MHSAA Finals: Division I All Tournament Teams

The 2026 MHSAA finals weekend was as thrilling of a chapter in recent memory. Mr Basketball playing like Mr Basketball. Upsets, freshman showing out, generational scoring performances, and clutch play. The weekend had it all.   I have provided boots on the ground all tournament teams for all three divisions..... and then there was one. Lastly the big boys in Division I. Not that only cares about my plight, but this was a tough one with some difficult cuts.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">First Team </h2>   PG-[player_tooltip player_id='2218161' first='Dylan' last='Gross'] 5-10 2026 Rockford You could go a few different directions with the Rams deep backcourt. I'm going to go with the diminutive senior leader. The Kalamazoo Collge commit went out with a bang. Literally and figuratively. Banging in clutch threes all weekend. Had six threes in two games. Scored exclusively from beyond the arc in the semifinal. Hit four to finish with 12 points. Played aggressive defense despite being one of the smallest players on the court. The heart and leadership were evident, as his emotional embrace of the championship trophy is one of the indelible images of the weekend.   SG-[player_tooltip player_id='2767770' first='Jordan' last='McDaniel'] 5-10 2029 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Dunks, big runs, and scuffles can all get a gym buzzing. Few things maintain that buzz for a sustained period of time more than a freshman going off in a game. McDaniel had a packed Breslin Center shaking their heads as he heated up in the second half. When the freshman “looks” like a freshman, it's magnified. Call it the “Steph” effect. That being said, McDaniel didn't do it by getting hot from three. Already one of the top ball handlers in the state (probably beyond as well) The freshman got to the basket at will and is already an elite finisher at the rim for his size. The acceleration is also eye opening. Especially after he gets a defender on his hip. Was clutch, as his late basket and foul tied up the game at 52 with less than 20 seconds left. Your natural inclination is to say he needs to get bigger and stronger. After this past weekend, I'm not sure that is entirely true. Nobody else scored 31 points this weekend. A lot to look forward to in Michigan the next few years.    SF-[player_tooltip player_id='1806404' first='KJ' last='Torbert'] 6-3 2026 East Lansing (pictured) If Gross' championship moment was the off court moment of the weekend. The on court movement was Mr Basketball hitting a dagger deep three to win the semifinal. I'm not criticizing a fan base at all. However I was struck by the somewhat muted reaction. After watching him win games for three years running for the Trojans, it was almost… expected. Played even better in the final, putting up 28 points. Notched 23 semifinal as well. An outstanding player with an elite motor and competitive streak. Bowling Green is getting a good one from out of the Mitten.    PF-[player_tooltip player_id='2539741' first='Josh' last='Bascom'] 6-4 2028 Rockford Quite a year for the versatile sophomore. Essentially did not play the game of basketball for roughly eight months due to a serious foot injury. Consequently, appeared to be hitting his stride in the tournament. Put up a team high 14 points in the final. However it was a semifinal assist that he will be mostly remembered for. During a critical portion of the game. Found his brother on a jail break inbounds pass that led to a dunk. That play is the epitome of his next level skillset that is also loaded with a litany of winning intangibles.    C-[player_tooltip player_id='2218021' first='Jake' last='Bascom'] 6-6 2026 Rockford The other half of the Bascom Brothers Band would have a strong case for MOP if that was an award. Put up a team and game high 13 points in the low scoring semifinal victory. Was huge in the clutch and on both ends of the court. The fact that he went for a dunk on a late score shows the level of confidence he plays with. The stats were not there on Saturday but the post presence certainly was. Played a role in putting the East Lansing frontline in foul trouble with his deep post touches. The newish staff at Central Michigan has chosen a good building block to start with.