive from the perimeter. Being able to do that at that size as a freshman shows a ton of upside to what he could be at the next level, in my opinion. </p>   <p>As of now, Camden is just touching the surface of what he can do offensively, but you see a lot of potential flash in his tape. His size, footwork, and shooting form create a dynamic offensive player that will be hard to stop for many years to come. Defensively, I also think Camden has a high ceiling given his footwork and overall length. Byron Center is a talent-rich program on the come-up with [player_tooltip player_id='1157486' first='Camden' last='Karel'] being a big reason for that.</p>   <p></p>   <h3>#20: [player_tooltip player_id='1356946' first='Travis' last='Ambrose'], 6'8 F, Reeths-Puffer, 2024</h3>    <p>The first junior on my top 20 prospects list is Reeths-Puffer's [player_tooltip player_id='1356946' first='Travis' last='Ambrose']. Travis and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1112299' first='Jaxson' last='Whitaker'] have helped build the Rockets into a program that should compete with Muskegon in the OK Green this season. Travis is one of the better two-way forwards I saw in person last season and should be one of the better overall players in the 2024 class from West Michigan when its said and done.</p>   <p>What stands out about Travis's game initially is the motor that he plays with on a consistent basis. Travis gets after it on the glass on both ends of the court, which translates to valuable extra possessions for Reeths-Puffer. As a sophomore, Travis displayed great footwork in the post with an ability to score with touch off the glass. This past fall league, Travis showed that he's taken his game to the next level offensively with the ability to drive from the perimeter extended. Defensively, Travis is a solid rim protector who reacts timely to the help-side. As of now, Travis holds offers from Northwood University and Lake Superior State University. Expect more offers to come his way as the season progresses.</p>

With less than two weeks until the first game tips, high school hoops are so close to being back. This is my fourth year covering the West Michigan high school hoops scene and I can confidently say that this is the deepest pool of talent that the greater Grand Rapids/Lakeshore area has seen in that time frame. I've scouted over 100 current high school athletes in the OK Conference and have narrowed my top prospects to watch list down to 20 athletes. Let's start off with players ranked 16-20.