A Recruiting Boost for Boose

Flint Hanmady junior guard JaKoby Boose.

Last season, Flint Hamady was one of the state’s youngest winning teams, and JaKobie Boose one of the state’s most athletic underclassman. As we approach 2023, Hamady looks like a state contender in Division 2, and Boose one of the Michigan’s best players, as well as athletes.

Part of the holiday showcase vibe is entertaining the fans spending some of their vacation time in the gym, and Boose certainly fulfilled that in Hamady’s win over Detroit King in the PSL Showcase at Cass Tech with a 30-point dunk show. The Hawks as a whole often looked more like their all-state relay teams than a hoop squad with how they controlled and pushed pace, particularly in the first half.

Boose, a junior guard, is maybe 6-2, but he plays above the rim as a fast-break finisher, put-back scorer and alley-oop recipient more like he’s 6-8 — a power dunker. Like Grand Rapid Northview’s Tyran Thomas, Boose has to be accounted for on the offensive glass even if he’s starting outside the three-point arc. When not dunking, he is an impactful, physical player, using big strides into the lane then initiating contact once there. Even if starting from 30 feet out, will end up at the line. Uses hang-time and good hand-eye to score through contact in the lane, understands angles and uses the glass. An improving perimeter player, Boose looked like a true point guard at times against King, throwing an oop himself; driving for a no-look dish; and patiently coming off ball screens. A scholarship athlete for sure, and with his choice of offers if he stays in the gym working on that J.

Boose doesn’t look like Hamady’s only next-level player. 6-3 Amari’Yunn Blythe and 6-4 Warren Cain, both just sophomores, got in on the dunk act too.