Storm Classic: Championship Notebook

Sunday at the Storm Classic lived up to the hype that any type of championship day can bring. The host squad took home to the trophy in both the 17 and 16 under divisions. While Reach Legends grabbed the top crown in the 15 U division. But that only tells part of the story. High quality games revealed emerging rivalries and a possible hierarchy among the top players in the state.   Following are some of the top story lines that stood out to me.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Something Special Brewing in Rocket Country </h2>   The Muskegon Big Reds have owned the Lakeshore in the last decade. But they could have some competition from their neighbors to the North. The Reeths-Puffer duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1356946' first='Travis' last='Ambrose'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1112299' first='Jaxson' last='Whitaker'] might be one the better inside-out duos in the entire state. Showed this in leading the host squad to the Platinum championship. Whitaker has long had the deserved reputation as an elite shooter. However in the past year. He has really expanded his game to become a three level scorer. Ball handling has improved so much that he could even play the point in a pinch. The 6-4 guard earned MVP honors and picked up an offer from nearby Grand Valley St in the process. I would say that is a pretty good weekend.   A lot of Whittaker's open looks come as result of the post presence of Ambrose. Ambrose is thickly built but extremely explosive 6-8 post. With a quick second jump is a real pogo stick type prospect. I don't know what the stop watch might say. But to the naked eye. His lane agility appears to be off the charts. Can get from one side of the block to the other in the blink of an eye. These skills combined make a him a high level shot blocker and rebounder. Has good ball skills. Particularly a good passer out of the post. Shows a soft touch around the basket. Scored 16 points in the championship game. Did this against tough competition in fellow Lakeshore region big Zeeland East's [player_tooltip player_id='1223517' first='Layne' last='Risdon']. Who was playing with Indy Heat Red.   The Storm's duo weren't the only Rockets doing work this weekend. Antrel Jones is a versatile 6-3 forward who had an excellent weekend for [program_tooltip program_id='2077019' first='MBA' last=''] National. Along with Muskegon and an emergent Zeeland West. There should be a battle for division I supremacy along the Lakeshore next year.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Budding East/West Rivalry Renewed </h2>   Last year a familiar name is Michigan grassroots basketball re-emerged with a bang. The [program_tooltip program_id='2327410' first='Michigan' last='Hurricanes'] burst back on the scene with a group of 2026's who simply ran over opponents on the Prep Hoops Circuit Live events. They also did all of this lopsided winning by playing up an age group. They advanced all the way to semi finals in the 15U at last years Brawl for Ball. There they lost to the host [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm'].   Fast forward nearly year. They were back in the same gym. With the same two teams facing off. This time in the 16 U Platinum Final. They delivered an absolute grassroots classic. The Hurricanes were once again led by the dynamic duo [player_tooltip player_id='1793648' first='Jaquan' last='Stennis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1793650' first='Carlos' last='Medlock Jr.'] Stennis (pictured) is arguably the top prospect in the 2026 class. Got off to a slow start on Sunday in the quarters and semifinals. Barely played in the quarters due to a flagrant foul. The elite next level athleticism began to show out late in the semis with a huge dunk off a lob. Then followed that up with assertive offensive showing in the final. The 6-7 forward simply has too many physical gifts for anyone in his class (or most of the class above) to match up with.   Medlock the Wayne Memorial standout provided his usual mature lead guard game. Was able to play off ball a little more due to the presence of Stennis' Old Redford teammates [player_tooltip player_id='1793651' first='Derrick' last='Kilgore'] Jr. and Kason Mayes. All three point guards are about 6 feet and possess similar games. Mayes is one of the few 2025's on the team. They all played well and should be a fun quartet to watch to develop in the next few years.   But to the victors go the spoils. As once again the host squad had just a little too much. The story of the game for the Storm was East Kentwood point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1438849' first='Jah' last='Hatchett']. Hatchett was simply electric posting 26 points in the contest. Did it every way you would want. Efficient from three and a dynamic penetrator. Got wherever he wanted with one better ball handling skill sets I saw all weekend. Wasn't just a pump. Found Whitehall forward [player_tooltip player_id='1373000' first='Camden' last='Thompson'] for big basket late in the two man game. Also received help from new addition [player_tooltip player_id='1437544' first='Phoenix' last='Glassnor'] who is instant offense. But Hatchett was the story. Had the best single performance I have witnessed thus far in the grassroots season.