Jennings' Storm Classic Notes

I attended the Storm Classic this past Saturday in Grand Rapids. It was a very well-run event that had numerous Michigan college personnel make appearances throughout the weekend.      Spending most of my time watching 15u and 16u, I didn't see more than a couple 17u games. However, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the most impressive overall team I saw this weekend, Summit City 2026 Black. They had everything you'd want in a modern basketball team, size, athleticism, and shooting. What stood out the most was how hard they played and their ball movement on offense. In the game I saw, Caden Rice lit up the scoreboard for 23 points. Overall as a squad, they ended up having a nice run, finishing in the final 16 in the platinum bracket losing to the eventual runner-up, Indiana Game UA.    I've heard and read different people raving about Hudson during his freshman season up on varsity for Traverse City Central. However, I always like to see it in person, to believe it. Needless to say, I'm buying all of the stock. He was the best 15u shooter I saw this weekend and is a nightmare for opposing defenses. Despite shooting frequently, Hudson shoots a high percentage, particularly from beyond-the-arc and doesn't take bad ones. I'm always impressed, especially with younger players, who are clearly aware of their shot selection. It will be interesting to see how Mclean develops on the defensive end of the floor over the next few months.     I've seen Ide play a few times for Haslett over the past couple of years. He's always been able to score, particularly from the mid-range, which is unique for a high-schooler nowadays. Brogan was also a key role player of the bench for Haslett's district championship run. This weekend in GR, his effort and energy on the glass stood out. In one of the games I saw, he easily secured 10+ rebounds and can out-jump most guards and isn't afraid to battle against the trees inside.     It's crazy that TCC has not one, but two, above-average shooters who were able to play on varsity as freshmen. Complementing Mclean nicely, Collin is more of a pure point-guard. It is obvious he is a coaches' kid, a very high basketball-IQ player. When his team was up late in the 4th quarter, Rademacher did a nice job against the opponents pressing and trapping. At one point, he weaved through 4 defenders before finally finding an open teammate for the game-clinching layup.     I wrote about Hunter back in June and have been watching him play basketball since 6th grade. He's always been extremely skilled, despite being undersized. It's always fun to watch him unselfishly turn down a good shot for a teammates' great one or throw the ball up the floor in transition after he receives an outlet pass. The next level of development for him as a player is becoming physically stronger and continuing to focus on being a vocal leader on the floor, rather than just always by example. His communication on defense improved throughout the weekend and is always the first to pick-up a teammate with a high-five after they make a mistake.    My last article from the fall before the 2024-2025 high school season: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/09/jennings-preseason-players-to-watch/">https://prephoops.com/2024/09/jennings-preseason-players-to-watch/</a>

I attended the Storm Classic this past Saturday in Grand Rapids. It was a very well-run event that had numerous Michigan college personnel make appearances throughout the weekend.