MHSAA Way-to-Early Rankings: Division III Top Ten

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When I endeavored to begin this series of rankings roll outs. My initial goal was to avoid the "Way to Early" moniker in the headline. After all school is starting or has started in most Michigan school districts. Rosters are usually pretty set by this point. However, a funny thing happened on the way to a deadline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In case you haven't been paying attention. The transfer portal in high school basketball is beginning to resemble the late breaking version being seen in college basketball at the moment. Consequently I will stick with calling these "way to early" rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After starting in Michigan's smallest classification Division IV. Let's move on up to Division III. Last year's record in parentheses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>**<em>This will be an ongoing and updating list, for the sake of brevity I'm going to limit each team to only two contributors a piece. We will add players, details, and x-factors more in later incarnations**</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Arts &amp; Technology Academy of Pontiac (19-4) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This might not be the height of literary prowess or basketball analysis here. I'm not going to overthink this one. Who is top individual talent in the division? It's ATAP junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2630702' first='Lewis' last='Lovejoy'] (pictured at top) If he is on this team, the Lions will hold the top spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You might say that one player can't singlehandedly win a state championship. I would counter with... I almost saw it happen last March. As Lovejoy put up 41 points in a final game loss to Pewamo-Westpalia. It was the second straight finals appearance for the Lions as well. Now don't get me wrong, Lovejoy had plenty of help to get to the final as the Lions had depth on their roster. Some of the depth came from a midseason transfer. I wouldn't be surprised if something like that happens again. If it does not, there is still talent on this team. <strong>Aiden Reeves</strong> is a 6-1 senior guard who was a contributor at Division I Macomb Dakota two seasons ago as a sophomore before transferring into the program last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Jackson Lumen Christi (17-7) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Lovejoy is the top individual talent. Who has the best 1-2 punch? I would lead towards the Titans duo. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2394422' first='Jonathan' last='Morgan'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2464624' first='Ashton' last='Callan'] represent some serious firepower. Morgan is a 6-1 hyper charged wing who simply does not moving. He is wired to score and can put them up in bunches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Callan might be skeleton key. The bulky but skilled 6-3 forward presents some serious matchup problems at the Division III level. Too strong for most defenders in the post, and skilled on the perimeter as well. Both players put in a lot pf work in the offseason and should be improved. They ran with [program_tooltip program_id='2539820' first='The' last='Academy'] on the Under Armour circuit and had success. That should carry over into the regular season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Pewamo-Westphalia (27-2) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll admit this might be a little high for the defending state champions. They graduated a ton of size and next level production. So why so high? Well simply put, these are way-to-rankings. We are still months away from games starting. Rankings are made to be adjusted. If the Pirates take some lumps in the regular season and I need to adjust... I'll do so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But in late August, if I am honestly answering who I think will eventually be the third best team in the division. That answer is PW. It might not happen quickly. But 6-3 junior [player_tooltip player_id='2539747' first='Logan' last='Farmer'] should develop into this storied program's next star. I'm sure there are reinforcements coming up from the JV level in tis traditionally strong and historic program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. McBain (21-3) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've highlighted the top individual talent overall. I've highlighted the team with top 1-2 punch. Another aspect to watch at the smaller schools is who has the top senior prospect. This year that is arguably the McBain Ramblers. [player_tooltip player_id='2276657' first='Clayton' last='Heuker'] is looking to finish off an outstanding four-year career. Not many players can claim that for this deep and storied program. One of the few that can is the current head coach at Central Michigan University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heuker is a county strong 6-5 prospect who is impossible to stop on the block. He is skilled enough to take defenders out to the perimeter as well. He will be joined by versatile 6-3 junior [player_tooltip player_id='2430755' first='Josh' last='Rodenbaugh'] who essentially plays the point for the Ramblers. Not sure how much McBain has beyond those top two performers. That being said, that top two is really good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Beal City (24-3) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can't put McBain in the top five and leave out their Highland Conference nemesis Beal City. The Aggies will return quite a bit from a