Analysis: Michigan High School Basketball Top 25 Players Regardless of Class

Ranking athletes at any level can be a controversial endeavor. Everyone has their own opinions.

Michigan is rich with talent, and many players are deserving of recognition. But cutting a list down to 25 players can be very difficult. List makers put themselves out there to share their expertise and opinions. Not everyone will agree, but just remember this is an educated opinion.

Twenty years ago, half the country debated that Kobe Bryant was the best player. The other half favored LeBron James. Everyone has different ideas of what makes a great player. Here's a look at mine:

1. Trey McKenney - 6-4 Sr - Orchard Lake St. Mary’s - Special player; the type of basketball recruit Michigan rarely gets (or keeps) for four years. A five-star recruit with the body of a football player. He has a soft touch on his mid-range jumper. He can also hit consistently from deep. He plays above the rim and is a menace when driving the lane. They can give him Mr. Basketball right now.
2. Cameron Hutson - 6-5 Sr - East Lansing - He seems to get better every time I see him. Terrific 3-point shooter. Son of former MSU star Andre Hutson, but Cameron might be even more versatile. Always seems to be around the ball. Confident but not cocky. Will be a steal at the next level.
3. Macari Moore - 6-3 Sr - Ann Arbor Huron - Physical, determined lead guard. Moore is ultra-competitive; seems to always play with a chip on his shoulder. Committed to Iowa State to help the Cyclones, where Michigan has had a bit of a pipeline. Better-than-average shooter who should find immediate success at the next level.
4. Leroy Blyden Jr. - 6-1 Sr. U of D Jesuit - The next in a seemingly endless line of great Cubs point guards. Blyden is sleek and cunning with the ball. He has a nice outside shot. He showcases solid vision and great ball-handling. A growth spurt before last season helped his recruiting, and he now has several D1 offers.
5. Lance Stone - 5-7 Sr. Detroit Renaissance - Looks even shorter than his listed height, but, man, does he have a big-time game. Really reminds me of former Renaissance and Oregon star Tajuan Porter. Unlimited range, although he can get a little carried away there. Super quick, a blur in open space, and a terrific passer. Electric with the ball. A must-see player. Committed to Detroit Mercy.
6. Cameron Ryans - 6-4 Jr. - GR Northview - Ryans is a throw-back player with an inside-out game. Kind of a shorter and slimmer Draymond Green in his skill and versatility. He plays with a physical mean streak and won’t back down from any player. He has an offer from Iowa State but would likely have to transition to guard at the next level.
7. Markus Blackwell - 6-2 Sr. - Warren Lincoln - Torched the nets at the Breslin Center last March, leading the Abes to their first state title. Amazing shooter, who has a great feel for the game. Committed to Eastern Illinois shortly after his visit. Will be a great mid-major D1 player who could still be on the rise.
8. Camden Karel - 6-9 Sr. - Byron Center - The lone “center” on the list. Karel is anything but a true center, as he possesses guard skills. Committed to Bowling Green State and could be an even better college player than high school. Karel should be able to create his own shot more this season, as Byron Center is a sleeper Breslin Center contender.
9. Brady Swartz - 6-7 Sr. - GR Northview - One of my favorite players in the state, Swartz had some massive performances last season. He’s a highlight-reel dunker; a lethal 3-point shooter; and a versatile defender. Committed to Western Michigan, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one day he transferred to a Power 5.
10. Phoenix Glassnor - 6-0 Sr. - Warren DLS - He does not have any weaknesses. Silky-smooth athlete and one of the best leaders in the state. Rarely turns the ball over and can get hot in a hurry. Committed to Toledo, where he will fit right in with a ton of Michigan-produced players.
11. KJ Torbert - 6-2 Jr. - East Lansing - Son of former Spartan Kelvin Torbert, but a completely different body type and game. Torbert has developed into a first-class point guard who could ultimately be the second-best player on this list. Produced some memorable dunks last season. Excels in transition - like everyone on East Lansing - and showcases the poise college coaches crave.
12. Sharod Barnes - 6-2 - Orchard Lake St. Mary’s - Has been lauded as one of the state-s best defenders since his freshman season. He now has an equally special offensive game to match. He can run point or play on the wing. He has really improved his 3-point shot. Committed to Western Michigan as part of a potentially special 2025 class for the Broncos.
