State Champs’ Michigan’s 2025-’26 Boy’s Basketball Preseason Team Rankings
TJ Kelley/@ScoopIPS
12/1/2025
For those who were kept on the edge of their seat for the 2024-’25 season, expect another roller coaster season as there the season is loaded with most of the state’s top teams butting heads in league play and events starting this weekend.
Preseason Favorites
Division 1 Champion: Detroit King
Division 2 Champion: Grand Rapids Christian
Division 3 Champion: Pewamo-Westphalia
Division 4 Champion: Allen Park Inter City Baptist
Below you will find a detailed breakdown of the State’s top 20 preseason teams with five on the cusp:
1. East Lansing (0-0; Division 1; Capital Area Activities Conference-Blue)
2024-’25: Division 1 State Champion, 28-1; CAAC-Blue Champion, 12-0
2025-’26 Outlook: The defending Division 1 State Champion, Trojans, will rely on strong guard play in their efforts to hoist another trophy in their own backyard on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Senior guard and preseason 2026 Mr. Basketball candidate, Kelvin Torbert, jr. recently signed with Bowling Green State University. Junior forward Kingston Thomas is a top 100 player in the country who picked up a Michigan State offer over the summer. 6’7” senior center Dequarius Stewart will need help in the post after the graduation of forwards Cameron Hutson (St. Louis) and JL Branson (Henry Ford CC). Ray Mitchell enters his 8th season as East Lansing’s head coach.
2. Detroit King (0-0; Division 1; Detroit Public School League-Blue)
2024-’25: Division 1 Quarterfinal 3, 21-6; DPSL-Blue 3rd place, 6-2
2025-’26 Outlook: The Crusaders have all the ingredients to hoist hardware on Saturday, March 14, 2026 as depth, a senior laden backcourt, size, and defense. Senior wing Mareon Knott is a mismatch problem; fellow unsigned seniors Steve Jones, Drew Floyd, Gabriel Hawkins, and Derrick Kilgore, jr., are tough defenders while junior center Tyler Hunter holds MAC and Horizon offers as a top 100 player in the country’s 2027 class. King’s last Final Four appearance was in 2000. Detroit King head coach George Ward is in his 10th season.
3. Birmingham Brother Rice (0-0; Division 1; Catholic High School League-Central)
2024-’25: Division 1 Regional 6 semifinal, 22-3; CHSL-Central 2nd, 6-1
2025-’26 Outlook: CHSL-Central favorites, the Warriors have one of the state’s top scoring guards in preseason 2026 Mr. Basketball candidate and University of Detroit-Mercy commit, Greg Grays, jr., while 6’8” senior center Trevor Smith is among the state’s top unsigned seniors. Senior wing Jacob Lamb is a do-all player and lock down defender. Look for junior forward Ian Newble and freshman guard Jordan McDaniel to provide quality minutes. This is Rick Palmer’s 8th season as the Brother Rice head coach.
4. Rockford (0-0; Division 1; Ottawa-Kent Conference-Red)
2024-’25: Division 1 Regional 1 Semifinal, 22-3; OK-Red Champion, 9-1
2025-’26 Outlook: The Rams also have the depth, size, and experience to add their first boys’ basketball state title since 2002. A warrior on the boards and arguably the state’s top defender, senior forward Jake Bascom has also shown an improved offensive game this fall. Bascom committed to Central Michigan this past spring, and is solidly on the preseason 2026 Mr. Basketball watch list. Junior forward Drew Ferwerda gives the Rams bulk in the post. Get used to hearing about Rockford’s sophomore duo, Eli Wolfe- a freshman starter, and Josh Bascom who returns after missing the past 12 months due to a busted ankle. Each hold offers from Central Michigan. Freshman guard Jace Opoku-Agyeman is among the top players in a deep 2029 class. Kyle Clough enters his 9th season as head coach of Rockford.
5. Hamtramck (0-0, Division 1; Independent)
2024-’25: Division 1 District 23 final, 14-8
2025-’26 Outlook: Since taking over as the Cosmos’ head coach in 2015-’16 Dennis Foster, jr, has grown his program with 15-win seasons including a 2019-’20 20-win season but they haven’t turned the corner with a 2-week playoff run. Uber athletic forward Curtis Flagg is one of the state’s top unsigned seniors as he provides versatility from baseline to baseline. Junior wing Alfonzo Harris, jr.’s perimeter production and sophomore point guard Andre Cast, jr.’s game management will prove vital to the Cosmos’ success.
