Byron Center sharpshooter has blossomed into one of the best players in West Michigan

Byron Center’s Keane Hinkle shoots a 3-pointer at the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament on Dec. 23, 2024. He’s averaging 19.2 points per game. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Keane Hinkle has never lacked confidence. 

The Byron Center High School senior just lacked playing time.

The shooting guard plays with a fire in his belly and he’s one of the best shooters in West Michigan.

“My coaches have confidence in me and my teammates just trust me,” Hinkle said. “I’d say that’s the biggest difference since last year.”

Hinkle drained five 5-pointers and had 27 points as Bulldogs beat Lansing Catholic Central 78-50 on Saturday. He’s now averaging 19.2 points per game.

“There’s always that confidence boost going into your senior year,” Byron Center coach Joe Rodriguez said. “I’m not saying he wasn’t confident last year, but he was playing to try to prove he could get the minutes. But we had some good players ahead of him at his position. But now he’s got that confidence and he’s only coming out (of the game) when he needs a breather.”

Keane Hinkle of the West Michigan Lakers at the Wes Leonard Showcase May 11, 2024. (Photo Lenny Padilla).

There’s two misconceptions around Hinkle. His first name is often mispronounced and that he’s too small.

His first name is pronounced Kee-YEN. Not Keen. 

And secondly, he’s 5-foot-11, 150 pounds. But height isn’t really an issue on the court.

“His size is always something he’s being asked about,” Rodriguez said. “You’ve got to do other things really well to compensate for that size.”

Rodriguez said he’s trying to come up with comps for Hinkle. And he’s settled on Ethan Erickson, the 6-foot-1 elite shooter from Ferris State University. But when Erickson was at Forest Hills Northern High School, he was about 5-foot-11.

“I’ve been trying to study some film on Ethan Erickson,” Rodriguez said. “He has similar size. When he was a senior, we played against him. They were in our league. So I’m using that as a pretty good comp when I’m talking to some (colleges). They like what they see, but they say ‘he’s a little small.’ So I want to find comparisons to guys who are doing well right now at the D2 and D3 level.”

What does Erickson think of Hinkle?

“I think he’s good,” Erickson said. “I saw him in AAU and against Catholic Central (on Dec. 23).

I don’t think his size matters. He’s harder to guard because he’s a lefty. For him, I’d say he should get in the weight room. It’s not about his height, it’s about his weight. He’s way skinnier than I was in high school.”

Erickson said getting looks in high school was tough for him, too. But now he holds the Ferris State record for career 3-pointers.

“I barely got looks in high school,” he said. “Ferris and GVSU were the only D2 schools who talked to me. I bet the other schools are regretting it now.”

Hinkle has that same confidence.  

Ferris State’s Ethan Erickson puts up a shot against Calvin University during a scrimmage on Nov. 22, 2024. Erickson holds the Ferris State record for career 3-pointers. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

This season, he has 26 3-pointers in eight games and is shooting 76 percent from the free-throw line. He’s also shooting 47 percent from 3-point range.

Steve Bell likes Hinkle, too. Bell is one of the top high school basketball talent evaluators in Michigan for his Bank Hoops website.

“If I need one 2025 in Michigan to make a 3, may go with Byron Center’s Keane Hinkle,” he posted on Twitter.

Hinkle said he loves playing in big regular season showcase games. In the D Zone Invitational on Dec. 21, Byron Center beat Warren Lincoln at the buzzer. Hinkle had four 3-pointers and 20 points.

“It was a good environment,” Hinkle said. “Going into the game, we knew they were going to be good. We were down by about 12 in the third quarter. But we stayed together.”

He said he’s loving how the Bulldogs (6-2) are playing so far.

“I’m having so much fun,” Hinkle said. “This is the best team I’ve ever had. We’re like one unit. We have good chemistry and we all like each other.”

So far, he has just one college offer, from Aquinas College. Hinkle said it would be nice to get more attention, but he can’t do much about it.

“I’m focused more on winning,” he said. “But if more offers come in, I’ll be happy.”

Byron Center’s Keane Hinkle shoots a 3-pointer at the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament on Dec. 23, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).