Grassroots Wrap Up: Detroit Area Questions

With July marking the full conclusion of the grassroots season. I think it's best to turn the page to the scholastic season as the Fall Leagues will kick up before you know it.   I'm going to look at how the AAU season informs what we might see in the regular season. I'll do with a series of question highlighting some observations from April through July.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How impactful will the transfer portal be? </h2>   The easy and simple answer is the same every year and at every level of basketball... yes. How impactful, state championship shifting impact, or just spice up the regular season impact? Furthermore, with the always fickle MHSAA rules, how many of these transfers will actually come to fruition? For the purposes of this piece, I'm going to go with the players I actually saw playing with their respective teams in June.   Returning a decent chunk of their rotation from a quarterfinal team, Roseville did not need any more help. However how does adding [player_tooltip player_id='2767770' first='Jordan' last='McDaniel'] one of the top players nationally contribute to the equation? It will most assuredly make them better. Will they be a recent St Mary's or 90's era Country Day buzzsaw that just has too much talent? I would lean towards the latter.   Ferndale was an interesting team to watch last year. They featured a ton of size, but they were the poster child for a team in need of a point guard. I think [player_tooltip player_id='2373451' first='Peyton' last='Kemp'] would qualify as a pretty good point guard. That is sarcasm, a Peach Jam winning nationally ranked player could be the missing piece for this squad. I mentioned their size from last year. They should be even bigger this year. How will 6-9 Detroit King transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2446088' first='Tyler' last='Hunter'] impact the Eagles? It will most likely allow [player_tooltip player_id='2276651' first='Eden' last='Vinyard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2639284' first='Kari' last='Ouwinga'] to play more on the wing. Whatever shape it takes, if everyone plays, Ferndale should have the most talent on paper in Division II.   Those two instances are just the tip of the iceberg. How do fellow top 10 players like [player_tooltip player_id='2446082' first='Devin' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3270513' first='Noah' last='Holt'] impact their new teams? It's not officially a "transfer" portal, but where do the players from the much lauded 2030 class end up? There seems to be an inordinate amount of impactful transfer chatter this year.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is the toughest conference in the area?</h2>   When I was a kid, it was always the Detroit PSL. Recently it has been the Detroit Catholic League. While the Catholic League will still be tough, I'm not sure it is the slam dunk to be the top dog this year. If my abacus is set correctly and I understand the realignment. The MAC Red is going to be top heavy but deeper than normal.   The aforementioned Roseville will have competition at the top from perennial state championship contender in Division II Warren Lincoln. [player_tooltip player_id='3602612' first='Carter' last='George'] (Roseville) and [player_tooltip player_id='3602621' first='Igniire' last='Muhammad'] (Warren Lincoln) are arguably the top two players statewide in the 2028 class. There is plenty of talent beyond them on their respective squads.   Watch out for new entrant (I think) in Grosses Pointe South. They feature a very good college bound 2027 point guard in [player_tooltip player_id='2746379' first='Kooper' last='Richards'] and size along the frontline. If 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3352715' first='Jamison' last='Spratt'] and 2030 Nick Andrews can develop in the post. The Blue Devils could surprise in their maiden voyage through the conference. Macomb Dakota and Clinton Township Chippewa Valley are schools with huge enrollments that always reload. Watch out particularly for 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3680250' first='Izzy' last='Plair'] at Chippewa Valley. 2028 6-3 versatile forward [player_tooltip player_id='2845596' first='Marquis' last='Carey'] should be more than ready to contribute at Dakota after sitting out last year due to transfer. After graduating a college bound big, the cupboard is not bare at Waren Fitzgerald. The Spartans will feature a strong backcourt fronted by 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2894242' first='Quenten' last='Graham'] and 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3683861' first='Harvey' last='King Jr']. The Red should be a gauntlet this year.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who is best team in Ann Arbor this year? </h2>   Perhaps I am taking some geographic liberties here. But as the Western Suburbs continue to expand. I'm including Ann Abor in the Detroit area. While this is beyond the first time this has happened. All three schools in Ann Arbor public school district are going to be Breslin Center quality this year. Ann Arbor Pioneer was the closest last year with a quarterfinal appearance. They return an outstanding and deep backcourt fronted by 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2416334' first='Brandon' last='Richardson'] and 2028"s [player_tooltip player_id='2823601' first='Gian' last='Dula-ogon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2823473' first='Conor' last='Dunlop'] Dula-ogon (pictured) might be one of the top shooters in the entire state. If the frontline can develop around 2028's [player_tooltip player_id='3555171' first='Julian' last='Kessenich'] (6-6) and [player_tooltip player_id='3556528' first='Parker' last='Smith'](6-3) the Pioneers could be just as good as last year.   The River Rats of Huron had the best regualar season of the three. They continue to graduate college level guards and replacing them like an assembly line. Out goes Kaiden Morning (Lake Superior St) and now [player_tooltip player_id='2761734' first='Nathaniel' last='Sidney'] gets to step up. Coming off big-time grassroots run with Bates Fundamentals the 6-2 power guard should do this seamlessly. He will not be a solo act. Fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='2826075' first='Jake' last='Gernant'] is an outstanding shooter. The 2028 class also has a good shooter in [player_tooltip player_id='3593099' first='Luke' last='Quinn'] and size [player_tooltip player_id='3608675' first='Johnny' last='Epps III'] The 2029 class features long term talent plays in [player_tooltip player_id='2958587' first='Maverick' last='Flagg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3678909' first='Sam' last='Fluker']   Skyline is coming off a down regular season. However I don't think they will be down long. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2862823' first='Bryce' last='Wall'] is trending towards the top of the exceedingly deep 2029 class in Michigan. I really liked what I saw from the Eagles 2028 class this summer. [player_tooltip player_id='3555174' first='Jude' last='Shafer'] is a long projectable 6-5 prospect. While 6-3 athletes [player_tooltip player_id='3555177' first='Aaron' last='Luyambi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3556640' first='Jacob' last='Redder'] provide depth. I did intentionally stay within the city limits. If you include area schools like Chelsea, Saline and Ypsilanti Lincoln the Ann Arbor area is going rich with talent this year.   I'll head on over to the westside of the state for the next installment. August will see the "Not to Early" Top 10"s for each division.

With July marking the full conclusion of the grassroots season. I think it's best to turn the page to the scholastic season as the Fall Leagues will kick up before you know it.