By Mike Mattson
Local Sports Journal

Muskegon High School will host some of the hottest prep basketball action in the Midwest on Saturday.

The Muskegon Basketball Showcase is set to tip off and certainly won’t disappoint area hoop junkies.

“We just want to bring out the best of the best in this area and the Midwest,” said Keith Guy, Muskegon athletic director and boys’ varsity basketball coach. “Muskegon County has a rich basketball history and we want to treat the fans to a great day of basketball.”

Saturday’s schedule at Redmond-Potter Gymnasium is impressive:

* LaPorte La Lumiere (Ind.) vs. Detroit Country Day, 3 p.m.

* Chicago Seton Academy vs. Romulus, 5 p.m.

* Chicago Curie vs. Muskegon, 7 p.m.

Fans can view all three games for a bargain price of $10.

Many talented Division I players will be in town to showcase their talents.

In the opener, LaPorte La Lumiere is led by guard Detrick Mostella (6-3, 170) and forward Torren Jones (6-8, 215). Mostella, who has signed with Oklahoma State, is ranked No. 68 on ESPN’s list of top players and Missouri-bound Jones is ranked No. 117.

State power Country Day counters with point guard Edmond Sumner, a 6-3 point guard ranked No. 91 on Rivals.com’s list of top juniors.

In the second game, there are three key players to watch.

Seton Academy features 6-8 senior center Alex Foster (Minnesota), while Romulus is led by senior guard Wes Clark (Missouri, No. 74 on ESPN list) and senior shooting guard EC Matthews (Rhode Island, No. 88 on the ESPN list).

Muskegon will have the big challenge of dealing with Curie’s talented 6-9, 240-pound center Cliff Alexander. He’s ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 4 junior and ESPN has him ranked No. 8.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo came to Muskegon last year to watch Alexander and Guy expects other college coaches on site Saturday to view the uncommitted center.

“It’s another tough test for us that is much needed,” Guy said about Curie. “They are a solid basketball team, with a big fella who is tough to stop. We will have our hands full. They play a tough schedule as well.

“We hope to at least slow (Alexander) down, but we can’t let everybody else go off either. This is how we tell where our team is by playing tough opponents.”

The Big Reds (3-3) enter Saturday’s game after two tough losses in the Meijer Hall of Fame Basketball Classic. Westland John Glenn topped the Big Reds 54-53 on a last-second 3-pointer and the hot-shooting East Kentwood Falcons topped Muskegon 85-77 with the help of nine 3-pointers.

Muskegon is getting into full basketball mode after many players competed in the Division 2 state championship game in late November.

“I am happy with the progress we’ve made and I’m excited about the progress we will make,” Guy said. “We are getting guys in shape. There are no excuses, we just have to play.”