Meet Michigan's Top Available Seniors

The Top Five

1. Xavier Johnson, Detroit U-D Jesuit

There hasn’t been a bigger riser in Michigan HS hoops this season than U-D Jesuit’s Xavier Johnson. Johnson’s been extremely successful and consistent on, what was for most of the season, that #1 team in the state. The lefty is extremely smooth on the wing and has one of the, if not the best, mid-range fades in the state. Moreso exciting than his mid-range, though, are his athletic abilities. One of the most electrifying dunkers in the state, Johnson can flush it not just on the break, but also through a congested paint. He can also knock down a three-ball when needed to. In addition to his scoring abilities, the lengthy Johnson is also a satisfactory offensive rebounder. He received his first Division 1 offer in early December from Jacksonville and received another just last week from Canisius. I’d expect more to come, as he’s one of the most intriguing potential late pickups for D1 squads, in the entire Midwest.

2. David Williams, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice

Another Catholic League kid on this list, David Williams is, in my opinion, the far-most underrated player in the entire state of Michigan. On a top-5 Brother Rice squad that lacks superpower, Williams is, without a doubt, the leader. Running the point guard spot for Brother Rice, he has both strong instincts and basketball-IQ, seemingly never being in a rush and almost always having control of the tempo of the game. He’s able to finish well in traffic, with a top-tier floater, and can also get to his spots where he’s able to knock down shots just as well as almost any lead guard in the state. On the defensive-side of the ball, Williams is also very intriguing, with a body that looks like that of a third year Division 1 player. A proven winner, Williams somehow has just a Division 3 offer and 2 JUCO offers. Division 2’s and even Mid-Majors, if they don’t come in, would be missing out on an extremely high-floor kid in Williams.

3. Terez Holmes, Center Line

If you’ve seen Center Line play this season, you probably walked out of the gym blown away by #4. For those that don’t know, #4 is Terez Holmes, one of the most underrated and under-talked about players in the state. On a D2 Center Line team that’s thrived in the MAC-Silver this year, Holmes, almost-nightly, makes up for at least half of the team’s points each night, and most of those points he scores aren’t very quiet. An electrifying 6-8 isolation wing, there isn’t really anything Holmes can’t do on the offensive end of the floor. Holmes can consistently knock down three-balls over defenders, basically always get to where he wants to go, finish through almost any traffic in the paint, hit tough mid-range shots, and find open teammates. The craziest part, though, is Holmes may be even more known for his unhinged shot-blocking ability. The fact that Holmes has no D1 or D2 offers is shocking, but the fact that he doesn’t even have any D3’s or JUCO’s is just ludicrous.

4. Jake Champagne, Oxford

One of the most storied players in program history, Jake Champagne can take a lot of credit for being the reason that an Oxford team that hasn’t reached 15 wins since 2019 is on track to win at-least 20 regular season games this season. Champagne, just the 3rd Wildcat to ever reach 1,000 career points, is consistently posting prime James Harden-esque scoring numbers. He is a legitimate three-level scorer who can score at a swarmed basket in a variety of ways, knock down threes of both the dribble and the catch, and consistently knock down middies with a defender on his hip or right in front of him. He also has an argument for one of the best sub-6’3” rebounders in the state. On the opposite side of the court, Champagne has consistently been able to get crucial stops on the opposing teams’ best player. Another severely under-recruited player, Champagne could certainly benefit a lot of D2’s and some Mid-Majors, yet just has D3 and JUCO offer.

5. Dimaunye Smith-Powe, Detroit University Prep

Rounding out the list is a player who’s shown that he can win big-time games this season, that player being UPrep’s Yae Smith-Powe. Leading UPrep to impressive wins over top 20 teams this season like Ann Arbor Huron, Birmingham Groves, and Summit Academy, Smith-Powe has been able to back up his preseason advocates, greatly. One of the best high-paced guards in the state, Smith-Powe has a push-out crossover that has been described by some as “unguardable”, which is especially effective considering the fact that he has a pure mid-range and can also finish at the basket in a variety of ways. Yet, he’s not limited to that signature cross by any means, as he can also stretch his game out to the three-point marker. Defensively, he can guard 94-feet with quick and agile feet, as well as very active hands. Smith-Powe has just reported a single offer, being a D2 from Wayne State, he’d be an extremely valuable pickup for any D2 squad.

The Next Five (A-Z)

• Da'Marion Bozeman, Warren Lincoln

The Skinny: A length 6-5 wing with serious bounce and an unorthodox, but extremely effective jumper. Additionally, a quality rebounder and shot-blocker. Another guy playing alongside multiple D1 signees.

Recruiting: Picked up a D2 offer from Wayne State this Summer, in addition to a Macomb (JUCO) offer.

• Jordan Clayton, Auburn Hills Avondale

The Skinny: Quick-release long-range shooter, who can do it off both the catch and the dribble. Can also finish at the basket well and knock down mid-range jumpers. Top guy on a top 30 Avondale squad.

Recruiting: Visited Heidelberg, a D3, in September, which was followed by an offer. Nothing else, yet, for him.

• Isaiah Hines, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

The Skinny: Sub-six foot offensive guard who has stepped up this year for St. Mary’s as they look to repeat. Numbers don’t show the real story here, as he’s had to play aside the most talented roster in the state, headlined by one of the top players in the country.

Recruiting: Has a reported Toledo offer from the 2023 Summer. Visited Illinois State in the Fall of the same year. Nothing reported since.

• Hamoody Mashhour, Dearborn

The Skinny: Son of Dearborn Head Coach Abe Mashhour. A right-hand dominant wing that has good pace and feel for the game, in addition to being able to consistently knock down shots. Will never be on Sportscenter Top 10, but he gets the job done.

Recruiting: Nothing reported right now, but older brother Nassim committed to Oakland last year in June, out of what felt like nowhere, so, who knows.

• Dante Wimberly, Ypsilanti Lincoln

The Skinny: A 6-1 guard who can do a little bit of it all. A huge threat coming off of ball screens, as a guy who makes great shoot-pass reads. Can finish at the bucket, and is also one of the better defenders in the state. Also rebounds well. Making a lot of noise as the season ends nears.

Recruiting: Had just JUCO offers up until less than a month ago when he picked up a D1 offer from Green Bay. Seems like more D1’s may be on the horizon, as there’s interest from other Mid-Majors including in-state Central Michigan.

20 More (A-Z)

Joey Angok, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern; Moses Blackwell, Warren Lincoln; Jayce Branson, East Lansing; Jeremiah Caffey, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice; Tyler Dorsey, Saginaw United; Donovan Hamlin, Flint Carman-Ainsworth; Keane Hinkle, Byron Center; Garrett James, Port Huron; Tory James Jr., Grosse Pointe North; Graham Junge, Flat Rock; Devin Lee, Detroit Catholic Central; Kason Mayes, Detroit Old Redford; Memphis McDowell, River Rouge; Jacoby Menyweathers, Waterford Mott; Ryan Neal, Detroit University Prep; Gabe Njenga, Big Rapids; Amir Perryman, Romulus Summit Academy North; Corey Pittman II, West Bloomfield; Javontae Ross, Flint Powers Catholic; Robert Smith III, North Farmington