MHSAA Rankings: The Division II Not Quite Yet Group

<p>I try to not be a clickbait provocateur. Consequently, I struggled to come up with a name for the tail end of this ranking series. Future rankings didn't feel right as there are plenty of teams in the initial rankings with bright futures. I didn't want to just go with just the best young teams either as juniors are not necessarily young.</p>   <p>I'm going to go with the "not quite yet" moniker. Don't get me wrong these teams can certainly make some noise this year. However, I think state championship contention might be a little rich. As I have often wrote. I would be thrilled to be proven wrong. If my thoughts are in any way used for bulletin board material. That is fine with me. I'll attach the initial Top Ten and the five honorable mentions. Math isn't my thing but if you want to combine them to create a preseason top 20 that would be a cogent conclusion. </p>   <p><em>**Last year's record in parentheses**</em></p>   <p>Initial Top Ten: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/09/mhsaa-way-to-early-rankings-division-ii-top-ten/">https://prephoops.com/2026/09/mhsaa-way-to-early-rankings-division-ii-top-ten/</a></p>   <p>Honorable Mention: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/09/mhsaa-way-to-early-rankings-five-more-for-division-ii/">https://prephoops.com/2026/09/mhsaa-way-to-early-rankings-five-more-for-division-ii/</a></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fruitport (21-4) </h2>   <p>As the 21-4 record would indicate. This is the team with the biggest complaint for being in this grouping. However. After watching the Trojans during the team camp season, I think they are going to miss a multiyear starting point guard. The main reason for optimism though is the return is junior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2715417' first='Dexter' last='Lillmars'] (6-2) Coming off an outstanding grassroots run with the [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm'] he is starting to garner serious Division II interest. He is one of the better shooters in the state. However there is much more to his game than just the perimeter touch. Good enough ball handler to play the point. Also has good court vision. Uses it more often though to score efficiently. Stocky build and a fierce competitor who doesn't pass initial eye test. If I'm at an open run though. This gamer would be one of my first picks.</p>   <p>I did not see sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2958185' first='Garrett' last='Olson'] as much as I wanted to this summer. Appears to have shifted his focus more towards the diamond. Being a long 6-5 lefty has a way of making up for a lack of basketball reps. The 2029 class in Michigan quite deep. I have seen Olson compete with some of top players in the class in prior prospect camps. If he can continue stay sharp between mound outings he could give the Trojans an exciting x-factor. There is talent in the senior class. However, that is beyond the scope of this series. If all the pieces fit together this placement could look silly.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grand Rapids West Catholic (11-12) </h2>   <p>This is deep pull and slightly off the board for a school more known for its gridiron exploits. A deep pull because I have been covering mostly juniors and sophomores. The future of the Falcon program lies in their freshman class. Mainly the inside/out combo of [player_tooltip player_id='2743229' first='Kenyon' last='Rembert'] and <strong>DeSahn Baker</strong>.</p>   <p>Rembert is a swing guard with good size and frame. So much so that he is already playing varsity on the aforementioned perennial state championship football squad. On the hardwood he is a good shooter and ball handler who can play both backcourt positions. Baker is a 6-8 post who just oozes long term potential. Has a long slender frame and runs the court well with fluid coordination. Not the strongest prospect at the moment. However, finishes with strength at the rim and is rapidly improving. West Catholic should be improved partly by coaching osmosis. As this will be their second year in veteran head coach Bernard Varnesdeel's system.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grosse Ile (16-6) </h2>   <p>The Red Devils cause for optimism lies in their sophomore backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='2957220' first='Max' last='Westerdale'] (pictured) is quite reminiscent of older brother <strong>Luke </strong>who won a state championship on the mainland before matriculating to nearby Wayne St. Max isn't an overwhelming athlete but is loaded with winning intangibles. Isn't going blow by you with the dribble. But sets up defenders well to exploit openings. Plays with his head up and excels in pick and roll situations. Coming off a strong spring and summer with Michigan Unified on the New Balance circuit.</p>   <p>Westerdale will not have to do it himself this year. Nor did he have to do it himself with Michigan Unified. This was due to the presence of [player_tooltip player_id='3357294' first='Drake' last='Duey'] another talented sophomore guard. He is similar in frame and game to Westerdale with an equally bright future. Duey does have a sturdier build for a guard and shows a knack for rebounding that you usually see with posts. Further depth in the backcourt comes from junior <strong>Dylan Draper</strong>. If the frontline can develop in the next few years. Grosse Ile could make some noise in the division.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Imlay City (16-7) </h2>   <p>I always liked the size and versatility of since departed Spartan <strong>Zander Nash </strong>(Kalamazoo College). Consequently, I've had an eye out for the developing talent in this Thumb area program for a few years running. Lightning strikes again as Imlay City has another tall, long, playmaker in the fold. [player_tooltip player_id='2413073' first='Jalen' last='Gauthier'] is a highly projectable 6-8 junior with sky high potential. Can already play and guard multiple position well at the high school level. Another product of the Michigan Unified AAU program. I was very impressed with his play at the Run N Slam in Fort Wayne this spring.</p>   <p>The Spartans are a very young group with plenty of talent outside of Gauthier. More size and versatility comes from fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='2875845' first='Hudson' last='Everhart'] (6-5) The future of the backcourt comes from sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2848686' first='Ty' last='Wagester'] (5-11) The future might be even brighter beyond what is currently on the team. I try not write about middle schoolers. They have enough on their plate. That being said, I have seen some potential from this program at those levels at various camps. If that group continues to develop the Spartans could be even more dynamic in the 2027-2028 season.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wyoming Kelloggsville (15-8)</h2>   <p>The Rockets have been building for a while with a strong core that might come together this year. Like most young teams they were a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde crew. That being said every loss last year was against a squad mentioned in this list or in the links at the top. The strength of this unit is in the backcourt. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2548636' first='Jakais' last='Crawford'] is a talented point guard who has everything you need for the position except for size. He showed potential and growth in a good grassroots run with Highland Premier. He is quick and dynamic with the ball in his hands. But also plays under control and limits turnovers in my viewings. That is a difficult line to thread for young point guards.</p>   <p>With Crawford at the point the scoring touch will come from fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3678901' first='Christian' last='Reynolds'] on the wing. Reynolds is a stocky 6-2 wing who scores in bunches. Was frequently the leading scorer on good and deep West Michigan Premier squad in AAU. Like Grosse Ile there is more firepower in the backcourt beyond those top two. Also like Grosse Ile, if the frontline can develop the Rockets could have a special group brewing. </p>   <p></p>

I try to not be a clickbait provocateur. Consequently, I struggled to come up with a name for the tail end of this ranking series. Future rankings didn't feel right as there are plenty of teams in the initial rankings with bright futures. I didn't want to just go with just the best young teams either as juniors are not necessarily young.