6. Kalamazoo Central (0-0, Division 1, Southwestern MI. Athletic Conference-East)
2024-’25: Division 1 Regional 3 final, 19-5; SWMAC-East Champion, 7-1
2025-’26 Outlook: Senior driven and anchored by 2026 preseason Mr. Basketball candidate/Oakland University commit Isaiah Theodile in the post. The Maroon Giants Ramsey Nichols enters his 14th season as the head coach of Kalamazoo Central. Senior guards TJ Terrentine and Taveon Vaughn give K-Central experience and nice compliments to a strong front court. Senior forward Jonathan Edwards is another future college player and while he’s no Doug Anderson he will catch a body. Welcome back to Michigan, junior wing Davier White made the return to southwest Michigan after a spell in Kentucky where he earned offers from Alcorn State, East Kentwood, and Youngstown State.
7. Wayne Memorial (0-0, Division 1, Kensington Lakes Activities Association-East)
2024-’25: Division 1 Runner-Up, 25-4; KLAA-East champion, 14-0
2025-’26 Outlook: The Zebras set school history last season with their Division 1 runner-up, but despite that loss and a few starters to graduation, Memorial’s returning players were thinking nothing but a shot at redemption on March, 14, 2026. Then unexpected news this past May, as Michigan State commit and senior point guard Carlos Medlock, jr. announced his move to Link (MO.) Academy. Nevertheless, the show must go on and Toledo commit Jaylohn Allen is a preseason 2026 Mr. Basketball candidate while 6’6” senior wing Cyrus Goins holds an offer from Saginaw Valley State as he provides tough defense as well as offensive production from 19’ and in. In his 22nd year as head coach, this is Steve Brooks 4th season commanding the Zebras’ sideline.
8. East Kentwood (0-0, Division 1, Ottawa-Kent Conference–Red)
2024-’25: Division 1 District 8 final, 12-12; OK-Red 4th, 3-7
2025-’26 Outlook: A year ago, the Falcons were one of the state’s youngest teams as sophomores and juniors filled the roster with their lack of experience reflecting in the .500 record. Mike Thomas enters his 4th year as head coach of East Kentwood. Senior wing RJ Chapman had a great junior year-especially beyond the arc- that led to his signing with Saginaw Valley State. EK has the top collection of juniors in the state with the literal rise of 6’9” Drew Kenyl, 6’5” forward Samuel Makuag , 6’7” forward Dau Dau, 6’6” forward Majok Ajuong, and the dynamic backcourt of Jeremiah Cook and CJ Reynolds.
9. Grand Rapids Christian (0-0, Division 2, Ottawa-Kent Conference-White)
2024-’25: 19-6, Division 2 District 44 final, 15-10; OK-White 2nd, 9-3
2025-’26 Outlook: The Eagles are two seasons removed from Championship experience and have two of the state’s top perimeter players in seniors Carl Thompson (Purdue-Fort Wayne commit) and Connor Johnson (Northern Michigan commit). Both can light it up from the perimeter and attack the basket for big dunks. Junior point guard Braylon Taylor was also a part of the Eagles run in 2024, and he will be the floor general for head coach Eric Taylor who enters his 7th season with Grand Rapids Christian.
10. Lansing Waverly (0-0, Division 1, Capital Area Activities Conference-Blue)
2024-’25: Division 1 District 11 final, 20-4; CAAC-Blue 2nd place 10-2
2025-’26 Outlook: The Warriors have one of the state’s top front courts with unsigned seniors Xavier Pendergrass and Derek Thomas who will take on the most of the scoring. Waverly alum, Rod Watts, assumed the head coaching position in 2019 and this may be his strongest team.
11. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (0-0, Division 2, OK-White)
2024-’25: Division 2 semifinal, 21-8; OK-White Champion, 11-1
2025-’26 Outlook: In his first year as head coach, Chris Pearl led the Cougars to a Division 2 semifinal. GRCC’s productive senior trio of forward Izaya Lathridge (Northern Michigan-commit) along with unsigned guards Jordan McCoy and Brieland Watkins. Lathridge is a good athlete who can fill it up from the perimeter, McCoy looked great in the Grand Rapids’ fall league as lock down defense and showed the consistent ability to get to the basket and make plays while Watkins is a lefty with size.
12. Grand Rapids Northview (0-0, Division 1, Ottawa-Kent Conference–Gold)
2024-’25: Division 1 Regional 2 semifinal, 19-6; OK-Gold Champion-tie, 11-1
2025-’26 Outlook: Brandoen Guyton’s returns to the sidelines after taking a few years off from coaching Grand Rapids Union in the 2010s. Senior wing Cam Ryans’ game continues to evolve as he is quicker off the wing, more athletic, a better defender, and his production are reasons why the Western Michigan commit is a preseason Mr. Basketball candidate. Junior point guard Anthony Willis has the makings of a future scholarship player, and the same can be said for fellow junior wings Jaylen Perry and defensive stopper Ismael Hatibu.
