Gotta Get It Classic: One Matchup To Watch For Each Game

<p>The Gotta Get It Classic is less than a day away as some of the most talented teams will meet at East Kentwood High School for an action-packed day of hoops. I went through and picked out an individual matchup to watch for each of the six games on Saturday. ICYMI, check out my piece I wrote yesterday on several <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/01/gotta-get-it-classic-2023s-that-need-to-be-offered/">2023 prospects that deserve an offer</a>. </p>   <h3>Game 1 @ 12 pm: Ottawa Hills vs Arthur Hill</h3>   <p>The first game of the day features two teams with dynamic athletes playing 1-5. The matchup I'm most looking forward in this one is the battle between combo guards <strong>Isaiah Bradford</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1626245' first='Lyna' last='Brooks'] Jr.</strong> Ottawa Hills probably has the advantage in regards to the number of athletes that can get a bucket, but Arthur Hills' [player_tooltip player_id='1626245' first='Lyna' last='Brooks'] might be the best overall scorer on the court in game one. I'm expecting Ottawa Hills to throw a number of different looks at Brooks with Isiah Bradford leading the way with individual defensive assignments. Bradford has good length and has the size to match up against Brooks. It's hard to say how many times these two will be matched up one-on-one, but I'm intrigued by the possibility nonetheless. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/lyna_brooks/status/1509886287515430913 </div></figure>   <h3>Game 2 @ 1:45 pm: Benton Harbor vs Beecher</h3>   <p>Game two features programs with a combined 14 state titles. Needless to say, these coaches know how to develop talent year in and year out with this season being no different. I could see this game turning into an 80-point track meet, and I could also see a grind-it-out contest that's decided in the 50s. Regardless of what happens, combo guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='987285' first='Grant' last='Gondrezick'] II</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='987622' first='Robert' last='Lee'] Jr.</strong> should get their fair share of field goal attempts. Both prospects have the ability to go for 30 on any given night and can do so in a number of different ways. While the two guards might not guard each other individually all game, the two playmakers will without a doubt have their chances to make their impact felt.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/IFlavorRob/status/1613734236598718464 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/grantgondrezick/status/1552393112009441281 </div></figure>   <h3>Game 3 @ 3:30 pm: Hudsonville vs Carman Ainsworth</h3>   <p>Game three features two teams that have had up-and-down starts to their seasons, albeit while playing schedules consisting of highly talented teams. The matchup in this one that I'm most looking forward to is a battle between what I believe to be two of the more underrated point guards in the state in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359511' first='Brayden' last='Szamrej']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1437545' first='Chris' last='McLavish Jr'].</strong> Brayden is one of West Michigan's more complete point guards and is starting to get more recognition on a statewide level due to his consistent performances he's had this season. Carman-Ainsworth's Chris McLavis Jr. has a lot of similarities to Brayden, that being they're both undersized guards with a heightened ability to score. What I like most about each of their games is they seem to elevate their play against big-time competition. I can't think of a better stage to show that trait than tomorrow's showcase.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Brayszamrej2024/status/1497629445498232838 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ChrisMcLavishjr/status/1604191512925032449 </div></figure>   <h3>Game 4 @ 5:15 pm: Kalamazoo Central vs Brother Rice</h3>   <p>Game four features two teams with legitimate Division 1 State Championship aspirations comprised of rosters with future collegiate hoopers. In this matchup, I'm looking forward to seeing the future Wayne State Warrior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1077679' first='Hutch' last='Ward']</strong> battle future Louisville Cardinal <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='985661' first='Curtis' last='Williams']</strong>. Both are physical, long athletes that can play and guard multiple positions. [player_tooltip player_id='985661' first='Curtis' last='Williams'] is one of the more gifted scorers in the state while [player_tooltip player_id='1077679' first='Hutch' last='Ward'] has the length, quickness, and motor to guard an athlete like Curtis on the perimeter and in the paint. [player_tooltip player_id='1077679' first='Hutch' last='Ward'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='985661' first='Curtis' last='Williams']</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Chad_WardKzoo/status/1616073617980231681 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LouisvilleMBB/status/1591234101356691457 </div></figure>   <h3>Game 5 @ 7: Christian vs De La Salle</h3>   <p>Game five features two teams that are loaded perenially with talent and have state championship history in the past decade. It also features my most anticipated individual matchup of the day in the battle of stretch forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1223513' first='Jaylan' last='Ouwinga']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='986902' first='Michael' last='Sulaka']</strong>. A season ago, Jaylan came onto the scene as one of the best overall prospects in West Michigan. Several Mid Majors thought similarly and have offered. Another future Mid-Major hooper is De La Salle's [player_tooltip player_id='986902' first='Michael' last='Sulaka']. Michael had a huge performance in last season's state championship game and has since then committed to play at Western Michigan, which so happens to be one of the schools that have offered Jaylan. Fans will get their money's worth in this matchup of dynamic bigs. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/lenny_padilla/status/1540520350861123585 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Hoopcityfilms/status/1444520978034331655 </div></figure>   <h3>Game 6 @ 6:45: East Kentwood vs Orchard Lake St. Mary's</h3>   <p>The finale at the Gotta Get It Classic features the upstart East Kentwood Falcons and a team that a lot of people like to take home the Division 1 State Title in Orchard Lake St. Mary's. One matchup I'm looking forward to in this one is a bit of an under-the-radar battle between dynamic guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1111918' first='Daniel' last='Smythe']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214779' first='Marshaun' last='Flakes']</strong>. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching Marshaun in person over the past two seasons because of his style of play and his ability to get a bucket when his team needs it most. Although I haven't seen [player_tooltip player_id='1111918' first='Daniel' last='Smythe'] live, I've seen enough on film to suggest that he's also a bucket-getter that can get his shot from anywhere on the court. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/bugsysmythe1/status/1536410454276427778 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DatChickCe/status/1098331062504169472 </div></figure>

The Gotta Get It Classic is less than a day away as some of the most talented teams will meet at East Kentwood High School for an action-packed day of hoops. I went through and picked out an individual matchup to watch for each of the six games on Saturday. ICYMI, check out my piece I wrote yesterday on several 2023 prospects that deserve an offer.