Season Preview: Northern Michigan Fab 40 1-10

Back by popular demand (insert sarcasm) I'm going to once again take on the daunting task of composing a list of the top 40 players in Northern Michigan. It is a herculean effort as this is a vast geographic region.    From parts of the Upper Peninsula that stretch into central time zone. To the southern I-10 corridor passing through the Ludington and Reed City areas. These are the geographic borders I am going to use    Sticking with the purpose of this site I am going to focus primarily on college potential and not chiefly statistical output. In most cases (not all) this focus will also exclude players who will most likely play other sports at the next level (Ludington's Cameron Gunsell would have been in here)   10. [player_tooltip player_id='2758267' first='Domenic' last='Wing'] 6-6 2028 Cadillac Highest ranked sophomore on the list. Took him a while to get going after a football injury curtailed the start of his career. Was stepping into a team with established rotation as well. Further contributing to the slow start. Seemed to be hitting his stride late. With a huge game in a district final win. Followed that up by testing himself nationally with the [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm']. The evaluation is pretty simple and I'm not going to make any puns about his last name. This is a legitimately skilled 6-6 wing already. Scan this list or any ranking list. That is a rare commodity. If keeps growing and adds a post game this could be a special player. Will shoulder a heavy load for a rebuilding Viking squad this year.   9. [player_tooltip player_id='2110784' first='Mason' last='Gugle'] 6-4 2026 LeRoy Pine River Spoiler alert… the next three players on this list are elite “run and jump” prospects. Sometimes this vast rural region is lucky to have one. A state high jump qualifier. Gugle can go get it above the rim with anyone in the state. Has more in his bag though than just athleticism. Is a smooth and easy shooter from beyond the arc. Is also a good ball handler who excels in transition. Hard working player. If a gym is open, he is playing in it. Gridiron standout who could take off at the next level with a singular focus.   8. [player_tooltip player_id='2622028' first='Vic' last='Giuliani'] 6-4 2027 Crystal Falls Forest Park The junior from deep in the heart of the Upper Peninsula has already reached the 1,000 point mark in his career. You don't see that often. Not empty calories either. As he led his squad to a semifinal appearance last year. Smooth and fluid movement on the perimeter. Easy elevation above the rim. As a Division IV prospect from a remote area. I would have liked to have evaluated him in AAU basketball. I'm told a Track and Field injury curtailed this participation. If healthy, could be a special UP prospect when he is done.   7. [player_tooltip player_id='2561784' first='Tanner' last='Theurkauf'] 6-4 2026 Menominee Fresh off quarterbacking his team to a football state championship. Theuerkauf is similar to #'s 8 and 9 on this list. Highly productive and competitive player. Has multiple deep football runs and quarterfinal hardwood appearance as a sophomore. A skilled and versatile wing who plays easily above the rim. As the football plaudits indicate. Plays with wiry strength you would not expect from his lanky build. Brother plays quarterback at Northern Michigan. I could see him doing the same. However if he wants to play basketball at the next level. The talent is certainly there.   6. [player_tooltip player_id='1588171' first='Owen' last='Ribel'] 6-3 2026 Traverse City West Bouncy wing that is hard wired to score. Can score in bunches and has done it at the highest levels throughout the Midwest. Had a big spring/summer with HB Elite. Has a lanky build that helps him play taller than his listed height. Gets good elevation on his jump shot, along with a very high natural arc. Consequently has no problem getting it off in tight spaces. Also isn't going to get his shot blocked. Has transferred across town for his senior season. Intriguing to see how he fits in with the Titans well established system.   5. [player_tooltip player_id='2112170' first='Braeden' last='Flynn'] 5-11 2026 Petoskey Like Ribel, another impact transfer in the Big North conference. Flynn heads across the Little Traverse Bay from Harbor Springs. Flynn is a stocky point guard who balances playmaking and scoring responsibilities well. Has a clever finishing skillset off of penetration. Making him an efficient rim presence despite not having ideal size. Has a unique release on his outside shot. However it's repeatable and very effective. Good live dribble passer and has next level court vision. Coach's son and plays like it. Appears to have adjusted seamlessly early in a new system.   4. [player_tooltip player_id='2276657' first='Clayton' last='Heuker'] 6-5 2027 McBain Will be the rare four year player for the storied Rambler program. Still only a junior, Heuker has evolved into unique matchup problem. Especially at the Division III level. Strong and mobile, he can punish high school players on the block. Good passing nullifies double teams. Too fast and a good enough ball handler to keep bigger players from stopping him on the perimeter. Well tested who has been a standout with the [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm'] the last two years.   3. [player_tooltip player_id='2561786' first='Ethan' last='Marta'] 6-3 2026 Ishpeming Westwood Versatile wing prospect coming off a huge postseason. Leading his Patriot squad to a semifinal appearance. An extreme version of the “jack of all trades” mold. Does a little bit of everything, and I'm not sure of what his standout skill is. However, does that “little bit of everything” very well. Shared the West Pac Conference player of the year last year. Put up eye opening numbers. Averaging 27 points per game and stuffing the rest of the stat sheet in the process. It did not go unnoticed by college coaches. Has committed to play at Michigan Tech next season.   2. [player_tooltip player_id='2270808' first='Jacob' last='Plamondon'] 6-6 2026 Maple City Glen Lake (pictured) I do not mean this as a backhanded compliment. This old school big man might have been a Mr Basketball candidate in the 90's (still could be) Back when the game was played from the inside out. Simply put, he is the best low block scorer in the state. Has everything you need down low. Explosive elevation to the rim. A thick frame with broad shoulders that takes on contact well. Along with a soft touch around the basket. An instant bucket on the block. Has expanded his game through the years. Can hit the three and the ball handling has improved. Has committed to play at Grand Valley St next year. It will be interesting to see how he develops there. I've yet to see anyone stop him down low. Who says this dominance can't continue at the next level   1. [player_tooltip player_id='2477378' first='Carter' last='Grubb'] 6-7 2026 Traverse City West The late blooming leaper with excellent size just barely gets the top spot this year. Completing a rapid ascent as a prospect. I live in the region. Two summers ago, I saw this name at an elite camp at Grand Valley. My eyebrows were raised. I had never heard of the 6-6 prospect who did not play AAU. It's not like he was at some small remote school either. My expectations were not high. I could not have been more wrong. In Allendale, he showed the “carry” skill that has taken him to the next level. Elite elevation that is compounded by how quickly he gets off the ground. Since that day, he put together a strong junior campaign. Then followed that up with an an outstanding AAU run. He has also expanded his game with shooting and ball handling. Straddles the skill line of possibly even being a big wing a the next level. In the present, is going to establish a “no fly zone” at the rim defensively. His offensive role could expand this year as well. Has committed to Lake Superior St. Both Laker GLIAC programs are getting very good players at #'s 1 and 2 on this list.

Back by popular demand (insert sarcasm) I'm going to once again take on the daunting task of composing a list of the top 40 players in Northern Michigan. It is a herculean effort as this is a vast geographic region.