Grassroots Wrap Up: All Points in Between Questions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The end of July marks the official end of the AAU season. I'm going to begin to move on to the scholastic portion by wrapping up a series looking at how what was seen in the spring and summer will inform the regular season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I began by looking at Detroit area questions. Before moving on to the Westside of the state. Hence the unusual catch all regional title. Now lets look at the rest of the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The top team in Lansing is....</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For over a half decade the answer has been in the shadow of the Breslin Center. However, with <strong>Kingston Thomas'</strong> departure to a prep school, I'm not sure the answer is East Lansing. The Trojans will still be good. If juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2500721' first='Tyree' last='Anthony'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='3683849' first='Dillon' last='Stewart'] (6-4) can take the next step in their development. The second will the same as the first (or third or fourth... I Iose count)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can't help but wonder if this is the year Lansing Waverly gets over the Trojan hump. They will lose a lot of talent from last year's squad. I think it is stretch to say they will better. However, last year doesn't matter for the purposes of the above question. I really liked what I saw from the Warriors reinforcements on various AAU squads this spring/summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They will be more backcourt oriented this year after graduating a big and college bound frontline. Initialed seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2951432' first='Darren' last='Pope'] (DJ) and [player_tooltip player_id='2140061' first='Carlos' last='Gomez'] Jr (CJ) are battle tested and should be prepared to take on a bigger role. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3683461' first='Tre' last='Burton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3569893' first='Gavyn' last='Wagemaker'] should also be ready to take on larger roles as well. The x-factor could be the development of 6-6 junior [player_tooltip player_id='3680247' first='KJ' last='Fast'] While skilled enough to play on the perimeter. Can he provide enough pop in the post to give the talented backcourt some freedom on the perimeter?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The top team in Northern Michigan is...</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How is this for a hook to a paragraph? I live in the region. Know and talk to many players and coaches and... I have no earthly idea what answer to the above question is. In the lower divisions I believe McBain (Division III) and Traverse City Christian (Division IV) are a notch above everyone else. But I don't think they better than the teams in the upper divisions this campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As far as Division II... let's flip a coin. It was supposed to be Ludington. But a historic coaching change and significant transfer departures have brought the Orioles back to the pack. They might still be the top team in the division because senior [player_tooltip player_id='2951459' first='Taj' last='Williams'] is just that good. But the best team in the region? That might be a bit rich. Which takes us to big boys in Division I. A transfer departure might have removed Alpena from the discussion. However, I could make the case for four different squads at the top of the rugged Big North conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cadillac and Traverse City Central might have the most top end talent. [player_tooltip player_id='2758267' first='Domenic' last='Wing'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3641528' first='Alex' last='Mcgowan'] will form a dynamic 6-7 twin tower look for the Vikings. Both players continue to rapidly develop with Wing starting to accumulate college interest and offers. Traverse City Central will be fronted by the inside out duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2539732' first='Hudson' last='Mclean'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2758909' first='Collin' last='Rademacher'] Radamacher is a quick and shifty guard who knows how to play. I mentioned the inside out component. It is not as pronounced as it used to be. As the 6-4 Mclean (pictured) has begun to move his game further out to the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That being said every player listed in the above paragraph is a junior. Can senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2423444' first='Cruz' last='Lockhart'] lead a Traverse City West squad that is replacing almost their entire rotation? They were one of the better JV teams I saw last year, so it is possible. Furthermore if 2028 rising national football recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2844370' first='Brayden' last='Tillman'] chooses to play another year basketball, the Titans might not miss a beat. I almost forgot to mention the biggest and deepest rotation by far resides in Petoskey. If the backcourt can develop to get the ball down low, the top spot could easily be held by the Northmen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Once again if I was forced to give odds (which I hope never comes to high school sports) I would go an even 25% across the board for all four teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is the top team in the Upper Peninsula a Division IV squad? </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the vast and sparsely poplulated region. A "yes" to the above question is not uncommon. However, of late the bigger divisions in the UP have had a pretty good run. Marquette has produced strong teams with college level talent. While Kingsford has done the same with the addition of a Breslin Center appearance on their resume as well. While both of those teams will still be good. I wonder of the returning talent at Crystal Forrest Park will make them the top team on the Peninsula.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It starts with four year starter [player_tooltip player_id='2622028' first='Vic' last='Giuliani'] The bouncy 6-4 wing achieved 1,000 career points in his sophomore season. He accomplished it in the state semifinals, so he has plenty of big game experience. Giuliani was not only player on this squad that played two years ago. The backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='2887194' first='Izaiah' last='Tarter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3581267' first='Dax' last='Huuki'] also played and contributed to that squad. Huuki stepped in a big way last as Giuliani recovered from an injury. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2759314' first='Aiden' last='Waldo'] played as freshman on the semifinal team as well. That is a lot of backcourt firepower to complement Giuliani.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's roster isn't just limited to returnees from semifinal appearance. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2402509' first='Lyle' last='Price'] is a 6-0 guard who leads a strong contingent of underclassmen who can contribute. Last year's squad did not feature any seniors so continuity will should be a major advantage. Dollar Bay eliminated Forest Park last year. Returning senior [player_tooltip player_id='2964366' first='Baron' last='Colbert II'] is a good player and could derail a run once again. Also don't overlook [player_tooltip player_id='3572048' first='Jett' last='Buckley'] and Kingsford in Division II. However, the depth at Forrest Park could make them a special team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->