Grassroots Wrap Up: Westside Questions

<p>With July officially marking the end of the AAU season. I am going to turn the page to the scholostic season. It might seem a bit early, but Fall Legues will kick in before you know it.</p>   <p>I'm going to look at how the AAU season informs what we might see in the regular season. After starting with the Detroit area. I'll move on over to the Westside with a series of questions. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What does Rockford have for an encore? </h2>   <p>This series is meant as a lead up to a team rankings release in August. I'm going to spoil that a little bit. The Rams are going to be #1. Why... simply put when you win a state championship and return three starters who were underclassmen. You get the preseason #1 nod. That does not mean there are not serious questions here though.<strong> Jake Bascom</strong> (Central Michigan) and <strong>Dylan Gross</strong> (Kalamazoo College) are huge losses. Health was major concern last year and it will be once again.</p>   <p>That being said, I'm not moving off my spot. I believe 2028 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140494' first='Eli' last='Wolfe'] will come back at full strength. Full strength means one of the top 5 2028 prospects in the state. Even if it is stalled, one cannot look past the meteoric rise of 2029 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2844038' first='Jace' last='Opoku-Agyeman'] (pictured) who was one of the top 16U players on the Under Armour circuit while playing up an age group. I mentioned health concerns from last year. They primarily centered on 2028 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2539741' first='Josh' last='Bascom'] He did not play until Christmas last year. This year he appears healthy and more importantly, much improved on the perimeter. Like Wolfe he is a top 5 prospect state. </p>   <p>About the loss of the size on the frontline. [player_tooltip player_id='2913385' first='Drew' last='Ferwerda'] (6-7) should more than capable of stepping in the elder Bascom's role on the block. He is skilled and coming a strong grassroots campaign. The fifth spot could be filled by a number of players from a deep program at a school with one of the biggest enrollments in the state. The JV team was strong last year. Also watch out for versatile 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3585850' first='Chase' last='Fisher'] would should be ready to play a much larger role.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Does the "Big Four" hegemony still exist? </h2>   <p>The numbers don't lie. After strong runs from schools such as Wyoming Godwin Heights and East Grand Rapids in the past. Division II power on the west side of the state has been passed around between four parochial schools for quite some time. While I believe they are coming back to the pack a bit. The answer to the above question is still yes. Grand Rapids Christian will not be as deep as in past years, but still very talented. Hudsonville Unity Christian will still be good but are rebuilding both on the court and the bench. Grand Rapids Catholic Central will be strong and received a good draw in a reconfigured March bracket. However, they are they are on the fourth head coach in four years (including interim) That has not slowed the resillent program yet, and I don't believe it will this year as well. </p>   <p>You can probably see the direction I'm heading here though. Last year I slept on Grand Rapids South Christian. I'm not going to make that mistake again. The Sailors will feature a lineup loaded with guards galore. In the upper classes you will have 2027's [player_tooltip player_id='2140521' first='Max' last='Zichterman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2746375' first='Austin' last='Burgess'] While the lower classes are fronted by 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2917292' first='Crew' last='Zichterman'] and 2030 [player_tooltip player_id='3669326' first='Elijah' last='Dorsey']. Dorsey was a top player on the [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm'] deep 2030 national championship squad. I'm well aware I am leaving some good players out of this rundown.</p>   <p>The Sailors have had size on the frontline from time immemorial. This year is no different. 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2441561' first='Peyton' last='Kool'] and 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2539744' first='Kolin' last='Younce'] should be provide some pop on the block. If this exceedingly deep lineup can coalesce into a working unit. The Sailors might be the standard bearer this year for this long running quartet of dominant programs.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is Benton Harbor back? </h2>   <p>I mentioned the runs of Godwin Heights and East Grand Rapids above. I intentionally left out perhaps the last school to have successfully broken up the hegemony. The historically good Tigers of Benton Harbor. Why did I leave them out? Because if anyone has the top-level talent break through this run of dominance. It could be this year's group.</p>   <p>The list of four-year contributors at this Southwestern Michigan powerhouse isn't as long as you would think. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2140507' first='Kesean' last='Hobbs'] is on that list. The 6-6 do it all forward has been battle tested and looks prepared for big senior season. He put together a strong run with Michigan Unified on the New Balance circuit. It might a provocative statement, but I've said it before and I still believe it to be true. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2454031' first='Zameir' last='Clayton'] is the most talented player in Michigan not playing on a shoe circuit. The athletic 6-2 point guard can play with anyone in the state and could breakout even further as an upperclassman. He impressed me at multiple events this summer running with Harbor Impact. </p>   <p>The x-factor could St Joseph transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2442329' first='Ben' last='Varrie'] The 6-4 2029 wing was electric with the aforementioned Michigan Unified program. If he can adjust to new surroundings there might not be a better big three in Division II on this side of the state. All three players will play somewhere at the next level. I should also clarify what I mean by "back" in the question above. I am referring to Breslin Center back. The Tigers were technically back last year after going 20-4. Varrie's addition could push this group across the finish line. There is not a lot of size on the frontline. That matters with four schools listed above. If they can overcome that, the familiar orange and black Tigers have enough perimeter firepower to raise a banner once again. </p>   <p></p>

With July officially marking the end of the AAU season. I am going to turn the page to the scholostic season. It might seem a bit early, but Fall Legues will kick in before you know it.