Jovaan Daniels and Cam Ryans - the top area freshmen - have been friends for years

Hudsonville’s Jovaan Daniels, left, and Northview’s Cam Ryans pose for a photo before playing against each other in a scrimmage on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - At first glance, Jovaan Daniels and Cam Ryans don’t look like they’d have much in common. Daniels on the small side and Ryans towers over him.

But the freshmen have been buddies since they were in elementary school and their talent is undeniable.

Daniels, who generously lists himself at 5-foot-7, 120 pounds, is from Hudsonville High School. Ryans is 6-foot-3, 195 pounds is from Northview.

Cam Ryans, left, and Jovaan Daniels have played on the same travel basketball teams since they were in elementary school. The duo are now freshmen on their varsity teams. (Photo courtesy of Jovaan Daniels).

Both are on varsity and they are the top two freshmen in West Michigan.

“He’s really skilled with the ball and a skilled shooter,” Hudsonville coach Eric Elliott said of Daniels. “He’s got a high IQ. We think he’s got a really strong upside. Obviously, as a freshman - and a smaller freshman - there’s going to be a learning curve. There’s also going to be a physicality curve. I think he’s going through that right now where he’s trying to make that adjustment.”

Ryans is part of a dominant lineup for Northview, which finished last season with a 25-2 record. He will start alongside of his older brother, EJ Ryans, a junior guard.

“His ceiling is what he wants it to be,” Northview coach David Chana said of Cam. “He’s probably one of the hardest working kids I’ve been around. He’s so skilled with his back to the basket and out on the perimeter. You don’t see that a whole lot in high school.”

Ryans has been playing with older kids for years, so seeing him dominate during the fall ball season was no surprise. He loves to drive to the paint. But he says he can be as good of a shooter as his older brother.

“He can shoot it,” Chana said. “There was a game in fall ball where someone was yelling ‘He can’t shoot! He can’t shoot!’ I remember Cam smiling. And the next play down he hit a three. He definitely can shoot.”

Daniels can shoot it, too. He often takes shots from NBA range.

“If you ask him, his idol is Trae Young from Atlanta,” Elliott said of the 6-foot-1 Hawks guard. “The floater game and the deep threes.” 

Elliott said Daniels will have a learning curve this year. But his talent is undeniable. 

“It’s going to be a learning year for him,” he said. “He’s a sponge. He’s a gym rat and he’s really skilled. I think he can be a difference maker. He can come into the game and knock down some threes and change the game in a minute.”

Chana has seen Daniels from afar during the fall ball season and can see why he’s so talented.

“Highly skilled,” he said. “You can tell that he puts a lot of time into his craft. He handles the ball well. He only needs an ounce of daylight to get a shot off. Typically when it goes up, it goes in. The future is bright for him and I’m happy for Coach Elliott and Hudsonville in what they’ve got with Jovaan.”

Daniels said having the support his new teammates has helped. 

“Feels good knowing the kids on varsity want me there and believe in me,” he said.

Daniels and Ryans met before a scrimmage last week and chatted for a minute before the game started. They had played on the same travel teams growing up.

Now they’re on separate teams, but they’ll have four more years of experiences to share with each other. And a lot of highlight for their fans. 

Northview freshman Cam Ryans plays in a fall ball game in October. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Hudsonville freshman Jovaan Daniels, left, is guarded by Northview’s EJ Ryans during a scrimmage on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla)