Great Lakes Finals: Friday Night Lights (Michigan)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first bracketed event of the Prep Hoops Circuit tipped off just outside the runway of Midway Airport in Chicago on Friday night. Perhaps I'm being a homer here. But if you are going to call it the “Great Lakes” final, you need to have a healthy dose of the Great Lakes state. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fortunately a group of Michigan players complied with this request on Friday night. Following were five that caught my eye. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2845431' first='Dwane' last='Hayes Jr'] <strong>6-6 2028 Farmington</strong> Hayes' [program_tooltip program_id='3562948' first='Hoops' last='High'] squad got off to a very slow start. Before a late second half comeback allowed then to get the win. Hayes showed immense physical upside and potential. Has a long and athletic 6-6 frame. Fluid athlete who runs the court well. While impressive in transition. Can be a bit mechanical in the post. Brings the ball down too much for a player his size. However is still young and has time to work this out. What you can't teach is size and hands. Catches everything thrown at him. Showed a soft touch around the basket. Got up to rim quickly with easy elevation. It was telling that he wanted the ball late when his team was trying to run out the clock. You don't often see that from a big. Finished with 15 points in the thrilling opening victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2539856' first='Carter' last='Hartfield'] 5-10 2027 Bloomfield Hills</strong> Skilled point guard that is built like a tank. Absorbs contact on penetration with thick broad shoulders. Had no problem scoring but appeared to be the rare pass first point guard. Made legitimate attempts to set up the offense and get his teammates involved. Pounded the ball powerfully into the court with his handle. Combined with low center of gravity, this made him difficult to turnover. Showed a nice touch from the perimeter that belied his frame. Coming off a big year where he played a lot of point due to an injury to a teammate. Looks to be lined up for a big senior year. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2846448' first='Eugene' last='North Jr.'] 6-2 2027 West Bloomfield</strong> To the best of my recollection. This was my first time catching this player. Came away very impressed. As the kids would say… had a bag on the perimeter. Got into his shots with a variety of crafty pivot moves. Scored from unique angles and in that forgotten part of the court known as the mid range. Showed a nice “Dirk” fadeaway there. Got to his sports with a tight handle. Good athlete who could play above the rim. West Bloomfield graduates quite a bit of perimeter firepower. North could be lined up for a big senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2846899' first='Julien' last='Harden'] 6-1 2028 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep</strong> First caught this player at a Sophomore ID camp in the fall. Showed quickness and sudden change of direction against players his age. This weekend, he is playing up an age group with Oakland County Rise. Harden more than just belonged. Scored with ease and almost led a comeback after a late arrival (dang Chicago traffic) Good shooter with an unusual release. Could definitely take advantage of his size with a higher release point. Played with toughness at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2845608' first='William' last='Riker'] <strong>5-10 2028 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice </strong>Riker delivered a clutch game for an aforementioned [program_tooltip program_id='3562948' first='Hoops' last='High'] squad that dug a huge early deficit. After a spate of technicals altered the [program_tooltip program_id='3562948' first='Hoops' last='High'] backcourt rotation. Riker stepped into the void and came up strong in a tight situation. Not very big in stature, but it is competitive and plays with the appropriate level of moxie. Sound ball handler who does not turn the ball over. Appears to be a good shooter with nice form. However struggled a bit from the line. Like his teammate Hayes. Did not shy away from the ball late. I would normally be concerned about his ability to earn time in uber deep and talented Brother Rice backcourt. However with his play on Friday and transfer winds blowing in the ether. He could have an opportunity next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->