13. Carlos Medlock Jr. - 5-11 Jr. - Wayne Memorial - A true point guard who can set up an offense or go on scoring bursts. Strong driving to the basket and dangerous from beyond the arc. Crafty and smart; seems to slip by defenders. He will play D1 basketball, and he reminds me of former Flint Beecher star Malik Ellison.
14. Stevie Elam - 6-2 Sr. - Adrian - Another strong-bodied guard with versatile skills. He has to do everything for Adrian, so it can be tough to gauge his prospects at the next level. But anyone with his strength and athleticism should at least be a solid mid-major contributor.
15. Moses Blackwell - 5-8 Sr. - Warren Lincoln - He stepped up when Markus was injured for a while last season and showed the state his skills in the state finals, burying a flurry of 3-pointers. A little underrated because the Abes have so many great players, but Moses isn’t too far behind Lance Stone in overall skill. Perhaps the best ball-handler and floor general in the state.
16. Carson Vis - 6-3 Sr. - South Christian - An untimely wrist injury cost him the end of the 2022-23 season, and he looked a little rusty last season. Rebounded with elite performances over the summer, setting up a potential Mr. Basketball candidacy. Committed to Western Michigan, Vis excels at getting to the basket and finishing through traffic.
17. Jaylohn Allen - 6-1 Jr. - Wayne Memorial - Crafty guard with solid athleticism and a penchant for making big plays. Could average 20-plus points this season and has formed an excellent partnership with Medlock. The Zebras are a real team to watch, and Allen will look to continue picking up D1 offers.
18. Dominic Krzesowiak - 6-5 Sr. - Ann Arbor Huron - Similar skill set to Swartz, as an above-the-rim player who also has a great shooting stroke. Potentially underrated, and still on the rise as a prospect. It wouldn’t surprise me to see his recruitment really take off this season as the clear leader on a potent Dragons squad.
19. Camden Fall Thompson - 6-6 Sr. - Whitehall - The best rebounder in the state, and it’s not even close. Routinely put up 20-20 games last season. He’s the most athletic player in the gym almost every night. Long wingspan and aggressive mentality on both sides of the ball. Committed to Western Michigan for basketball and football.
20. Jake Bascom - 6-5 Jr. - Rockford - Now an upperclassman, Bascom could become a truly dominant player, as he showed flashes of that last winter. A perfect height for high school post play. He has long arms and a versatile offensive repertoire in the post. He always wants the ball, constantly calling for it, which has become a bit of a lost art. Will need to either grow a couple inches or change positions at the next level.
21. Stevie Hall - 6-2 So. - Cass Tech - Another fluid athlete who is just as comfortable knocking down 3-pointers as he is driving to the basket. He looked vastly improved and more comfortable over the summer. He already has a Big Ten offer from Nebraska and will certainly pick up many more.
22. Tory James - 6-1 Sr. - Grosse Pointe South - Another one of my favorite players in the state. All class on the court, glides by defenders with excellent touch around the rim. He also has one of the purest 3-point strokes I’ve ever seen. Has improved leaps and bounds, and he could be our state’s breakout player this winter.
23. Keyshawn Summerville - 5-11 Jr. - Lansing Sexton - Crafty, undersized guard who keeps adding more strength. He’s a prolific scorer on a team with a trio of great junior, under-6-foot guards. Speed kills and Summerville has plenty of it. He has multiple D1 offers. Still relatively unknown, but a deep tournament run could end that.
24. Geon Hutchins - 6-4 Sr. - Warren Lincoln - Talk about flying under the radar, Hutchins’ transfer from Oak Park to Warren Lincoln was one of the biggest moves we’ve ever seen. Hutchins is extremely athletic. He’s great at creating his own shot and he can guard multiple positions. Hutchins working with the Blackwells and others for the Abes will be exciting to watch. Northern Iowa commit.
25. James Martin - 6-3 Jr. - Muskegon - Special athlete, who probably has his own YouTube channel showing an endless loop of all his jaw-dropping dunks. He might have a future at point guard, as he looked comfortable there this summer. He’s a jump shot away from becoming a major recruit. But almost everyone on Muskegon’s roster can say that this season, as they really struggled in the halfcourt over the summer.