East Kentwood sooner than later

East Kentwood junior Christian Humphrey-Rembert dunks at Cornerstone.

With former Falcon Christian Humphrey-Rembert back in the fold, East Kentwood’s rebrand under first-year coach Mike Thomas is ahead of schedule. The Falcons are 2-0 after a running clock win over Parchment at Cornerstone’s holiday tournament.

Jaden Bowman  6-5  Sr  East Kentwood: Sleeper 2023 wing forward recruit whose high school value soars playing next to CHR. Good at core stuff, talking on D, finding a body when shots go up. Good wingspan and challenges shots in the lane and jumpers.

Marshaun Flakes  6-0  Sr  East Kentwood: He’s EK’s most experienced starter, and was largely here comfortable letting younger players score. He still has the goods to score 20 himself if needed. Played off of two feet and passed it well.

Jah Hatchett  5-10  So  East Kentwood: A very strong run, scoring an efficient 22 while sharing the ball. Hatchett scored 27 in their first game. Gets into the lane either to thread passes to teammates or breakdown and score one-on-one. Hit his first two 3s. Another aggressive, handsy on-ball defender able to take it the other way the distance. He and Darryl Thompkins are one of the state’s top underclassman backcourts.

Christian Humphrey-Rembert  6-9  Jr  East Kentwood: He had been at Lalumiere Prep and didn’t play in EK’s first game, a win over Forest Hills Central. The Falcons go from a team of good guards, which is OK but there are a lot of them, to a team with good guards and a 6-9 impact player who can score above the rim, from 20 feet, and defend. He kind of glides at his size so you don’t necessarily realize Rembert is playing hard, but he runs to get follow shots on offense, and runs back to the paint to slow things down on defense; guards the rim or can get out and space for tips; discourages things via his wingspan. Much improved three-point shooter. All adding up to justification for his approaching double-digit D1 offers, most recently the MAC pair of WMU and Buffalo. That said, he faced zero physical impediment against a Parchment squad far removed from last year’s 20-win team. More telling matchups will be in the OK-Red against Grandville’s Cameron Regnerus and Grand Haven’s Harrison Sorrelle.

Darryl Thompkins  5-10  So  East Kentwood: A transfer from Warren Michigan Collegiate who fits right in with how Mike Thomas likes to play. Ball is thick in Thompkins’ bloodline and he hoops hard and with a purpose. Right up there with all the terrific 2025 guards in Michigan. Really fast with the ball; had a sweet touch pass on one fast break. Aggressive, high-hands defender, seems to always be around the ball. When attacking out of the half-court can change speeds and run through progressions.