Vote: Who is the best forward in boys hoops in Battle Creek area?

Battle Creek Central senior Ke'Marion Tucker passes the ball during a game against Mattawan at Battle Creek Central High School on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023.
Battle Creek Central senior Ke'Marion Tucker passes the ball during a game against Mattawan at Battle Creek Central High School on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023.

The B.O.B. is hitting the court.

The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is being expanded this year to include the top players on basketball courts throughout the area.

Each week, throughout the winter, we are asking, "Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?" as we look at each position in basketball among the city/area high school teams.

Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player. It's a tougher list to make this year as we expand the field to city and area teams, but once we do, then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B.

MORE B.O.B:

Best Point Guard in boys basketball in the area

Best Shooting Guard in boys basketball in the area

Each week we give readers choices and open our online poll for voting, with a winner decided by the following Tuesday.

Next up are the forwards for the city/area boys basketball teams:

VOTE HERE: Who is the No. 1 forward in boys basketball in the Battle Creek area?

Or, scroll down to the bottom of story for online poll

Battle Creek Central junior Ke'Marion Tucker (11)
Battle Creek Central junior Ke'Marion Tucker (11)

Ke'Marion Tucker

School: Battle Creek Central

Class: Senior

Why he is the best forward in the city/area: Possibly the best college prospect in the city, Ke'Marion Tucker had a breakout junior season and showed signs of being a next-level player with 18.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in his first year as a starter. Tucker is a good shooter, while also having the ability to get to the basket and is, arguably, one of the top five players in a the competitive Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference.

Marcus Ransom
Marcus Ransom

Marcus Ransom

School: Harper Creek

Class: Senior

Why he is the best forward in the city/area: Even with a senior-dominated roster last year, Marcus Ransom shined as an underclassmen, showing he was the most athletic player on the court every night out, no matter what team the Beavers were playing. With above-the-rim jumping ability, Ransom can affect the game in the paint on defense and can finish on offense with dunks, or just elevating over his defender for easy short jump shots.

Simon Vinson
Simon Vinson

Simon Vinson

School: Colon

Class: Senior

Why he is the best forward in the city/area: A first-team all-league player last year, Simon Vinson is having a big senior campaign for a 7-4 Colon squad that started slow due to injuries. Vinson, who can shoot from the outside and also drive to the basket using his 6-foot-4 frame, is averaging 19.6 points per game and grabbing 12.6 rebounds.

Brayden Wine
Brayden Wine

Brayden Wine

School: Olivet

Class: Senior

Why he is the best forward in the city/area: Brayden Wine is a 6-foot-4 senior who has started for Olivet since his freshman season. A leader and all-around standout player, Wine is a force on both ends of the floor. An all-league selection last year he has averaged over 10 points per game and 8.1 rebounds a contest over the past three years.

Micah Reed
Micah Reed

Micah Reed

School: Calhoun Christian

Class: Junior

Why he is the best forward in the city/area: In his second year starting, Micah Reed has become Calhoun Christian's best all-around player. The junior leads the Cougars in scoring, scoring efficiency and rebounds, while being second on the team in steals. A recent 22-point effort against St. Philip shows he can be the go-to player Calhoun Christian needs.

Chase Graham
Chase Graham

Chase Graham

School: Bellevue

Class: Sophomore

Why he is the best forward in the city/area: Chase Graham is a 6-foot-5 sophomore who has started two years for the Broncos and was an all-league selection as a freshman. On this year's 9-1 Bronco squad, Graham leads the team in points and rebounds and is one of the best small-school players in the sophomore class in the area.

Austin Miller
Austin Miller

Austin Miller

School:  Marshall

Class: Sophomore

Why he is the best forward in the city/area: As a standout sophomore, Austin Miller is carving out a bigger role in the Marshall offense this year, showing an ability to stretch the defense with his outside shooting, while also proving he can score in the paint. With his length, he can be a good defender and as a two-way player is averaging nearly 10 points per game.

Carter Dzwik
Carter Dzwik

Carter Dzwik

School: St. Philip

Class: Freshman

Why he is the best forward in the city/area: Earning some varsity minutes last year as an 8th-grader, Carter Dzwik has burst onto the scene this year as a freshman as St. Philip looks for scoring options on a young team. Dzwik has shown good range, hitting 47% from the 3-point line, as he is scoring 13.4 points per game, while also proving to be an improved rebounder and defender.

Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter @billbroderick.

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This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Vote: Who is the best forward in boys hoops in Battle Creek area?