Why top incoming freshman chose Rockford over Northview

Rockford freshman Jace Opoku-Agyeman puts up a shot during the Grand Valley Shootout on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Grand Valley State University. It was his first time playing with his new team. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

ALLENDALE, Mich. - Jace Opoku-Agyeman, wearing a black No. 5 jersey, looked comfortable on the court during the Grand Valley Shootout team camp on Sunday.

You wouldn’t know he was in eighth grade two weeks ago. Now he’s playing with one of the top high school team’s in the state for the first time.

Opoku-Agyeman, one of the top players in the 2029 class in the country, thought all along that he’d be playing at Northview High School. But things changed quickly in the past month. 

Now he’s on the varsity team at Rockford High School.

“I like it a lot,” Opoku-Agyeman said. “I was planning on going to Northview, because that’s what I grew up around with my older brother (Kyler VanderJagt) going there. But with the head coach leaving, I wanted to play for a head coach that I knew and had a connection with. That’s why I stayed at Rockford.”

In May, Northview’s coach David Chana left to take a new coaching job in Florida. 

“I’d been heavily involved with Northview since Kyler was playing basketball there,” Jace’s dad Mike Opoku-Agyeman said. “Originally it was the plan for Jace to follow suit to play where his older brother played. But we’ve kept our options open. And Rockford was an option because Jace goes to that system and we live in the Rockford district.”

Rockford freshman Jace Opoku-Agyeman, center, with his new teammates during the Grand Valley Shootout on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Grand Valley State University. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

The 5-foot-9, 140-pound guard is used to scoring in bunches. He said he averaged 25 points per game during AAU season last year and nearly 30 points per game for East Rockford Middle School. 

What as his best game during the school season? 

“I had 45 against Northview,” Jace said with a smile. “I came into the game knowing I was gonna go there. I knew everyone on the team. I just wanted to show them what I’m here for.”

According to Top25Scouts.com, Opoku-Agyeman is one of just two five-star players in Michigan in the 2029 class. (https://www.top25scouts.com/2029rankings). He’s also ranked high in many other websites.

“It’s a blessing,” Jace said. ”I wanna work to be No. 1 in the country.”

He plays travel ball with the Grand Rapids Storm.

Rockford freshman Jace Opoku-Agyeman shoots a 3-pointer during the Grand Valley Shootout on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Grand Valley State University. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

So how do you pronounce his last name?

Ohh-poh-koo Ahh-gee-mun.

“The last name is of Ghanian descent,” said Mike, who was born and raised in Ghana. “It’s from a rich culture in Ghana. It means ‘you are a hero of a nation.’ It’s from the Ashanti tribe.” 

Kyler VanderJagt, Mike’s oldest son, took his last name from his mother Maria (VanderJagt) Opoku-Agyeman. 

“Kyler has my wife’s maiden name,” Mike said.

VanderJagt is a junior, playing basketball at the University of Toledo. He was a Mr. Basketball finalist his senior year at Northview High School.

"Jace has always been a student of the game,” Mike said. “It started when I was working out with Kyler and he showed a ton of interest. He was only five.”

Jace said being around VanderJagt helped mould him as a player.

“I was watching him a lot,” Jace said. “Going to all his games, knowing what works and what doesn’t work and how you deal with adversity.”

Rockford coach Kyle Clough said Jace will be on varsity. Mike said he likes how Clough runs the Rockford program.
“We feel like this was the best choice,” Mike said. “Coach Clough teaches the game so well. From when Jace ended AAU until now, he’s a much better player.”

Video clip of Jace Opoku-Agyeman scoring for Rockford at the Grand Valley Shootout on Sunday, June 8, 2025.