Performance: North Central's Jason Whitens
February 18, 2016
Jason Whitens
Powers North Central junior - Boys Basketball
Whitens has played his share of big games as quarterback of this school year’s MHSAA 8-player football champion and leading scorer on the basketball team that won the Class D title in 2015 with a perfect record. North Central’s 39-game winning streak was on the line as the Jets trailed Class B Menominee by six points with eight minutes to play Feb. 9. The 6-foot-5 Whitens earned the Michigan National Guard “Performance of the Week” by scoring 11 of his game-high 31 points during the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead layup with seven seconds left as North Central held on for a 64-60 win.
North Central has since extended its winning streak to 42 straight with a 15-0 start to this winter. Whitens averages 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game, making 57 percent of his shots from the floor and 78 percent of his free-throw attempts – all while playing an average of 25 minutes and taking only 15 shots per game for a team outscoring opponents 76-39 on average. He’s scored more than 1,100 points in leading North Central to a combined 67-1 record over his first three seasons.
In addition to earning the Associated Press’ 8-player Player of the Year honor in the fall after throwing 45 touchdown passes without an interception, Whitens also plays outfield for the baseball team and high jumps and runs the 400, 800 and on a relay for the track & field team during the spring. Whitens carries a 3.8 grade-point average and is considering a career in marketing. He has a Division II basketball scholarship offer, with Division I programs also interested.
Coach Adam Mercier said: “Players of Jason’s caliber tend to be the focal point on offense by getting shots up, whereas Jason finds the open man and doesn’t worry about individual statistics. He can play any of the five positions on the floor with his size and is a tremendous ball handler capable of running the point position. His athleticism is off the charts, as noticed on the football field being a two-time all-state player at quarterback and wide receiver. Jason is one of the best open court players I’ve ever seen as he has the ability to quickly process all possible options and then either dunk it (he has 12 this season) or make an on-point pass to a teammate. He is a very humble young man who doesn’t let success get to his head. Jason is always willing to help out young students who want to work on their game. My two sons look up to him, along with the other outstanding young men who represent our team. He sets a great example of what being a true student-athlete is all about.”
Performance Point: “Going into the fourth (quarter), I knew I had to step up, being down by 10 to a very good team. But we knew from our past experiences – we’ve got experience in big games, close games – that we had to pull together and get the win. We’re all big competitors in practice and in school, even hanging out. That’s the competitive nature we have, and that just translates to the game.”
42 straight and counting: “We’re just all out here having fun ... and when you’re winning, it makes it 10 times better. We just like to have fun with each other. We’ll have bigger things in life as we go along than a football or basketball game. (So) we just go out, do the best we can, and play the sport we love.”
Multi-sport master: “It’s something I’ve done since I was little. I just love playing sports, going out there with my best friends and just competing. We’re all competitive, and that’s the best part – going out and having fun. Morgan Cox … came here freshman year. (Otherwise,) every single one of us has been playing with each other since third and fourth grade. We all know what we like to do on the court, know what spots we like to be in. Each and every one has got my back, and I’ve got theirs.”
Everyone has a part: “We all have our specific roles. We have the jokesters; we’re all pretty funny, or we like to think we’re funny. We know when to get each other up. There’s not a guy that won’t make the other person better. We’re all close-knit, and when the time comes I like to step up, get everybody going. I fall into that leadership role.”
Learning from a leader: “I followed my cousin Rob (Granquist, the previous quarterback) into the leadership role. (He taught me) that whole, ‘Be cool and calm through anything.’ You can’t have ups and downs; you’ve got to stay even keel so when your teammates look at you, you’ve got to look back and let them know everything is all right.”
– Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2015-16 school year, Second Half and the Michigan National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our Nation's freedom, or protecting lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Previous 2015-16 honorees
Feb. 10: Rachel Hogan, Grand Ledge gymnastics - Read
Feb. 3: Nehemiah Mork, Midland Dow swimming & diving - Read
Jan. 27: Mardrekia Cook, Muskegon girls basketball - Read
Jan. 20: Sage Castillo, Hartland wrestling - Read
Jan. 13: Rob Zofchak, Dexter swimming & diving - Read
Jan. 6: Tyler Deming, Caro wrestling – Read
Dec. 15: Jordan Weber, East Jordan boys basketball – Read
Dec. 8: Kaitlyn Geers, Kent City girls basketball – Read
PHOTOS: (Top) North Central's Jason Whitens launches a jumpshot this season against Big Bay de Noc. (Middle) Whitens throws down one of his many dunks. (Photos courtesy of the Escanaba Daily Press.)
'Scott Hancock Court' Celebrates JV Coach's 50 Years Building Up Cheboygan Hoops
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
December 19, 2025
It’s been a remarkable season so far for the Cheboygan boys basketball players and coaches.
The undefeated varsity Chiefs are looking ahead to the new calendar year and their next opponent, Northern Shores Conference rival Elk Rapids. They also have the District tournament they’ll be hosting in February in their sights.
But Scott Hancock is already looking ahead to the classes of 2035, 2036, 2037 and 2038. And nobody can blame him.
Hancock, a 1976 graduate of Cheboygan, has no intentions of ending his coaching career soon. He’d like to make it long enough to coach his youngest grandson Lincoln Hancock, who is already playing youth basketball in Cheboygan.
