Kingsford junior Gavin Grondin (20) dribbles the ball upcourt against Iron Mountain in Flivver Gym on Feb. 13. (Sean Chase/IMDN file photo)

KINGSFORD — As the 2023-24 MHSAA Division 2 boys basketball playoffs progressed, it was clear Kingsford junior guard Gavin Grondin was one of the best players on the court.

The Associated Press agreed on Wednesday as he was named a member of the Division 2 All-State Honorable Mention team.

“It feels good to know that people are recognizing who I am and that all of my hard work is starting to pay off,” Grondin said. “… I’ve been next to these guys since we were really little. Just playing with them and being able to get it with them means a lot to me. Again, the hard work that I’ve put in since I was little is paying off now.”

Grondin finished the 2023-24 season averaging 22.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He was also selected to the Great Northern Conference first team and as the GNC Defensive Player of the Year.

For Flivvers’ head coach Dan Olkkonen, Grondin’s work ethic has been evident as long as he’s known him.

“Gavin, I’ve known him since he was six-years-old, probably, and he’s always had that drive,” Olkkonen said. “We knew, for years now, with the work ethic that he had and the way he plays, that he was going to do something special. We’re just happy to have him on our team.”

Having seen it with his own eyes for years, Grondin’s success isn’t a surprise to Olkkonen.

“Over the years, I’ve been there a long time, I’ve got to see some great players come through and be able to do certain things, score and hit 20 points a game,” Olkkonen said. “But one thing that Gavin did, I think he did it with such confidence. When he had the ball in his hands, we kind of knew there was a great chance he was going to get a great look or make a great play. Having that scoring record is definitely something special. In the 100 years of this school’s basketball program, I think he’s right up there with the top players.”

Grondin forced himself into the conversation for All-State consideration in Kingsford’s final game of the 2023-24 campaign.

He put on a 39 point performance against Flint Powers Catholic in the MHSAA Division 2 state quarterfinals.

“He was the most valuable person, just because of what he did offensively,” Olkkonen said. “Going through that run there, knowing other teams know who he is and what they’re going to try and do to stop him. That Flint Powers game, that was something special. He really truly put himself out there to see how talented he is, just being able to score.”

However, it wasn’t just Grondin’s offensive prowess during Kingsford’s quarterfinal run that got him attention.

His commitment to the game was also evident for all to see.

“It’s that everyday commitment, no matter what team we play,” Olkkonen said. “We know what they’re going to try to do to defend him, but when you get that respect from other teams and coaches, I think that’s a big drive. He showed it late in the season where he was able to score in the 20s, almost every game. That was huge for our team.”

Now the Flivvers are turning their attention to making it further during Grondin’s senior season.

“We just really have to grow that team around him,” Olkkonen said. “The guys really bought in and we have a good nucleus of juniors, who will be seniors, coming back. And then the juniors we have coming up, we really have to get tight throughout the offseason, really have to work on some stuff. Because these guys got a taste of that deep-season run and they definitely want to be back there and go further.

“We’re really going to build around that and he’s a guy that’s going to push these other guys too. We’ve talked to him about that. What we need to see next year needs to start this offseason. We don’t have to spend every day together, but they have to understand that they all have to do stuff, if we want to be that tight group. And Gavin is definitely going to lead us there.”

Grondin shared his coach’s sentiments.

“Obviously, we want to get right back where we were,” Grondin said. “Winning the regional and in the quarterfinal, winning that game and going to the Breslin (Center), I know that’s something all of our coaches and players want to do, play on the biggest stage. And the Breslin is certainly one of our goals.”