2024 Michigan Mr. Basketball: Meet the finalists
It was 60 years ago this month that the Fab Four invaded our country; today, we have a different Fab Four — and this one is taking over Michigan high school basketball.
This Fab Four consists of the four young men who are competing to be the winner of the 44th Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award, given annually to the state’s best senior by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.
The award is named for Hal Schram, the former Free Press sports writer who covered high school athletics for over 40 years. It is easily the most prestigious award a male high school athlete in Michigan can receive.
A year ago, all five finalists were guards. This year, only two of the finalists — Tyler Ode of Saginaw Heritage and Durral Brooks of Grand Rapids Catholic Central — are guards; another — Onsted’s Ayden Davis — is a center and the other — Merritt Alderink of Zeeland West — is a forward.
Fraser coach Steven Norgrove is BCAM’s chairperson for the Mr. Basketball award and he is pleased with the four finalists.
“I really like how the process has worked out and how we work our way through the process,” he said. “We work very diligently and we take it very seriously.”
Although it certainly isn’t a requirement, these finalists cover the entire state.
“This group also represents different regions of the state,” Norgrove said. “Sometimes it works out that way and sometimes it doesn’t, but I do like how the state is represented in the different regions and the players on the list are very deserving.”
Arriving at the finalists is an arduous tasks and begins before the season begins.
“I appreciate all of the work that goes into finding our Mr. Basketball candidates,” Norgrove said. “A lot of coaches put a lot of time in to research and giving their opinions. There’s a lot of great players out there and it’s a very difficult job to narrow it down, but that is the job we’re tasked to do.”
Norgrove is not a one-person selection committee. He has an informal committee of coaches from across the state that he communicates with as the season progresses.
There is no set numbers of finalists. It varies from year to year.
“What I do is talk to coaches who the best kids play against, or if they’ve had a Mr. Basketball candidate,” he said. “It’s very difficult because we’re looking at a lot of fantastic players, so narrowing down the skill sets can be very tough. We felt this year there was a clear cutoff at No. 4.”
The state is blessed with many talented players again this season, but earning a spot on the Mr. Basketball ballot is different than making all-state.
“There’s a lot of players that can make an argument that they’re in the top 10, but that’s not what we’re looking for,” Norgrove said. “We’re looking for the top senior. That’s the tough part about this. You can’t just go totally just by numbers. There are a lot of other factors that go into these things so I’m very pleased with the group we have.”
Voting for the Mr. Basketball award is between Feb. 28-March 3 and only BCAM members are eligible to participate.
The winner will be announced at 1 p.m. March 11 at the Free Press.
Here is an alphabetical look at the finalists:
Merritt Alderink, Zeeland West
Vitals: 6-foot-6, forward.
College: Indiana State.
Averages: 13.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals.
Biggest area of improvement: Ball-handling.
Best move: Uses a jab step on the perimeter to get past his defender and attacks the lane.
Favorite athlete: Jason Tatum.
Top opponent: Jaxson Whitaker, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer.
Favorite book: “The Great Gatsby,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
When my basketball career is finished I will ... : “Be a real estate agent.”
Overview: Don’t let the relatively low scoring average fool you — he plays with four other seniors, all averaging over seven points per game. But when he is needed, he is more than capable of taking over a game with his scoring, as he did with a 28-point effort against highly regarded North Farmington. He is a matchup nightmare at his size and his left-handedness makes him even more effective. With his ball-handling ability, he is highly effective in transition.
Durral Brooks, Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Vitals: 6-2, guard.
College: Michigan.
Averages: 26 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists.
Biggest area of improvement: Perimeter shooting.
Best move: Uses an in-and-out cross-over dribble to get free for a pull-up jump shot.
Favorite athlete: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder.
Top opponent: Kobe Bufkin, Grand Rapids Christian (Michigan, Atlanta Hawks).
Favorite book: “The Light Between Oceans,” by M.L. Stedman.
When my basketball career is finished I will ... : “Manage real estate properties.”
Overview: A truly gifted athlete, he has been at the top of this class since his freshman year when he helped CC win the D-2 state championship with 10 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in the title game. He is the only senior on a team filled with sophomores and one junior. He plays at a different speed than most high school players. He has played this season with a partially torn patella tendon.
Ayden Davis, Onsted
Vitals: 6-11, center.
College: Wright State.
Averages: 23.9 points, 14.7 rebounds and 5.0 blocks.
Biggest area of improvement: He can step out to the 3-point line and hit shots.
Best move: Receives a pass in the post, uses a drop step and spins either way for a basket.
Favorite athlete: Shaquille O'Neal.
Top opponent: Jerry Easter, LaPorta (Indiana) La Lumiere.
Favorite book: The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling.
When my basketball career is finished I will ... : “Excel in my job in which profession I choose.”
Overview: He is virtually unstoppable when he gets the ball in the lane. He is hitting 73% of his 2-point shot attempts and 70% overall. He runs the floor so much better than he did a year ago and is a real factor in fast-break opportunities. He could also finish No. 2 in the state in career blocked shots. In 2016, his brother, Austin (who played at Michigan) was runner-up to Cassius Winston for Mr. Basketball.
Tyler Ode, Saginaw Heritage
Vitals: 6-5, guard.
College: Toledo.
Averages: 22.5 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists.
Biggest area of improvement: Rebounding.
Best move: Coming off a screen for an open jumper.
Favorite athlete: His mother, Christy Anguiano Ode, Carrolton’s 1992 Class C state championship team.
Top opponent: Greg Lawson, Davison.
Favorite book: “Can’t Hurt Me,” by David Goggins.
When my basketball career is finished I will ... : “Coach college basketball.”
Overview: He is quite a load in transition, racing up and down the court. The four-year starter has expanded his game each season and hits 40% of his 3-point attempts, over 50% of his 2-point attempts and 90% of his free throws. Over the last season he has become more assertive on the floor, taking over in clutch situations and helping his younger teammates.
Mick McCabe is a former longtime columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at mick.mccabe11@gmail.com. Follow him @mickmccabe1. Order his book, “Mick McCabe’s Golden Yearbook: 50 Great Years of Michigan’s Best High School Players, Teams & Memories,” now at McCabe.PictorialBook.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 Michigan Mr. Basketball: Meet the finalists
