Season Preview: Northern Michigan Fab 40 11-20

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back by popular demand (insert sarcasm) I'm going to once again take on the daunting task of composing a list of the top 40 players in Northern Michigan. It is a herculean effort as this is a vast geographic region.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From parts of the Upper Peninsula that stretch into central time zone. To the southern I-10 corridor passing through the Ludington and Reed City areas. These are the geographic borders I am going to use&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sticking with the purpose of this site I am going to focus primarily on college potential and not chiefly statistical output. In most cases (not all) this focus will also exclude players who will most likely play other sports at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>20. [player_tooltip player_id='1588185' first='Brendan' last='Slack'] 6-4 2026 Traverse City Central </strong>Part of a nice 2026 two headed attack for the new head coach at Central. Had a nice grassroots campaign with Midwest Stampede on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Has excellent length that gives him positional versatility. Size also allows to rise and shoot over most defenders. Good ball handler and gets to his spots efficiently on the perimeter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>19. [player_tooltip player_id='2110784' first='Mason' last='Gugle'] 6-4 2026 Pine River </strong>Talented prospect coming off a big grassroots campaign with [program_tooltip program_id='2429901' first='REAL' last='Basketball'] on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Versatile player capable of playing and guarding multiple positions. Strong enough to bang down on the block. Athletic enough to play above the rim. Plays with a regular season squad thar has large frontline. Consequently gets to spend a lot of time out on the wing. Coming off a nice season on gridiron. Averaged 14 points and six rebounds last year. I would expect that to rise as an upperclassman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18. [player_tooltip player_id='2353054' first='Trevor' last='Nolan'] 5-8 2025 Munising </strong>Diminutive guard has something nobody on any of these list has. Earned a Division IV state championship as a sophomore. Followed that up by earning first team All UP Honors as a junior. Makes up for the lack of size with toughness and winning intangibles. Is also statistically one of the top shooters in the entire state— not just the UP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17. [player_tooltip player_id='2610291' first='Carter' last='Grubb']</strong> <strong>6-6 2026 Traverse City West </strong>The definition of fast rising prospect. Both literally and figuratively. Went from a 5th quarter, JV level prospect. To one of the top performers at a slew of on campus elite camps. Did it through hard work and rapid physical development. I don't believe he played any AAU basketball. That's figurative part. The literal part is simply how quickly he gets off the ground. Playing easily above the rim. Runs the court like a guard and should be major factor out in transition. Could form a potent two man game with Titan senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1372969' first='Lincoln' last='Lockhart'] (Trine)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16. [player_tooltip player_id='2561786' first='Ethan' last='Marta'] 6-3 2026 Ishpeming</strong> <strong>Westwood </strong>This player caught my eye at an Elite prospect camp at Ferris St. Is a legitimate backcourt prospect with excellent size. Showed the versatility to play both backcourt positions. Also tested out pretty well athletically. On court production matches what I saw on that Sunday. Earned All UP First Team honors as a sophomore. Has potential to develop into an intriguing big guard prospect as an upperclassman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15. [player_tooltip player_id='1616013' first='Jaden' last='Alger'] 6-6 2025 Boyne City </strong>An old school big man coming off a nice spring and summer. I was particularly impressed with his play at a Grand Valley Elite camp. He is a post all the way with a sturdy but athletic frame. However shoots it very well. Even from beyond the arc. Played strong with [program_tooltip program_id='2077029' first='Parallel' last='45'] at the Mitten Recruit Spring Shootout. Fluid athlete who runs the court with speed and purpose. Could make a small college coach very happy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14. [player_tooltip player_id='1616017' first='Jayden' last='Hanson'] 6-5 2025 Bellaire </strong>From one stretch five Jaden to another. This “Jayden” is not as physical but is a better shooter. At least in my viewings. Speaking of viewings, I didn't get to see him as much as I had in past grassroots campaigns. Had a huge junior year. Averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds. With his size and the level he plays at, would like to see a double double. I think he will reach that benchmark this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13. [player_tooltip player_id='1381451' first='Joe' last='Gaffney'] 5-9 2026 Charlevoix </strong>#13 and #12 will probably be linked together until they both move onto to play somewhere at the next level. Similar players and body types. Gaffney is a stocky guard who plays with strength and off of two feet. Keeps defenders honest with extremely deep range from perimeter. Has tight handle that he keeps low to the ground. Hard to turn over. High academic prospect who is already attracting small college interest. Averaged 13 points per game last year. Perhaps more importantly, also an eye opening 3.5 steals a game as well. Tested himself by playing up an age with [program_tooltip program_id='2077029' first='Parallel' last='45'] for most of the spring/summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12. [player_tooltip player_id='2112170' first='Braeden' last='Flynn'] 5-9 2026 Harbor Springs </strong>Coming off a breakout sophomore campaign for the Rams. The development in game corresponded with a physical jump. As he got a little thicker in the upper body as well. Averaged 21.5 points per game along with 6 assists. Coaches son, but more importantly plays like it with an intelligent and advanced floor game. Had a strong grassroots campaign with The House throughout the Midwest. Showed the point guard skills by setting up Glen Lake [player_tooltip player_id='2270808' first='Jacob' last='Plamondon'] often. One half of what could be the top backcourt in the region with fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='2218043' first='Rider' last='Bartel']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11. [player_tooltip player_id='2276657' first='Clayton' last='Heuker'] 6-5 2027 McBain (pictured)</strong>Spoiler alert— this will be the highest ranked 2027 among the top 40. After a slow start to his freshman campaign. Ended up as a key cog in on a squad that ended up in the semifinals. Was a leading scorer and clutch option in their last two games. Followed it up with stellar grassroots campaign for the [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm']. Is athletically just step ahead of most his peers. Plays with an excellent sense of balance and control. Isn't going to get knocked off his spot on the block or on drives. Continues to trend towards being a special prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->