BIG LEXI’S BIG 25
BIG LEXI’S BIG 25:
#1 WEST BLOOMFIELD (11-0)
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.
WB stays at the #1 spot in Week 3 after an impressive win against Detroit Country Day, my (at the time) #11 ranked team. WB gave Country Day their largest loss of the season, 23 points.
WB also had a game that was just 3 points shy of a 100-point game, showing their offensive power and depth even more.
-Most recently, WB had blowout wins over Clarkston and Northville.
#2 ANN ARBOR FATHER GABRIEL RICHARD (13-0)
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 has 3 ranked wins so far this season over the defending state champs #22 Lansing Catholic, #7 Arbor Prep and #14 Lowell.
FGR stays at the #2 spot in Week 3’s rankings because of their 60-46 win over Lowell, who is my #14 ranked team and because FGR has now played and won against 3 teams in my Top 25.
-Most recently, FGR had blowout wins over SUA and Marian.
#3 DETROIT RENAISSANCE (12-0)
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 (at the time) #11 ranked Detroit Country Day & my #22 ranked Lansing Catholic.
-Most recently, Renaissance had blowout wins over Muskegon and King.
#4 DETROIT EDISON (16-0)
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 Musah-Johnson, not committed yet but has visits with Kentucky and who transferred from Westfield Prep, along with SR Guard Na’Kiya Bonner, Indiana Tech Commit. Big wins over Detroit Country Day and Chicago Kenwood.
DEPSA scared me with 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.
-Most recently, Edison had a blowout win over Cass Tech and a 7-point win over Catholic Central.
#5 ROCKFORD (13-1)
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 #17 Chelsea 49-36.
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.
Unfortunately, after winning such a big game over Grand Haven, Rockford had to drop 5 spots in my Week 3 rankings because of their 54-60 loss to East Kentwood on 1/19. I didn’t drop them out of the Top 10 because East Kentwood was ranked #19 in my Top 25 when this game took place, so Rockford’s only loss was to a ranked team, however, Rockford just isn’t playing the same level of basketball they were playing last year without Alyssa Wypych.
-Most recently, Rockford had some huge games, winning over 2 ranked teams and proved me wrong with their big win over #21 Lansing Catholic 55-48. It was a gritty, hard-fought game that looked like Lansing Catholic would be capable of pulling off the upset at times, but kudos to Rockford for having the emotional maturity to close out big games that are close down the stretch. Rockford also had a BIG blowout win over a ranked West Ottawa team and Jenison recently. And I admit, I have been a bit hard on Rockford after their loss to East Kentwood, however, after going back through their schedule, Rockford has become the most battle-tested team in the state with 7 RANKED WINS over #13 Byron Center, #9 GR West Catholic, #16 Chelsea, #11 Grand Haven, #24 Hudsonville, #23 Holland West Ottawa and #21 Lansing Catholic.
#6 BELLEVILLE (10-1)
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 moves into my Top 5 in Week 3 Rankings after Rockford dropped out. Belleville’s only loss on the season hurt them 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.
-Most recently, Belleville had a blowout win over Detroit Country Day, giving Belleville their first win over a team ranked in my Top 25.
#7 EAST KENTWOOD (12-1)
-East Kentwood started off ranked #16 in my Top 25 rankings, so I’ve been keeping an eye on them since the start. They started the season off 3-1 with a big win over #15 Byron Center and just a 2-point loss to #14 Lowell. Most recently, East Kentwood shook up the entire rankings
after giving (at the time) #3 Rockford their only loss of the season 60-54 on 1/19 and in doing so, snapped the Rams 33-game winning streak. This forced me to drop Rockford down 5 spots to #8 and move East Kentwood above them at #7. Against Rockford, East Kentwood was led by Guard Harmonie Belton with 19 points and Combo Guard Makayla Porter had 17 points. Porter, the team’s leading scorer can score on all 3 levels, however she is best at driving and slashing, which opens up space for East Kentwood’s 3-point specialist, Belton, to drain 3 balls. East Kentwood also has big help from Sienna Heights Commit, Guard Kanyla Tyler who is a selfless and gritty teammate. EK has really good inside outside game for 3’s, good off the ball movement and their team basketball pushes them up the floor quickly in transition. East Kentwood and Rockford will have their rematch on 2/16 when they face up against each other for the second time this season. -Most recently, East Kentwood proved me right with their win over #11 Grand Haven 58-45. This win gives East Kentwood their 3rd ranked win over teams in my Top 25.
