West Michigan Top Prospects of 2023 (5-1)

We've made it to the end of the road for West Michigan's 2023 prospect rankings. These next five athletes have the intangibles of being some of the state's premier prospects and will have opportunities to continue their playing careers at the next level. Also, in case you missed it, check out my previous rankings featuring players ranked 25-21, 20-16, 15-11, and 10-6.

1. Kaden Brown, G, Grand Rapids Catholic Central

No other West Michigan prospect in the 2023 class has ascended the ranks and into the spotlight as fast as Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Kaden Brown. The to-be junior guard helped Catholic Central capture its first-ever state championship this spring, cementing himself as the top point guard in the area, and arguably one of the best in the state. Simply put, Kaden plays at a level and pace above his peers, most impressively, doing it against athletes 1-3 years older than him. Kaden is a knock-down shooter and can do it consistently from all three levels. In my opinion, Kaden is at his best when he's attacking the lane off dribble drives. His skillset warrants constant help, which Kaden uses to draw defenders off the perimeter, leading to open jumpers for his teammates. Kaden's passing ability is even more impressive in transition, showing he has nice touch on lobs and bounce passes through traffic. All eyes will once again be on Kaden and the prohibitive Division 2 favorites to run it back in 2021-22.

2. Jakhary Towns, G, Godwin Heights

Jakhary has earned his title as the most feared shooter in the area as he continues to develop different ways of getting his shot off. Jakhary led a very young Godwin Heights group through an undefeated league schedule, helping capture the OK Silver crown with little to no resistance. His ability to fill up the stat line despite facing multiple double-teams and consistent face-guards show a glimpse of the type of effort and mental fortitude that Jakhary plays with. Throughout the first two seasons of his high school career, Jakhary has shown the ability to play without the ball, running off of an array of ball screens and cuts to hunt shots. As he continues to grow and develop his game, Jakhary's evolution into a three-level scorer is just beginning to scratch the surface

3. Simon Neuhaus, F, East Grand Rapids

Coming into the 2020-21 season, I wasn't aware of how gifted of a player that East Grand Rapids had in then-sophomore Simon Neuhaus. When the Pioneers suffered a couple of key injuries to upperclassmen, Simon was called upon to carry the weight and provide East with consistent scoring. Simon stepped up and put up big numbers against arguably the toughest league in the state. Simon's physicality and length allowed him to get consistent looks in the paint and be in the mix for second chance looks off boards. In addition to his physical play, Simon has shown he can be a reliable weapon from the perimeter and in the midrange. As he gets another offseason under his belt, I expect Simon to become a known commodity in the state and help lead the Pioneers to contention in the OK White in 2021-22.

4. Harrison Sorrelle, G, Grand Haven

Harrison has several tools that make him one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2023 class. Standing at 6'5, Harrison's length impacts both ends of the court and is what ultimately helped him earn All-OK Red honors as a sophomore. Harrison has a good-looking jumper that extends to the three-point line, and a release that allows him to get good looks regardless of the defender's closeout. Harrison is a crafty finisher who can knock down mid-range looks off-balanced and through contact. Defensively, Harrison's length causes problems for smaller guards, and it also allows him to defend against opponents in the front court. Watch for Harrison to be a consistent contributor for what should be a very talented Grand Haven team next season.

5. Jordan Briggs, G, Muskegon

Yet another young and promising point guard has established himself as the lead guard for one of the state's most storied programs for the next two seasons. Jordan Briggs played well beyond his years in his sophomore campaign, earning first-team all-conference accolades and cementing himself as one of the premier guards in the area. Jordan has all the intangibles that you want in an athlete to lead your program. He has proven he can blow by some of the best defenders the OK Green had to offer, is automatic in the midrange, is a threat from the perimeter, and plays with a level of poise that is typically seen in upperclassmen. Led by the dynamic play of Jordan Briggs, Muskegon returns the majority of its talent from a season ago and should be a darkhorse favorite to make a deep postseason run in 2021-22.