Gotta Get It Classic: Stars Come Out

After a good run in the Flint area. The Gotta Get It Classic moved to a new location on the west side of the state at East Kentwood high school.   The highly competitive six game slate featured some of the top players in stare. On the whole they did not disappoint. Following are a eight pack of players that stood out.   [player_tooltip player_id='1437536' first='Trey' last='McKenney'] 6-5 Orchard Lake St Mary's (pictured) Continued to make a strong case for the overall top prospect in the state regardless of class. I've written a lot about his mature perimeter game. I encourage you to click on the orange name above and read previous reports. Needless to say McKenney has so many tricks in his bag already. He was showing plenty of them on Saturday. However I'm going to be a little more antidotal this time around and focus in on one play. Late in the third. The host squad East Kentwood was making a bit of a run. It never really felt like the game hung in the balance. But the gym was buzzing pretty good. After a time out it would be easy for a player of his ilk to just a go straight bully ball and stem the run by himself. McKenney did the exact opposite. Took the ball in the high post and waited to see what the defense brought him. After the double team came. Fired a cross court bullet to [player_tooltip player_id='1111918' first='Daniel' last='Smythe'] for an open three. That pretty much encapsulates his mature beyond his years game. Oh yeah, did I mention two explosive dunks in transition? It's all there for this player. Finished with 15 points and game MVP honors.   [player_tooltip player_id='985661' first='Curtis' last='Williams'] 6-6 2023 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Williams is the one player in both the field and the state who rivals McKenney in terms of long term prospect supremacy. The Louisville commit stated his case in a strong way on Saturday against undefeated Kalamazoo Central. Williams is always going to score. He's what the kids call a “bucket”. I was impressed with how often took on the challenge of guarding Central's best player in [player_tooltip player_id='1077679' first='Hutch' last='Ward']. With Brother Rice down a few rotation pieces. It would be easy for Williams to cite foul retention and take it a little easy defensively. He wasn't having any of that. Offensively showed an innate ability to create shots from difficult angles while hanging in the air. Finished with 20 points. However as previously stated that is a given. The winning intangibles are what stood out on Saturday. Also posted eight rebounds and six assists. Continues to make a strong case for Mr Basketball with his showcase performances. Speaking of awards. This was his third MVP award from this particular event. Might not seem like much. However shows he tends to rise to the occasion when the lights are brightest.   [player_tooltip player_id='1077679' first='Hutch' last='Ward'] 6-8 2023 Kalamazoo Central Ward kicked things off with bang. A big time dunk off the opening tip silenced those who think he is only a shooter. Continued to be active on the glass all day. Also showed increased ability to facilitate offense. Necessary as this was the deepest opponent the Maroon Giants had faced all year. This depth appeared to wear him down a bit in the second half. That being said he still turned in an excellent performance. Finished with 14 points and plenty of positive plays that won't show up on a stat sheet. Wayne St is getting a steal from the west side of the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='985665' first='Xavier' last='Thomas'] 6-5 2023 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Like his running mate [player_tooltip player_id='985661' first='Curtis' last='Williams']. Thomas is a three time participant in this event. The Toledo commit turned in a solid performance with future assistant coach Justin Ingram looking on. I used to think he needed to work on his frame. That might still be true. But in the era of David Roddy he just might be quick enough to make his thick sturdy frame work. Showed this agility off with multiple creative finishes around the basket. Displayed excellent body control with an acrobatic save and pass for a much needed late basket. Has always played slightly out of position at center. Could really pop at the next level. I can admit my mistakes. I was never a big Ryan Rollins (Macomb Dakota) believer. He went to Toledo and laughed all the way to Golden St Warriors. I could see Thomas possibly following a similar path.   [player_tooltip player_id='1437544' first='Phoenix' last='Glassnor'] 6-0 2025 Warren De La Salle Whatever Glassnor does in preparation for the start of games. He should bottle it and sell it. Did something I don't think I have ever seen. Scored the the Pilots first eight points of both the first and second halves. Needless to say he has an uncanny knack for simply putting the ball in the basket. Accordingly is definitely a scoring guard at this point of his development. Doesn't have ideal size for that position right now. Will be interesting to see how his game changes after [player_tooltip player_id='986883' first='Nino' last='Smith'] moves onto to Lake Superior St. Like a lot De La Salle athletes. Is a multi sport standout. Whatever sport he chooses. He is the type of prospect that just has “it”. Despite what the final scoreboard said on Saturday. Does whatever it takes to win. Has the trophies to back that claim up. Finished with 21 points in the loss.   [player_tooltip player_id='1223513' first='Jaylan' last='Ouwinga'] 6-7 2024 Grand Rapids Christian I have written it before and I'll write it again. Ouwinga is the rare case of a player who I think is bigger than his listed height. Has a huge wingspan so functionally plays closer to 6-9 or 6-10. Showed that in a big way against Western Michigan bound big man [player_tooltip player_id='986902' first='Michael' last='Sulaka']. Was patient and let the game to him in the second half. Has no problem finishing at the rim. With a few emphatic two hand flushes. Defensively held Sulaka to 15 points. Scored 16 of his own. Dominated on the glass. I had him for 15 rebounds. An excellent performance for a prospect whose recruitment should take off soon.   [player_tooltip player_id='1223497' first='Nathan' last='Johnson'] 6-5 2024 Grand Rapids Christian Johnson earned a mention the hard way. Like a lot of young lanky wings. Does show a tendency to float at times. That was not happening on Saturday. However that was not working in his favor early in the contest. Was saddled with three first half fouls. Honestly kind of crossed him off in the notebook. Figuring that would be difficult for him to overcome against a good De La Salle squad. I was pleasantly surprised when he came out in the second half and really was the key in Christian's come from behind victory. Showed the ability the hit the three. Which is an area of his game he could improve. As always was explosive in the open court. Led a break and found Ouwinga for a nice lob.   [player_tooltip player_id='1438849' first='Jah' last='Hatchett'] 5-10 2025 East Kentwood The host squad drew a tough assignment in St Mary's. Made even tougher by the loss of Christian Humphrey-Rembert to injury. While the entire team competed well. One of its youngest players competitiveness really stood out. Hatchett took on the tall task of guarding the much bigger [player_tooltip player_id='1437536' first='Trey' last='McKenney']. He didn't back down at all as McKenney imposed his size advantage. You don't need to worry about his offense. Is an electric ball handler and strong driver. Showed his shooting ability by nailing a three to close the third quarter. Finished with 12 points in the contest. Trending towards being one of the top guards on west side in the 2025 class. Possibly the entire state. Should form a devastating duo with fellow 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='1437546' first='Darryl' last='Thompkins'] who also played well.

After a good run in the Flint area. The Gotta Get It Classic moved to a new location on the west side of the state at East Kentwood high school.