Mitten Recruit: New Names

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two day Mitten Recruit Spring Classic took place outside of the center of sports world this weekend. With the NFL Draft downtown. A deep and talented field competed at Waterford Mott high school. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While a handful of players with established reputations stood out. A handful full of new prospects stood out as well. Following is “lucky seven” that caught my eye.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1588200' first='Solomon' last='Spann IV'] 6-2 2026 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (pictured) </strong>A new name for some. As he had to sit out his sophomore season after transferring. The rust might have showed a little as he got off to a slow start for DTO Elite on Saturday. However got it going in the second half. Is a good ball handler for his size. Listed at 6-2 but I wouldn't be surprised if has added an inch or two based on my eye test. Even if the height is correct, has a thin and lanky frame that helps him play taller than his listed height. Balanced playmaking and scoring well. Attacked the basket without fear despite not having a ton of girth. It will be interesting to see how he fits in within a deep Brother Rice rotation in the upcoming year. Off to a good start thus far in the spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2218002' first='CJ' last='Hearn'] 6-4 2026 Westland John Glenn </strong>Helping Spann on the wing was this athletic playmaker. Hearn is an excellent ball handler for size. Is also willing and creative passer. Perhaps a bit too willing and creative on Saturday. Leading to some needless turnovers at times. That being said, with his age and skill set. I would rather see unselfish mistakes, than someone jacking up wild and haphazard shots. The ball handling is what really sets him apart from other prospects his size. Gets to his spots easily on the perimeter. Has has a smooth and seemingly effortless explosion to the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2218012' first='Delos' last='Rossell'] 6-3 2025 Warren De La Salle </strong>I was prepared to see some good shooting with the Michigan Unified squad. However I was expecting it to come from either [player_tooltip player_id='1420491' first='Graham' last='Junge'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1437577' first='Mason' last='Parker']. This was my first time catching Russell in game action. Doesn't take long to realize he can shoot with anyone. Similar in both game and frame to Junge. Moved well off the ball. Flashed the ability to relocate and find seams in the defense. Hasn't gotten much opportunity yet within a deep and talented program thus far in his career. With recent uncertainty surrounding the program. Perhaps Russell can parlay a nice grassroots campaign into a breakout senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Yaseen Issa</strong> <strong>6-0 2025 Ann Arbor Huron </strong>Issa is not player that will wow you with physicality or a standout skill set. Not very big either. As the recent record shows though, he is a winning basketball player. Contributed for a Huron program that advanced all the way to the state semifinals. Is now doing the same thing for one of the hottest grassroots programs in the state. Is a knockdown outside shooter who knows how to get open. Is also a deceptively good ball handler who dealt with heavy pressure well. Will never be the featured scorer at Huron. But should be able ti step into a larger role in his senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616013' first='Jaden' last='Alger'] 6-5 2025 Boyne City </strong>While his team did not have the results they were hoping for. Alger competed and was productive against some imposing front lines. Helps that he has a sturdy and well put together frame. The counter to his bruising post game is the ability to stretch the floor. Has a soft touch that extends out beyond the arc. Showed the potential to develop into a small college stretch four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andrew Ashwood 6-1 2025 Romulus Summer Academy North </strong>This is not a new name for me. Fittingly enough, I first saw this player at a Mitten Recruit exposure event a few years ago. He was quite small then but flashed a lot of potential. Flash forward a few years. While I would not call him tall— he is not small. Has a powerfully built frame and appears to seek out contact. Often finishing through it at the rim. Is a good ball handler with a healthy dose of quickness. Like a few players on this list. Plays for a regular season program with deep backcourt rotation. Could be in line for bigger role in his senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1438258' first='Braylon' last='Mannon'] 6-8 2025 Belleville </strong>While front court partner [player_tooltip player_id='1438270' first='Charles' last='Kage'] deservedly gets a fair amount of attention for The Academy program. Mannon showed plenty of potential on Saturday as well. Passes the eye test in a major way. Highly mobile with a long and lanky frame. Accordingly has obvious upside as rim protector. Not shy and competed hard on the defensive end. Set a lot screens for The Academy's stellar backcourt and lived in the dunker spot. Would like to see more aggression as a rim runner. However I wouldn't call him a timid player. Another player on this list just waiting to bust out for a deep and talented regular season program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->