Michigan State Tournament: New Names to Know

The final spring event of the Prep Hoops Circuit featured a deep and talented field. While many well known and proven names stood out. Plenty of new names stood out as well. Following are seven (or more) that caught my eye broken down by class.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2027</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='3659417' first='Korey' last='Jackson Jr'] 6-6 Lansing Sexton (pictured) First tine catching this player (at least that I remember) and came away very impressed. The first thing that catches your eye is the frame and size. Passes the eye test for a next level athlete in a major way. A legit 6-6 non-skinny frame. Looks like a post and showed the ability and toughness to play down there. However really popped as a matchup nightmare on the wing. Stood out in a victory over a West Michigan Premier squad that featured a four deep frontline. Put up 28 points in the victory and did it in a wide variety of ways. Good enough ball handler to get to his spot on the perimeter. Once there, easily rises over the defenders in the mid range. People expecting a Sexton drop off might be disappointed as Jackson"s Blue Water Hurricanes squad also featured a talented 2027 point guard in [player_tooltip player_id='3660642' first='Carmine' last='Henderson'] who showed talent as well on the weekend.   [player_tooltip player_id='3647415' first='Aaron' last='Williams'] 6-0 Grand Blanc While his [program_tooltip program_id='3590048' first='Mid' last='[program_tooltip program_id='2077023' first='Michigan' last='Mustangs']'] squad did not have the success they probably sought. Jackson was electric all weekend. I have certainly seen Grand Blanc play many times during the regular season. I do not recall seeing Williams. That might be a testament to the depth of the Bobcats program. In a field loaded with strong point guard play. Williams was easily the fastest prospect with ball in his hands. Lightning quick first step and burst aided him on both ends of the court. Even though he was a blur, played under control and didn't have a bunch of needless turnovers. Standout contest was a Saturday affair against Unlimited Athletics where he put up an eye opening 37 points. I would not be shocked if that was the high point total for the weekend. Showed the ability to fluidly shoot from beyond the arc in that contest. Has good positional size as most guards with his level of speed come in a sub six-foot package. I will be curious to see Williams' role in June and the upcoming year for GB.   [player_tooltip player_id='2877222' first='Ousmane' last='Coulibaly'] 6-7 Dearborn First saw this player in this exact gym and in this exact tournament last year. He was good then and told me he attended a small charter school. This year he was even better and has transferred to Dearborn High. Plainly, I don't think there are too many 6-7 prospects with his run and jump profile. With the jump part being the key variable. Got off the ground very quickly. I lost count of how many rejections he tallied against a West Michigan Premier squad that featured a huge frontline (see below) Fluid athlete who ran the court like wing. Huge wingspan that helped him play taller than his listed height. The defense is ahead of the offense. However, that doesn't mean the offense is non-existent. Showed a soft touch around the basket and got to the rim with the use of a basic drop step. Put up 13 points in the Sunday win against West Michigan Premier. Might have the highest upside of any player on this list.   [player_tooltip player_id='3651710' first='Ethan' last='Wenzel'] 6-6 Ionia The West Michigan Premier-Bishop squad featured a four horseman look in the post. With a quadrant of beefy post options. Wenzel was the new name for me. Wide bodied post who did not mind contact at all. Showed a soft touch on the perimeter with range that extended out to three point line. Easily hit a few in the first half of Sunday action. More than just a shooter away from the basket. Showed suprinsingly nimble feet and competed hard defensively. Perhaps too hard, as he fouled out of a Sunday loss. Put up 13 points in action limited by foul trouble. However I saw enough to keep my eye for a player from Billy Strings High... Wait this is sports... from Matt Hofkamp High. That is REALLY dating me but it also show how long its been since Ionia has produced a college level big (I'm sure I'm missing one somewhere) If Wenzel improves his burst at the rim. Has more than enough skill to end that streak.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2028 </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='3660638' first='Kameron' last='Shannon'] 6-9 Orchard Lake St Mary's First caught this player at the Storm Classic in Grand Rapids early in the spring. Though I thought I might have been catching a bit of mirage initially. Simply put, playing at a this high profile program I thought I would have heard of a player with this skillset prior. As young posts often do. He also seemed to fade a bit in Grand Rapids too. He did not fade in Dearborn. Leading REACH to 16U to a final appearance. The physical upside is immense. A legitimate 6-9 frame with a condor like wingspan. A little awkward and uncoordinated at times. That is usually in tight quarters or on the block. In the open court is light on his feet and runs well. Has a super quick second jump that I saw both in Grand Rapids and Dearborn. Makes him a huge presence on the glass. Still has some development to go, but there is a lot to work with.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2029 </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='3660635' first='Josh' last='Young Jr'] 6-0 Detroit Cody In the waning moments of the spring AAU season. I found myself thinking that Michigan was missing just one thing. The class of 2029 could use another talented next level guard... I hope the sarcasm is evident, but add another name to the exceedingly deep guard class in Michigan. Young got his attention the old fashioned way. By playing well in a open tryout. The nationally known RWE squad held tryouts for fifth Michigan spot and Young earned it. Then he went out and more than held his own against some of the top players in the nation. Quick with the ball in hands and efficient from beyond the three point line. Young was difficult to guard. Competed hard on the defensive end in a setting that might not always been conducive to that. RWE's opening opponent on Saturday was a Michigan squad [program_tooltip program_id='2539820' first='The' last='Academy'] that featured two very good seniors that will be playing at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='2850663' first='Logan' last='Moore'] 6-0 Brighton A week after coming a buzzer beater short of a championship in Chicago. Michigan Ignition took home a championship in Dearborn. Moore was a big reason why. Against a 1 of 1 Detroit squad that was uber athletic. Moore help at the point against heavy defensive pressure. Balanced playmaking and scoring opportunities well and scored when it was needed. Also a standout on the gridiron, but you would not need me to tell you that. Moves and comports himself like a next level athlete already. There is some extreme depth coming up in the Brighton backcourt. Moore is more than good enough to earn time with already.

The final spring event of the Prep Hoops Circuit featured a deep and talented field. While many well known and proven names stood out. Plenty of new names stood out as well. Following are seven (or more) that caught my eye broken down by class.