Grandville transfer adds to the tallest team in West Michigan
Grandville has the tallest team in West Michigan. From left, Corbin Heckman, Colin Heyboer, Cam Regnerus, Caden Neves and Landen Terry. Gibby Connelly wasn’t at the Fall League when this photo was taken. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Desmond Young had to be pinching himself when he watched his basketball team play during the Fall League.
The Grandville High School coach has the tallest team in West Michigan and the Bulldogs added another piece to the roster this season with a transfer from Indiana.
They now have six players who are 6-foot-4 or taller.
“It’s crazy,” Young said of his team’s height. “And one of the kids that didn’t play fall ball was Gibby Connelly and that’s because he was on the football team. (Height) has its benefits. It’s a totally different team that I had last year. I like it because this will be the best shooting team I’ve had, too.”
The six big boys are:
Cam Regnerus, 6-foot-9
Gibby Connelly, 6-foot-7
Colin Heyboer, 6-foot-6
Caden Neves, 6-foot-6
Landen Terry, 6-foot-6
Corbin Heckman, 6-foot-4
Caden Neves shoots a 3-pointer during a Fall League game on Oct. 15, 2023. He transferred to Grandville from Fishers, Ind. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Caden Neves, a 6-foot-6 junior, transferred to Grandville from Fishers High School in Fishers, Ind. It was a pleasant surprise to Young.
“I didn’t know him until the first day of school,” Young said. “I got word that there is a new kid that had moved here and he’s a basketball player. That’s surprising because we don’t usually get transfers.”
Landing in Grandville was a surprise to Neves, too.
“I wasn’t getting the playing time that I wanted at that school,” he said of Fishers. “My mom was looking at places to move in Michigan. It was between Grandville and Grosse Pointe and we chose Grandville. I didn’t know anything about the basketball teams. We kinda blindly moved here.”
The Bulldogs are glad he did. During Fall League, Neves blended in well. He’s a good shooter, who easily shoots over smaller defenders. He said he has been a post player in the past, mostly because of his height. But he’s happy to have 6-foot-9 Cam Regnerus in the post.
“I like that we have a big (Regnerus) that you can work around because it takes the pressure off of me as a shooter,” Neves said. “If he’s getting doubled, then someone’s going to be open.”
Grandville was 15-9 last season and tied for third in the O-K Red Conference with a 9-5 record.
Young said adding Neves to the mix gives him options for his offense.
“We haven’t figured it all out yet,” he said. “I thought I had it together in the summer. Then you add Caden to the puzzle. It changes some things. I think we shoot the ball a lot better. Cam is one of the best passers and that can open things up for Colin Heyboer.”
Heyboer is an intriguing player for Grandville. The lanky junior forward could be a matchup nightmare. But he just needs to gain some confidence, Young said.
“Colin is due to have a breakout year,” Young said. “Out of all my guys, when you add skill and his basketball IQ, he fits the mold. If he decides this is what he wants to do, he has the ability to be a college basketball player. The sky’s the limit.”
Grandville hosts a scrimmage against Grand Rapids Catholic Central on Nov. 28 and then begins the season against East Grand Rapids on Dec. 5 at home.
Grandville’s Colin Heyboer shoots a 3-pointer while playing for the Grand Rapids Storm on July 15, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
