BIG LEXI’S BIG 25
BIG LEXI’S BIG 25:
#1 WEST BLOOMFIELD (7-0)
WB brings back Indya and Summer Davis, the Davis twins, and Georgia Commits, as seniors this year. WB won the state championship 2 years ago and was the runner up last year in an upset vs Rockford in the state finals. I believe WB will play this season with a chip on their shoulder all year long, a revenge season mixed with it being the Davis twins’ senior year will guarantee WB leaving everything they have on the court every single game. Won by 20+ over Detroit Country Day.
-WB stays at the #1 spot in Week 2 after an impressive win against Detroit Country Day, my #11 ranked team. WB gave Country Day their largest loss of the season, a 23-point loss.
WB also had a game that was just 3 points shy of a 100-point game, showing their offensive power and depth even more.
#2 ANN ARBOR FATHER GABRIEL RICHARD (8-0)
This is a team that didn’t get the respect they deserved from me and a lot of the state last season because they lost early on to Lansing Catholic (another school who was HEAVILY doubted by everyone in the state until they went on to WIN STATES last season). I’m not making the same mistake this season. Father Richard’s has big wins so far this season are over the defending state champs Lansing Catholic, as well as Catholic Central and Arbor Prep.
-FGR moves up 3 spots in this week’s rankings because of their 60-46 win over Lowell, who is my #13 ranked team and because FGR has now played and won against 3 teams in my Top 25, which tallies the most ranked wins out of any team in the state.
#3 ROCKFORD (9-0)
Rockford won their 1st state final in school history last season, upsetting West Bloomfield. They’re also off to a 6-0 start this season, however, Rockford graduated their MVP, Alyssa Wypych, who is now in her freshman season at Michigan Tech. The Rams still have a Wypych who helps lead the team in JR Guard Anna Wypych. They also return SR standout Grace Lyons. Rockford had a really big win in the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament vs Chelsea 49-36.
-Rockford stays at my #3 spot in the Week 2 Rankings because Rockford gave my (previously) #8 ranked Grand Haven their first loss of the season with a score of 55-38. This marked Rockford’s 2nd ranked win against teams in my Top 25. Rockford has a big matchup coming up on 1/19 vs East Kentwood, another team ranked in my Top 25.
#4 DETROIT RENAISSANCE (10-0)
SR Anaya Hardy, Louisville Commit, is a player I’ve had my eye on Hardy for years ever since I saw the pictures and videos of her DUNKING. Hardy is surrounded by an entire team of ballers; SR Christian Sanders is a University of Chicago Commit and JR Imani Johnson led the way in perhaps Detroit Renaissance’s biggest win of the season in the Michigan Hardwood Classic when they beat Chicago Kenwood Academy 59-52. Johnson dropped 23 points with 9 boards. Renaissance also has 2 ranked wins from my Top 25 against my #11 ranked Detroit Country Day & my #21 ranked Lansing Catholic.
-Renaissance dropped 2 spots in my rankings this week just because FGR and Rockford had bigger wins against bigger teams last week. Since last week’s rankings, Renaissance did have 91-11 win over Southeastern that showed their offensive depth.
#5 DETROIT EDISON (14-0)
DEPSA’s only in-state loss last season before the playoffs began was to West Bloomfield, and this season, DEPSA has started off even better with an unbeaten record of 13-0 so far this season. Returning for DEPSA is SR Guard and East Carolina Commit Devin Hagemann. Her maturity in big games and moments is already showing itself this season. Big additions this year are also JR Guard Isis Johnson, Kentucky Commit, who sat out SO year and SR Guard Na’Kiya Bonner, Indiana Tech Commit. Big wins over Detroit Country Day and Chicago Kenwood.
-Since Week 1’s rankings, I decided to drop DEPSA down 1 spot because of their OT win vs Parma Western. Western is definitely not a chump type of team, however, Western is 5-5 and DEPSA needs more players outside of Hagemann, who dropped 20 points in the OT win, stepping up against tough teams.
#6 BELLEVILLE (7-1)
Belleville football is known across the state for having one of the best programs in the state, but Belleville basketball, girls and boys, are gaining notice for being atop the best basketball programs in the state, too. Belleville girls basketball gained a freshman phenom type of player in Guard/Forward Combo Sydney Savoury. Savoury has already had visits or offers by UCLA, BYU and Texas A&M. Savoury is a walking double-double and made it on ESPN’s 2027 HS Freshmen Watch List. Savoury already had a 31-point, 10 rebound game this year and is going to be one of the most exciting players to watch in HS hoops for years to come.
-Belleville stays at the #6 spot in my Week 2 Rankings. I couldn’t move them up, not because of who they lost to- Mason, an absolutely stacked Ohio team but because of how much they lost by. Mason waxed Belleville, 49-28, and I would’ve liked to see Belleville handle the adversity of a tough defensive team better, finding ways to score through it, but Belleville is still undefeated against in-state teams.
