Michigan State Tournament: Steve’s Top College Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After spending a weekend in Grand Rapids Michigan I was able to cover most of the Prep Hoops State Tournament! After a solid weekend of games. I walked away impressed with these individuals and their outlook for recruitment at the next level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2218020' first='Jaden' last='Bowman'] 6'5 [program_tooltip program_id='2077033' first='West' last='Michigan Lakers'] 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaden is a reliable forward who can play on the perimeter or around the basket. He is two feet a jumper so he gets a lot of strength when going up for layups and rebounds. Bowman had moments in the game where he looked unstoppable getting to the paint area. His timing on the glass and for locked shots was good. He is a scholarship athlete for college next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2112227' first='Amari' last='Lewis'] 6'5 Takeover Midwest 2026&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was very impressed with the size and skill set of Lewis. He's a lefty guard with a fluid handle and feel for the game. One aspect of Amari's game was the athleticism caught me off guard when he took off for a dunk down the middle of the lane. Lewis can shoot but is more effective when in attack mode. With added strength and more emphasis on his shooting, he has D1 potential.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2058632' first='Joey' last='Angok'] 6'10 WM Lakers 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Angok has the obvious college size and length. As a prospect, he shows a good touch on his shot from the perimeter and mid-range. He can make moves off the dribble from the wing and finish with authority. He's a very dependable rebounder and shot blocker when he emphasizes doing so. Joey doesn't play with his back to the basket and that's fine because he runs the floor well and could be stifled by playing at a slower pace. Angok would benefit from an extra year or maybe Juco before becoming an impact at the college level.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1805262' first='Caleb' last='Claerbaut'] 6'7 Northcoast Premier 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caleb is 6'8 now and is a superb catch-and-shoot stretch forward. He's thin but plays with toughness. Claerbaut has a quick release on his shot which makes it difficult to close out on him at times. On defense, he changes shots and rebounds well around the rim. With two more years to go, he can develop the handle more and be a Mid-Major prospect.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1438849' first='Jah' last='Hatchett'] 5'11 BNB 2025&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched Jah play with BNB this weekend and he's a legit floor general. He's a guard who's always looking up the floor and trying to make the right play. Hatchett is good in either tempo fast or slowed down. He can be dangerous off-ball screens because he has a second gear to blow past guys if they get caught on the pick and if they go under he shoots the ball well enough to make them pay. Jah also showed that he's a dog on defense and isn't afraid to pick up full court and make opposing guards uncomfortable.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140520' first='Marrion' last='May'] 6'0 [program_tooltip program_id='2076061' first='Detroit' last='Bulldogs'] 2027&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a 14-year-old playing up a level, May controlled the pace of the game at times for the Bulldogs. He is good off the bounce and getting downhill in the paint. And whether he's a scorer or passer in those situations he shows advanced IQ at the right moment. Marrion was one of the very few guys who shot the ball from well beyond the high school line. He got his fair share of shots in the game I watched. As a defender, he isn't afraid to mix it up with guys, especially with his confidence so high he likes to have verbal jabs at opposing players. May is the kid who will be coveted by many D1 schools when he gets more athletic and fills out more physically.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1806491' first='Owen' last='Vanderwaal'] 6'6 Northcoast Premier 2026&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vanderwaal is a fundamentally sound basketball player. He's kept everything simple when he had touches around the rim. What I liked about Owen was his willingness to play most in the post-area. Something you just don't see as much from forwards these days. As a shooter he has potential, I recall he hit a shoot from about 15 feet. Another key attribute forVanderwaal is the constant motor he has when crashing the boards on both ends of the court. He's a dependable rim protector. He will be a scholarship player when he's done with high school if he keeps developing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->