Playing travel basketball when you live Up North has its challenges

Jacob Plamondon of Michigan Unified dunks during the Wes Leonard Showcase in Byron Center on Saturday, May 10, 2025. He goes to Maple City Glen Lake High School. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Jacob Plamondon’s jersey was soaked with sweat after playing back-to-back games during a travel basketball tournament last weekend in Byron Center.

The junior from Maple City Glen Lake High School has to drive a long ways to get to tournaments, but he said it’s worth it.

“It’s a whole different game down here,” he said. “Up there it’s not as good exposure and players. Down here, everything is more fast paced and just about every team is good and has really good players. It’s a whole other level of basketball.”

During the Wes Leonard Showcase in Byron Center on May 9-10 there were at least three basketball players from “Up North” who were competing. Ellis Malpass, who plays for the Grand Rapids Storm, goes to East Jordan High School, Carter Grubb, who plays for West Michigan Premier, goes to Traverse City West and Plamondon, who plays for Michigan Unified*. 

They put the “travel” in travel basketball. 

“The drives are tough,” Malpass said. “Everyone else (on my team) has like a five-minute drive to get to practice and it takes me three hours to get there. That’s the toughest part.”

Ellis Malpass of the Grand Rapids Storm competes during the Wes Leonard Showcase in Byron Center on Saturday, May 10, 2025. He goes to East Jordan High School. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Malpass makes the drive to Grand Rapids every Thursday. But Grubb makes the 2 1/2 hour drive twice a week.

“After school, I just drive down here for practice and I sleep in the car. My parents drive me down so that I can sleep,” Grubb said of his parents Jeremy and Nicole Grubb.

But Plamondon might have some kind of record when it comes to making practices. It takes him up to five hours once a week to drive to Detroit for a two-hour practice. 

“From Glen Lake to here is about four hours,” Plamondon said of Grand Rapids. “But practices are in Detroit and that’s about a 4 1/2 or 5 hour drive for me. I try to make every practice. I leave school around 1 p.m. and practice is around 6 or 7.”

*Since this interview, Plamondon has switched teams. He is now with the Indiana Game. So he will have an even longer drive.

Malpass said he won’t get home until midnight sometimes.

“I leave right after school,” he said. “I drive straight down here. Have practice, then drive right back up and get home around 11 or 12.”

All three athletes are in the 2026 graduating class. 

So why do basketball players make this sacrifice in the first place?

“The exposure,” Malpass said. “The teams up there don’t play on any big circuits or any big gyms where (college) coaches will be at. For a a team like the Storm, there’s exposure. It’s a different environment.”

Jacob Plamondon of Michigan Unified posts up during the Wes Leonard Showcase in Byron Center on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Jacob Plamondon - Glen Lake High School

Plamondon is a 6-foot-6 230 pound forward. He averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds last season and surpassed the 1,000 career point mark. 

“It’s a big accomplishment to get 1,000,” he said. “But I have no idea what the school record is. I’ll have to look into it. None of my coaches said anything about it. But I did tie the school record with 49 points in a game.”

Plamondon also competes in track in the spring, which is a challenge during the travel basketball season.

“Balancing track and AAU is tricky,” he said. “But it keeps me busy and in shape. Gives me something to do. My track coach understands that basketball is my main goal. So he understands.”

Plamadon is the son of Jeff and Jill Plamondon. He said his mom makes it to most of his tournaments.

“Usually it’s just my mom,” he said. “She comes to most of my tournaments. She understands its my goal and she sacrifices her time to come.”

The power forward had some big moments at the tournament in Byron Center. He said he doesn’t have any big offers yet, but he’s gotten some attention from some bigger schools.

“I’ve gone on three D1 visits,” he said. “I’ve had some D3s reach out, but that’s not really my goal. D2 and D1 are my main goal.”

Plamondon said he’s visited Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Grand Valley State and Wisconsin-Green Bay. 

Carter Grubb of West Michigan Premier shoots a 3-pointer at the Wes Leonard Showcase in Byron Center on Saturday, May 10, 2025. He goes to Traverse City West High School. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Carter Grubb - Traverse City West

The 6-foot-6, 185-pound forward is an athletic kid who can easily dunk in traffic and shoot the long ball, too.

“He’s got all the intangibles,” said Shawn Bailey, his coach for West Michigan Premier. “He’s off the charts. He’s 6-6 and can jump out of the gym and he can hit the three. He’s a raw prospect, but he’s fine tuning (his game) since he’s been with us. He’s a joy to have.” 

Grubb averaged around eight points per game for the Titans.

“It was alright,” he said. “We had a pretty good record, although we’re not in the best conference. We lost in the district finals. We had a good season.”

Carter Grubb of West Michigan Premier dives for a loose ball at the Wes Leonard Showcase in Byron Center on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Grubb, who is playing his first year on the travel circuit, said the options for travel ball aren’t great in his region, but that doesn’t mean the high schools aren’t good.

“There’s more exposure and competition down here,” he said. “They have a higher reputation, but our teams in TC can compete and win down here. We played Wayne Memorial and lost by like nine and then we played Forest Hills Northern and won that game.”

Bailey said he loves Grubb’s dedication.

“It’s mostly about the commitment,” Bailey said. “He hasn’t missed a practice, which is awesome. He’s super talented. He’s dedicated to getting better and trying to get that exposure. We had a couple of guys from Up North last year and he saw that and it made it possible for him to make it work to be on our team.”

Cash Bont, left, and teammate Ellis Malpass of the Grand Rapids Storm during the Storm Classic on April 12, 2025. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Ellis Malpass - East Jordan

The lanky 6-foot-5, 170 pounder is a good shooter and doesn’t mind taking it to the rim.

His older brother Preston also went to East Jordan before transferring to a prep school. He’s now playing basketball at Alma College.

East Jordan had a record of 19-5 last season and Malpass averaged 9.8 points per game.

“We’re a Division 4 team, so we’re not big,” Malpass said. “We play a lot of UP teams around Northern Michigan. It’s fun.”

He’s played with the Grand Rapids Storm since he was in middle school.

“Love Ellis,” said Jason Martin, who runs the Storm program. “Under the radar kid. Long, athletic and solid feel for the game. Started playing the game late. Gets better every weekend I see him play.”

Martin said he’s coached a few players from Up North.

“There are a lot of very talented kids up North,” he said. “Our program has benefited from several of those players for decades. The travel, consistency and depth of competition make it much more difficult for many of those kids. I think guys in our area especially take for granted the shear number of players, schools and talent level they see day in and day out. When you get a player from up North then tend to be built a little different. Their commitment level and drive is never a question.” 

All three athletes drive at least three hours to get to practices.