The Platform: A Full Rotation of Michigan Standouts

The penultimate stop of the Midwest Prep Hoops Circuit commenced in the shadow of Midway Airport in Chicago. The Platform was a competitive three day event that featured players from multiple states.   Following is ten pack of standouts from multiple classes in the great state of Michigan.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2026 </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='2833458' first='Chib' last='Amaezechi'] 6-6 Plainwell (pictured) Like virtually the rest of his team. Got off to a slow start on the weekend. Warmed up considerably on Saturday and Sunday. The physical gifts and upside are glaring. Has a long and athletic frame. By no means skinny, but could easily add twenty pounds of muscle and be fine. Has an above average wingspan. Runs the court fluidly and with purpose. Often beating bigger defenders down the court. Powerful athlete who finishes easily above the rim. I lost count of the dunks. However isn't just a brute rim runner. Has a nice soft floater from about 10 feet in, that he easily puts over opponents with his elevation. Scored 17 points in Team Soil's closing overtime loss.   [player_tooltip player_id='2427556' first='Nylen' last='Goins'] 5-10 Niles Brandywine Was the lone Team Soil standout from the Friday night loss. Not surprising as the skeleton key with Goins is the hard to quantify skill of— gamer. Has a state championship and two semifinal appearances on his resume to back that up. Simply put, when the ball tips, he going to be a factor. Put up 18 points in the opening loss. Has excellent change of direction ability. Best seen on an advanced snake dibble that he uses in two man situations. Hyper charged athlete who dunks often and with ease at 5-10. If he finds the right type of college situation. This is the type of player that could make people ask “how did we miss on this guy?”   [player_tooltip player_id='2429954' first='Ben' last='Verellen'] 6-0 Gladwin A solid shooting guard who lacks ideal size for the position. However makes up for it with competitiveness and an uncanny nose for the basketball. Also has a trigger quick release that allows him to get his shot off against taller defenders. Standout contest was a Saturday victory against a good Chicago 1Dream Basketball Club. Shot the ball well and swung over to the point when needed. Should form a strong backcourt with the Flying G's (great mascot) when fellow 2028 REAL standout [player_tooltip player_id='2471128' first='Jacob' last='Pahl'] comes back from pretty serious injury.   [player_tooltip player_id='2847775' first='Colton' last='Haverkamp'] 6-3 McBain I've long watched this prospect and wondered about his potential. His older brother was a good player. A late growth spurt put him at about 6-10 by the end career. I was curious if a similar thing could happen for this wing. Approaching his senior year. It doesn't look like that is going to happen. So what are we left with? A skilled player with size who still maintains some intriguing long term potential. Excelled at attacking the basket and gets off the ground quickly. Is a good ball handler who might play point for his regular season team this year out of necessity. Has a lengthy frame that helps him play taller than his listed height. Isn't scared of contact and competes defensively. Plays like someone who had a 6-10 older brother. Interested to see how his senior year unfolds.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2027 </h2>   Donovyn Williams 6-7 Niles/South Bend St Joseph According to recent reports, this is no longer a Michigan player. Hence the two schools listed. Williams is rapidly developing post who has come a long way in a short time. Was a major project last year who was playing up an age division. Is still playing up an age division this year. Is a skilled and talented. However, even if he wasn't talented. Has the type of advanced physical profile of player that should play up. Carries probably about 260 pounds very easily. Runs the court well. Has good hands and is efficient finisher on the block. I used efficient intentionally. While it goes in, at his size you would like to see him finish more emphatically and with dunks at times. The elevation isn't a problem as he is a good vertical athlete. Hir a corner three that I did not think he had in his bag yet. Going across the border, it will be interesting to see how he develops in the next two years.   [player_tooltip player_id='2437038' first='Ian' last='Roberts'] 6-3 Beaverton Got off to a slow start on the weekend. Got going with a breakout Saturday night performance. Put up a dominating 30 points against a good Chicago area team. More impressive is how he did it. I've long considered Roberts one of top three point shooters in Michigan's 2027 class. However his thirty piece only came with four from deep. Was efficient in the mid range and attacking the basket. At 6-3 with solid frame, penetration isn't a problem. Sometimes the best analysis comes from your opponent. On the way out the gym, I overheard a coach's frustration with playing Roberts. Our exchange went like this   Me: Don't worry coach, that's one the best shooters in the state of Michigan. He does that to a lot of opponents   Coach: Well let me know if he wants to be one of the best shooters in Chicago, because that kid was legit   Game simply respects game sometimes. I couldn't have said it any better myself.   [player_tooltip player_id='2430533' first='Dayne' last='Ivey'] 6-2 Pinconning Ivey is a fun prospect to watch. He is a skilled and legitimate two guard. There is no positional fraud at work at here. However he excels at scoring on the block. Has old school footwork in the post. Creates space with broad shoulders. Is country strong and gets off the ground very quickly. Hands out punishment down low and plays with an edge about him (that's good) Had a block in transition that might have been one of the better individual plays I saw on the weekend. With his stockier type of build, you would not expect his level of bounce. Finishes well above the rim. From wearing #55 to the throwback skillset. This is a unique player. I think he could make the right type of college coach very happy.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2028 </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='2801025' first='Landunn' last='Branch'] 6-1 Adrian It might seem like I'm shorting this player a little with the word count. I don't mean to. However the evaluation is fairly simple. A young wing with an extreme level of bounce. I don't care what level of competition or age group. When you can essentially play Moses Malone volleyball on the glass (look it up kids) at 6-1… you can really get off the ground. There is pretty good hole in the Maples backcourt with the graduation of Stevie Elam. (Milwaukee). Could form a nice duo with senior sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='1588081' first='Jaxson' last='Francis'] When the rest of the game catches up to his athleticism, this could be a special prospect.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2029 </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='2547358' first='Bryton' last='Nostrant'] 5-10 Alpena I generally try to avoid writing about players who have yet to step foot in high school. However, sometimes my hand is forced. Nostrant was the point guard for a REAL Select 15U squad that had a nice weekend. Really stood out in their win against an Illinois Wolves 2029 squad that was playing up an age group. Handled defensive pressure from a strong and long backcourt very well. Balanced playmaking and scoring like a veteran. Finished with a team high 16 points. Not very big and isn't lightning quick… yet. Important to note as this is a 2029 who was playing up an age group. Right now is able to penetrate well due to extremely deep and accurate range on the perimeter. Doesn't over penetrate and stays out on trouble. Hard double team or smother off of high ball screens. Has a very bright future. Feels like it's been a while since I written about a player from Alpena. Actually the answer to that is never. Part of a strong 2029 class that could change that narrative for the far flung but large Northern Michigan school district.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bonus: Class of 2025 </h2>   Aidan Kaulins 6-2 Adrian Lenawee Christian I don't generally write about post grad prospects. However in this post COVID-NIL era. I shouldn't begrudge a young trying to extend his basketball career as much as he can. Kaulins had a strong weekend for a Michigan Jayhawks squad. Is a plus sized wing who shoots the ball very well from beyond the arc. Has a smooth effortless release. Doesn't need much wind up or room to get it off. Deceptive athleticism. Doesn't look like a quick prospect. That being said, appeared to get to the basket at will all weekend. Well coached from a successful Division IV program. Not sure what his post grad plans are. But showed some potential this weekend.

The penultimate stop of the Midwest Prep Hoops Circuit commenced in the shadow of Midway Airport in Chicago. The Platform was a competitive three day event that featured players from multiple states.