Jared Purcell, www.mlive.com
The Mitten Classic All-Star game will be held on Friday, April 5th at Southfield Bradford Academy. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and ticket prices have not been specified.
The names of 25 players from around the state have been released as participants in this years event, including three players that played in Ohio but are Detroit natives. All players selected for the event are seniors.
Here is a quick look at each player expected to take the floor on Friday.
He brought down a double-double in every game this season and averaged 27.6 points and 15 rebounds per game.
A key member of Benton Harbor's 22-2 season, Brown averaged double figures while bringing a sold defensive presence to the floor.
Returning to Jesuit for his senior year after spending the previous season at Bella Vista Prep in Arizona, Dozier was a key starter in Jesuit's Breslin run and averaged 12.8 points and 5.9 assists.
He played a huge role in Lincoln's title run, including sinking the game-winning shot in the championship game. He averaged 13 points and a team-high 3.6 steals and 2.9 assists per game.
Freeman was a key leader on a very deep team this season that went all the way to the Division 2 title game. He averaged 10 points and 4.5 rebounds.
A savvy guard with the physical presence of a forward, Friday starred for the Cubs this winter by averaging 16.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists among a deep lineup of talent.
Despite transferring from Detroit Loyola to play in Ohio this year, Gardner has been invited to play in the all-star game. A strong scoring talent, he is one of three SPIRE players selected to play in the game. He dropped 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the Grind Session World Championship game against Bella Vista Prep in March.
One of the top players in the Lansing area this winter, he averaged a double-double with 23 points, 16 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and 3.2 assists.
Transferring from Southfield Christian to Detroit U-D Jesuit this season, Hunter was one of the most impactful bench players in the state this winter. In a shortened season because of transfer rules, he managed to average 9.6 points per game while shooting 35 percent from 3-point range.
He was a legit scoring threat all season, capable of scoring 20 or more on any given night. Eclipsing 1,000 career points this season, he scored a seaosn-high 37 points in a win over Grand Rapids Union.
He was one of the top big men the Metro Detroit area this winter and was a strong force on the boards all season. He scored 30 points in a win over West Bloomfield this season.
Isaiah Lewis is Wayne Memorial's all-time career scoring leader with 1,402 points. This season, he averaged 23 points, 6 assists and 4.5 steals. He once scored 50 points in a game.
A member of the 1,000-career-point club, Lowder averaged 20 points and 4 assists for Pioneer while also shooting 48 percent.
Despite being a homeschooled athlete, that did not stop Maranka from getting the attention he needed for a college scholarship. He will be looking to show what he's made of against the state's best.
Expected to be in the Mr. Basketball race as a member of the Detroit Renaissance basketball team, McCaskill left for SPIRE in Ohio just before the start of the season.
Moon was a Mr. Basketball finalist this winter and averaged 27.5 points, 5.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game in the regular season. He's John Glenn's all-time leading scorer with over 1,300 career points.
A consistent scoring presence for the Panthers this winter, he averaged 12 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Able to score from anywhere on the floor, Pryor averaged 15 points per game for Pioneers this winter.
The top scorer on Edison's team this year, Taylor averaged 16.6 points for the Pioneers this season.
Despite missing over a month of the season with a broken ankle, Thomas was able to return for the last half of the season and played a huge role in Jesuit's deep tournament run. He averaged 12.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Thomas was a double-double machine for Harper Woods this season, often eclipsing 20 points and 15 rebounds in a game. He once had 27 points and 20 rebounds in a game this season.
Wade surpassed 1,000 career points this season and he averaged 23.5 points and 3.9 assists per game.
Considered one of the top guards in the country, Watts left Old Redford for SPIRE this year. He will be the lone Big Ten commit playing in the Mitten Classic this year.
He was named the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball winner this season, averaging 27.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 4.1 steals and 2.2 blocks per game. Also selected to the Jordan Brand Classic all-star game in Vegas, Weems finished with 2,149 career points which is 17th in state history.
Whitford was an offensive leader for a strong defensive team this year, being able to hit lethal 3-point shots to help lead his team to victory. He'll be remembered for his game-saving efforts against rival Detroit Cass Tech.
The Mitten Classic All-Star game will be held on Friday, April 5th at Southfield Bradford Academy. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and ticket prices have not been specified.
The names of 25 players from around the state have been released as participants in this years event, including three players that played in Ohio but are Detroit natives. All players selected for the event are seniors.
Here is a quick look at each player expected to take the floor on Friday.
- Caleb Bates, F, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore6-6
He brought down a double-double in every game this season and averaged 27.6 points and 15 rebounds per game.
- Justin Brown, F, Benton Harbor 6-6
A key member of Benton Harbor's 22-2 season, Brown averaged double figures while bringing a sold defensive presence to the floor.
