Gotta Get It Classic: One Matchup To Watch For Each Game
In this article:
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…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 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.
Game 1 @ 12 pm: Ottawa Hills vs Arthur Hill
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 Isaiah Bradford and Lyna Brooks Lyna Brooks 6'3" | CG Saginaw Arthur Hill | 2024 State MI Jr. Ottawa Hills probably has the advantage in regards to the number of athletes that can get a bucket, but Arthur Hills’ Lyna Brooks Lyna Brooks 6'3" | CG Saginaw Arthur Hill | 2024 State MI 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.
Game 2 @ 1:45 pm: Benton Harbor vs Beecher
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 Grant Gondrezick Grant Gondrezick 6'2" | PG Benton Harbor | 2023 State MI II and Robert Lee Robert Lee 6'2" | SG Flint Beecher | 2023 State MI Jr. 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.
Game 3 @ 3:30 pm: Hudsonville vs Carman Ainsworth
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 Brayden Szamrej Brayden Szamrej 6'2" | PG Hudsonville | 2024 State MI and Chris McLavish Jr Chris McLavish Jr 5'8" | PG Kell | 2025 State GA . 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.
Game 4 @ 5:15 pm: Kalamazoo Central vs Brother Rice
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 Hutch Ward Hutch Ward 6'8" | PF Kalamazoo Central | 2023 State MI battle future Louisville Cardinal Curtis Williams Curtis Williams 6'5" | SF Brother Rice | 2023 State #93 Nation MI . Both are physical, long athletes that can play and guard multiple positions. Curtis Williams Curtis Williams 6'5" | SF Brother Rice | 2023 State #93 Nation MI is one of the more gifted scorers in the state while Hutch Ward Hutch Ward 6'8" | PF Kalamazoo Central | 2023 State MI has the length, quickness, and motor to guard an athlete like Curtis on the perimeter and in the paint. Hutch Ward Hutch Ward 6'8" | PF Kalamazoo Central | 2023 State MI vs Curtis Williams Curtis Williams 6'5" | SF Brother Rice | 2023 State #93 Nation MI
Game 5 @ 7: Christian vs De La Salle
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 Jaylan Ouwinga Jaylan Ouwinga 6'6" | C Grand Rapids Christian | 2024 State MI and Michael Sulaka Michael Sulaka 6'8" | C Warren De La Salle | 2023 State MI . 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 Michael Sulaka Michael Sulaka 6'8" | C Warren De La Salle | 2023 State MI . 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.
Game 6 @ 6:45: East Kentwood vs Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
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 Daniel Smythe Daniel Smythe 6'3" | CG Orchard Lake St. Mary's | 2024 State MI and Marshaun Flakes Marshaun Flakes 6'2" | SG East Kentwood | 2023 State MI . 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 Daniel Smythe Daniel Smythe 6'3" | CG Orchard Lake St. Mary's | 2024 State MI 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.