NEWSROOM

Enjoy this smaller collection of news briefs​

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Bankhoop Coverage 2025

​​BCAM Reaching Higher: Day 2 Good Work | June 23, 2025 

It was a good thing for Ferndale that individual player fouls weren’t counted at the camp, as Ferndale star Eden Vinyard had four by the end of the first quarter trying to deal with this guy, maybe the strongest player in the state, around the bucket. Plamondon piled up points with deep finishes and free throws — shooting it better from the stripe than his junior season percentage would suggest. Nothing fancy, but effective rip throughs and glass angles. Coaches want to know if he can be a stretch 4 — Plamondon sunk both his three-point attempts against Ferndale. Next up, can he get low, wide, quick enough to check wings on switches? From a small school, but one that has sent three players to the GLIAC in recent years.
– Steve Bell

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Northern Mich Showcase: Top 10 Northern Lower/UP Prospects | February 2025 

His shot chart was a coach’s dream, all point blank with one made three-pointer. Walled Lake Western is a Class A school, but do not see a forward in the Lakes Valley Conference with Plamondon’s combination of strength, mobility and aggression. He had 32 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots — three of which he ended up with the ball. Dominated making his first five shots of the first half and then five straight again to start the second. Piled up and-ones as he shot 11-of-14 from the field and 7-of-11 from the line. Has a more expansive offensive game than shown here, but comes out with a mentality to physically dominate and win games, and few have been able to stop him from having his way in front of the rim all season. Had a couple fouls win defending smaller players out on the floor, and also didn’t put his hand up on a made jumper.
– Steve Bell

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Prephoops Coverage 2025

​​Is the Mitten’s best post from a small school? | June 23, 2025 

…Speaking of old school rugged posts. If you don’t want to mess around with all superfluous perimeter stuff. The best true low post scorer came from a small town in Northern Michigan. They were not keeping track of fouls this weekend. And yes, maybe the officials that were being evaluated were a little quick on the whistle.

All that being said Jacob Plamondon fouled out the entire city of Ferndale. If you know anything about Ferndale. He wasn’t doing this against stiffs. This was against a nationally ranked frontline. I’ve yet to see anyone— anywhere that is able to stop him on a deep catch. Just too strong with too much explosive lane agility.
 

The demerit is the size. Is probably 6-6. However I harken back to Dejuan Blair leading the Big East in scoring at 6-4 with no ACL’s (look it up kids) Sometimes these beastly prospects just have a knack for scoring in the post. He did show expansion to his game with two late threes in the Ferndale contest…
– Jonathon Gilbert

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West Michigan Ballers 2025
Playing travel basketball when you live Up North has its challenges | May 14, 2025 

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.”

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

 

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. 

–Lenny Padilla

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Leelanau Enterprise 2025

4 out of 5 seniors make Dream Team | March 20, 2025 

MVP: Jacob Plamondon (Glen Lake) Glen Lake junior Jacob Plamondon notched his second straight boys basketball Dream Team MVP with a dominant 2024-25 season.
 

“Jacob is an extremely hardworking, committed basketball player. He is a competitor who leads our team in both scoring and rebounding. If we need a basket, he is the one that is able to get it done. He had doubledouble performances in a majority of the games that he has played this season,” Glen Lake coach Jason Bradford said. “He has gotten doubleteamed in most games, and he still finds a way to score, rebound, and help his team out. For a big guy, he has great dribbling skills and can go downhill and finish with a soft touch. Finally, Jacob is also a team player who supports his teammates and encourages them to support each other.”
 

Plamondon averaged a double- double this season with 22.9 points and 12 rebounds per game. He also notched 1.1 assists and 1.4 blocks a game. Plamondon helped lead the Lakers to the regional final game, which resulted in a loss to Ishpeming Westwood. He eclipsed the 1,000th point mark in February against Traverse City St. Francis. But he admits there is still work to be done, as he is currently trying out for an AAU team based in Milwaukee.

“I’m not super good at everything, so there’s always stuff to work out. I feel like working on taking the ball up and shooting. Making everything in my game just get better so I can dominate more,” Plamondon said.

His favorite moment of the season was defeating Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart because they knocked the Lakers out of the tournament during the 202324 season. Plamondon scored 49 points in the game and set a new school record.

“Another one of my favorite parts was beating Frankfort. They got us the first time we played them this season, and then we got them,” Plamondon said.

