Up North Challenge: Sophomore All-Tournament Team

Up North Challenge sophomore champion DTO Elite.

Led by an inspired Warren Marshall IV, a 2024 recruit from Brother Rice, DTO Elite won the sophomore division of the Up North Challenge.

Up North Challenge sophomore MVP Warren Marshall IV from DTO Elite.

MVP  Warren Marshall  6-4  So  DTO Elite (Brother Rice): He was a plus role player as sophomore on maybe the state’s most talented roster. He’s grown a couple inches since then, and his game and confidence have as well. Marshall’s long first step and separating second one were the most dangerous tools in the 16U division, extending with his wingspan for finishes and had a 27-point game without a three-pointer. His 21 points were a game-high in the championship. That first step makes him a triple-threat out to 20 feet. Tougher than he looks and keeps coming at you.

Joey Cabana  6-2  So  DTO Elite (Chelsea): Scored efficiently — doing the real work off the ball, then quick and explosive takes when he touched it. Cabana had tournament high games of 24 and 22 points. Can initiate contact and beat you going downhill or score from deep. Has a burgeoning college body and the lift and body control with it that say scholarship athlete.

Jalen Clark  6-2  So  Downriver Bad Boyz (Westland John Glenn): This guy is a horse in the open court, bringing the noise to the rim with hangtime and authority. Can finish above the rim or step out and hit the three-pointer. Doesn’t just use that physicality to score, as Clark will hit the glass and make plays on the ball defensively.

Kaseon Frost  6-2  So  Program (Bay City Western): He came on like crazy the second half of the regular season for Bay City Western, and channeled that energy here. Big size for the backcourt. Looks good stepping into his own shot, or setting up teammates for theirs with the pass or screen. Doesn’t over-penetrate, keeps it simple and gets easy shots for teammates. Uses strength to push his man off the ball for steals, and blocks shots help-side.

Charlie Howell  6-4  So  Parallel 45-Somers (Cadillac): Since he’s returned from a baseball injury this Parallel 45 team has played some strong hoops, reaching the semis here after Howell scored 26 in the quarterfinals against the North Oakland Wolfpack. Only knows one way to play and even if he’s the sweatiest guy on the floor at the end of games still has dunking legs. Put one down in traffic that was far from pedestrian. Physical, aggressive driver to score or pass and just when you think maybe this is just an athletic kid overpowering his peers, he hits a between the legs fadeaway jumper for an Elam Ending game winner. The future is bright for the Vikings. Cadillac has a 2025 playing up on this team, smooth offensively talented 6-4 Gavin Goetz, who had his best tournament and was P45’s leading scorer in the semifinals.

Drew Kozel  6-4  So  DTO Elite (L’anse Creuse North): He’s a tough matchup because he has a rare mid-range shoot/drive game, scoring with craft and confidence; and can post up; and had a game with three 3s. That Kozel and two DTO guards, Joey Cabana and Karter Richards, don’t have just similar haircuts but also at times crossover skills that it was hard to tell any of them apart, speaks to how Kozel has expanded his game. Stayed in the action running hard both ways consistently; an active cutter in the half-court.

Jalen Mosley  6-0  So  BLM (St. Clair Shores South Lake): Team BLM has a pair of very talented 2024 Macomb County guards in Mosley and 6-3 Karl Stevens from Richmond. May be a shoot-first guard, but can do it off the catch or dribble with a pair of four 3-pointer games, then attack closeouts with mid-range leaners or dishes to the forwards. Good energy and leadership as you like from the 1.

Anthony Perdue  6-4  So  Program (Grand Blanc): Between his wingspan and energy, seems to always be around the ball. In his sophomore season Perdue was Grand Blanc’s only underclassman starter in the state championship game and got that role with defense, efforts which stand out in AAU. Can pass or finish on the break.

Anthony Ribel  6-2  So  Michigan Ballerz (Traverse City Central): He played the spring with Kyle Guy Elite, and made a triumphant return to Michigan here as he was his team’s leading scorer while doing it efficiently. Physical, aggressive guard who changes speeds to get into the lane and plays off of two feet to score or pass once there. Scored 22 in a tough three-point win over Legacy. With a more consistently soft-landing 3 ball, Ribel has a legitimate chance.

Karter Richards  6-3  So  DTO Elite (Grosse Pointe South): He finds himself on the floor a lot as he can ably fill various roles out of the backcourt, complement or assert depending on the lineup. Hit timely shots, plays heads up and kept the ball hot, and put in time on the defensive end.

Noah VanLaningham  5-10  So  Strictly Skillz (Mattawan): The other team knows it is coming, but VanLaningham was able to still go get his consistently. Had more than half of his team’s points against P45-Flannery, and did the same when he scored 20 in the first round of bracket play against the Downriver Bad Boyz. Quick release on the catch-and-shoot. Has big ups to get off pull-ups from mid-range, hang to finish or make an impact on the glass.

James Weaver  6-0  So  Downriver Bad Boyz (River Rouge): A true point guard who pushes the pace, not a bad idea as the Bad Boyz have a bunch of athletes on the wing. Able to break down and get into the lane whether with quickness one-on-one or using a ball screen.

Quron Williams  6-5  So  DTO Elite (Detroit Edison): One of two DEPSA varsity sophs who won hardware here with DTO, along with guard Jordan Anderson. Williams is a 3 and D ace who had 14 points with a pair of makes from behind the arc in the final. Gritty on D. Good physical tools, gets off the floor quickly.

Second-Team

• Jevon Campbell  6-0  So  Downriver Bad Boyz (Woodhaven)
• Adam Flannery  5-11  So  Parallel 45-Flannery (DeWitt)
• Gavin Goetz  6-4  Fr  Parallel 45-Somers (Cadillac)
• Trevon Jeffery  5-10  So  BLM (New Haven)
• Brady Kosin  6-6  So  North Oakland Wolfpack (Clarkston)
• Soyer Moloy  6-6  So  Program (Sanford Meridian)
• Karl Stevens  6-3  So  BLM (Richmond)
• Trevor Viau  6-0  So  Legacy (Brighton)
• Buddy Williams  5-9  So  Program (Davison)
• Wade Robinson  5-10  So  DTO Elite (Pontiac Notre Dame)