Six freshmen making their mark as starters on varsity
Northview freshman Cam Ryans puts up a shot against Grandville in the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament on Dec. 22, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - It is rare for a freshman to play basketball on a high school varsity team. It’s even more rare for a freshman to start.
There are approximately 10 freshmen on varsity teams in the Grand Rapids area, but only six of them are starting, that I’m aware of.
Sometimes it is because a team is down this season and can afford to give a freshman a chance and sometimes the kid is just too talented to not have him on the roster.
Forest Hills Northern freshman guard Kyle Brown competes against Holland on Dec. 20, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla)
KYLE BROWN, FOREST HILLS NORTHERN
Brown is getting thrown into the fire earlier than expected. But the 6-foot, 150-pounder is holding his own.
“Coming into the season, we knew our team would be young, with very limited varsity experience returning,” FH Northern coach Joe Soules said. “So it made sense to bring Kyle up and allow him to develop chemistry with some of the core players.”
Brown is a smooth shooter and confident handling the ball. He’s averaging eight points per game and is shooting 50 percent from 3-point range.
“He is the best shooter in our program,” Soules said. “Kyle is such a great young man and a student of the game. He’s gotten a bit better every day.”
Kenowa Hills freshman Derek Chapin gets back on defense in a game against Forest Hills Central in The Invite at Calvin University on Dec. 10, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
DEREK CHAPIN, KENOWA HILLS
Kenowa Hills has been a strong team the past few years, so for Chapin to make the varsity roster was a big deal.
In one of the biggest game of the season, Chapin stepped up. He had four 3-pointers for 12 points as the Knights narrowly lost to Grand Rapids Catholic Central on Jan. 27.
“Derek is extremely skilled and can flat out score the basketball,” Kenowa Hills coach Mike Moorehead said. “He is developing really well on the defensive end and is very coachable. It is crazy that he was playing against 8th grades just a year ago.”
I saw the 6-foot, 160-pound Chapin playing as an 8th grader playing for the ICONS travel team and he looked like a strong ball handler, but it’s hard to say how long a kid will take to make a varsity roster. He looks like he’s got more of a football-player’s build. And that would make sense since he was on the Kenowa Hills JV football team.
Holland freshman guard Keegan Hulst shoots a 3-pointer against Forest Hills Northern on Dec. 20, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla)
KEEGAN HULST, HOLLAND
Hulst didn’t start the season in the starting lineup, but he worked his way up.
The 6-foot, 165 guard is a really smooth player, both in the way he handles the ball and his shooting stroke. I saw him play against Forest Hills Northern earlier this season and he drained a couple of 3-pointers.
“Keegan is an extremely competitive kid and one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around,” Holland coach Mason Theile said. “He shoots the ball very well from three and is a strong defender for his size and age.”
Once Hulst fills out, you can tell he’ll be a really strong ball player. He’s very fluid. He has hit 14 3-pointers this season, including seven in his past five games.
Wyoming Lee freshman JR Metcalf pushes the ball up court in a win over Lansing Eastern during the Battle of I-96 Holiday Classic at Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills on Dec. 10, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
JR METCALF, WYOMING LEE
Metcalf isn’t just on varsity, he’s the starting point guard.
That’s a huge responsibility for the youngest kid on a very good Wyoming Lee team.
“We wanted someone who could handle the ball,” Lee coach Dominic Shannon said. “He’s very young, so he’s still understanding how to control the pace, getting the team under control. He’s starting to turn the corner and run the team. He’s growing right before our eyes.”
I’ve seen Lee and Metcalf play twice this season and he doesn’t get shaken. The son of a pastor, seems to have the ear of his teammates.
“It’s a big responsibility,” Shannon said. “He’s not the vocal leader yet that we want him to be. But by the time he’s a senior, he’ll be the vocal floor general.”
The 5-foot-8, 120-pound Metcalf is averaging 9.3 points and a stunning 5.1 assists per game. He’s played in some big moments for the 11-1 Lee team.
Connor Olszewski grabs a rebound against Holland Christian on Jan. 27, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla)
CONNOR OLSZEWSKI, WEST CATHOLIC
He’s not very tall, but he is strong. I saw the 5-foot-10 Olszewski play against Holland Christian on Jan. 27. Not only did he start, he never left the floor. And he didn’t look like he needed a break either. He finished with 7 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in a 47-33 win.
So what makes Olszewski special?
“The way he carries himself,” West Catholic coach Troy Dudas said. “Maturity wise, he’s not a freshman. He thinks about getting better every day. His peers respect him. It’s never gotten to his head. When he had his first practice with us, it was apparent he belongs.”
Dudas said Olszewski, who also plays football, is a good ball handler.
“He’s got excellent handles,” Dudas said. “I also think he’s one of the bester defenders in the area.”
CAM RYANS, NORTHVIEW
One of the best freshmen in the state.
As an 8th grader, Ryans was playing pickup games with the Northview varsity and some of the better players in West Michigan and holding his own. Now he’s doing it as a freshman, too.
Ryans is averaging 11.5 points and 5 rebounds on one of the best teams in the state.
“Cameron’s size, strength and skill set allow him to not only play on the interior but also step out and play as a guard as well,” Northview coach David Chana said. “He’s truly a special talent with a work ethic to match.”
If he played on any other team, Ryans would be averaging 18 to 20 points per game easily.
“The game is starting to slow down for him offensively which is making a him a tough matchup for high school players,” Chana said. “His ability to switch 1-5 and guard and variety of players is something that has grown immensely over the last few months.”