– Brian Freiberger 

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Lakers capture NWC; Plamondon scores a 1,000 | February 20, 2025 

Glen Lake boys basketball (19-1) enters the final days of the regular season as the newly crowned Northwest Conference Champions with a 66-39 win over Brethren (6-15) Tuesday.

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Laker senior Jacob Plamondon also etched himself into the 1,000 point club in a 68-55 victory over Traverse City St. Francis (6-15) Friday.“It’s a pretty good feeling, it’s just another small stuff that we need this year to reach our final goal of winning states, but it’s good, a building block to have,” Plamondon said.

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The Lakers took back the conference championship from Benzie, who won it in 2024.

Plamondon scored 22 and 37 points over the past two games. The junior reached the milestone early in the first quarter against the Gladiators during a 37-point performance. “It felt great; I’ve always wanted to score 1,000 points. It’s been a goal for me,” Plamondon said. “I couldn’t have done it without my team and coaches and everybody who’s helped me along the way,” Plamondon said.

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Plamondon scored a contested layup and then sunk his 1,000th point from the freethrow line. Once he received the game ball, Plamondon brought it to his mother, Jill Plamondon, and hugged him. “He’s one of the hardest workers ... he works extremely hard on and off the floor, It’s just one of those stepping stones for him as well,” Glen Lake coach Jason Bradford said.

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Plamondon ended the game with 12 rebounds during the win against Frankfort, while Benji Allen had 18 points, Isaac Hlavka had five points and eight assists, and Toby Bradford had five points. Plamondon led the Lakers in the win against Brethren with 22 points, 13 rebounds; Allen 16 points, 5 rebounds; Colebrook Sutherland 12 points, 6 rebounds; Isaac Hlavka 6 points; Breckin Nerg 4 points.

 

​Glen Lake is currently ranked second in MHSAA Div. 3 behind Riverview Gabriel Richard and ahead of Harbor Beach, Pewamo-Westphalia, and Jackson Lumen Christi. Region teams Harbor Springs and Elk Rapids both received votes, as northern Michigan is well represented, with Iron Mountain ranked seventh and McBain ranked eighth.

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The Lakers will focus on the basics, including taking care of the ball and playing tough defense.

Glen Lake wraps up the regular season against Lake Leelanau St. Mary tonight. Glen Lake will host districts and is guaranteed at least two more home games.

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“The biggest thing is taking care of our business each game and coming out and performing ... each game you’re looking for growth and improving as a team,” Bradford said.

– Brian Freiberger 

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Prephoops Rating:
21st in the state and 4th in PF Position

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Prephoops Coverage

​​Must See D3 | February 9, 2025 

Plamondon has been a big time force for Glen Lake. He’s one of the best rebounders in the state and can score off put backs, with his back to the basket and even facing the rim. Plamondon is underrated when it comes to his ability to attack with a 2 dribble drive. He’s been making great decisions with the ball as well.
– Scott Hankamp​​​

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Northern Michigan Showcase: Super Six Performers | February 9, 2025 

Jacob Plamondon 6-6 2026 Glen Lake So far this list has been loaded with guards and a new school stretch four prospect. How about an old school five. Plamondon dominated the opener with his physicality down on the block. Simply put, if you allow a deep post catch, you are getting a bucket. Not your typical image of strength. While he has plenty of size up top. I would say most of his power comes from his lower body. Plays with a wide base and explodes out of it quickly to get to the rim. It wasn’t all power though. Hit a straight on three in a high scoring first quarter. Put up 13 in that frame. Didn’t score in the second quarter as the defense adjusted. He adjusted as well. Finding teammates with passes out of double teams. Showed good lateral quickness and burst by recovering for a nice block at the rim in the second half. The scoreless second quarter was a mere blip. Got going once again after half to finish with an event high 31 points.

– Jonathon Gilbert

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Season Preview: Northern Michigan Fab 40 | November 27, 2024 

#6. Jacob Plamondon 6-6 2026 Glen Lake The highest ranked 2026 prospect on this list. Continues a lineage of next level big men at this small school at the feet of the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Arguably the best rebounder I saw this spring and summer. Attacks the ball off the glass. Is a load down on the block. A “country strong” player with thick broad shoulders and a powerful lower body. If he catches it deep, it’s a bucket. This is due to the combo of quick elevation and a soft touch.

– Jonathon Gilbert

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2026’s That Are About To Go Off | August 22, 2024 

Plamondon is a powerful post player, but he can dominate in more than just that way. This high school season, you’ll see him score with his back to the basket, facing the rim, with his jumper and off put backs. He’ll be dominating a lot of teams this coming season.

– Scott Hankamp

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