Andrew Kenyi and Samuel Makuag - The MHSAA's Twin Towers?

Neither Andrew Kenyi or Samuel Makuag have yet to score a bucket in an official varsity game, yet, the sophomore, big man duo at East Kentwood has already earned the notion that they have potential to be one the best front-court duos in the state for the next three years. Many people have asked how this could be the case, but the answer to that question is pretty easy. The combination of size, athleticism, agility, and feel-for-the-game shared between these two is something that we’ve never really seen before, or at least recently, in Michigan high school basketball. When you combine those factors with the off-season work the two have put in and the resources that have been invested in them, it’s much easier to understand why they’ve earned that praise. Still, most people don’t know what to expect from the two, as they’ve yet to see them play.

Kenyi is the wider, bruiser of the two, at 6’9”, 220 LBS. His offensive post presence, which was at times unnoticeable at the JV-level last year, is now second to none. He’s grown to be a much better post finisher, showing a good amount of touch at the basket. He’s also widened his “post tool-box” this fall, to a great degree. His standard post-hook is strong towards both the baseline and the middle of the paint, but he also has around a half-dozen counters he’s near perfecting. While the majority of the oral discussion surrounding Kenyi has been on his aforementioned post-play, he’s also shown that he’s capable of extending his game to the outside. East Kentwood Head Coach Mike Thomas, a 3x MHSAA state championship-winning coach, has compared parts of Kenyi’s outside game to that of Nikola Jokic. He’s a good passer above the free throw line, with the ability to orchestrate cuts for his wings. Additionally, he’s also been able to knock down a three ball every once in a while. One may even see Kenyi bringing up the ball this season.

On the defensive end, there’s still room to grow, but he’s certainly begun to close the gap between both sides of the court. He’s become much more agile moving side-to-side in the lane, and even when he’s guarding on the perimeter. He posted an 11.6 second finish in the NBA Combine’s lane agility test, which was faster than 12 players at this past Combine. His height obviously makes him more of a threat than others defensively, as well.

Makuag is a bit smaller and more athletic, at 6’6”, 175 LBS. Makuag’s offensive game is incredibly versatile, and the Falcons will have the opportunity to use him almost as a Swiss Army Knife this season. Most comfortable playing out on the wing in the half court, he’s able to space the floor without the ball in his hands, but also is able to get downhill and either finish, or draw defenders when he has the ball. He also has begun to develop a good stop-and-pop middie, which could potentially develop into a signature shot, as he’ll often be guarded by small defenders who he can shoot over, with teams having to put their biggest guys on Kenyi. Even more dangerous than Makuag in the half court setting, though, is Makuag on the break. There might not be a more athletic dunker in the state. He’s able to do it all, but not just in the open court, even with a man on his hip or a man running with him. He isn’t all off the wing, either. He’s grown his inside game and has a number of athletic post finishes to go along with his standing dunk ability.

On the other end of the floor, Makuag is a strong shot blocker, who uses his length to his advantage. Just like with his teammate, Makuag’s defensive game still has lots of room to grow, but the potential is clear and present. He’s also been able to guard the 1-5, on this end of the floor, creating even more options for how the Falcons could use him.

Coach Mike Thomas has long seen the potential in these two guys that many are just now hearing about, and that’s exactly why he’s invested so much into the two. Thomas has worked with them frequently in hopes to get them comfortable in their unique bodies on the floor, but he knew they also needed guidance from guys who were once in their shoes as bigs, so he brought in two new assistant coaches this year, who have provided that and much more. Kei Madison was one of the guys Thomas brought in, tapping him to serve as his lead assistant. He spent the past few seasons as a top assistant at Grand Rapids Catholic Central and as the director of one of the top youth AAU programs in the state, Swish Athletic Club, where he’s been able to oversee both Kenyi and Makuag throughout their middle school and early high school careers. His pre-existing relationship with both guys made it easier for them to connect with him on an even deeper-level. They also seem to greatly appreciate the knowledge that Madison has to impart. The former Harlem Globetrotter played many years overseas earning MVP’s and winning championships, after playing in the 2002 NBA Summer League for the Seattle SuperSonics. Once a 1st round level talent according to ESPN, he was trained by legends like Hakeem Olajuwon. He’s now been excited to pass that training down to these guys.

The other guy who Mike Thomas brought into the program is James Beck, who was hired to be an assistant coach, with an emphasis on helping the bigs. Beck has had quite the basketball journey, despite being just 25 years old. He played his first two seasons of college ball as a top reserve at Oakland, with his first being the 2017-18 season. He then transferred just south to Miami (OH), where he played two seasons, after being forced to sit out a year to satisfy NCAA transfer requirements. Then, 2 years ago, Beck played his final collegiate season, as a starter at New Mexico State. This past season he played professionally overseas, but an injury placed him back in his hometown of Grand Rapids, with the opportunity to mentor this East Kentwood team, but more specifically, Kenyi and Makuag. While his aforementioned collegiate and professional experience is extremely valuable to the two, his own high school experience is just as valuable. In 2017, as a senior at Grand Rapids Christian, Beck made it to the Breslin Center with his teammates and future NBA players Duane Washington Jr. and Xavier Tillman. In their semifinal game against Romulus, the Eagles won 74-52, as Beck was both the leading scorer and rebounder for either team, putting up 24 points and 9 rebounds in front of over 11,000 fans. GRC would end up losing by 6 in the state championship to Clarkston. Beck has been working to give these two young men the tools they need to take it a step-further, and finish as #1.

Between Thomas, Madison, Beck, the other two assistant coaches - Christian Craft and Mikey Wolford - and a number of trainers - Josh Dudley, Reggie Butler, Damien Fortson, and Kaan Civici - there have been a countless number of days spent working with these two from the Spring, all the way to now. After all, this coaching staff believes that this team has state champion level potential, and Makuag and Kenyi are expected to be two of the five starters on this high expectations team. Fellow sophomores Stephan Jones and Jeremiah Cook, plus junior RJ Chapman are expected to join them in the starting lineup. The left-handed Jones will run the point, with Cook expected to be a strong scorer of the wing, and then Chapman as a do-it-all guy who could post big numbers this year. Sophomore Donavan Jones, Stephan’s twin brother, will be a high-defensive guy off the bench, and junior Amari Burch will be another post. It’s also worthy to note that in game one, the Falcons may be without their returning leading scorer, sophomore CJ Reynolds, as he continues to recover from an ACL tear, but he won’t be off the floor for much longer. He’s arguably the top 2027 player in the state of Michigan, when healthy, and has taken visits to Purdue, Miami (OH), Western Michigan, and other D1 programs. Makuag, Kenyi, and Cook joined on those visits.

This 2024-25 East Kentwood team, captained by Chapman, is looking to turn lots of heads this season, and Andrew Kenyi and Samuel Makuag will look to be the core of that.

Photo credit: Nuha Hussein