And while the Chiefs are finding success this year with the foundation Hancock helped build, the veteran coach can’t help but dream about his youngest grandson playing at Cheboygan High School.
“As a kindergartner he’s in Saturday basketball, and he loves the game,” Hancock said. “God willing, I plan to be there for him.”
Hancock is his 50th season in Cheboygan program. He enjoyed the opportunity to coach his two sons Nick and Brian, both school record holders. He’s also enjoyed coaching his grandson, Landon Gahn, the Chiefs’ junior point guard. Gahn played junior varsity for Hancock his freshman year and moved up to the varsity his sophomore season.
All but two of Hancock’s season were spent as the JV coach. He took the varsity job on an interim basis when current Cheboygan varsity coach, Jason Friday, was playing for the Chiefs in the late 1990s.
On Dec. 9, the Chiefs officially named their home court the Scott Hancock Court. His family was on hand as well as current and former Northern Michigan coaches.
Hancock’s JV team lost that night to Alpena in overtime. The score was 50-50 when the fourth quarter buzzer sounded.
“Looking back, we should have just called the game at the end of regulation,” Hancock admitted. “I got a bunch of great kids this year. and it was a tough loss because it was an overtime loss.”
It was the only loss the Chiefs’ JV team has encountered so far this year. But wins and losses are not the focus of Hancock’s level of the program.
“I don't get too carried away with the wins and losses — I know what I'm there for,” Hancock explained. “I'm there to teach the kids to get them ready for the varsity.”
Hancock is considered by many to be the best coach in Cheboygan history. No counter argument can be found among the current varsity players and their head coach.
“He's the best coach that I've ever had — no bias because he's my grandfather,” acknowledged Gahn, who was found cheering from the bench as the Chiefs secured the victory earlier this week at Kingsley. “He teaches everything about basketball, but he doesn't really preach as much as he demonstrates being a good person. Just looking at him and what he does every day, you can just tell he's the guy that's doing everything right, even though nobody's watching.”
Senior Carson Kiefer helped lead the way for Cheboygan's varsity at Kingsley. He scored 12 points, with two 3-pointers. Kiefer credits Hancock for helping him improve his confidence on the court.
“I think he cares more about the person individually outside of sports,” said Kiefer, who is averaging 16 points per game. “It's fitting that he's a JV basketball coach, helping build players’ skills and confidence.”
Kiefer’s twin brother, Andrew, singled out Hancock’s commitment to the school.
“He's not just a school figure,” said Andrew Kiefer, who is averaging just under 12 points per game. “He is not just the coach. He is a community guy all-around.”
The Chiefs varsity is getting strong contributions from their juniors this season. Nolan Schley is averaging 12 points per game, and he’s second on the team in rebounding. And Gavin Smith is leading the team in rebounds and assists, collecting almost 10 boards and four dishes per game.
The Kiefers, Smith and Schley are part of the reason Friday is not surprised by the 6-0 start and seeking a District title for the first time since 2015. The last time Cheboygan won a conference championship was 2020, playing in the Straits Area Conference during Friday’s first season as boys head coach after previously coaching the girls varsity.
“We knew that our junior and senior classes had some talent in there,” Friday noted. “The boys really want to win a District championship, as well as a conference championship. The boys put a ton of time in the offseason to do everything they can to get over that hump and get both a conference and District championship.”
Cheboygan will host a Division 2 District tournament this season after falling 50-48 in last year’s Division 3 District Final – also at home. The Chiefs face a field including league foes Grayling, Kalkaska and Kingsley as well as Ogemaw Heights and Sault Ste. Marie. Cheboygan topped the Sault 67-43 earlier this year and will play a home-and-home series with Grayling in January.
For now, though, the Chiefs are thinking only about Elk Rapids. Cheboygan started 7-0 last year before falling to the Elks to start the new year.
“We're approaching 7-0 again, so having them coming up here on the schedule, we’re definitely going to be practicing a little harder and watching maybe a little more film and just preparing for the game more seriously,” Gahn said. “Coach Friday was saying last year that he can't remember the last time the team started off 8-0, and it was our eighth game that we lost to Elks. So we're hoping to beat them next time we play.”
The court naming did not come as a surprise to Hancock. He was informed in a meeting with Marty Mix, Cheboygan principal. He thought he had some papers to sign and was surprised his family was waiting in the office.
“He was completely shocked, and Coach Hancock doesn't like attention,” said Friday, who is also the school’s athletic director and was in the notification meeting. “Scott always likes to be in the background, and he handled it quite well.”
And while his signature was placed on the court opening day this year, he points out the Hancock legacy started way before him.
“I'm more proud of the Hancock name on there more than the Scott part of it,” said Hancock, who also serves as the city’s as the parks and recreation director. “Believe me, my dad was a Chief through and through. He passed in 2006. I know he was there in spirit with us looking down.”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Longtime Cheboygan boys basketball JV coach Scott Hancock sends a starter onto the floor during introductions before a game against Kingsley. (Middle) The Hancock family takes a photo with Scott’s newly-added signature on the floor. From left: Landon Gahn, Brian Hancock, Olwyn Hancock, Scott Hancock, Marjean Hancock, Lincoln Hancock and Nick Hancock. (Below) Scott Hancock shakes hands with a Kingsley assistant coach. (Family photo courtesy of Chris Murdick. Other photos by Tom Spencer.)