Saginaw Valley League: Underclassmen To Watch This Year
The Saginaw Valley League has long been one of Michigan’s premiere hoop conferences. Recently, perhaps due to top players transferring out of state to prep schools, the Valley has been down compared to normal standards. With that being said, do not make the mistake of thinking there is any shortage of talent. The Valley has plenty of young talent – here are some underclassmen I believe are poised to have a big year:
Mason Wojtusik (Mount Pleasant, 2020) – Wojtusik is a top 20 sophomore in the state and perhaps the top underclassmen in the Valley this year. Last year, he played behind several upperclassmen guards who are now graduated. This year, Mount Pleasant is ripe with young talent with Wojtusik being the leader of the pack. The shifty combo guard has good size and good athleticism already – a combination of which will allow him to compete at a high level against older, more filled-out opponents. Wojtusik is one of the top players in the Valley this year and will look to prove himself with a breakout year.
Freddie McIntosh (Saginaw High, 2020) – McIntosh had a successful AAU campaign running with REACH Legends. Looking ahead to this year, there will be plenty of opportunities for McIntosh to prove he’s the guy, as Saginaw High graduated their top 3 players as well as a couple other players. Despite being undersized, he plays with that heart and toughness – an ability that, when combined with his speed and quickness, allows to be him to be a fantastic on-ball, pressure defender. He’s not just a defensive specialist, however – he proved that this AAU season. Look for McIntosh to have a successful season and take the next step as one of the top players on his team.
Parker Day (Saginaw Heritage, 2021) – Already listed at 6’5″, Parker Day is a top-10 freshman in the state this year. Versatile for his size, Day can shoot, has decent handles, rebound and defend. One valuable skill he possesses is a nice basketball IQ – something that a lot of young players usually lack. Day will look to prove himself as the top player on his team in his first year as a high schooler.
James Carthans-Babers (Saginaw High, 2020) – Another underclassmen who has all the physical tools to compete at a high level, Carthans-Babers will look to step up in the absence of Saginaw’s aforementioned graduated players. He’s another young guy with the height (listed at 6’5″) and athleticism to compete with anybody. Running with REACH in AAU, Carthans-Babers used his athleticism to make plays in all sorts of ways – rebounding, blocking shots, jumping passing lanes, finishing at the rim, etc. Look for him to play alongside teammate McIntosh this season.