Vote for Best Class A Boys Basketball Team of 2000s

Fans can choose from final four teams in bracket challenge

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Mlive.com is hosting a bracket challenge to determine the best Class A boys basketball team in Michigan from 2000-2009. The final four teams include the 2008 Saginaw High squad, the 2006 Saginaw Arthur Hill team, the 2000 Saginaw squad, and the 2009 Detroit Pershing team. Readers can vote for the matchups, with the winners advancing until a champion is crowned.

Why it matters

This bracket challenge allows fans to relive the glory days of Michigan high school basketball in the 2000s, a decade filled with future college and NBA stars. The final four teams represent some of the state's top talent and most successful programs from that era.

The details

The 2008 Saginaw High team went 27-1 and won the state title, led by Michigan State legend Draymond Green along with Daniel West and Mike Green. The 2006 Saginaw Arthur Hill squad went 21-6 and won state, featuring Dar Tucker and Latreze Mushatt. The 2000 Saginaw team lost in the state semifinals but had a loaded roster with Charles Rogers, Roy Manning, Jeremiah McLaurin, Anthony Roberson, and Eugene Seals. The 2009 Detroit Pershing squad went 26-1 and won state, led by future Michigan State stars Keith Appling and Derrick Nix.

  • The bracket challenge began with 16 teams and has now reached the final four.
  • Voting for the third-round matchups is open until 9 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Draymond Green

A Michigan State legend who went on to play in the NBA.

Dar Tucker

The 2007 Mr. Basketball runner-up who played college basketball at DePaul.

Charles Rogers

A football star at Michigan State who also played in the NFL.

Keith Appling

A future Michigan State star and Mr. Basketball winner.

Derrick Nix

A future Michigan State star and Mr. Basketball winner.

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What they’re saying

“The first decade of the new millennium ushered in an era of unforgettable boys high school basketball in Michigan.”

— Patrick Nothaft (mlive.com)

“From future college stars and eventual NBA players, the state was loaded with top-end talent from 2000-09, and we're giving fans a chance to weigh in on which team was the best of the decade.”

— Patrick Nothaft (mlive.com)

What’s next

The winners of the third-round matchups will advance to the championship round, where fans can vote to determine the best Class A boys basketball team of the 2000s.

The takeaway

This bracket challenge allows Michigan high school basketball fans to relive the glory days of the 2000s, a decade filled with elite talent that went on to star at the college and professional levels. The final four teams represent some of the state's most successful and talented programs from that era.