Midwest Melee: Michigan Notebook

Day Two at the Prep Hoops Circuit Midwest Melee was action packed. While I greatly enjoy covering multiple states. I'm going to leave that to the other fine writers in our network and stick a little closer to home for my Saturday entry.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shooters Galore </h2>   Michigan basketball is known for a lot of things. They usually revolve around some form of toughness and grit that comes from residing in a Rust Belt state. Consequently it is not necessarily known as a hot bed for long range marksmen. You wouldn't know that from Saturday's action   [player_tooltip player_id='1356947' first='Shane' last='Rykse'] (Schoolcraft) and [player_tooltip player_id='1111918' first='Daniel' last='Smythe'] (Orchard Lake St Mary's) have long and well earned shooting reputations. Both 6-3 guards led their squads to 1-1 records on the day. Both players have also proven their shooting wares on the biggest stages. Rykse has a state championship earned as a sophomore. While Smythe made it to the stare semifinals last year.   While Rykse shot it well. He also showed excellent playmaking ability. Operating well in pick and roll situations. Smythe showed off his clutch gene. Capping off Team Rose's huge second half comeback with a deep highly contested three to tie it late. They would go on to win the game. You won't see many better shooters anywhere.   Rykse went 1-1 due to the shooting of the new kids on the three point block. All in Sports [player_tooltip player_id='1870298' first='Jacek' last='Haight'] (Allendale) only scored 10 in the 61-59 victory. However his ability to stretch the floor opened a space for one of the better mid range marksmen out there. [player_tooltip player_id='1811795' first='Craig' last='Hureskin'] (Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills) who finished with 21 points. I would be remiss if I didn't mention a completely new name for me in North Muskegon 6-2 flamethrower Jaxon Lisinski. Lisinski had the best shooting performance of the day. Perhaps regardless of state. Lisinki hit eight threes on the way to a 30 points performance for Hardwood Midwest's 2024 squad.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players taking the leap— literally and figuratively </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1300877' first='Jayden' last='Brock'] (Byron Center) is one of the better all around athletes you will see. The 6-5 forward can jump out of the gym and has a condor like wing span. One thing that has been missing from his game is the ability to stretch the floor out on the perimeter. You wouldn't have known that if Saturday was your first viewing.   Has clearly been putting in work in that aspect of his game. Hit four threes on the way to 19 points in the close loss to All In Sports. Also showed the ability to handle the ball confidently against heavy pressure. And don't worry. Brock hasn't forgotten how to dunk. Still explodes to the rim violently and with purpose.   Brock wasn't the only member of United Persuit showing growth. East Kentwood guard Lual Abiel announced himself in a big way. Throwing down multiple two handed dunks in traffic as a 5-11 player has tendency to draw attention. Extremely lengthy frame aided in this elevation and made him a plus defender. Also showed good ball handling ability and court awareness.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division IV Standouts Emerge </h2>   Due to the small enrollments. Michigan smallest classification is not usually well represented at AAU tournaments. However three of the top players in Division IV showed why they will be so on Saturday.   After a difficult loss to start the day. UTS Elite 2024 bounced back in a big way to defeat a talented Chicagoland Grit N Grind squad. Battling through adversity and oddities (lights went out mid game) throughout the contest. [player_tooltip player_id='1196267' first='Brandon' last='Summer'] (Adrian Lenawee Christian) battled through a thigh injury and kept fighting all night. Good mid range shooter who used a nice handle to easily get to his spots there.   [player_tooltip player_id='1811791' first='Keymarryon' last='Fishburn'] (Taylor Trillium) showed a similar type of game for UTS as well. Kept driving hard to the basket despite absorbing some punishment there. Should step into a bigger role at Trillium in the coming year. If he continues to play like he did Saturday. He should be ready to take on that load.   While his team has not got off to the start they had hoped for. Carter Kerby (Frankfort) continues to be a fast rising player. After leading the Panthers to a state semifinal appearance. Ketby has showed why. A creative and flashy ball handler who plays with a competitive flair. Is also a good shooter with a somewhat unorthodox release. If he continues to improve. He could be one of the top players in Northern Michigan for 2025 class by the time he is done.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kicking the day off right </h2>   I began the day at Lewis University watching Hardwood Midwest's 2025 squad. I'm glad I did. Whitehall's [player_tooltip player_id='1373000' first='Camden' last='Thompson'] (pictured) showed why he has recently earned an offer from Saginaw Valley St.   Thompson was aggressive all morning on both ends of the court. Played at the top of a zone and collected a handful of steals. Turned defense into offense quickly. Showing off his above rim athleticism in the process. Finished with 32 points in the victory. Capped it with a dunk off a lob from Whitehall teammate Kal Koehler. First of two victories for Hardwood Midwest on the day.

Day Two at the Prep Hoops Circuit Midwest Melee was action packed. While I greatly enjoy covering multiple states. I'm going to leave that to the other fine writers in our network and stick a little closer to home for my Saturday entry.