Bank Hoops Top 25 Teams

One of the state’s top defenders, Grand Rapids senior Donovan Boyd and the Eagles are off to a 3-0 start.

1.Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 2-0: Will Smythe having a Brandon Cassise- like impact as a transfer, he’s one of the state’s top three-point shooters but the others in that stratosphere don’t have the weapons around him like Smythe does at St. Mary’s; and vice-versa his threat leaves D1 guys attacking one-on-one. Multiple big bodies up front, and D1 depth in the backcourt. All of this will be on display when the No. 1 Eaglets play host to No. 2 Grand Blanc Tuesday. They already have a quality win, 78-63 against Beecher a game in which Smythe hit a school-record seven three-pointers.

2. Grand Blanc 3-0: Wins of 90-34 against Bay City Central, 83-72 against Flint Powers and 79-46 over Midland. Junior Ty Rodgers is the state’s top prospects. The Bobcats’ role players will grow up fast against St. Mary’s.

3. River Rouge 2-0: Last we saw Panthers star Legend Geeter he was announcing the return of basketball. Now he’s helpled hand out a couple of butt-kickings. It should be more challenging Friday against Hamtramck.

4. Ann Arbor Huron 1-0: Finally got back on the court for a “friendly” with Skyline, which Huron won in overtime. While many teams have six weeks to grow up, the River Rats are a bunch of seniors and future college players so well ahead of the curve.

5. Grand Rapids Christian 3-0: Yet to be tested through Saturday’s win over Holland Christian, but it gets real this week with games against Forest Hills Central, Northview and GR Catholic Central for Kobe Bufkin and friends.

6. Detroit King 2-0: Already one of the state’s best guards and junior Chancey Willis has elevated his game scoring 30 against Eastpointe after 28 against Denby. He can play on or off the ball thanks to the versatility of 6-3 senior Davin Walker, who signed with Siena Heights. The emergence of seniors with 6-3 Adrian commitment 6-7 Shainen Carter on the glass and Geilel Ward shooting has been a nice development for MLK.

7. Warren De La Salle 3-0: New coach, similar results for the Pilots as included in that 3-0 start are wins over quality talent from West Bloomfield and Brother Rice. Linden Holder is one of the state’s top available senior guards, while there is college scholarship talent in the sophomore class with 6-4 Triston Nichols and 6-8 Michael Sulaka.

8. Grand Rapids Catholic Central 3-0: May start a freshman and sophomore at guard but they’re good ones apparently, Phat Phat Brooks and Kaden Brown, as the Cougars are off to a 3-0 start including a season-opening win against South Christian on a miracle shot by Jack Karasinski.

9. Detroit U-D Jesuit 2-0: Some things don’t change, the Cubs have an ace point guard in sophomore Sonny Wilson and some dudes on the wings like  2022s Chris Mutebi and Charles Turner. Looming on the schedule are back-to-back games against No. 1 St. Mary’s.

10. Detroit Douglass 3-0: The heavy favorite to win Division 4. MSU signee Pierre Brooks already has a 40-point game on Osborn and then Saturday scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to hold off Benton Harbor in Grand Rapids.

11. Zeeland East 2-0: It was dunk city in the Chix’ blowout of Reeths-Puffer with future GLIACers Brandon Claerbaut, Nathan Claerbaut and Trip Riemersma. And it was even easier against Holland. Nate Claerbaut has become a game-changing defender.

12. Flint Beecher 2-1: The loss was to No. 1 St. Mary’s and one of the wins against a talented Ferndale squad.

13. Williamston 3-0: The Hornets played a spirited and hard-nosed second half to come back and beat Forest Hills Northern 44-42 in Grand Rapids to improve to 3-0. And that’s with 6-9 D1 recruit Max Burton recovering from an ankle injury.

14. Troy 2-0: Won in 2OTs against Stoney Creek. The senior guard trio of Brody Parker and Ethan and Jake Emerzian can play with anyone.

15. Forest Hills Northern 2-1: Like the team right above them here, FHN has two senior guards either of whom can be alpha ball-handlers or shot-makers in Ethan Erickson and Trinidad Chambliss, both headed to Ferris State for basketball and football, respectively. 6-7 Fruitport transfer Gavin Fisher is an intriguing available senior

16. Hamtramck 2-0: Guards for days in this reborn program, including senior Javier Whitaker who scored 40 against Novi Catholic Central. The Cosmos also have a win against a good Ecorse team.

17. East Lansing 1-0: Escaped Grand Ledge with a 52-50 win. The Trojans have size and can lean on a four-year varsity point guard in Marcus Wourman.

18. North Farmington  2-0: A healthy Deon Hayes is poised for a big senior year in the Raiders’ backcourt, 6-4 senior Blake Goodman is a transfer from Novi Christian who is headed to Siena Heights while 6-8 senior Basheer Jihad is going to Ball State.

19. Clarkston  2-0: Tradition never graduates … and star junior guard Keegan Wasilk won’t for two years. The Wolves have wins over Farmington and Waterford Mott.

20. Detroit Edison 2-0: Bumped up from Division 3 to Division 2 but shouldn’t blink, few teams have a beefier frontline. DEPSA scored 99 against Cornerstone.

21. Ferndale 1-1: Split with a win over Oak Park and a loss to Beecher. St. Mary’s transfer Jason Drake made an immediate impact, Ferndale’s leading scorer against Oak Park. He and 6-4 Treyvon Lewis give the Eagles one of the most offensively dynamic 2022 D1 backcourts in the Midwest. The Eagles had a void in the middle via Colin Golston’s matriculation to Siena. 6-6 senior Jack Kennedy had a double-double against OP.

22. Benton Harbor 2-1: Beat Muskegon on a last-second three by Kentrell Pullian but wasn’t as lucky less than 24 hours later in a loss to Douglass.

23. Muskegon 1-1: A basically new but talented lineup, this isn’t a team you want to see in March, er, April.

24. Saginaw Arthur Hill  3-0: A 10-point rivalry win over Saginaw High is included in that 3-0 start.

25. Macomb Dakota  1-0: Senior guard Joshuah Hines tied the school record with 43 points against Grosse Pointe North.