Up North Dream Team

<p class="p3"><span class="s2">Football coach Dennis Green was famous for yelling “they are who we thought they were”. This pretty much sums up the top five players from the Northern region. All five had big reputations and deep March runs on their resumes coming into the season and did nothing diminish their status.</span></p> <ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s2"><b>Foster</b> <b>Wonders</b> <strong>6-5 2021 Iron Mountain</strong> The only Junior on this list, Wonders proved he was not a one-hit-wonder (ok last pun) How does 27.4 point per game sound? Add in nearly eight rebounds and two and a half assists. Oh I almost forgot nearly two steals a game. That is called a staff sheet stuffer. Not some small town bully. Has displayed his diverse skill set on the biggest stages of high school and grassroots basketball. I have written before and I will write it again. A generational Upper Peninsula talent. </span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">[player_tooltip player_id="785004" first="Reece" last="Hazelton"] <strong>6-7 2020 Glen Lake</strong> Arguably had the best “year” of any player on this list. Quarterbacked the Lakers to a Division 6 final appearance on the gridiron. Accordingly had a slow start to the basketball season but his game was beginning to peak at the right time. Perhaps the highlight of the season was a game winning lay up that doubled as his thousandth career point. Took place against Saginaw Heritage in a MLK classic at Saginaw Valley St. Will see that court many times as he is a Ferris St commit. Like Wonders filled up the stat sheet with 18.4 points per game and 7.3 rebounds. Added 4.2 assist and nearly two steals a game. One of the many things we lost this season was a potential quarterfinal matchup between Hazelton and Wonders in Petoskey. It would have been fun. </span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2"><strong>Marcus Johnson 5-9 2020 Iron Mountain</strong> Finished off a stellar career in impressive fashion. Tallied over 2,000 career points, passing some guy named Earvin Johnson on the MHSAA career scoring list. Averaged 22.4 points per game and 4.5 assists. Like Hazelton, Johnson quarterbacked the Mountaineers on a deep Division 7 semi final football run. Recently committed to Ripon College, a Division 3 school in Wisconsin whose alumni include former Badger head coach Dick Bennett (Tony’s Dad). I could easily see Johnson developing into a star at that level. </span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">[player_tooltip player_id="789766" first="Blake" last="Cassidy"] <strong>6-4 2020 Pellston</strong> Came a bucket away from the Breslin Center last year and was headed in that trajectory once again. A long, lanky, and unique talent especially at the Class D level. Known as a deep marksman for most of his career, but expanded his game in his senior year. Evidenced by averaging a near double double with 29.7 points per game to go along with 9.1 rebounds. Outstanding four year career that left him second in his school’s career points list behind three time all Patriot league player Chris Hass (Bucknell). Not a bad player to be behind. Cassidy will play at the next level and has committed to Lake Superior St. </span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">[player_tooltip player_id="789879" first="Andy" last="Soma"] <strong>6-0</strong><strong> 2020 Traverse City West</strong> One of the most athletically explosive guards on this list dealt with health issues in his senior year. Missed seven games with a broken foot. Seemed to play his best when the lights were the brightest. Scored 34 points against cross town rival Traverse City Central. Also played well well when the Titans defeated Glen Lake and the aforementioned Hazelton early in the season. Efficiently averaged 16.7 points per game. Shot 51% from the field, 37% from, and 90% from the free throw line. Currently uncommitted, but could be major steal for a program willing to give him a chance.</span></li> </ol> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">Note: I will highlighting 2021 breakout prospects and underclassmen standouts from Northern Michigan in upcoming posts</span></p>