By Steve Kaminski www.mlive.com
- 1:30 PM: GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN VS. KALAMAZOO CENTRAL
- 3:00 PM: EAST KENTWOOD VS. DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
- 4:30 PM: MUSKEGON VS. GRAND BLANC
- 6:00 PM: BENTON HARBOR VS. YPSILANTI LINCOLN
- 7:30 PM: GRAND RAPIDS UNION VS. NEW HAVEN
Grand Rapids Union boys basketball coach Brandoen Guyton wanted to create one of the state’s top tournaments when he introduced the Red Hawk Showcase five years ago
Guyton has done exactly that.
The 5th annual Showcase returns with five games Saturday, and it features four-Michigan Associated Press state ranked teams, as well as standouts in Romeo Weems, Carlos ‘Scooby’ Johnson and Emoni Bates, which are Michigan's top three players according to the Detroit Free Press’ preseason player rankings.
“I think people can expect high level basketball from start to finish,” Guyton said. “If you look at it, the opening game tells you about the event. You see Grand Rapids Christian versus Kalamazoo Central. You have two top 10 teams starting it off.”
Here’s a breakdown of the Showcase:
Tickets are $10 per person, and fans are permitted to leave and return. However, they will not receive access upon return if the gymnasium is at capacity. Tickets are available only on Saturday at the school.
WHAT TO WATCH
RED HAWKS HOST ROMEO
New Haven, featuring Mr. Basketball candidate Romeo Weems, will take on the host Red Hawks. Weems, 6-7, has committed to DePaul, and he has helped spark his team to a 13-1 start. New Haven is ranked third in Division 2.
THE EMONI & SCOOBY SHOW
Two of the state's top players going head-to-head?
It's happening Saturday.
West Michigan will get a closeup look at Lincoln freshman Emoni Bates, a 6-foot-8 forward who already has offers from Florida State and DePaul. Bates is the nation’s No. 1 freshman according to Future150.
Bates will face a tough challenge against defending state champion Benton Harbor, which is ranked fourth in Division 2. The Tigers, 14-1 overall, have plenty of star power, too. Scooby Johnson, a 6-6 junior forward, has offers from Michigan and West Virginia.
TOP 10 TEAMS TANGLE
Kalamazoo Central (9-1) enters this week’s action ranked sixth in Division 1, while Christian (10-2) is 10th in Division 2. Kalamazoo’s lone loss was to Detroit Martin Luther King, 45-43 on Jan. 5 in the Muskegon Showcase. The Eagles suffered their second loss Saturday, 59-53 to Wayland in overtime.
FANTASTIC FRESHMAN
Bates isn't the only standout freshman coming to Union Saturday. The Big Reds are 9-3 and honorable mention in Division 1, and they will square off against Ty Rodgers and Grand Blanc. Rodgers, a 6-5 forward, is ranked 34th in the nation among the Class of 2022.
EXCITING EAST KENTWOOD
East Kentwood (7-5) has played some of the most exciting basketball in the Grand Rapids area. The Falcons have played four overtime games, going 3-1 in those contests. Country Day is 5-7 overall.
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