Warrior’s Mother’s Day Classic-2024 Standouts
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The next generation was on full display at the Michigan Warriors Mother’s Day Classic in Brighton. The class of 2024 was well represented with prospects from a wide geographic spread. Players from Northern Michigan, the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas,…
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Continue ReadingThe next generation was on full display at the Michigan Warriors Mother’s Day Classic in Brighton. The class of 2024 was well represented with prospects from a wide geographic spread. Players from Northern Michigan, the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas, and even the UP showed out. Here are five that caught my eye on Saturday.
Preston Malpass Preston Malpass 6'7" | PF East Jordan | 2024 MI 6-7 East Jordan (pictured at top of article) I don’t generally like to write about middle schoolers but let’s just say this young big’s exploits have been on my radar for a while up in Northern Michigan. Didn’t get a chance to catch him in person due to our blur of a season. So after two years of talk and camera phone videos I have three words. Worth the wait. This is an impressive young prospect that the rest of the state is going to need to know. A long and bouncy athlete who is just as comfortable operating on the block as he is on the perimeter. Gets out transition well and had multiple dunks on the weekend. Finishes with both hands and has a soft touch around the basket. Has the ball handling skills to play positions 3-5 so it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Will need to add weight and he doesn’t have the broad shoulders and wide hips that you typically see on post prospects. But I’m getting a bit picky. This is a special prospect that I am excited to watch develop.
TJ Nadeau
TJ
Nadeau
6'5" | SF
Detroit Catholic Central | 2024
State
MI
6-5 Detroit Catholic Central First caught my eye last summer in Fort Wayne playing with the Great Lakes Warriorz. While he was impressive that day. Playing with DTO Elite this spring he looks like a completely different player. Body has filled out considerably. Strong frame with thick broad shoulders. Unlike a lot of young posts it is nice to see someone with these physical gifts who not afraid to mix it up down low. Definitely a true post of this point of his development. Wasn’t shy from the behind the arc but the perimeter is not the strength of his game right now. In a tight game against a real good Michigan Lightning squad just punished their smaller front line to spark the come from behind win. Also asserted himself against the Michigan Ballers and the first name on this list.
Drew Kozel Drew Kozel 6'5" | SG L'anse Creuse North Macomb | 2024 State MI 6-4 L’Anse Creuse North First saw this prospect with Puma Elite at the Rumble in the Rapids last weekend. In Brighton he was running with the Michigan Ballers. Had a productive weekend for that squad. Primarily played the four and even some five when Preston Malpass Preston Malpass 6'7" | PF East Jordan | 2024 MI went to the bench. Held his own and then some against players that had an inch or two on him. While not really a guard he pretty much scored at all three levels on Saturday. Aggressive on the glass and got a lot of his points on put backs. Whoever he decides to run with I’m hoping to catch more of this intriguing prospect in the grassroots season.
Jake Stephens 6-2 Chelsea Had a great weekend with a Michigan Lightning squad that went undefeated the previous weekend at the Rumble in the Rapids. Led his squad to the Platinum Division Championship Game on Sunday. To get there dropped 28 points in a semi final win over a Michigan Ballers team that placed three players on this list. I was extremely impressed with his mature game and court vision as DTO Elite applied heavy pressure in a comeback win on Saturday. Had a smooth and easy release from three. Hit two late with one being really deep. Add him to this list of young wings in the deep Chelsea program. Fellow 2024
Joey Cabana
Joey
Cabana
6'2" | CG
Chelsea | 2024
State
MI
will team with 2023’s
Carter Alexander
Carter
Alexander
6'1" | PG
Chelsea | 2023
State
MI
and
Matt Blanton
Matt
Blanton
6'3" | SG
Chelsea | 2023
State
MI
to make the Bulldogs a program to watch in the next few years.
Johnny Ingalls 5-11 St Ignace If you’re a fan of Upper Peninsula basketball you’re familiar with the name. On Saturday this young man showed that he has the game. Quick and crafty ball handler featuring a sweeping and effective crossover dribble. Definitely a product of the Steph Curry generation as he has no problem pulling up from way beyond the arc. Has the craftiness you would expect from someone who grew up around the game. Not the biggest prospect but made up for pulling out an old school hook shot to score over a bigger defender. Not just a long range gunner. Operated well in the mid range was a good facilitator in the half court. Was playing through a bit of a injury so I’m looking to forward to catching at full strength in the future.