10 Games to Watch in West Michigan: Week of December 9th; Part II
Rivals and familiar foes square off in week one of the high school basketball season. Earlier, I talked about five must-watch games in the West Michigan area. These next five games feature a group of future collegiate athletes and a…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingRivals and familiar foes square off in week one of the high school basketball season. Earlier, I talked about five must-watch games in the West Michigan area. These next five games feature a group of future collegiate athletes and a number of underclassmen hoping to make a name for themselves.
Tuesday, December 11th
Mona Shores @ Holland
Mona Shores and Holland square off on opening night in the Dutch Dome hoping to start their seasons off on the right foot. Senior guards will dictate this matchup as Holland’s Anders Rasmussen and Mona Shores’ Jaylen Hopson are out to make a name for themselves as two of the under the radar guards in the area.
Players to watch
Jaylen Hopson
Guard
Mona Shores, 2020
Anders Rasmussen
6’2″ Guard
Holland, 2020
Wednesday, December 11th:
Wyoming @ Northview
Wednesday’s matchup between Wyoming and Northview will feature a pair of guards who can score in bunches. Point guards Menalito McGee and Avarie Simpson will lead their respective squads, hoping to start the season with a high-quality non-conference win. Northview captured a district championship before falling to Hudsonville in a regional semifinal, while Wyoming lost a heart-breaker to East Kentwood in a district championship last March.
Players to watch
Kaden Boucher
6’4″/ Wing
Northview, 2020
Menalito McGee
5’8″ Guard
Wyoming, 2020
Marion Parks
6’0″ Guard
Wyoming, 2020
Avarie Simpson
5’10″/ Guard
Northview, 2020
Kyler VanderJagt
Guard
Northview, 2022
Friday, December 15th:
Hudsonville @ Godwin Heights
Hudsonville enters the season with one of the most talented rosters in the area, led by senior point guard Max Perez and senior transfer big man Justin DeGraaf. Godwin Heights meanwhile has proved it can play with the bigger schools in the area, reloading with talented rosters on an annual basis. Freshman Jahkari Towns has made a lot of noise leading up to the season as a young guard who is already flashing a dynamic ability to score.
Players to watch
Jahkari Towns
5’11 Guard
Godwin Heights, 2022
Justin DeGraaf
6’7″ Forward
Hudsonville, 2020
Max Perez
5’11” Guard
Hudsonville, 2020
Rockford @ Muskegon
Rockford and Muskegon will renew an old OK Red rivalry on Friday night in what was voted on as the Game of The Week in West Michigan. The senior-laden backcourt of Jarvis Walker and Vern Nash will look to make a statement as the best 1-2 guard combo in the area, while Rockford will hope to continue it’s winning ways against the Big Reds, as the Rams won handily in last year’s matchup 65-47.
Players to watch
Aiden Heishetter
6’10 Forward
Rockford, 2020
Jarvis Walker
6’1″ Guard
Muskegon, 2020
Vern Nash
5’10” Guard
Muskegon, 2020
Forest Hills Central @ Forest Hills Eastern
Friday night’s showdown between cross-town rivals Forest Hills Central and Forest Hills Eastern should be a doozy. Last season, the Rangers escaped with a 61-58 win over the Hawks at home. Now hosting the annual rivalry, Eastern will try to exact revenge and start it’s season off on the right foot. Eastern’s Solomon White and Central’s Jimmy Scholler will be a matchup to watch as both lengthy guards have a unique ability to score.
Players to watch
George Hatchett
5’10″/ Guard
Forest Hills Central, 2021
Jimmy Scholler
6’4″/ Guard
Forest Hills Central, 2020
Mitch Wilkinson
6’4″/ Wing
Forest Hills Central, 2020
Solomon White
6’1″ Guard
Forest Hills Eastern, 2021