Who is the best senior boys player in Michigan high school basketball for 2025-26?
That is the question the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) answers every year with the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award.
The committee of BCAM coaches, led by the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball chairperson and Fraser boys basketball coach and teacher Steve Norgrove, forms a watchlist of players. Members watch and do homework on top candidates throughout the winter to whittle the list into a group of finalists.
This is the 46th year of the Mr. Basketball award, named for the late Hal Schram, who covered high school athletics for the Free Press for more than 40 years in the 20th century.
Listed alphabetically, the five 2026 Mr. Basketball finalists are: Jaylohn Allen, Wayne Memorial; Greg Grays Jr., Birmingham Brother Rice; James Martin, Muskegon; Cameron Ryans, Grand Rapids Northview; KJ Torbert, East Lansing.
“When we are talking as a committee, the names that keep popping up over and over again, those are usually a great indicator of where players stand,” Norgrove said. “One game doesn’t put you on the list and one game doesn’t take you off.”
The number of finalists is determined by the committee’s gauge of a “natural cut-off” between the best of the best – the Mr. Basketball candidates – and those who are just a tick lower. In each of the past two years, there were four finalists.
“There is some tremendous talent this year,” Norgrove said. “And one thing I’ve noticed, the competition level when some of them were going head-to-head was outstanding. I do appreciate the coaches that have individuals on this list because they are not afraid to play each other.”
The candidates are spread throughout the state after the four finalists last year were concentrated in metro Detroit. There are representatives from two of the premier teams on the west side – the best region in the state this season – two players from top programs in metro Detroit and a representative from the No. 1 team in Michigan, located five miles east of the Michigan State Capitol building.
There are no regional requirements for selecting Mr. Basketball candidates. The committee focuses on selecting the best pool of players, regardless of where they play.
“With certain players, it is not hard at all because they build a reputation, do things the right way and their play speaks for itself,” Norgrove said. “But then there are players who are looked at as very good players and they just don’t make the list. But they are still great players. That’s where it becomes hard.”
There are also a few family ties between this year’s candidates and the award.
Flint Northwestern’s Kelvin Torbert Sr., KJ’s father, won the 2000-01 Mr. Basketball award, receiving 141 first-place votes in the 200 ballots cast; Greg Grays Sr., Greg Jr.’s father, finished fifth in 1996-97 Mr. Basketball voting as the star of Southfield Lathrup (Country Day’s Shane Battier won); Ypsilanti’s Corey Allen, Jaylohn’s older brother, finished fourth in Mr. Basketball voting in 2015-16 (U-D Jesuit’s Cassius Winston won).
BCAM members will vote for the winner between Feb. 25 and March 1. Members must vote for three finalists and points will be awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.
The 46th Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award will be presented on March 9 in the Free Press office in downtown Detroit.
Here is a look at the five finalists, listed in alphabetical order:
Jaylohn Allen, Wayne Memorial
Vitals: 6-foot-2, point guard.
College commitment: Toledo.
Averages: 23.3 points, 6.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 steals per game.
Biggest area of improvement: On-ball defense.
Best move: Stepback jumper, typically from 3-point range.
Favorite athlete: Corey Allen (his brother).
Top opponent: Ayden Davis, Onsted (Wright State) or KJ Torbert, East Lansing.
Favorite book: “I Survived” series by Lauren Tarshis.
When my basketball career is finished I will … : “I would love to coach. Start as a young kids’ coach and then just go from there. Or I would like to get a doctorate [in psychology].”
Overview: Allen stepped into high school with high expectations immediately and has met those benchmarks during his four years as the varsity point guard. Allen leaped Lorenzo Guess as Wayne’s all-time leading scorer, passing the 30-year record of 1,748 points. He is a blur with the ball in his hands, frequently getting to the middle of the defense for his own shot or to set up an open look for others. The combination of his shooting and ball-handling makes Allen a one-man hub for offensive creation. As a junior, Allen helped Wayne reach the first Division 1 state championship game in school history, where he scored a team-high 16 points in a loss to East Lansing.
Greg Grays Jr., Birmingham Brother Rice
Vitals: 6-2, combo guard.
College commitment: Detroit Mercy.
Averages: 16.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals per game.
Biggest area of improvement: On-ball defense and dribble penetration.
Best move: A hesitation dribble of choice – whether it is a crossover, in-and-out, between-the-legs or behind-the-back – into a stop-and-pop jumpshot.
Favorite athlete: Kobe Bryant.
Top opponent: Trey McKenney, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Michigan).
Favorite book: “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind” by Joseph Murphy.