13. Ferndale (0-0, Division 2, OAA-Red)
2024-’25: Division 2 District 60 final, 10-14; OAA-Red 4th-tied, 6-6
2025-’26 Outlook: Head coach Juan Rickman opens season eight with the Eagles and his young pups are now seniors and juniors. Arguably Michigan’s top junior, forward Eden Vineyard’s been in the weight room while his skill set continues to develop, junior forward Kari Ouwinga is finding scoring consistency, and junior point guard Tyler Ruth has taken big strides over the past year. Senior wing Darelle Cochran provides scoring and athleticism from the wing. Region 15 has produced the last three Division 2 Champions (Ferndale 2023, Warren Lincoln 2024 & 2025).
14. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy (0-0, Division 2, Charter School Conference-Gold
2024-’25: Division 2 District 61 semifinal, 10-14; CSC-Gold, 3-7
2025-’26 Outlook: James Scott returns to Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy where he previously coached from 2015-’21 including a 2018-’19 Division 2 semifinal run. Senior point guard Jeremiah Jackson is strong as an ox and will assume lead as floor general. 6’10” senior center Chad Graves is a force in the post and a Cal State-Fullerton commit.
15. Detroit Cass Tech (0-0, Division 1, Detroit Public School League-Blue)
2024-’25: Division 1 District 20 semifinal, 19-4; DPSL-Blue, 7-1
2025-’26 Outlook: In his 11th season, head coach Steve Hall has the luxury of playing at least ten. Headed by a strong lineup of guards, junior Stevie Hall holds numerous Division 1 offers and leads the way as the team’s leading scorer while unsigned senior guards Sebastian Thrower and Jacob Figaro provide added scoring, defense, and leadership. The Technicians have size up front with sophomore football player, Antijuan Wilkes and journeyman junior, Aramani Wright has a chance for a breakout season.
16. Muskegon (0-0, Division 1, Ottawa-Kent Conference-Green)
2024-’25: Division 1 District 4 final, 20-3; OK-Green Champion, 10-0
2025-’26 Outlook: 14 years into leading the Big Reds, head coach Keith Guy, doesn’t have the size of past years but like former Keith Guy coached teams, they will defend and play hard. Senior wing James Martin is a high flyer who signed with the University of Detroit-Mercy a few weeks ago. Also look for Ehman Guster, Demetrio Dockery, William Whyms, and freshman Anthony Lambers to step into big leadership roles.
17. Warren Fitzgerald (0-0, Division 1, Macomb Activities Conference-White)
2024-’25: Division 1 District 23 semifinal, 20-3; MAC-White Champion, 10-0
2025-’26 Outlook: Head coach Vito Jordan joined Fitzgerald for the 2020-’21 season after years of mediocracy including a 3-15 2019-’20 season. 6’7” power forward Keandre Burtin is Michigan’s top unsigned senior as he is arguably the state’s top shot blocker with a consistent perimeter jumper.
18. Hudsonville Unity Christian (0-0, Division 2, Ottawa-Kent Conference–Black)
2024-’25: Division 2 District 43 semifinal; OK-Black Champion, 11-1
2025-’26 Outlook: The Crusaders’ Hall of Fame head coach Scott Soodsma is already top ten in Michigan’s career wins and he keeps climbing the all-time wins ladder with a chance at his 700th sometime in 2026-maybe a Division 2 State Championship game? Calvin commit and senior power forward Owen Vanderwaal can start for any team in the state as size, athleticism, basketball IQ, and production lead the way.
19. Romulus Summit Academy (0-0, Division 2, Charter School Conference-Gold)
2024-’25: Division 2 runner-up, 24-4; Charter School Conference-Gold 1st, 10-0
2025-’26 Outlook: Eight months ago, the Dragons were the 2025-’26 Division 2 favorites and they’ll still be good despite senior wing Chance Houser’s departure. Head coach Derek Clark led Summit Academy to the Division 2 Championship game in his first season, and the cupboard is not bare. Senior point guard Jordan Fuller (Tiffin-commit) is a poised playmaker and he’ll help with the development of freshman point guard Codey Bush. The front court will need strong play from senior forward Tylon Pitts as 6’7” sophomore center Kint Pierce-Black finds his footing.
20. Detroit Catholic Central (0-0, Division 1, Catholic High School League-Central)
2024-’25: Division 1 Regional 4 Final, 12-13; CHSL-Central, 1-6
2025-’26 Outlook: Don’t be surprised if the Shamrocks win the CHSL-Central this and next season with a Breslin run mixed in sooner than later. This is Troy Jackson’s 3rd year as head coach of the Shamrocks
NEXT 5 JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP 20
Saginaw Heritage, River Rouge, Avondale, Freeland and L’anse Creuse North