AA Huron battles past GR Northview at The D Zone Invitational

CLARKSTON - Ann Arbor Huron out-muscled Grand Rapids Northview Saturday 70-57 at The D Zone Invitational.

Playing in front of Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who already has a commitment from River Rats star Macari Moore, and has extended an offer to Northview star Cam Ryans, the two teams battled with their stars leading the way.

In the end, Huron had a little more firepower to win the top-20 matchup.

AA Huron MVP: Macari Moore (6-3)

His combination of size and skill from a high school point guard is unrivaled in the state. Moore was locked in Saturday, beating his man to the spot, getting to the rim and even knocking down some 3-pointers. With his future coach in the stands, Moore proved that he's a Power-5 talent and an almost certain lock to become a Mr. Basketball candidate. He finished the game with 25 points.

GR Northview MVP: Cam Ryans (6-5)

A year younger and two inches shorter than Moore, it was obvious why Otzelberger was in the stands for both players. Ryans hasn’t committed yet, but an offer from Iowa State points to his immense upside. Ryans and Moore had a stretch in the third quarter where they were trading baskets, potentially providing Otzelberger with a glimpse of his future backcourt. Ryans finished the game with a team-high 26 points and is the favorite to win Mr. Basketball next year.

Team Analysis:

AA Huron

Huron certainly lost a lot of size and physicality from last year’s squad, but they make up for it with length and skill. Summit transfer Dominic Krzesowiak (6-5) is a dual threat offensive talent who can knock down 3-pointers and get to the basket. He has D1 and D2 offers. Jayden Keefer (6-4) is a tremendous outside shooter with plus athleticism, and Kaleb Brown (6-4) is relentless on the offensive glass. This team won’t be able to bully teams like last year’s Breslin squad, but they have the skill to make another long run.

GR Northview

Northview is led by Ryans and Western Michigan signee Brady Swartz (6-6), but they desperately need an established third scorer. Swartz has been very inconsistent with his jump shot, which has made the team a little one dimensional. Sophomore point guard Anthony Willis (6-2) has flashed the ability to be the third scorer, but something is still missing. Northview will be an entertaining watch throughout the season, but if something doesn’t change, they could be an upset candidate in the tournament.