Showcase Preview: The Invite @ Calvin University
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Grand Rapids is home to, in my opinion, the best collection of small college basketball in the country. Cornerstone University, Aquinas College, Davenport University, Hope College, Calvin University, etc, etc are all within a 20-minute drive. A big benefit to…
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Continue ReadingGrand Rapids is home to, in my opinion, the best collection of small college basketball in the country. Cornerstone University, Aquinas College, Davenport University, Hope College, Calvin University, etc, etc are all within a 20-minute drive. A big benefit to having all those programs in town is the ability to host multi-team events at those universities. First up on the docket is “The Invite” at Calvin University presented by the Grand Rapids Storm. Oh, did I mention a 35-second shot clock will be used? About time. Let’s get into the game previews.
Game 1 @ 2:30 pm: Calvin Christian vs Grandville
The Invite at Calvin University gets started with a cross-town showdown between two schools with an enrollment difference of over 1,500 students. However, don’t let the school size differential lead you to believe that this won’t be a good game. In fact, I have Calvin Christian as the slight favorite to take home the win in game one. Calvin Christian’s trio of Carson DeHaan Carson DeHaan 6'3" | SG Calvin Christian | 2023 State MI , Matt Elderkin Matt Elderkin 6'5" | SF Grandville Calvin Christian | 2024 State MI , and Jack Agema can score in bunches and match up with just about any other trio West Michigan has to offer. Grandville will be led by junior Cameron Regnerus Cameron Regnerus 6'7" | PF Grandville | 2024 State MI , who is an all-around defensive game-changer at Forward. The Bulldogs will need a big offensive game from Cam and hope its guards can also step up to the challenge if they hope to get a big non-conference win.
Game 2 @ 4:10 pm: Forest Hills Central vs Kenowa Hills
Game two features an exciting matchup between two programs that haven’t faced each other that frequently in the past. Forest Hills Central is coming off a 14-7 season and has to replace two multi-year starters in Jacob Bonnett and Conner Milton. Sharpshooter Jonas VanderWoude Jonas VanderWoude 6'3" | PG Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI figures to be the Ranger’s go-to guard on offense, while fellow backcourt mate Levi mckenzie Levi mckenzie 6'0" | PG Hamilton | 2023 State MI will be tasked with an increased role. Meanwhile, head coach Mike Moorehead begins his third season at Kenowa Hills and has his best team yet, thanks in large part to standout guard Javion Otten Javion Otten 6'4" | SG Kenowa Hills | 2023 State MI . Javion is a future Grand Valley Laker and should put on a show against the Ranger’s frontcourt. This game should be a complete toss-up, but highly competitive nonetheless.
Game 3 @ 5:45 pm: South Christian vs Northview
The “evening slate” featuring games between South Christian/Northview and Catholic Central/Rockford should be two of the best matchups between OK Conference teams all season. Game three features two teams stacked with talent with legitimate aspirations of making it to the Breslin in March. Junior guard EJ Ryans EJ Ryans 6'4" | SG Northview | 2024 State #224 Nation MI is arguably the guard in the state in the 2024 class and will have the responsibility of leading this Northview team with Kyler Vanderjagt and Jalen Charity graduating this past spring. Standout Tyran Thomas Tyran Thomas 6'4" | SG Northview | 2023 State MI and transfers Terrell Jefferson Terrell Jefferson 6'0" | SG Northview | 2023 State MI and Parker Swartz Parker Swartz 6'7" | SF Grand Rapids Northview | 2023 State MI will be key pieces for Northview in this one and keep an eye out for highly regarded freshman Cameron Ryans Cameron Ryans 6'4" | SG Northview | 2026 State MI , who looks to make his varsity debut this week. South Christian has a loaded roster of its own led by sophomore Carson Vis Carson Vis 6'3" | PG Grand Rapids South Christian | 2025 State MI , junior Jake Vermaas Jake Vermaas 6'2" | SG South Christian | 2024 State MI , and seniors Jacob DeHaan Jacob DeHaan 6'2" | CG Grand Rapids South Christian | 2023 State MI and Sam Mendendorp Sam Mendendorp 6'3" | SF Grand Rapids South Christian | 2023 MI . Don’t miss this one if you’re a fan of scoring, as both teams like to get out and run.
Game 4 @ 7:20 pm: Catholic Central vs Rockford
The finale of The Invite features two of the most storied programs in West Michigan. Catholic Central comes into the early season showcase with state championship aspirations, led by a pair of star guards in senior Kaden Brown Kaden Brown 5'10" | PG Grand Rapids Catholic Central | 2023 State MI (Wright State commit) and junior Durral Brooks Durral Brooks 6'2" | PG Grand Rapids Catholic Central | 2024 State MI . Catholic Central’s Carter Meerman Carter Meerman 5'11" | PG Grand Rapids Catholic Central | 2024 State MI figures to have a larger role this season following the departure of the 2022 class. Rockford returns several key pieces from a team that won the OK Red outright a season ago. Ram senior Caden Pokorzynski Caden Pokorzynski 6'7" | SF Rockford | 2023 State MI will be the focal piece of the Rockford offense this season, coming off a junior year where he averaged 13 points per game. Also keep an eye out for the Ram’s frontcourt players Joey Pitsch Joey Pitsch 6'5" | SF Rockford | 2023 State MI and Charlie Deutsch Charlie Deutsch 6'4" | SG Rockford | 2023 State MI , who can both score in a number of ways. Expect Rockford to try to limit the number of possessions in this one and avoid getting in a track meet with the Cougars.