#7 GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC (7-1)
GR West Catholic returns SR Guard Reese Polega, Purdue Fort Wayne Commit, and JR Guard Elisha Dykstra who is still uncommitted, but will definitely play college ball somewhere as long as she wants to. Dykstra’s sister, Cadence, graduated last season and plays college ball at Toledo now, which was a huge loss for Grand Rapids West Catholic. Their only loss on the season is to my #3 ranked Rockford 57-71, so I’m not knocking them much for that.
-GR West Catholic jumps up two spots in my Week 2 Rankings because they’ve both been more battle tested than Goodrich this season, even though they each have 1 loss, the lone loss is to my #3 Ranked Rockford. West Catholic lost to Rockford 57-71 on 12/27 and they lost by a less than Grand Haven did to Rockford, therefor, West Catholic also jumps ahead of Grand Haven.
#8 GRAND HAVEN (8-1)
Grand Haven has cruised to an 8-0 start to the season. Their closest game was an 18-point win over Hudsonville, however, Grand Haven will be truly battle tested for the first time this season on Tuesday 1/9 when they face the defending state champs and my #3 Ranked Rockford. Guard Emerson Berndt has been leading the way in scoring, in part thanks to PG Gillian Sorrelle who is an assisting machine.
-Grand Haven jumps up one spot in my Week 2 Rankings because they’ve both been more battle tested than Goodrich this season, even though they each have 1 loss, the lone loss is to my #3 Ranked Rockford. Grand Haven lost to Rockford 38-55 on 1/9.
#9 GOODRICH (9-0)
Goodrich is looking to make it back to the Breslin for revenge this year after falling in the state semifinals last season. The Martians return multiple key players from last season’s squad, led by JR Guard Ella Place who won Game MVP in a big win over Grand Blanc, scoring a team-high 17 points in the Carmody Classic. SR Guard Alexis Kosmowski and Sophomore Guard Kayla Hairston also returns for the Martians after putting in WORK in the offseason. Goodrich graduated their main scoring threat, Riley Place (FR at Rochester now) from last season’s squad, which have been big shoes to fill.
-Goodrich had to be dropped in my rankings this week because they haven’t played a single team in my Top 25 and I want to see if Goodrich can be as disciplined against better competition.
#10 ARBOR PREP (7-2)
Arbor Prep is a team that always battle-tests themselves with out of conference games since they are D3 and want to make sure they are playing tough teams to be ready come playoff time. They have been led the last 3 years and will continue to be led this year by SR’s Stephanie and Stacy Utomi, the Utomi Twins. You can’t knock them for their 1st loss of the season to Gabriel Richard, my #5 ranked team, however, I put Arbor Prep at #10 because of their loss to Northwest that they should’ve won. Arbor Prep has had some big wins this season against really strong teams including wins over Lake Fenton, Powers Catholic, Wayne Memorial and Lowell.
-I kept Arbor Prep at my #10 spot in Week 2’s rankings. Though Arbor Prep has 2 ranked wins in my Top 25, their 2 losses on the season is the most losses out of anyone in my Big 10, so I don’t feel that I can rank them higher with 2 losses under their belt right now.
#11 Detroit Country Day (9-3)
• Big win over Clarkston, close win over Tecumseh, close losses to Edison and Renaissance, big loss to WB
#12 Wayne Memorial (6-2)
• Close loss to Arbor Prep, big loss to Bolingbrook, IL
#13 Canton (8-0)
• Close win over Macomb Dakota
#14 Chelsea (7-2)
• Close win over Northwest Jackson, close loss to Rockford & Dexter
#15 Macomb Dakota (9-1)
• Close loss to Canton
#16 Lowell (7-2)
• Close win over East Kentwood, close loss to Arbor Prep & 15 pt. loss to FGR
#17 Northwest Jackson (6-1)
• Close win over Arbor Prep, close loss to Chelsea
#18 Powers Catholic (7-1)
• Close loss to Arbor Prep
#19 East Kentwood (8-1)
• Close win over Byron Center, close loss to Lowell
#20 Holland West Ottawa (5-2)
• Close loss to GR West Catholic and East Kentwood
#21 Byron Center (7-2)
• Close win over Hudsonville, close loss to East Kentwood, big loss to Rockford
#22 Hudsonville (5-2)
• Close loss to Byron Center and Grand Haven
#23 Dexter (7-2)
• Close win over Chelsea, close loss to Blissfield, big loss to South Lyon East
#24 Lansing Catholic (6-3)
• Close losses to Renaissance, FGR and Mumford
#25 Ishpeming (7-0)
• Close win over previously ranked #24 Negaunee