Youth of Today: Underclassman Camp standouts

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s sophomore Daniel Smythe at the Bank Hoops Underclassman Camp.

The general tone from the Bank Hoops Underclassman Camp was hard-working, open-minded young players, grateful for the opportunity having learned the hard way in the last year not to take any for granted. Oh, and talent. Here are some more of the promising prospects from the event.

Ean Brown  6-1  10  Southfield Christian: It comes full circle for Southfield Christian, as last year’s senior star Malcolm King was a star at the Bank Hoops unsigned seniors workout, now Brown looks ready to come in and do good things over the next three years. Tough to contain when driving downhill. Alert and opportunistic off the ball defensively, with freelance traps and diving down on posts catches.

Martinez Gregory  5-8  Fr  Belleville: Part of a strong camp contingent of Belleville Tigers. Quick and aggressive defender. Good separation with the dribble. Shot selection should improve with age.

M’khi Guy  5-8  So  Muskegon: This was his first live action in six months coming off an injury, and he acquitted himself well. Dialed in, vocal, a leader like you want from the point — and passed like one too. Should be a nice change-of-pace with one of the state’s top 2023 backcourts, Bank Hoops Camp alumni Jordan Briggs and Anthony Sydnor.

Stevie Hall  5-9  7th  West Bloomfield MS: Still the youngest player in camp but taller than a year about, which allowed his intentions to more often become reality with the completion of moves. Saw the floor and plays progress, and was able to break down his man accordingly. Between skill, growth spurt and basketball background, he has to be one of the state’s better 2027 prospects; and compares favorably to past middle school point guard prodigies at the camp like Cassius Winston, RJ Taylor and Durral Brooks. Those three guys have four state championships between them — with five high school seasons left between the latter two.

Ryan Hatcher  6-1  So  Detroit U-D Jesuit: Projects with a good size-skill backcort combo, Hatcher has a smooth shot and made good decisions in traffic.

Braeden Holder  5-8  Fr  Warren De La Salle: Cry not for De La Salle, the talent keeps rolling in for second-year coach Gjon Djokaj. Holder shoots it well and is crafty with the ball, and distinguished himself as a young guard with his defensive footwork.

Cedric Huntley  5-6  So  Kalamazoo Loy-Norrix: Vocal point guard, classic drive-draw-dish type. Had a good rapport with Daniel Smythe, allowing the latter to play some off the ball and knock down Js.

Luke Marlan  6-2  So  Mason: Already a veteran camper, and keeps getting better. Lefty shot-maker both from 3 and mid-range, and in games had the first live-action dunk of his young career. Projects to have a small college floor, with room to grow given his rate of improvement and age.

Montrel Oliver  6-1  So  Grand Rapids Union: He can give flashes of the best guards to come through Union in recent seasons like Sergio Diaz and Quantes Jackson, as Oliver is raw but has a knack for making plays on both ends of the floor. Has an improved weapon in his jumper off the dribble.

Connor Osypczuk  6-0  So  Mason: Aggressive, opportunistic driver, and consistent finisher. Worked off the ball as well and looked varsity ready.

Daniel Smythe  6-2  So  Orchard Lake St. Mary’s: Rip Hamilton mask, and a nice J off the dribble. While he can shoot it, a different player than his brother Will now a freshman at Loyola because “Bugs” is first a big-step driver and creator off the bounce. Plays like a true point guard attacking with the pass in transition and dribble in half-court. Made life easy for his team’s bigs, laying the ball in soft to their sweet spots.

Lance Stone  5-7  Fr  Detroit Renaissance: There are big things brewing at Renaissance, and this looks like an ideal point guard to build with towards the future, and a nice overlap with four-year point guard Juwan Maxey who looked like a D2 recruit all summer. Stone plays with pace, heads up with flow and feel, and made patient decisions off screens like a vet. Made the extra pass. Slight, but a pest on D. Will have to sell out more off the ball in real live PSL action when it gets grimy unlike summer ball. Has has the hoops pedigree college coaches love.

Darryl Thompkins  5-8  Fr  Vista Charter: Tough to handle off the straight-line drive, was physical and aggressive compared to a lot of the eighth-graders. Vocal, quick learner and good buy-in during drills. Aggressive on-ball defender.

Zammir White-Murphy  6-0  Fr  Flint Carman-Ainsworth: C-A’s varsity is a tough nut to crack as the Cavs could again project as a top 10 Division 1 team. But this kid is solid, consistent, effective, versatile to play a role, and has a chance.

Trevor Zamarron  6-1  So  Greenville: Experienced player coming out of the O-K White as a varsity freshman going against the likes of Forest Hills Nothern and Central, GR Christian, EGR and Northview. Smart setting up his man, changing pace, creating an assortment of shots in the lane. Combo who looks like an Aquinas-type guard as the strength comes. Quite a good-looking shooter when using less legs.