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Second Team </h2>   PG-[player_tooltip player_id='2844038' first='Jace' last='Opoku'] 6-1 2029 Rockford The second freshman who made some serious noise in the Division I finals. I thought Opoku-Agyeman's weekend was a microcosm of his season. A slow start before ending with a flourish. Came alive in the final game after scoring two points in the semifinal. Put up 13 points in the final, mostly coming off of penetration. Has similar skillset to McDaniel, just in a bigger package. Chiefly to ability to accelerate quickly when he gets a defender on his hip. Is a fearless and creative finisher at the rim already. Another 2029 prospect to get excited about in Michigan.   SG-[player_tooltip player_id='1806403' first='Greg' last='Grays Jr.'] 6-2 2026 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice The Detroit Mercy commit wrapped up his career with all of his bullets expended. McDaniel and Grays nearly sent the defending champions on a short ride home. Grays displayed his outside shooting touch. Moved well off the ball and relocated to open spots. Showed a quick and repeatable release. Was ready from the jump and kept his squad in it while McDaniel adjusted. Put in heavy minutes as Brother Rice only played six guys. Finished with 11 points in his final high school game.   SF-[player_tooltip player_id='2500721' first='Tyree' last='Anthony'] 6-3 2028 East Lansing Perhaps the breakout player of the weekend. Not that he was an unknown commodity coming in. But played in the shadow or Torbert (see above) and other teammates in the past. Anthony was aggressive all weekend. Was huge in the semifinal win with 14 points. Slowed a little in the final by a Rockford zone thar seemed to flummox his whole team. Only a sophomore that probably won't happen again. Earned an offer from Saginaw Valley St after his play on the weekend.   PF-Dequarius Stewart 6-6 2026 East Lansing A uber lanky and skinny prospect who has done yeoman's work all year on the block for a small East Lansing squad. Held up well against the bigger frontlines of Brother Rice and Rockford. Played every minute in the win against Brother Rice. Had a nice transition dunk that showed his above the rim ability. Foul trouble limited him on Saturday and it showed for the Trojans.   C- De'Kari Fields 6-5 2028 Auburn Hills Avondale Going into the semifinals. I wondered how a small Avondale squad would deal with Rockford's big frontline. Only a sophomore, Fields competed hard and didn't back down. Rockford's veteran presence showed up as the game continued and Fields was slowed by foul trouble. Fields has a thick and bulky frame but moves well for his size. I didn't have any notes on Fields from watching Avondale earlier in the year. If Fields was a midseason JV call up or transfer, then he acclimated quickly. Either way he has a bright future for an Avondale squad that is going to lose a lot of production.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention </h2>   Just too many good players/stories in Division I to limit it to ten. Following are a few more players thar bear mention.   [player_tooltip player_id='2140494' first='Eli' last='Wolfe'] 6-3 2028 Rockford Not to be trite, but I hope you enjoyed Wolfe's play this weekend. Unfortunately, you are probably not going to see him for a while. Accordingly he earns the iron man/heart nod. Playing through a severe hip injury that will sideline him through the spring/summer and to be frank, you would not know it. Going into the tournament, this was my top player in Michigan's 2028 class. Can he maintain that status after a long layoff and rehab? The template set by his classmate [player_tooltip player_id='2539741' first='Josh' last='Bascom'] (see above) could serve as a strong example.   Jakobe Liford 6-3 2026 Auburn Hills Avondale Quite a run for a player that was a bit underrated coming into the year. Followed up a strong spring/summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='2078459' first='Michigan' last='Playmakers'] with a huge Senior campaign. The culmination of it all was commitment to Lake Superior St. That is quite a way to wrap up a late blooming career.   [player_tooltip player_id='2381256' first='Ivan' last='Stojanovski'] 6-5 2026 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Like Liford, seemingly came out of nowhere to put together a strong senior season. Developed into a solid third option for the Warriors. Lengthy frame looks to be still developing. Could make a the right type of college coach happy at the next level.

The 2026 MHSAA finals weekend was as thrilling of a chapter in recent memory. Mr Basketball playing like Mr Basketball. Upsets, freshman showing out, generational scoring performances, and clutch play. The weekend had it all.