Jennings’ Summer Wrap-up

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article, I evaluate two new players and two teams that could surprise some people in the 25/26 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2872591"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68aa639bb0e41"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Not many rising juniors have made as much noise as Davis over the past few months. His elite athletic ability bleeds into so many facets of his game. In transition with and without the basketball, his speed enables him to get himself or teammates open. On the glass and rising up at the rim, there aren't too many that can jump with AND have the wingspan to prohibit Wycell from grabbing a rebound or finishing at the basket. While I saw Davis make more than his fair share of highlight plays this summer, there is a whole different side to his game. Little things like giving consistent effort on defense and communicating with teammates constantly are two traits not many players possess, let alone a top guy. Super athlete + great teammate = an exciting couple of years for the Detroit Catholic Central wing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Bradley Buddenborg","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Stockbridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68aa639bb0f62"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In Michigan, the 2029 class has some exciting guards who played varying roles for their varsity squads this summer. I guarantee that none of them had as many varsity reps as Buddenborg this summer. He was the point guard of a Stockbridge squad that was putting out lineups of four, sometimes five freshmen! Two C's describe Brad's game, composure and confidence. No matter the situation in the game, he is trustworthy with the ball and doesn't seem to get rattled. I know for sure he has confidence in his jumper. On multiple occasions this summer, he's hitting volleyball-line 3s off the catch and dribble. While being able to score, Buddenborg gets his teammates involved and is a true competitor. It seems as though he's getting the keys from day 1 for the Panthers, and I'm excited to see his progression throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cheyboygan: I'll be honest, I'm not much of a Northern Michigan basketball guy, but even my down-state bias must acknowledge that they are a good basketball TEAM. Emphasizing team because they are in every sense of the word. The Chiefs don't have any stud standout player, rather a bunch of dudes that play crazy hard and know how to win. In the game I saw, their team defense was a major problem and on offense, everyone seemed to be a threat to score. Unselfishness and impressive shot making allows them to put up a lot of points in a hurry. Only graduating a few seniors, look for the Chiefs to have another above .500 regular season and compete to win their first district title since 2015.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stockbridge: By pure coincidence, I saw more Stockbridge basketball in June than any other single team in the state, easily 7 or more games, and I was enamored. Now, Coach Nate Lott did lose basically the entire team that took Jackson Lumen Christi to the wire in the Regional Semifinal. However, he's gaining maybe the best 2029 class of any Michigan school in Division III. It was not uncommon for them to have full lineups of incoming freshmen on the court competing at the varsity level. While I don't love their 2-3 zone, it's probably their best bet being so undersized. But offensively, this group is already dicing up teams of upperclassmen. You can tell they have guys that have played a lot of basketball together. Their general vibe of being unafraid and unphased by any opponent, should bode well for them heading into the season. While they might not make a big run this year, I'd bet they're in every game this season. The amount of experience their young guys are getting should lead to something special in Stockbridge in a few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->