Upperclassmen who stood out at the Brawl for the Ball

Ottawa Hills’ Derrick King Jr. (Indy Heat), left, and Byron Center’s Keane Hinkle (West Michigan Lakers) had strong performances at the Brawl for the Ball on July 14-16, 2023. (Photos | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The travel basketball season came to a close for most West Michigan high school players after the Brawl for the Ball ended last weekend.

I don’t get a chance to watch every game and every player during the travel season, but here are some upperclassmen from the Grand Rapids area who stood out to me at the Brawl for the Ball and a few other West Michigan tournaments this summer. 

This is not a ranking, just a list of boys who I think could have an impact on their high school teams in the winter. I didn’t get a chance to see a lot of the elite players in the area this summer because they didn’t play much in Michigan.

There are, of course, some outstanding players from the Kalamazoo and Muskegon areas who were great also. But I just focus on the Grand Rapids area. 

TEN STANDOUT SENIORS

• T.J. Fisher, Unity Christian, Lakers

• Derrick King Jr. Ottawa Hills, Indy Heat

• Porter Kretschman, Coopersville, MBA

• Jaiden Googins, Caledonia, Future

• Ben Heagle, Byron Center, Lakers

• Justin McIllwain, Hamilton, Lakers

• Carter Meerman, Catholic Central, Storm

• Ky VanderWoude, Caledonia, Storm

• Quintin Willis, Grand Rapids Christian, B3

• Jake Vermaas, South Christian, Storm

TEN STANDOUT JUNIORS

• Jaden Bowman, East Kentwood, Lakers

• Brendan Cargill, FH Central, Lakers

• Gibson Connelly, Grandville, MBA

• Jah Hatchett, East Kentwood, Storm

• Colin Heyboer, Grandville, Storm 

• Keane Hinkle, Byron Center, Lakers

• Will Korenstra, Grand Haven, WM Hoops

• Lucas Pitsch, Rockford, Storm

• Brady Swartz, Northview, MBA

• Carson Vis, South Christian, Storm