Grand Rapids-area boys prep hoops rankings, teams on the rise in the new year

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The caller twelvemonth signaled nan commencement of convention play for boys precocious schoolhouse hoops teams astir Grand Rapids, and respective squads person convention championships connected their 2026 imagination boards.

The vacation play besides featured immoderate marquee nonconference matchups that gave winning teams a boost of assurance heading into January.

With that successful mind, we’re looking astatine 5 section teams connected nan rise, positive nan area’s 10 champion successful nan latest installment of nan MLive/Grand Rapids Press powerfulness rankings.

Rockford (9-0)

The Rams spent nan vacation play further establishing themselves arsenic 1 of nan state’s apical teams, pulling disconnected an overtime triumph complete Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice connected Dylan Gross’ 3-pointer successful nan last seconds, past defeating Ferndale down beardown performances from brothers Jake Bascom (20 points) and Josh Bascom (14). The second had missed overmuch of nan early play recovering from an ankle wounded connected nan AAU circuit, and getting him backmost patient is simply a large woody for an already loaded Rockford lineup. Up adjacent is Saturday’s showdown pinch defending authorities champ East Lansing astatine East Kentwood’s Gotta Get It Hoop Classic, which could beryllium a preview of a Breslin Center matchup down nan line.

Hudsonville (9-0)

The Eagles started nan vacation break pinch an overtime triumph complete rival Unity Christian, and they went connected to prime up different value triumph complete Port Huron Northern, successful which Jovaan Daniels scored a team-high 20 points. The elder constituent defender is averaging adjacent to 20 points per game, and he has a formidable sidekick successful inferior helping Alex Armstrong, who is flourishing successful a starting domiciled this season, including a 27-point capacity successful a Jan. 3 triumph complete Detroit University Prep. But possibly nan biggest cardinal to Hudsonville’s occurrence this play has been its defense, arsenic nan Eagles are allowing conscionable 49 points per crippled against a challenging slate of opponents.

Northview (7-1)

A Dec. 9 nonaccomplishment to Greenville was a spot of a stunner, but location were bound to beryllium immoderate hiccups for a squad featuring a caller caput coach and respective caller contributors. Fast guardant to 2026, and it appears nan Wildcats are figuring things out, arsenic they’ve won six successful a statement nether caller coach Brandoen Guyton. Senior defender and WMU Bronco signee Cam Ryans has looked for illustration a Mr. Basketball campaigner and is averaging 23.8 points per game, and 1 of nan newcomers – Wyoming transportation Brayden Williams – has meshed good pinch nan existent group, averaging 13.5 points per crippled successful his past five. The adjacent fewer days will uncover a batch astir Northview’s ceiling, arsenic nan Wildcats sojourn South Christian connected Friday, earlier facing Brother Rice successful Saturday’s Gotta Get It Hoop Classic astatine East Kentwood.

Grandville (7-0)

Grandville is disconnected to its champion commencement successful astatine slightest 16 years, and nan Bulldogs are getting immoderate reinforcements successful nan shape of incoming transportation Isaiah Guyton. The 6-foot-6 elder helping starred astatine Godwin Heights past year, earlier a little transportation to a prep schoolhouse successful New York. Guyton returned to his location authorities for nan commencement of nan schoolhouse twelvemonth and enrolled astatine West Catholic, only to beryllium ruled ineligible pinch nan Falcons because his erstwhile Godwin Heights coach, Bernard Varnesdeel, had taken nan caput coaching occupation astatine West Catholic. Grandville was nan closest nationalist schoolhouse to his home, making him eligible to subordinate nan Bulldogs. It mightiness return immoderate clip to get acclimated to nan caller strategy and teammates, but Guyton averaged 13.5 points and 10 rebounds per crippled past twelvemonth and should springiness a boost to Grandville’s frontcourt.

Holland Christian (5-4)

The Maroons opened nan play losing 3 of 4 games, but person bounced backmost nicely, including a signature 45-43 triumph complete GR Catholic Central connected Tuesday. Holland Christian has 1 of nan area’s apical scorers successful elder defender Titus Spencer, but they besides showed they tin triumph a protect slugfest against Catholic Central, and nan past moments of nan crippled speak to nan team’s toughness. With nan people knotted astatine 43, Davis Alderink sank nan first of 2 free throws to put his squad up by a point, and though he missed nan 2nd foul shot, Simon Grotenhuis grabbed nan rebound and drew different foul, yet making 1 of 2 astatine nan free-throw statement and helping nan Maroons propulsion retired a constrictive win. That triumph gives Holland Christian a batch of momentum heading into its toughest crippled frankincense far: Friday’s travel to Unity Christian.

On nan bubble: Holland Christian (5-4), Kenowa Hills (10-0), West Ottawa (5-3), Forest Hills Northern (5-4), Tri-unity Christian (7-1)

10. GR Catholic Central (3-4)

Previous ranking: 8

This week: Lost to Holland Christian (45-43), Friday vs. Ottawa Hills, Saturday vs. Pewamo-Westphalia

9. GR Christian (6-4)

Previous ranking: 6

This week: Defeated Forest Hills Northern (60-51), Friday astatine Forest Hills Central

8. Greenville (8-1)

Previous ranking: 10

This week: Defeated Allendale (90-62), Friday vs. Coopersville

7. Grandville (7-0)

Previous ranking: 9

This week: Friday vs. Byron Center

6. South Christian (8-1)

Previous ranking: 5

This week: Defeated West Catholic (62-55), Friday vs. Northview

5. Northview (7-1)

Previous ranking: 7

This week: Defeated Thornapple Kellogg (86-39), Friday astatine South Christian, Saturday vs. Brother Rice

4. East Kentwood (7-1)

Previous ranking: 4

This week: Saturday vs. Detroit Martin Luther King

3. Unity Christian (5-2)

Previous ranking: 3

This week: Defeated Holland (68-36), Friday vs. Holland Christian, Saturday vs. Macomb Dakota

2. Hudsonville (9-0)

Previous ranking: 2

This week: Defeated Jenison (66-35), Saturday vs. Caledonia

1. Rockford (9-0)

Previous ranking: 1

This week: Defeated Byron Center (72-52), Saturday vs. East Lansing

• See first group of boys hoops rankings from Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan
• Key convention clashes header Grand Rapids-area girls hoops for Jan. 6
• Overtime thrillers header Grand Rapids-area boys prep hoops for Jan. 6
• Vote for Grand Rapids area’s wintertime sports Athlete of nan Week for Dec. 29-Jan. 3
• Holiday showcases header Grand Rapids-area boys play hoops

Patrick Nothaft is simply a newsman for MLive.com and covers section sports successful Grand Rapids. Patrick writes astir various topics, pinch a superior attraction connected precocious schoolhouse sports. He besides has acquisition covering collegiate...