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Add commentMichigan boys HS basketball Preseason 2024-25: Division 1 toughest districts
Michigan boys high school basketball scrimmages are taking place throughout the state, which has posed the question: who looks like state title contenders?
Below are five districts that look daunting entering the start of the 2024-25 season. A few years back, the MHSAA made a slight adjustment to the tournament, seeding the district based on a regular-season point system.
Here are five tough districts that should produce some memorable moments:
District 3
Teams:
Saginaw Heritage, Saginaw United, Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Flushing, Bay City Central
Top Players:
Jaylin Cooper (6-4) Saginaw Heritage, Noah Arnold (6-8) Saginaw Heritage, T.J. Stevenson (6-2) Saginaw United, Boop Hardy (5-11) Saginaw United, Deuce Weston (5-10) Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Donovan Hamlin (6-4) Flint C-A
The Story:
Saginaw United kicks off its inaugural season after Saginaw High and Arthur Hill combined. They feature a great backcourt with some intriguing forwards. Saginaw Heritage is very young, but they have a lot of talent in the backcourt and frontcourt coming up the ranks. Carman-Ainsworth has a physical squad with electric guards and tough rebounders. It wouldn’t be surprising to see any of the three make it out of this district.
Prediction:
Saginaw United
District 4
Teams:
Rockford, Muskegon, Mona Shores, Greenville, Reeths-Puffer, Cedar Springs
Top Players:
Jake Bascom (6-5) Rockford, Michael DeKuiper (6-0) Rockford, Keashaun Johnson (6-4) Muskegon, James Martin (6-3) Muskegon, Jordan Bledsoe (6-0) Mona Shores, Jonathan Pittman (6-4) Mona Shores
The Story:
This might be the state’s toughest district this season, with Rockford, Muskegon and Mona Shores all capable of a deep run. Rockford has state-finals upside as a deep and athletic team with great guards and height. Muskegon is also a tough and well-coached team with four-plus next-level players on their roster.
Prediction:
Rockford
District 11
Teams:
East Lansing, Lansing Waverly, Grand Ledge, DeWitt, Lansing Eastern
Top Players:
Cameron Hutson (6-5) East Lansing, KJ Torbert (6-2) East Lansing, Derek Thomas (6-3) Lansing Waverly, Xavier Pendergrass (6-7) Lansing Waverly, Deshawnta Malone (5-10) Lansing Waverly, Braden James (6-9) Grand Ledge, Izaiah O’Dell (6-7) Grand Ledge
The Story:
East Lansing has lost in the quarterfinals each of the last two seasons, but return three players with D1 college offers. This has to be their year, right? Waverly dominated at the BCAM event this summer with quickness, skill and size. They are a deep sleeper this winter. Grand Ledge has great height, but just haven’t been able to put everything together. They have the talent to throw their name in with the state’s best teams.
Prediction:
East Lansing
District 20
Teams:
Detroit King, Cass Tech, Grosse Pointe South, Grosse Pointe North, Detroit Western, East English
Top Players:
Derrick Kilgore (6-1) Detroit King, Steven Jones (6-2) Detroit King, Stevie Hall (6-2) Cass Tech, Lee Harris (6-5) Cass Tech, Tory James (6-1) GP South, Leo Perettie (5-11) GP North
The Story:
Always a challenging district, up to four teams have the chance to get hot at the right time and advance to the regional. King and Cass Tech have the most recognizable names, and quite a few of them, but the Grosse Pointe teams are led by versatile guards. Western and East English won’t be complete pushovers, either.
Prediction:
Cass Tech
District 23
Teams:
Renaissance, UD Jesuit, Warren Fitzgerald, Hamtramck, Mumford
Top Players:
Lance Stone (5-7) Renaissance, Jordan Sigmon (6-1) Renaissance, Leroy Blyden Jr. (6-1) UD Jesuit), Xavier Johnson (6-4) UD Jesuit, Keandre Burtin (6-7) Warren Fitzgerald, Brian Jenkins (6-3) Hamtramck, Justin Garrison (6-4) Hamtramck
The Story:
Guard play will be incredible in this game, as Stone is headed to Detroit Mercy, Sigmon has power conference offers and Blyden is signed with Toledo. Hamtramck also has a great mix of size, speed and athleticism. This district could produce some fireworks with up to four teams posing a threat to reach regionals.