5 Michigan Bigs from NY2LA Session 3
The NY2LA Grassroots Showdown session 3 featured eight Michigan teams and a lot of talent. Here are my takeaways from the weekend. I was also able to see a good crop of 2024’s. An overview of their performances will be…
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Continue ReadingThe NY2LA Grassroots Showdown session 3 featured eight Michigan teams and a lot of talent. Here are my takeaways from the weekend. I was also able to see a good crop of 2024’s. An overview of their performances will be coming soon.
1. Logan Carson Logan Carson 6'9" | PF Buchanan | 2021 State MI 6-10 2021 Buchanan Not to start with a negative, but this is the type of prospect whose recruitment would have been a lot different ten years ago. Put simply 6-10 players with girth, mobility, and touch are not found on every corner. I missed in him in Fort Wayne due to bad timing and a minor injury that kept him out of a game. After hearing reports of improvement I made it point to catch him this weekend. As a post player it’s pretty much all there. Runs the court well and has good lateral foot speed. Has a bit of mean streak and is able to finish with both hands in the post. Showed off good hands by collecting a difficult pass on the break and finishing through contact Saturday night. Willing and able passer out of the high post. Helped UTS Gold defeat top 10 National recruit Mike Foster Mike Foster 6'8" | PF Hillcrest Prep | 2021 State #17 Nation AZ (more him below) on Sunday. So where are the offers? I can only think it’s a combo of the unusual grassroots season and defensive concerns. In modern basketball coaches will usually ask “who can he guard”. As I stated I think he has plenty of foot speed and the willingness to compete. I don’t view that as an issue. Reminds me a lot of Nolan Foster (Ohio) who did pretty well for himself in the MAC last year.
2. Harrison Ogochukwu Harrison Ogochukwu 6'8" | PF Orchard Lake St. Mary's | 2021 State MI 6-9 2021 Orchard Lake St Mary’s About that Mike Foster Mike Foster 6'8" | PF Hillcrest Prep | 2021 State #17 Nation AZ guy—if you don’t know the forward from Milwaukee is the seventh ranked player in the nation. Somebody forgot to tell Oguchukwu, who comes off the bench for a deep Orchard Lake St Mary’s team. While I’m not going say he got the upper hand, Foster did take over in crunch time to steal the win from REACH. However for most of the game I would say they played to a draw. Ogochukwu’s length and athleticism was readily apparent and neutralized whoever he was guarding out on the perimeter. Runs the court extremely well. Had a huge chase down block in transition that had the scouts around me buzzing. On top the physical attributes, he is intense on defense and is very verbal on that end. He is quite thin and whenever Foster needed a bucket he went the block. Plays for a loaded St. Mary’s squad that competes in a tough Catholic league and schedules aggressively in the non conference. Meaning this is a player that is constantly getting pushed and tested. He might still come off the bench for the Eaglets this year. But based on what I saw this past weekend that doesn’t mean he should not be on college coaches radars.
3. Cooper Craggs Cooper Craggs 6'7" | PF Novi Catholic Central | 2022 State MI 6-8 2022 Detroit Catholic Central I’m from Northern Michigan. We have a phrase up there that I believe is rather universal. This prospect is “country strong”. Unlike the first two on this list Craggs is a year younger so he has a little more time develop. Accordingly he is not going to wow you with skill or athleticism at this point. That being said there is a lot to like. As I stated, really strong and highly competitive. I don’t want to make him sound like some kind of bully ball enforcer. He is able to score in the post and has good overall ball skills. Well schooled as he does an excellent of establishing deep post position. Uses his legs to establish a wide base that he is not going to pushed off of. A lot of the time with bigs you are waiting for the physical attributes to catch up to the potential. That would not be the case here. He is already there physically as a 2022. Plays in the same Catholic league as Oguchukwu, so will be battle tested.
4. Michael Justice 6-7 2021 Troy Athens First saw this player year at the Fort Wayne GRBA Nationals last summer. Not going to lie I thought he was a long way away. Well he’s come a long way in a year. A little undeveloped last year, now possesses a sturdy build. Not an overpowering athlete, but mobile with good footwork. Played well the weekend before as he received special recognition during session 2 of the grassroots showdown. Looked good in session 3 in a close 57-51 Saturday afternoon loss to Wisconsin Swing with UTS Black. Has a soft touch that he can extend out to three point range. Also plays well in pIck and roll situations. Averaged 11 points last year and is poised for a breakout senior season.
5. Donovan McDonald 6-6 2023 Croswell Lexington Youngest player on this list with perhaps the most upside. Very impressed with what I saw in a nail biting one point Saturday evening loss to Wisconsin Blizzard. While still very young already has the size and build to be a true post or stretch four. Had a big finish through contact early in the contest. Also showed excellent hands throughout the weekend catching several difficult passes in traffic. Active on the glass. Had a big rebound when the contest was tight Saturday evening. Wide body who sets strong screens which freed Muskegon’s Anthony Sydnor for some big late open looks. Appears to be in a excellent developmental environment as UTS Elite 2023 also featured Croswell Lexington teammate and point guard Trey Kolakovich. When you combine that with seniors Hunter Soper Hunter Soper 6'4" | SF Croswell-Lexington | 2023 MI and Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson 6'3" | CG Cedar Shoals | 2020 GA on the wings McDonald is in a excellent situation to thrive and continue to develop.