#8 ARBOR PREP (9-2)
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 #2 ranked team. Arbor Prep has had some huge wins this season against really strong teams including wins over #19 Powers Catholic, #12 Wayne Memorial and #14 Lowell.
I moved Arbor Prep up in my Week 3 rankings because Arbor Prep now has 3 ranked wins in my Top 25, tied for the most with Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard. Their 2 losses on the season is the most losses out of anyone in my Big 10, however, their 2 losses are also to ranked teams, #2 FGR and #18 Northwest Jackson.
-Most recently, Arbor Prep had just a 3-point win over Westfield Prep, a team who stayed in my Top 25 rankings for a majority of last year’s season, and a blowout win over Stockbridge. Unfortunately for Arbor Prep, I had to knock them down a spot because the Westfield Prep game was such a close game. Westfield Prep is still a very solid, competitive team; however, Westfield Prep isn’t playing the same level of basketball they were last year when they were ranked because they graduated their MVP, Shamya Reid, Westfield Prep’s all-time leading scorer.
#9 GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC (11-1)
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 (at the time) #3 ranked Rockford 57-71, so I’m not knocking them much for that.
GR West Catholic moved down two spots in Week 3 because of their most recent OT win against Holland Christian 41-33. Though, GR won the game and dominated in OT, this game never should’ve come down to OT.
-Most recently, GR West Catholic had blowout wins over Coopersville and Fruitport.
#10 GOODRICH (12-0)
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’s drops to #10 with an undefeated record because their Achilles heel is that 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, however, they did most recently have a nice win over a decent Lake Fenton team 44-36. This game would’ve been considered a much bigger win, though, if Lake Fenton was the team they were last year, but they are not after losing their best player Guard Kendall Smith from transferring to Powers Catholic.
-Most recently, Goodrich had a blowout win over Clio.
#11 Grand Haven (11-2)
• Big win over Hudsonville, 13-point loss to East Kentwood, 17-point loss to Rockford
#12 Stoney Creek (10-0)
• Close wins over Brighton and Clarkston
#13 Byron Center (8-2)
• Close win over Hudsonville, close loss to East Kentwood, big loss to Rockford
#14 Ishpeming (11-0)
• Close win over previously ranked #24 Negaunee
#15 Wayne Memorial (8-3)
• Close loss to Arbor Prep, big loss to Bolingbrook, IL, big loss to Pickerington (Ohio)
#16 Chelsea (10-3)
• Close win over Northwest Jackson, close loss to Rockford, Dexter and Freeland
#17 Northwest Jackson (10-1)
• Close win over Arbor Prep, close loss to Chelsea
#18 Powers Catholic (10-1)
• Close loss to Arbor Prep
#19 Bedford Temperance (9-1)
• Close wins over Tecumseh and Dexter, close loss to Northview
#20 Dexter (9-3)
• Close win over Chelsea, close losses to Blissfield and Bedford Temperance, big loss to South Lyon East
#21 Lansing Catholic (8-4)
• Close losses to Renaissance, FGR, Mumford and Rockford
#22 Lowell (9-3)
• Close win over East Kentwood, close loss to Arbor Prep, close loss to EGR & 15 pt. loss to FGR with big matchup vs Byron Center on 1/29
#23 Holland West Ottawa (8-4)
• Big win over Hudsonville, close loss to GR West Catholic, East Kentwood and Grand Haven, big loss to Rockford
#24 Hudsonville (7-4)
• Close loss to Byron Center and Grand Haven, big losses to Rockford and West Ottawa
#25 Detroit Country Day (8-5)
• Big win over Clarkston, close win over Tecumseh, close losses to Edison, Renaissance and Montini Catholic (Illinois school), big losses to WB and Belleville