BCAM Reaching Higher: 2027 Standouts

Let me be clear, a huge tip of the cap goes out to the BCAM staff for simply getting an event completed. Between a facility renovation limiting court space, to a Sunday power outage. It was challenging weekend to say the least. When you combine the seemingly unusually high level of transfer portal activity. It was simply a bit of a puzzle trying to find where a team or who was even playing on what team throughout the weekend.   Full disclosure, I did not even see close to everyone I wanted to see. It's hard to do at an event like this. That being said, I plan and I try to get pretty darn close. With all the schedule changes and teams dropping out on Sunday. I came up well short. If you follow this space, you know I write only about what I see with my two eyes. This is by no means a comprehensive catch all list.   Nevertheless, below is a pretty comprehensive and geographically diverse list of eight standouts from the deep and talented field in the 2027 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='2387301' first='Alex' last='Armstrong'] 6-6 2027 Hudsonville (pictured) This list isn't in any type of ranking order. However, with Armstrong being one of the first players I saw on the weekend and with the initials "AA" seemed appropriate to put him first. That being said, if I was forced to name the best performer I saw on the weekend. He would be right near the top. Simply put, as a long 6-6 wing I just don't see many weaknesses here. He shoots it smoothly and with confidence. He has creativity on penetration. Is an excellent athlete who finishes above the rim with ease. There just are not many holes. Played well and got to the rim often on Sunday against Detroit Cass Tech. The Technicians are one of the top defensive teams in the state. Fundamentally sound and well coached player. Picked up an offer from Ferris St to go with a handful of other offers earned in the spring.   [player_tooltip player_id='2378345' first='CJ' last='Reynolds'] 6-4 East Kentwood Reynolds is 100% back from an injury that wiped out his sophomore season. Was electric in transition in a brief but highly intense contest with Ferndale on Sunday. While he is the definition of a power wing. Looks to have slimmed down slightly and playing with the corresponding increased burst and explosion. Was able to hang in the air and absorb contact on penetration. Long strider who got to the rim quickly with a sudden first step. With the aforementioned injury and placement within a uber deep rotation. Reynolds seems to me to be flying a little under the radar. He showed this weekend that he belongs in the conversation with the top players in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='3270513' first='Noah' last='Holt'] 6-5 Detroit Voyageur Back where it all started. Playing with his original high school team this weekend. I wondered how Holt would look within those unique dynamics. Would he be comfortable in familiar surroundings? Or would he struggle to find his spots? The answer was clearly the first option. Scored both the perimeter and the rim with ease. Has a quick second jump that made him a factor on the glass. The ball handling ability and vertical size allow him to get his spots easily on the perimeter. Perhaps one of the biggest "swing" prospects in the state. Meaning wherever he ends up in the unpredictable MHSAA transfer portal could swing the fortunes of a program. He is simply that good.   [player_tooltip player_id='2416031' first='Connor' last='Brown'] 6-7 North Farmington Choose your cliche... "what a difference a year makes" or "posts always develop later than guards and wings." Last year Schoolcraft's Jimmy Miller (Wayne St) came into BCAM looking like a different player after a big grassroots spring. This year Brown gets that award. Last year I thought he was the third best player on his own AAU squad. This year he is knocking on the door of top 5 overall status in the state. Showed off the complete package in the final game I watched on the weekend, A rare Sunday two half win against Redford Thurston. A "grab and go" one man fastbreak off of rebounds. Simply sheds defenders like a fullback on penetration. Does this with his broad shoulders and a bulky but super explosive frame. Also showed deep range from the perimeter. When you combine those two yin and yang forces, pretty tough to stop offensively. There is a reason he is starting to stack the D1 offers. Brown continued that momentum this weekend.   [player_tooltip player_id='2276651' first='Eden' last='Vinyard'] 6-7 Ferndale I was curious to see how Vinyard looked this weekend. Long considered the top player in this class. He has been a little off the radar in term of AAU participation. While I wouldn't say he put together a dominant performance. He played well and showed the skillset that originally put him near the top of class and on national recruiting boards. It helped to have high profile national player running the point and a 6-9 transfer manning the paint. Without having the burden of playmaker or of being back to the basket post option. He was free to do what he does best. Stretch the floor with uncommon ease for a player of his size. Showed a smooth and effortless corner three against East Kentwood. When defenses adjusted to the perimeter threat. Methodically moved into the post where he utilized his size advantage and soft touch around the basket. Just because it hasn't been seen as much in the spring, doesn't mean the skillset has disappeared.   [player_tooltip player_id='2276974' first='Stevie' last='Hall'] 6-2 Detroit Cass Tech As a high-profile four year player from a high-profile program. Sometimes familiarity can breed contempt. Contempt is a strong adjective, but the literary reference implies that you tend to get used to what you see a lot of. Against a Rockford squad featuring one of the top defensive backcourts in the state. Hall showed next level speed and explosion. Simply put there is not a true point guard in the state that can match his speed/size combo. There are quicker point guards (not many) but few stand well above six feet. In this era of positionless basketball, there are a bevy of bigger playmakers. But they are not as quick as Hall. I would like to see the outside shot become more consistent. He is by no means a bad shooter though. Has put together a strong spring running the point for Indiana Elite on the Adidas circuit.   [player_tooltip player_id='2374006' first='Jensen' last='LePla'] 6-5 Goodrich I mentioned [player_tooltip player_id='2416031' first='Connor' last='Brown']'s status last year on D Rice Elite. One of the players I had above him was this Flint area wing. After not being blown away in the spring. LePla returned to form this weekend. Really stood out on Saturday afternoon against Jackson Lumen Christi. Moved into a primary ball handling role and got to the basket at will. This was good to see as I thought he was settling too much for outside shots in the spring. Thar is not meant to imply that he is bad outside shooter. He is very good from beyond the arc. He shouldn't fall in love with it though. As few can attack the basket with his combination of size and strength. Will be playing in a new system as Goodrich has a there first new coach in... forever. Interested to see how his senior season and recruitment take shape in the coming year.   [player_tooltip player_id='2140466' first='Ace' last='Walters'] 5-11 Clarkston A no frills point guard who fits the Clarkston prototype to a tee. Walters played well against Belleville on Saturday. Setting up the offense well while balancing playmaking and scoring responsibilities. Good ball handler who is difficult to turnover. Due to playing with a low center of gravity and simply pounds the ball into the court. Scores at the rim with a creative and well-schooled finishing package. This makes up for less than ideal size and vertical explosion. Don't misread that that to say he is not a good athlete. Plenty of speed and moves well laterally. Competed hard defensively and took on the challenge of guarding bigger players.

Let me be clear, a huge tip of the cap goes out to the BCAM staff for simply getting an event completed. Between a facility renovation limiting court space, to a Sunday power outage. It was challenging weekend to say the least. When you combine the seemingly unusually high level of transfer portal activity. It was simply a bit of a puzzle trying to find where a team or who was even playing on what team throughout the weekend.