Prep Hoops Circuit: Michigan Spring Stock Risers

With the conclusion of the spring grassroots season. There is now some time to go through the notebook and identify the players who increased their stock with their performances. Following are tem that stood out from the action I caught on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Broken up by age grouping.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2024 </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1811795' first='Craig' last='Hureskin'] 6-1 Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (pictured) My spring began at Rumble in the Rapids. The only Michigan stop of the Prep Hoops Circuit. At that event Hureskin was simply on fire for All in Athletics. Full disclosure. While I already knew he was a big scorer. I wondered if he could keep that pace as the action moved farther from home. The answer was a resounding yes. From Indianapolis, to Chicago, to the final event in Columbus. Hureskin was a straight bucket. More than just shooter. Is a powerful penetrator. Used his thick and well developed frame to bounce off defenders and absorb contact. Has a nice mid range game to do with the deep perimeter shot. Will be part of one of the more underrated backcourts in West Michigan next season. Should form a dynamic duo with [player_tooltip player_id='1112314' first='Derrick' last='King Jr.'] for the Tigers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1140931' first='Kendall' last='Bentley'] 6-2 River Rogue Bentley was a big time scorer for Toledo based Hopson Elite. A power guard who just seems to have nose for getting to the basket. More of a scorer than a shooter at this point. That's more of a testament to his driving ability. Than to any deficiencies as a shooter. Despite the scoring ability. Is a good enough ball handler to slide over the point when needed. Finished off the spring with an excellent showing at the Wayne St Elite camp in Detroit. Will be a key cog in a deep River Rogue backcourt in the upcoming season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1811797' first='Evan' last='Haverkamp'] 6-8 McBain Hailing from a small rural Northern Michigan community. Haverkamp used his time on the circuit to show that his size and strength travels well. Was almost always the biggest and strongest player in every contest he played. Consequently one of the better rebounders of the spring season. Attacks rebounds aggressively and doesn't wait for the ball to find him. Not some big statute under the basket. Athletic and moves well for his size. Has a soft touch around the basket as well. Should get some additional exposure in his senior season. Will be playing on one of the better teams in Northern Michigan regardless of class next year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1387044' first='Chase' last='Kuiper'] 6-5 Troy After running with REACH last year. Kuiper has had a good spring for Greg Grant Basketball Club. Skilled to the point that he can really play positions 1-4 at the grassroots level. Highly competitive player that does not back down from anyone. I was particularly impressed with his early April performance at The Stage in Indianapolis. Also closed out the spring strong at the Grit Region Memorial Classic in Columbus. The all around skill set is complemented by above the rim athleticism. Uses it effectively on both ends of the court.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2025 </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1437577' first='Mason' last='Parker'] 6-0 Troy Kuiper wasn't the only Colt making noise on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Parker has been one of the main players for a talented Michigan Gonnies squad. Has challenged himself all spring by playing up a grade level as well. Excellent and efficient shooter. Gets it off easily despite not being the biggest prospect. Does it with a wide variety of step back moves that create space. Also helps that he is left handed. Keeps defenders off balance. More than just a scorer. Well schooled point guard who gets his squad into sets well. Excels at finding the open man off of penetration.   [player_tooltip player_id='1289694' first='Sean' last='Wesolek'] 6-6 Bay City John Glenn Old school post had a huge spring for [program_tooltip program_id='2076445' first='The' last='Process']. Has everything you would want on the block except elite vertical athleticism. I use the descriptor of “vertical” intentionally. Has plenty of athleticism from side to side and runs the court fluidly. Just isn't going to finish easily above the rim at this point. Once again I use “at this point” intentionally. As he seems like a very hard worker who is improving rapidly. He can definitely improve in that area with time. Is super skilled and very confident with the ball in his hands for a big. Good passer out of the high post and has a feathery touch around the basket. High academic player who is going to make a coach happy at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1438244' first='Drew' last='Blanton'] 6-0 Chelsea While Wesolek was holding down the block for [program_tooltip program_id='2076445' first='The' last='Process']. Blanton was capably running the point. In addition to the ball handling and distribution ability. Has also shown a deft scoring touch. Really stood out in the final tournament of the spring in Columbus. Led his squad to a 3-1 record against a gauntlet of a schedule. Quicker on the his feet than you would expect at first glance. Older brother will be playing division I basketball next year at Wisconsin-Green Bay. I don't know if he will get the size to reach those lofty heights. However the skill level is definitely already there.   [player_tooltip player_id='2058636' first='Easton' last='Day'] 6-2 Mount Pleasant Unheralded player had a huge scoring spring for REAL Basketball. A prototypical product of an excellent Oiler program. As he is extremely versatile and fundamentally sound. Scores with ease and in a wide variety of ways. Mainly a creative driver and finisher. However also shows a nice mid range game. One the breakout performs of the spring for me. I will be curious to see how it translates to the regular season.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2026 </h2>   Cameron Gunsell 6-3 Ludington This versatile forward from the shores of Lake Michigan had an excellent spring with Hardwood Midwest. Gunsell was particularly outstanding at the Havoc in the Heartland event outside of Indianapolis. Tall enough and strong enough to score over defenders in the post. While also possessing the skill level to create matchup problems out on the perimeter. Showed a lot winning intangibles in leading Hardwood Midwest to an excellent record on the circuit. Could be in for a big sophomore season after spending last season playing JV. With some recent movement within the division. His Oriole squad could be in line for a deep March run.   [player_tooltip player_id='1588155' first='Maxwell' last='Muhl'] 5-10 Rochester Perhaps the best shooter on this list. Muhl did most of his damage from beyond the arc while playing up an age group with Top 1 Basketball. The Detroit area guard is not very big. Makes up for it with intelligence and tenacity. Also showed a clutch gene. As it seemed like every time I caught Top 1 they were in a nail biter. Good ball handler and passer who will probably be a point guard long term due to his size.

With the conclusion of the spring grassroots season. There is now some time to go through the notebook and identify the players who increased their stock with their performances. Following are tem that stood out from the action I caught on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Broken up by age grouping.