There’s no five-star prospects headlining the current crop of upperclassmen, but Oakland County’s boys hoops talent bubbles with depth underneath.
It’s a fact that’s reflected in the county’s best teams this year, too. Brother Rice boasts arguably three of the top-15 or top-20 players in the Class of 2026, even if their talent goes beyond those few.
Also, in fairness to to a league like the OAA White, D1 prospects aren’t necessarily required for success. Depth and chemistry matter, too. And sometimes unforeseen player movement can sap that depth (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, the county’s crown jewel the past few seasons, is a prime example).
Still, there’s plenty of bucket and board-getters scattered throughout the leagues in the OC.
With the caveat that there’s just one player highlighted from each team (meaning this isn’t a de facto top-10 ranking of county players), here’s a look at some of the top players in the area to watch this season.
Greg Grays Jr., Brother Rice
The list of Oakland County’s top teams started with the Warriors, so might as well begin with their top scorer. Grays, a senior committed to Detroit-Mercy, acclimated after transferring from Farmington following his sophomore season and led Brother Rice to a district championship, and in that game he demonstrated what a game-changer he can be, scoring 12 points in the final minute to beat Groves. Grays made his season debut over the weekend in a premier matchup against Rockford and scored 24 points in the Warriors’ double-overtime loss.
Brother Rice’s Greg Grays Jr. (2) follows his 3-pointer in a district final at Birmingham Groves held Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (BRYAN EVERSON – MediaNews Group)
Lewis Lovejoy, Arts & Tech Academy of Pontiac
Don’t let his size fool you. The 5-foot-9 point guard burst onto the season as a freshman last winter and averaged 21 points, seven boards and eight assists to lead the Lions to the D3 title game. His dad, ATAP head coach Orlando Lovejoy Sr., said in the offseason that leadership skills are an area where he can continue to improve, but the younger Lovejoy plays with a fearlessness and can create his own shot. Local or not, he’s one of the most talented sophomores in the state.
Da’Ron Mason, Bloomfield Hills
He might not put up quite the same numbers in a league better than than the OAA Blue, but his presence and how it’ll impact that race is influential enough that it warrants his place on the list. Mason has the ability to collect steals and take them the other away for easy points at least a few times a game, and he’s got the ability to put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. A senior committed to Wayne State, Mason recently dropped 33 points in a win over Berkley, helping the Black Hawks get out to a 5-1 start.
Cole Charter, Clarkston
Like some other names you’ll find on this list, you could make an argument for a teammate, and in this case it would be Ace Walters, who can really shoot the rock, too. But coaches are likely to tell you that Charter is the spoon that stirs the drink. A 6-foot-5 guard, Charter displays a good sense of timing when driving the ball and his a nice arsenal of passes in his bag. The senior most recently moved into third place on Clarkston’s all-time career assists list (287), trailing only Keegan Waslik and Foster Loyer.
Connor Brown, North Farmington
The NBA may be a game of guards and centers, and while you can debate his fit at the next level, Brown’s a forward very comfortable of playing inside. He’s already shown an ability to turn rebounds into second-chance points, but now as a junior will continue to unlock potential by improving as a perimeter shooter and a distributer. The best player on a 6-1 Raiders team just got his first offer from South Dakota Mines, but D1 offers should arrive by the end of next summer if he continues on a similar trajectory.
Tory Robinson, Waterford Mott
Yes, this is a basketball list. After being named third-team All-Lakes Valley Conference as a sophomore on the hardwood, Robinson delivered this fall on the football field for Mott, hauling in 38 catches for over 900 yards and six touchdowns while also picking off three passes. That’s probably where his future lies, but Robinson’s athleticism allows him to match up with other top backcourt players. With teammate Jacoby Menyweathers graduated, Robinson is taking on a bigger scoring role this season (averaging over 15 ppg), but doesn’t have to carry the entire load with others like 6-6 senior Damari Stephens around him.
Eden Vinyard, Ferndale
His status as a nationally-ranked recruit has made him a known commodity since before the start of his sophomore season, so it was inevitable he had to make any list of county notables. The state’s most sought after player from the Class of 2027 is ranked 82nd by ESPN and 111th by 247. Standing at 6-7 and blessed with length, Vinyard has the ability to dominate at this level inside, but also can get hot from outside. If the eye test isn’t enough for you, the stat lines he delivers this year will be; Vinyard had 27 points in a win over Warren Lincoln, and there’s plenty of similar outputs yet to come.
Wycell Davis, Detroit Catholic Central
The Shamrocks might fly under the radar to start this season after a subpar 2024-25. It’s a new year, and Davis is a big reason why (Andrew Walker is another frontrunner from what’s a roster of athletically gifted players). The 6-4 junior can set up his teammates with an ability to beat his own man off the dribble and can hit shots when he’s between the perimeter and the paint, also. He put up 28 points for the Shamrocks (6-2) in their second Catholic League game, a 50-42 win over Toledo CC, and had a big game in their most recent victory over Detroit King. Davis already owns an offer from Eastern Michigan.
Dean Lewis, Walled Lake Western
Fear not, LVC, you are represented. His name might get lost in the shuffle with the fact that the Warriors went just 6-17 last year, but Lewis was the only sophomore voted second-team All-LVC or better. Senior Gavin Roberts (who already has a game-winning 3-pointer under his belt) is solid though, too, and an even better year out of Lewis should ensure that WL Western finishes much better than third-to-last in the conference standings. A 6-5 combo guard that can do a little of everything (including flush it when he gets to the rim), Lewis set a career-high with 33 points recently, and has surpassed or approached 30 on several other occasions despite the fact that the Warriors (4-3) are just seven games in.
Christian Cast, Detroit Country Day
“Old-heads” (it’s all relative) will remember that DCD has had a long list of hoopers that goes beyond the obvious few (there’s Kito Benson, Ray McCallum Jr. and Austin Price, and we could keep going deeper and further back). But anyone whose favorite video game is Fortnite might have forgotten the Yellowjackets were once a gold standard of Michigan boys hoops. In some ways, it’s a fair critique going by ultra-recent history. But Cast, who lost the better part of his sophomore year last winter to injury, appropriately proclaimed “we back” — that could apply to his team or himself — after he dropped 30 points in a win over Detroit Central at The D-Zone Shootout. Keep an eye on DCD (5-1) as the year goes on with other emerging underclassmen like 6-6 junior Isaiah Marino and sophomore guard Roman Allen.