Walking wounded: A lot of injured players missed BCAM
Grandville junior Carter Wade uses a mobility scooter to get around the gym at the BCAM team camp on Saturday, June 21, 2025. He had a torn ligament repaired in his ankle. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
ALLENDALE, Mich. - Carter Wade was leaning on a mobility scooter with his heavily bandaged foot propped up watching his team play basketball on Saturday.
The Grandville junior had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his ankle recently and will be out for the rest of the summer.
“It was very hard sitting on the bench watching,” Wade said. “Watching my teammates play makes me more excited to get back and start playing again. Also it makes me hungrier look forward for rehab and getting healthy.”
Wade, the No. 1 ranked 2027 player in the West Michigan Baller rankings, wasn’t the only injured player hobbling around the gym last weekend at the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan team tournament at Grand Valley State University.
It was like a M.A.S.H unit.
Rockford’s Dylan Gross, center, and Josh Bascom, sit on the bench in matching walking boots at the BCAM team camp on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Rockford senior Dylan Gross sat on the bench with a walking boot on his right foot. Sitting next to him was sophomore Josh Bascom in a matching walking boot with an injured left ankle.
“It’s hard not being able to play,” Gross said. “I haven’t been injured like this before. I’m not used to sitting out and watching my team play without me. I’m trying to look at it in a positive way though. Like everything happens for a reason.”
Gross is one of the best shooters in West Michigan. A year ago, he led the state with a stunning 53 percent from 3-point range.
“I obviously wanna be out there and help my guys win and be there for them,” Gross said. “But I have to do my best to help them from the bench. At least I have my teammate Josh on the bench with me.”
Alex Armstrong, one of the top juniors in the state, wasn’t in a cast or brace, but he’s still recovering from several injuries.
“I had multiple injures to my knee because I hyperextended it,” Armstrong said. “I got bone contusion, sprained LCL, some ACL ligaments partially torn and some other low grade sprains.”
Armstrong, who won back-to-back volleyball state titles for Hudsonville, likely will be out for at least another month.
“You always want to play but it’s great for the other guys to get reps and get some experience I just wanted to be a good role model on the bench,” he said.
Here’s a list of some of the injured players:
Alex Armstrong, Hudsonville junior - Knee
Josh Bascom, Rockford sophomore - Ankle
Cash Bont, Byron Center senior - Shoulder, but returned to play Saturday
Kyler Berghuis, Unity Christian senior - Hamstring, but returned Saturday
J.T. Gill, West Ottawa sophomore - Ankle
Dylan Gross, Rockford senior - Ankle
Jah Hatchett, former East Kentwood senior - Shoulder
Kellen Paul, Forest Hills Central freshman - Wrist
Chase Pitsch, Rockford senior - Ankle
Nolan Portenga, Grand Haven senior, Ankle
C.J. Reynolds, East Kentwood junior - Unknown
Levi VanderVeen, Hudsonville junior - Foot
Carter Wade, Grandville junior - Ankle
Hudsonville’s Alex Armstrong, left, and Levi VanderVeen sit on the bench at the BCAM team camp on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