When my basketball career is finished I will … : “Maybe do some broadcoasting, like a TV analyst. Maybe even coach or be a trainer. Anything that has to do with basketball.”
Overview: Grays has consistently been a dynamic scorer in his four-year high school career, which started at Farmington and finished at Brother Rice, scoring more than 1,620 career points. Grays missed the first seven games of his senior season with a knee injury, but returned to the court while less than 100%, providing the Warriors with a knockdown shooter and veteran leader. Grays is a threat anywhere inside halfcourt and has improved scoring around the rim, while taking on tough defensive matchups. He can change the complexion of games when he gets hot, often scoring his points in bunches. He is shooting 47.3% from the field and 34% from 3-point range this season. Brother Rice is 38-8 in two seasons with Grays as its leading player. One of his best performances this season came against fellow finalist Cam Ryans, scoring 23 points in a 59-52 win over Grand Rapids Northview.
James Martin, Muskegon
Vitals: 6-4, guard/wing.
College commitment: Detroit Mercy.
Averages: 23.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, three assists, three steals per game.
Biggest area of improvement: Perimeter shooting and ball-handling.
Best move: Using an in-and-out dribble to get a defender off-balanced while driving toward the rim for a dunk or layup.
Favorite athlete: Anthony Edwards.
Top opponent: McKenney or Darius Acuff Jr., Detroit Cass Tech (IMG Academy, Arkansas).
Favorite book: “Going D1: When Skills & Talent isn’t enough” by Stanley Williams Jr.
When my basketball career is finished I will … : “Do something with businesses and houses. Real estate.”
Overview: Martin has returned to the court in his senior year on a mission. The Muskegon standout played in less than half of his junior season before suffering a broken arm which ended his season. Martin developed a coach’s understanding of the game while sitting out to pair with his gravity-bending athleticism. He excels as a two-way player, setting the school’s single-game and single-season mark for steals, while getting buckets from all three levels. He has improved as a shooter, but getting into the paint is still Martin’s mantra thanks to his leaping and finishing. A four-year varsity player for the Big Reds, he leads by example by excelling as a rebounder, hustling for 50/50 balls, and taking on tough defensive assignments.
Cameron Ryans, Grand Rapids Northview
Vitals: 6-4, shooting guard.
College commitment: Western Michigan.
Averages: 24.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals per game.
Biggest area of improvement: Handling adversity and playing level-headed as a senior leader.
Best move: Left-to-right between-the-legs dribble into a spin move to create open space for a shot in the paint.
Favorite athlete: Jon Jones.
Top opponent: Macari Moore, Ann Arbor Huron (Pittsburgh).
Favorite book: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.
When my basketball career is finished I will … : “I want to coach basketball, probably around the high school or college level. Just give back to the kids.”
Overview: Ryans has played his best during the biggest moments of his senior season. He delivered 41 points on 75% shooting in a showdown with top-ranked East Lansing, handing the Trojans their first loss in 40 games. He had 18 points and eight rebounds against Rockford, and 28 points and nine rebounds against Brother Rice. Ryans leads Northview in points, rebounds and assists. He provides an all-around impact thanks to a strong motor. He is an adept outside shooter who can create a shot off the dribble and live above the rim for dunks and layups through contact. Ryans has thrived as a leader for Northview thanks to his on-court composure.
KJ Torbert, East Lansing
Vitals: 6-3, shooting guard.
College commitment: Bowling Green State.
Averages: 25.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.5 assists per game.
Biggest area of improvement: Perimeter shooting and vocal leadership.
Best move: Hesitation dribble into a pull-up 3-pointer or eurostep layup.
Favorite athlete: Anthony Edwards.
Top opponent: Ryans.
Favorite book: “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series by Jeff Kinney.
When my basketball career is finished I will … : “Try to be a basketball coach.”
Overview: Torbert led East Lansing to the Division 1 title as a junior, and has followed it up with one of the top scoring seasons in Michigan. He began his career at Okemos before joining the Trojans for the next three seasons. Since the move, all Torbert has done is win: East Lansing has a 72-5 record in three years. He is a creative finisher around the rim, often changing speeds to create space, has improved from 3-point range and is East Lansing’s top perimeter defender. His high-arcing 3-pointer is going in at nearly a 40% clip, opening up lanes to drive. Torbert has had 39 points against Rockford, 39 against Lansing Waverly, 34 against Warren Fitzgerald and a buzzer-beating game-winner against Detroit King.
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Meet the 5 finalists for 2026 Michigan Mr. Basketball award
Reporting by Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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