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Much Point Guard Talent Can One Region Produce? </h2>   This will be a brief entry. If I were to go into depth it could get quite long. The thesis statement. There is an abnormally high amount of high level point guards in the upcoming senior class in West Michigan. The top two of [player_tooltip player_id='1112374' first='Durral' last='Brooks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1111924' first='EJ' last='Ryans'] were not participating this weekend. But just about everyone else was. So let's just do some quick hitters:   [player_tooltip player_id='1223499' first='Jake' last='Vermaas']- The South Christian standout continued to show he is just straight up multi sport winner. Leading the Storm's UA squad to the Platinum championship.    [player_tooltip player_id='1359511' first='Brayden' last='Szamrej']- The Hudsonville point guard now running with the Storm's national squad. Made a case to be considered the passer among the deep bunch.    [player_tooltip player_id='1140336' first='Trevor' last='Zamarron']- The Greenville point guard had a huge weekend leading [program_tooltip program_id='2077019' first='MBA' last=''] national on deep run. Highly competitive and intense. Shot it well all weekend.    [player_tooltip player_id='1622921' first='Marc' last='Whitfield Jr.'] Coming off a big junior year. The Wyoming Lee point was impossible to stay in front of with [program_tooltip program_id='2077019' first='MBA' last=''] National. Has had two straight good weekends in Grand Rapids tourneys.    [player_tooltip player_id='1224150' first='Malachi' last='Hooser ll']- The Grand Rapids Christian trigger man is an underrated and battle tested point guard. Not flashy but has the skills to compete with anyone.   That's seven names. Five below the top two. In a normal year any of these five has the ability to make a claim for the top spot in their class. Obviously this is not a normal year. Hopefully these players get the appropriate amount of attention from college recruiters. It would be a shame for one of them to get lost in the shuffle of such a deep group.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Get Used to Grand Blanc </h2>   As a high profile program. A lot has been said about Grand Blanc in the last few years. Among the doubts— in a six week pandemic season you can't win a state championship with such a young rotation? They did. The following season they couldn't possibly recover from Ty Rodgers' (Illinois) late transfer to the Chicago area. They still ended up in the final game. After having another top player transfer out of state and with their head coach leaving for East Kentwood. There would certainly be a drop off. Nope, still ended up back at the Breslin Center.   Now with [player_tooltip player_id='985658' first='RJ' last='Taylor'] off to Northern Iowa. Surely a drop off could be expected this time. However in watching the Underrated Elite program this weekend. The skeptics might be mistaken once again. [player_tooltip player_id='1438257' first='Donnie' last='Huddleston'] and Anthony Perdue are next up for the Bobcats. I wasn't able to catch Perdue in action this weekend. However the last time I saw 6-4 2024 prospect. He was shutting down [player_tooltip player_id='1437537' first='Darius' last='Acuff'] in the second half of a state semifinal contest. Huddleston is a similar player. A grade younger and a little smaller. However he showed a lot more offensive confidence in leading Underrated Elite to the Gold championship. An excellent outside shooter with plenty of length. Might be the best long term prospect in the program. Flint Carman Ainsworth should very good next year. But I am not counting out the Bobcats until I see someone in the Flint area take the crown.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reach Legends 2026 Squad is Special Group </h2>   This group has been making some serious noise in the lower levels for quite some time. Now playing in the high school divisions. They saw two of their top players moving onto out of state programs. Did they miss a beat? In a word— no. Went undefeated and took home the championship in the Platinum bracket with a two point victory over Indy Heat NW.   There is talent up and down the entire roster. I am particularly high on [player_tooltip player_id='1588191' first='Braylon' last='Frantz']. The St Clair prospect is a powerfully built guard who presents matchup problems at his grade level. Frantz led his squad with 14 points in the championship nail biter. [player_tooltip player_id='1806407' first='Wilson' last='Huckeby'] is a similar prospect in a slightly bigger physical package. The 6-3 Freeland guard also scored in double figures in the championship. Including the game winner from that forgotten area of the court known as the mid range. This is a special group that you will want to catch if you are going to be in Indianapolis next weekend.

Sunday at the Storm Classic lived up to the hype that any type of championship day can bring. The host squad took home to the trophy in both the 17 and 16 under divisions. While Reach Legends grabbed the top crown in the 15 U division. But that only tells part of the story. High quality games revealed emerging rivalries and a possible hierarchy among the top players in the state.