Strom Classic: Capital City Come Up

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Storm Classic is one of the premier spring events in Michigan. This year's iteration featured its usual star-studded field. While you usually get a strong turnout from the local region. This year felt like a Capital City Invasion. Along with the School Days Foundation taking home the Platinum Division trophy. Plenty of Lansing area prospects showed out. Following is an eight pack of prospects broken down by class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2027 </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140508' first='Kingston' last='Thomas'] 6-5 East Lansing </strong>There is really no other place to start if you are going to talk about the Lansing area in the coming year. Already a state champion and trending towards being the top player in the class. Thomas did nothing to slow down his momentum playing for the host squad. A "jack of all trades" wing with elite athleticism. Displayed a bevy of highlight worthy finishes above the rim that showed off the vertical bounce. Playing on a loaded East Lansing team, I have wondered in the past how he would adjust to being the number one scoring option. This weekend's performance indicated he will be just fine. Wanted the ball in his hands late in the close semifinal loss to Indiana Game. Slipped a screen for a clutch easy two after an early action was broken up to send game into overtime. The instincts are just so advanced with this prospect. At high school level is truly a positionless basketball player. Looks to be gearing up for a big senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2613938' first='Trevon' last='Johnson'] 6-2 Holt</strong> While Thomas accumulated plenty of highlights. Johnson took home the hardware. The combo guard with good size led the School Days Foundation to the Platinum bracket championship. Johnson toggled between both backcourt spots well. Balancing scoring and playmaking opportunities. At a bouncy 6-2, is effective offensively at the rim and on the glass. Evidenced by the 17 point and 10 rebound double double he notched in the championship. Did this against what I hold was top point in the field out of South Bend <strong>(Dakori Parker)</strong> This wasn't just a one-off performance though. Averaged nearly a double double on the weekend. I prefer him long term at the one spot. The positional size for a point could open up options in the recruiting process. Didn't have to play that spot with the Rams last year due to the presence of <strong>Brandon Mercer</strong>. With Mercer graduated and a new coach at Holt. Johnson could be in line for a big senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140520' first='Marrion' last='May'] 6-2 Lansing Everrett</strong> May is a similar prospect to Johnson. A point guard with intriguing positional size. May is an electric and creative penetrator. Gets to basket at will and has an advanced finishing package. The handle is very tight and is tough to turnover. Sometimes taller point guards can be a little loose with the ball due to a high dribble. That is not the case here. Turnovers do come off some needless high wire passes at times. If he can trim that from the package, he could blossom. Has another trait usually only found in smaller point guards. Can change directions on the bounce quickly and suddenly. Led his shorthanded [program_tooltip program_id='2269794' first='United' last='Persuit'] squad to nice weekend and a quarterfinal appearance. Put up some eye-opening statistics in the regular season. Wasn't sure how much help he had in the Viking rotation...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2536882' first='Frantz' last='Lubrin'] 6-7 Lansing Everrett </strong>I left that last sentence hanging for a reason. May should have help on the block in the form Lubrin. The was my first time catching this post prospect. If I caught him before, I don't remember him. I remembered him after this weekend. Bigs always develop later than wings and guards, so there is still growth needed here. However, is a fluid athlete who runs the court well. Showed a soft touch and rudimentary post moves. If he continues to develop, I could see Everrett improve on last season's win total. Was a winning player this weekend. Manned the paint for the aforementioned Platinum championship School Days squad. Played well in the final against an Indiana game squad with a jumbo-sized frontline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2412865' first='Hunter' last='Kinkema'] 5-11 St Johns </strong>From the outskirts of Lansing. This point guard led his City National GBL squad to semifinal appearance in the Gold bracket. Capably manned the point and got the ball down low to his squad's big frontline. Showed quickness and solid ball handling ability. Nothing too flashy but made the right play. Standout game was a Saturday night contest against brand mate, Storm National GBL. Put up 14 pints in a buzzer beating loss that would have advanced his squad in Platinum bracket play. Like Lubrin, first time catching this player extensively. I would imagine he carries a heavier scoring load in the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2028 </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2539747' first='Logan' last='Farmer'] 6-1 Pewamo-Westphalia (pictured) </strong>Fresh off a state championship. The Pirate assembly line produces another winning wing. Farmer is loaded with intangibles. They were all on full display with a [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm'] squad that won a 16U Platinum championship in unblemished fashion. A mid-range maven who comes off of screens well. Catches the ball properly and gets his shot off efficiently. More of two guard at the movement. Good ball handler though. If he is done growing, I could easily see him sliding over the point. Good athlete who gets off the ground quickly. Also defends well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KJ Fast 6-6 Lansing Waverly </strong>Fast did not earn much time in a deep Waverly rotation last year. Early returns show that should change in the upcoming year. Fast is an intriguing 3/4 prospect with athletic upside. Runs the court fluidly and with purpose. Finishing above the rim easily. Has the ball handling ability to possibly even develop into a big two guard. Easily rises over defenders in the mid-range. I thought he played particularly well in a Friday night showcase victory against a good Indiana Game UA Rise squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gavin Greathouse 6-5 Mason</strong> Along with Fast (see above) and Lesile's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2871194' first='Roman' last='DeRose']. </strong>Part of a School Days troika of big wings. Greathouse excelled in the open court and was good athlete. Played above the rims at times with deceptive bounce. Good enough ball handler to get to his spots on the perimeter. Still seems to be figuring out what he wants to be positionally. As a 2028, he has plenty of time to develop. Seemed like there were a lot of Bulldogs in action on the weekend. The Mason program could have bright future with Greathouse and company. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->