- Julian Dozier, G, Detroit U-D Jesuit5-8
Returning to Jesuit for his senior year after spending the previous season at Bella Vista Prep in Arizona, Dozier was a key starter in Jesuit's Breslin run and averaged 12.8 points and 5.9 assists.
- Jalen Fisher, G, Ypsilanti Lincoln5-10
He played a huge role in Lincoln's title run, including sinking the game-winning shot in the championship game. He averaged 13 points and a team-high 3.6 steals and 2.9 assists per game.
- Donavan Freeman, G, River Rouge6-5
Freeman was a key leader on a very deep team this season that went all the way to the Division 2 title game. He averaged 10 points and 4.5 rebounds.
- Daniel Friday, G, Detroit U-D Jesuit6-4
A savvy guard with the physical presence of a forward, Friday starred for the Cubs this winter by averaging 16.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists among a deep lineup of talent.
- Myron Gardner, F, SPIRE Academy (OH)6-6
Despite transferring from Detroit Loyola to play in Ohio this year, Gardner has been invited to play in the all-star game. A strong scoring talent, he is one of three SPIRE players selected to play in the game. He dropped 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the Grind Session World Championship game against Bella Vista Prep in March.
- Caleb Hodgson, C, Dansville6-10
One of the top players in the Lansing area this winter, he averaged a double-double with 23 points, 16 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and 3.2 assists.
- Caleb Hunter, G, Detroit U-D Jesuit5-9
Transferring from Southfield Christian to Detroit U-D Jesuit this season, Hunter was one of the most impactful bench players in the state this winter. In a shortened season because of transfer rules, he managed to average 9.6 points per game while shooting 35 percent from 3-point range.
- Ronald Jeffery III, G, New Haven6-1
He was a legit scoring threat all season, capable of scoring 20 or more on any given night. Eclipsing 1,000 career points this season, he scored a seaosn-high 37 points in a win over Grand Rapids Union.
- Yusuf Jihad, C, North Farmington6-9
He was one of the top big men the Metro Detroit area this winter and was a strong force on the boards all season. He scored 30 points in a win over West Bloomfield this season.
- Isaiah Lewis, G, Wayne Memorial6-1
Isaiah Lewis is Wayne Memorial's all-time career scoring leader with 1,402 points. This season, he averaged 23 points, 6 assists and 4.5 steals. He once scored 50 points in a game.
- Drew Lowder, G, Ann Arbor Pioneer6-0
A member of the 1,000-career-point club, Lowder averaged 20 points and 4 assists for Pioneer while also shooting 48 percent.
- Luke Maranka, C, Grand Rapids Homeschool6-11
Despite being a homeschooled athlete, that did not stop Maranka from getting the attention he needed for a college scholarship. He will be looking to show what he's made of against the state's best.
- Carrington McCaskill, F, SPIRE Academy6-7
Expected to be in the Mr. Basketball race as a member of the Detroit Renaissance basketball team, McCaskill left for SPIRE in Ohio just before the start of the season.
- Joe Moon IV, G, Westland John Glenn6-0
Moon was a Mr. Basketball finalist this winter and averaged 27.5 points, 5.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game in the regular season. He's John Glenn's all-time leading scorer with over 1,300 career points.
- Micah Parrish, G, River Rouge6-5
A consistent scoring presence for the Panthers this winter, he averaged 12 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
- Kasean Pryor, F, Ann Arbor Pioneer6-5
Able to score from anywhere on the floor, Pryor averaged 15 points per game for Pioneers this winter.
- Brian Taylor, F, Detroit Edison Public School Academy6-5
The top scorer on Edison's team this year, Taylor averaged 16.6 points for the Pioneers this season.
- Jalen Thomas, C, Detroit U-D Jesuit6-10
Despite missing over a month of the season with a broken ankle, Thomas was able to return for the last half of the season and played a huge role in Jesuit's deep tournament run. He averaged 12.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
- Ken Thomas, F, Harper Woods6-6
Thomas was a double-double machine for Harper Woods this season, often eclipsing 20 points and 15 rebounds in a game. He once had 27 points and 20 rebounds in a game this season.
- Ryan Wade, G, Ann Arbor Skyline6-1
Wade surpassed 1,000 career points this season and he averaged 23.5 points and 3.9 assists per game.
- Mark "Rocket" Watts, G, SPIRE Academy6-2
Considered one of the top guards in the country, Watts left Old Redford for SPIRE this year. He will be the lone Big Ten commit playing in the Mitten Classic this year.
- Romeo Weems, F, New Haven6-7
He was named the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball winner this season, averaging 27.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 4.1 steals and 2.2 blocks per game. Also selected to the Jordan Brand Classic all-star game in Vegas, Weems finished with 2,149 career points which is 17th in state history.
- Jordan Whitford, G, Detroit Martin Luther King5-11
Whitford was an offensive leader for a strong defensive team this year, being able to hit lethal 3-point shots to help lead his team to victory. He'll be remembered for his game-saving efforts against rival Detroit Cass Tech.
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