quarterfinal squad. There are questions here though. They graduate a three-year starting point guard and some size low. That can be nullified if 6-5 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2847256' first='Grady' last='Gatrell'] can take the next step as a prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After watching him with [program_tooltip program_id='2429901' first='REAL' last='Basketball'] in the spring that looks to be entirely possible. If senior and fellow REAL product <strong>Avery Small </strong>can step into the point guard slot. Beal City might not miss a beat and be poised for another deep tournament run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. Jonesville (18-7)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't really need to scan every Division III roster in the state that make this bold statement. Jonesville will the biggest Division III team in the state. I feel comfortable in saying because I know plenty of Division III programs.... and I mean college Division III programs who would like to have the Comets size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It starts with 6-9 Quincy transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2843916' first='Alex' last='Dunn'] who put together a strong grassroots run with the [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm'] on the Under Armour circuit. He will be joined by 6-8 sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3735399' first='Brooks' last='Nichelson']</strong> who is rapidly growing and improving. There is plenty of 6-3 to 6-5 size outside of the top two as well. They have a good point guard who is also one of the top cross-country runners in the state. I fully acknowledge I might be little low with this ranking. It is just hard to look past the recent resumes of the teams directly above them on this list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7. Schoolcraft (16-11) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was fully prepared to drop the Eagles out these rankings going into the summer. I believe I have ranked them every single year I have done these. They graduated a Division II college commit and eleven losses is a lot. However, this is why AAU basketball and campus elite camps matter. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3567328' first='Ty' last='Goddard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2935399' first='Kodee' last='Bienz'] were very impressive in various locales this summer </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both are skilled and physical guards with multiple years of varsity experience. Different doesn't necessarily mean bad. This team will be different as Schoolcraft has featured extreme size in their decade long run of excellence. However if Bienz and Goddard can continue their momentum from the summer, the Eagles could manage a better record than last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">8. International Academy of Flint (18-6) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I posited last year that this developing program was ready to fly the Flint flag for this region after the legendary Beecher program moved down to Division IV. A high-profile transfer out of the program might have lowered their celling last year. In their stead Flint New Standard slid into the Beecher role and advanced to the state semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One year later Flint New Standard went the opposite direction of Beecher and slid up to Division II. IAF is still in Division III and looks to be rather strong once again. [player_tooltip player_id='2422828' first='Darrio' last='Felder'] is small but talented point guard who leads a deep and experienced backcourt. If senior [player_tooltip player_id='3682264' first='JaShawn' last='Gill'] can man the post, the Phoenix could be next Division III program from the Flint area to break through. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">9. Menominee (23-5)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a semifinal appearance and a state championship on the gridiron. The Maroons will be a different team this year. They will not feature the size and physicality of last year's unit. Like Schoolcraft I was prepared to think their run of excellence might be in for a rebuild. Then I caught them at deep team camp in Traverse City in June. I think they will be just fine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They will be much more guard oriented and led by 5-10 senior point guard <strong>Talan Woods. </strong>He will get support from fellow senior <strong>Dylan Bea</strong>l on the wing. If the frontcourt can develop the Maroons might top Division III team in the Upper Peninsula once again. For the past two years, that distinction has meant a trip across the bridge to the Breslin Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">10. New Haven (19-5) </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Full disclosure, as of a few weeks ago, I was prepared to place this team near the very top of this list. Why not now? A very talented player left the program to play for Prolific Prep in Florida. While I think highly of that player. I struggle to think that one singular player could drop a team completely out of the top 10. Sometimes it even can galvanize a team as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets are not devoid of talent. I was impressed by 6-3 senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2838450' first='Irving' last='Frizzell'] with the Blue Water Hurricanes this summer. If 6-3 junior <strong>Journey Parker </strong>can fill the void left down on the block. The Rockets could still be one of the top teams in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->