D2 Player of the Year: Kaden Brown ‘one of the best guards to ever play in Grand Rapids’
Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Kaden Brown, center, drives past South Christian’s Jake Vermaas, left, and Carson Vis during a game on Jan. 24, 2023. All three were honored on the Division 2 All-State team. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Kaden Brown continues to cement his legacy as one of the best boys basketball players in the past decade to come through Grand Rapids.
The Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior was named as the Division 2 Player of the Year by the Associated Press on Wednesday.
“Kaden Brown is leaving Catholic Central as one of the best guards to ever play in Grand Rapids,” Catholic Central coach T.J. Meerman said. “And that's saying something with all of the talent that has come through the city.”
Brown averaged averaged 23.1 points and 3.8 assists for the Cougars this season. He will play at Wright State University next season.
“He's led us to two Finals Fours,” Meerman said. “And by averaging 25 per game (his sophomore year) helped CC win the only Division 2 state title in boys basketball in the long history of this school.”
The 6-foot guard finished third in the Michigan Mr. Basketball Award voting last month.
“(Brown’s) mom and dad raised him the right way,” Meerman said. “And he's given his family and our school so much to be proud of. He's the type of kid that was so thankful and ended every practice and game with a hug and a ‘Love you, Coach.’ I'm really going to miss coaching him, and I can't wait to see all the places the game takes him at the college level.”
Brown finishes his career with 1,577 career points, which is the school record at Catholic Central. In four years on varsity, the Cougars record was a stunning 80-12.
There were two other Grand Rapids basketball players named to the Division 2 First-TeaM All-State. Brown’s teammate Durral Brooks and South Christian’s Carson Vis. Brooks, a junior guard, averaged 20.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for the Cougars. He has several Division I college offers, including the University of Michigan and Michigan State. He reached the 1,000 career point mark late in the season.
Vis, a sophomore forward, led South Christian in scoring with 17.7 points and 5 rebounds per game. He helped the Sailors to a 25-4 record this season as they made it to the Division 2 state championship game. Although Vis wasn’t able to play in the game. He broke both wrists in the regional title game against Hamilton.
Two more Grand Rapids area athletes made Division 2 Second-Team All-State.
Jakhary Towns, a senior guard from Wyoming Godwin Heights, and Jake Vermaas, a junior guard from South Christian.
Towns was one of the best scorers in the area. He had a career-high 47 points in a triple-overtime win over Wyoming Lee in districts. He had eight games of 30 or more points.
Vermaas averaged 14 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game for the Sailors. He had a career-high 28 points in the regional title game against Hamilton.
FIRST-TEAM ALL-STATE
Kaden Brown, senior, Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Durral Brooks, junior, Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Carson Vis, sophomore, Grand Rapids South Christian
James Wright, senior, Romulus Summit Academy
Jack Locey, senior, Goodrich
Dylan Grant, junior, Warren Michigan Collegiate
Truman King, senior, Standish-Sterling
Joey Cabana, junior, Chelsea
Jake Stephens, junior, Chelsea
Ayden Davis, junior, Onsted
SECOND-TEAM ALL-STATE
Jake Vermaas, junior, Grand Rapids South Christian
Jakhary Towns, senior, Wyoming Godwin Heights
Bo Lincoln, junior, Olivet
Parker Hovey, senior, Hart
Dontez Scott, junior, Romulus Summit Academy
Jakobie Boose, junior, Flint Hamady
Wade Robinson, junior, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Javarie Holliday, senior, Saginaw
Aidan Moon, senior, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard
