MHSAA June Preview: Division III Teams to Watch

With about a week to go before the BCAM Reaching Higher event. And with June team camps kicking into high gear. I thought I would provide a quick preview of all four classifications in Michigan. With four team capsule overviews for intriguing teams in each division.   Note: this is not a ranking. While top teams will most certainly be included, I am sticking to the "intriguing" qualifier used above. Teams in transition, have transfers, or are just going to be exciting teams to watch in June. After starting with the big boys in Division I and Division II. I'll move onto the smaller divisions with Division III.   **Last year's record in parentheses**   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pewamo-Westphalia (27-2) </h2>   Yes, it feels like a bit of cop out to note the defending state champions. However, I am listing the teams that I think will be most interesting. It will certainly be interesting to see how the Pirates reload after graduating four-year standout Grady Eklund (Northwood) They also graduated a multiyear post contributor in Trent Piggott. Logic would say that the program would expect a bit of a step back.   For those thinking that I have bad news. The Pirates are still going to be very good. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2539747' first='Logan' last='Farmer'] is the next college prospect from the historic program. He is skilled has good positional size already at 6-2. He is well tested having played nationally with the [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm'] the last two years. He is more than capable of taking over the primary scoring role.   Farmer will not have to do it alone as PW has always been more of a "collective" type program that has also won a state championship without a next level star before. Fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='2957126' first='Sam' last='Thelen'] is a 6-1 guard who earned time last year. While they will not be as deep as last year. How players step into their roles in this excellent developmental system will be something to watch in June.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jackson Lumen Christi (17-7) </h2>   While I'm not declaring this my number 1 team. I will say this, there are teams with better #1 options (ATAP) There might be a handful of teams with deeper 1-8 rotations (directly below on this list) That being said, I don't think anyone in the Division will have a better top three than the Titans. [player_tooltip player_id='1292737' first='Broden' last='Burgess'] (point) [player_tooltip player_id='2394422' first='Jonathan' last='Morgan'] (two guard) and [player_tooltip player_id='2464624' first='Ashton' last='Callan'] (pictured) are a dynamic three headed monster.   Burgess is an athletic sub six-foot junior prospect who also excels on LC's historic gridiron program. He runs the point like a veteran. He is more than a capable scorer when he needs to or when the offense breaks down. While Morgan is the senior, he should be more comfortable in the program in his second campaign after a transfer. The wiry 6-2 wing is wired to score and can fill up a stat sheet quickly. He is relentless in attacking the basket and his length allows him to play bigger than his listed height.   Callan might be the best college prospect of the bunch. That is not taking anything away from the other two. Callan is a dynamic wing with highly versatile skill set. He has an athletic 6-3 frame that allows to play and guard all five positions at the high school level. All three players are standouts on [program_tooltip program_id='2539820' first='The' last='Academy'] program that played well all over the Midwest this spring. When you add in a state championship winning head coach. Lumen Chrisri could announce themselves as favorites within the division with a big June.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Haven (19-5) </h2>   The Rockets are not from removed from a state title in Division II. It wasn't a flash in the pan either. They remained in state title contention for a consistent period of time. Producing a Mr Basketball and numerous college players in the process. They retain these types of prospects and are now contending in Division III. Chief among them is 6-7 junior [player_tooltip player_id='3627521' first='Kayden' last='Harmon']   Harmon is physically advanced prospect who has tested himself nationally playing with Wisconsin's Power 5 on the Adidas 3SSB circuit this spring. With his size he is a major matchup nightmare already within the division. If Harmon was alone that would already make the Rockets one of the biggest teams in the division. Harmon is not alone. Fellow junior Journey Parker stands 6-4 and provides frontline support. The size doesn't end in the paint. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2838450' first='Irving' last='Frizzell'] (6-3) is a big guard and should provide senior leadership. I was very impressed with Frizzell at a tournament a few weekends ago in Dearborn with the Blue Water Hurricanes.   While New Haven does lose a senior point guard from last year's squad. If junior Connor Auban is ready to step into the role. The Rockets junior laden but big squad could challenge two-time final entrant ATAP as the top Division III squad in the Detroit metro area.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jonesville (18-7) </h2>   This is a bit of deep pull and I'm taking a bit of chance with some information that I have heard. First what I know. Jonesville won a district title and returns a high scoring all state guard in Caleb Blonde. While Blonde is not very big, the Comets return some decent size along their frontline with seniors 6-5 Reece Rundquist and 6-3 Kaleb Males. Furthermore, they are well coached with an experienced head man (Jeff Turner) who has won a lot of games in different regions of state in an expansive career.   To cap things off I have heard rumblings of a high-profile transfer who could really add some pop and size to the Comet lineup. If you are regular reader, you know I do not trust the vagaries of the MHSAA transfer portal. We will see if the rumblings are true. Even if it does not come to fruition. The small school from the Hillsdale area should be a team to watch in June and possibly beyond.

With about a week to go before the BCAM Reaching Higher event. And with June team camps kicking into high gear. I thought I would provide a quick preview of all four classifications in Michigan. With four team capsule overviews for intriguing teams in each division.