If you’ve stepped into a high school gym in Michigan lately, you know the atmosphere is getting a little heavy. We’re deep into January 2026, and the MHSAA boys basketball rankings aren't just numbers on a screen anymore—they’re a roadmap to the Breslin Center. Honestly, this season has been a bit of a whirlwind. Just when you think a team has established themselves as the "one," someone else pulls off an overtime upset that throws the MPR (Michigan Power Rating) into a blender.
Right now, the conversation starts and ends with East Lansing. They’ve been playing like a team possessed.
The Current State of the MHSAA Boys Basketball Rankings
If you look at the top of the pile, the Trojans of East Lansing are sitting at a clean 11-0 as of mid-January. They just passed their biggest test of the season, a gritty 80-71 overtime win against Rockford. That game was basically a statement of intent. It’s rare to see two teams that high in the rankings meet during the regular season with that much intensity, but the "GottaGetIt Classic" lived up to the hype.
Here is how the top ten is shaking out right now based on the most recent MPR and coaches’ insights:
- East Lansing (11-0): They have the strength of schedule and the wins to back up that #1 spot.
- Rockford (9-2): Despite the loss to East Lansing, their strength of schedule (SOS) is actually higher (16.6), keeping them firmly at #2.
- Muskegon (6-0): The Big Reds are undefeated and always dangerous. They have that "big game" DNA.
- East Kentwood (9-1): A massive jump lately. They’ve climbed three spots in the last week alone.
- Hudsonville (11-1): Still elite, though they took a slight dip recently.
- Grand Haven (12-1): The Buccaneers are the quietest 12-win team in the state, but people are starting to notice.
- Grandville (9-0): Undefeated and technically sound.
- Avondale (10-1): Dominating the east side of the state.
- Freeland (9-2): A recent loss to Frankenmuth stung, but they remain a top-ten lock.
- Unity Christian (8-2): The Crusaders are the team no one wants to see in their district bracket.
Why the OK-Red Conference is a Meat Grinder
It’s kinda wild when you realize that four of the top ten teams in the state are essentially neighbors. The Ottawa-Kent Red (OK-Red) is absolutely brutal this year. You’ve got Rockford, East Kentwood, Hudsonville, and Grandville all beating the daylights out of each other every Tuesday and Friday.
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The rankings reflect that. Even when a team like Rockford loses, they don't fall far because the MHSAA’s MPR system rewards you for playing tough opponents. If you lose by three points to a top-five team, the math says you’re still better than a team that beats a winless opponent by 40. That’s the "Strength of Schedule" variable at work, and right now, the OK-Red has it in spades.
Division 2 and the Return of Lansing Sexton
While Division 1 gets the headlines, Division 2 is where the real drama is. Remember Lansing Sexton? The "J-Dubbs" are back in a big way. After a heartbreaker last year in the Quarterfinals, they’ve opened this season 9-1. Their only blemish? A loss to—you guessed it—East Lansing. Since then, they’ve rattled off eight straight wins, including taking down Detroit Cass Tech.
In Division 3, Detroit Loyola is the story. They went 13-13 last year, which is... okay. But this year? They’re 10-2 and playing with a chip on their shoulder. They had a one-point overtime loss to Dearborn Divine Child that everyone in the CHSL is still talking about.
Then you have Division 4, where Crystal Falls Forest Park is making noise in the U.P. They recently beat Kingsford 69-68. It was the program's first win over Kingsford since 2017. That’s the kind of stuff that makes Michigan high school hoops special. It's about history and those local rivalries that go back fifty years.
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The Players Moving the Needle
You can’t talk about the MHSAA boys basketball rankings without mentioning the kids actually putting the ball in the hoop. The Class of 2026 is deep.
- KJ Torbert (East Lansing): The Bowling Green commit is the engine for the #1 team. He’s poised and rarely makes the wrong read.
- Cameron Ryans (Grand Rapids Northview): Headed to Western Michigan. He’s a 6'4" wing who can score at all three levels.
- James Martin (Muskegon): Committed to Detroit Mercy. He’s the physical presence that keeps Muskegon at the top of the OK-Green.
- Jake Bascom (Rockford): A Central Michigan commit. At 6'6", he stretches the floor in a way that’s a nightmare for traditional bigs.
Honestly, the recruiting landscape is shifting too. We’re seeing more kids stay home for the MAC and Horizon League schools rather than chasing high-major dreams that might result in sitting on a bench. It’s making the local talent pool even more competitive.
What People Get Wrong About the MPR
A lot of fans look at the MaxPreps or On3 rankings and get confused when the official MHSAA tournament seedings come out. The MHSAA uses the Michigan Power Rating (MPR). It's a purely mathematical formula. It doesn't care about "eye tests" or how many dunks a kid had on TikTok.
It’s basically:
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- 25% of your winning percentage.
- 50% of your opponents' winning percentage.
- 25% of your opponents' opponents' winning percentage.
This is why a team like Grandville can be 9-0 but sit below a 9-2 Rockford. Rockford’s opponents are simply winning more games against tougher competition. If you want to climb the rankings, you have to play people. Scheduling "cupcakes" to pad your record actually hurts you in the long run when March rolls around and you're looking for a favorable district draw.
The Road to Breslin: What to Watch Next
The next three weeks are the "proving grounds." We’ve got some massive matchups on the horizon that will inevitably flip these rankings upside down. Keep an eye on the rematch between Detroit Loyola and Dearborn Divine Child—that’s for the top of the CHSL AA.
Also, the battle for the Saginaw Valley League is heating up. Grand Blanc (9-2) and Saginaw United are lurking just outside that top tier, waiting for a chance to knock off a Grand Haven or a Hudsonville.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Coaches:
- Track the MPR Weekly: Don't just look at wins and losses. Check the MHSAA website every Tuesday morning when the ratings update.
- Watch the U.P. Scores: Division 4 is often decided by the travel-hardened teams from the North. Crystal Falls Forest Park is legit.
- Attend a Quad-Meet: If you can get to a venue hosting multiple top-20 teams (like the upcoming showcases in Grand Rapids or Detroit), do it. The "eye test" still matters for scouting, even if it doesn't matter for the math.
- Focus on Districts: Remember, the rankings determine who hosts and who gets the bye. Being #1 in January is cool, but being #1 in the district bracket is what gets you to East Lansing in March.
The season is far from over. There’s a lot of basketball left, and in Michigan, that usually means a few more overtime thrillers and at least one more massive upset that nobody saw coming.