5 Northern Michigan 2021’s on the Rise

<p><span id="more-966461"></span>The Spring/Summer before one’s senior year is the biggest time for a prospect to break out. Hopefully these five Northern Michigan prospects get that chance. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="814567" first="Drew" last="Hess"] 6-0 2021 Mio </strong>Came into the season with a well earned reputation as a shooter. Did nothing to dispel that notion in a big junior campaign. Began the season with excellent showings at three separate fall exposure camps. Netted 33 points in a big victory over Hillman. Was set up for a rematch with Hale and <strong>Joseph</strong> <strong>Kimmerer</strong> in what would have been a huge district final. Hale won the first contest in OT. Winner could have been primed for a deep March run. Has already appeared on the Breslin stage winning the three point shoot out at the 2019 champioship weekend. Playing for Thunderbolt head coach Ty McGregor, Hess should be well prepared to play guard at the next level. Will be a four year player and possible 2,000 point scorer when it is all said and done. </p> <p><b>Jayden Alfred 6-3 2021 Mancelona </b>You will not need a program to identify this big time athlete. Did an excellent job of expanding his all around game in a big junior season. Averaged 21.9 points game and 10.9 rebounds. While 22 and 11 is impressive, defense is where I think this young man will be able to punch his ticket. Averaged nearly two blocks and two steals a game. When you combine these stats with the eye test, you begin to see an intriguing long term 1-4 defensive prospect. Sturdy build combined with a bouncy vertical will allow him to defend the post. Foot speed and long arms will make him a menace on the perimeter. No stranger to the summer scene as he ran with both Northern Exposure and Bank Hoops last year. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="814631" first="Jack" last="Stefanski"] 6-4 2021 Frankfort </strong>What do you after you lead your team to a state final game appearance as a sophomore? How does a double double to the tune of 19 points and 11.3 rebounds per game sound? Not the flashiest game, but very efficient. Evidenced by shooting 47% from the field and 76% at the line. College coaches should be intrigued by his bloodlines and big game experience. Brother is a lineman at Arizona. Don’t be fooled by that though. Stefanski is a skinny and long prospect who is the quarterback for the Panthers storied gridiron program. Like Alfred, ran with Bank Hoops last summer so he has plenty of grassroots experience as well. </p> <p><strong>Jacob Mueller 6-7 2021 Charlevoix </strong>Might have the biggest athletic upside of any player on this list. Lanky lean build with extremely long arms. Bouncy and agile but perhaps a little too aggressive, as he struggled with foul trouble in the games I viewed. That did not stop him from producing at a high clip on the season. Averaged 14.4 points per game to go along 7.6 rebounds. Might want to see a little more rebounding for a player his size. However being schooled by head coach Matt Stuck (4th all time MHSAA leading rebounder) should help. Displays a soft touch around the basket with the possibility to expand his range. There is a lot of potential in this young prospect. Hopefully he gets a chance to show it off this summer. </p> <p><strong>Kameron Karp 6-0 2021 Marquette</strong> The Redmen lost virtually everything from last years district championship squad. Included in that was 6-10 center <b>Marius</b> <b>Grazulis</b> who matriculated to Grand Valley St. You would expect them to take a step back? This do everything guard was having none of that. Led Marquette to a 19-3 record and another appearance in a district final. Averaged 17.8 points per game to go along with four assists. Did not do all his damage North of the bridge. Led the Redmen to a repeat title in the Petoskey Tip-off tournament. Followed that up by playing well in a Friday/Saturday swing through Traverse City. Played particularly well against co-Big North Conference champion Traverse City Central. Ran with Great Northern Elite last summer. With his remote location hopefully some college coaches will get a chance to watch this intriguing backcourt prospect this summer. </p>