MHSAA Rankings: The Division IV Not Quite Yet Rankings

<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/2026/08/mhsaa-way-to-early-rankings-division-iv-top-ten/">https://prephoops.com/2026/08/mhsaa-way-to-early-rankings-division-iv-top-ten/</a></p>   <p>Honorable Mention: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/09/mhsaa-way-to-early-rankings-five-more-for-division-iv/">https://prephoops.com/2026/09/mhsaa-way-to-early-rankings-five-more-for-division-iv/</a></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Buckley (6-18) </h2>   <p>There is not much to shout about in regard to last season's record. However, the Bears played a difficult schedule and were playing their first season under a new fresh out of college head coach. Some regression was to be expected. While I expected the Bears to be an improved unit this year. Some late breaking improvements have caught my eye for the upcoming year.</p>   <p>One of the final prospect camps I covered in June was HB Elite prospect camp. It was so close to the restart of the AAU grind that I did not do a written recap. If I had, one of the items I would have covered would have the rapid improvement of [player_tooltip player_id='3683859' first='Kaiden' last='Proffer'] (pictured) Full disclosure, I live in the area. I have seen this player play multiple times. To put it plainly, I introduced myself to him after the camp because... I did not recognize him. I remembered a skinny prospect who struggled with strength and coordination. While still slightly awkward and mechanical at times. Swoffer's 6-6 frame has filled out nicely and he runs the court well for his size. He finishes above the rim with ease and should be much improved this season. Swoffer is not alone in Buckley's junior class as [player_tooltip player_id='2413924' first='Parker' last='Breithaupt'] is a 5-10 point guard who earned second all-conference honors as a sophomore. The full turnaround might take one more year, but Buckley has a bright future.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Colon (22-5) </h2>   <p>No empirical proof or research here. Recently it seems that Upper Peninsula has been a hotbed of successful and highly competitive public school Division IV teams (see these lists) Understandable with its rural locale and small populations. However, with Concord's recent banner and the wealth of young talent at Hillsdale Academy. The tide might be turning to far Southern reaches of the state. If that is the case Colon is a program to watch.</p>   <p>The Magi (if you research the origin a unique and fitting mascot) are a red hot program coming off a quarterfinal appearance. Lost in single digits to the eventual state champions. Though they a lose a lot of production from that squad, it is not a stretch to say they are close to returning to contention. [player_tooltip player_id='2812302' first='Jeremiah' last='West'] was a major contributor as a 6-1 sophomore guard and should be ready for a bigger role. Winning often begats more winning in small towns. If this happens arounds West, Colon's run might be more than just a one off.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">L'Anse (15-7) </h2>   <p>Dollar Bay has rightfully earned many of the recent basketball headlines in the Keweenaw Peninsula region of the Upper Peninsula. However, the Purple Hornets (great mascot) have a promising backcourt that could break up the Blue Bolts (another great mascot) run of excellence. The reason for optimism lies in a talented returning junior backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='2386625' first='Sam' last='Lee'] is the headliner and coming off of earning First Team All UP Division IV honors. The 6-2 guard was the only player to accomplish that as a sophomore.</p>   <p>He followed up the banner season by testing himself playing up a grade level with the Zero Stars AAU program. He should get support in the backcourt from fellow junior <strong>Talan Larson.</strong> Larson is a high scoring sub six-foot guard who has been a contributor since his freshman season. If the frontline can develop in concert with the backcourt firepower there could be something special brewing in L'Anse.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (18-5) </h2>   <p>The Fighting Irish as whole athletic department have been on quite a recent run of success. A state finals appearance two years ago. Followed by a baseball state championship last spring. That winning DNA returns with some standout seniors. Combined with a strong core of returning talent in the 2029 class. Sacred Heart is certainly a team to watch going forward. </p>   <p>That young core is led by [player_tooltip player_id='3727702' first='Channing' last='Sherlock'] a talented sophomore guard. He is a coach's son but more importantly plays like it. He is coming off a strong spring and summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2429901' first='REAL' last='Basketball'] on the Grassroots Basketball League. I was impressed with his shooting and fundamentally sound game at the recent Prep Hoops Sophomore ID camp. Fellow sophomore <strong>Leelynd O'Conner</strong> has some size and contributed down low as an underclassman. The Fighting Irish should be a contending both this season and into the future. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Posen (15-6) </h2>   <p>Remote Alpena area community noted for Potato production has been producing somewhat under the radar strong teams for quite some time. Another solid campaign saw them bow out in a close loss to a good Gaylord St Mary squad (see lists above) They have a bright future with a strong junior backcourt returning.</p>   <p><strong>Gavin Keller </strong>returns after earning all-state honors as a sophomore. He has been a contributor for the Vikings since his freshman season.<strong> Landen Devries </strong>and <strong>Owen Purol</strong> will provide further depth and support from the junior class. They will be joined by sophomore <strong>Omar Perez</strong> who made significant contributions as a freshman. He should be ready for a larger role. While the Vikings sustained losses from last year's squad. They could be a team to watch in the next two years.</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.