Archive | January, 2013

Unsigned Combo Guard Rankings

26 Jan

In continuation of the unsigned senior point guard rankings, here are my rankings of the unsigned combo guards.  Combo meaning they can shoot and pass the rock.

Unsigned Senior Combo Guards Rankings

1. Clark Bishop (Detroit Renaissance)- Four year starter for the Phoenix.  Has the ability to take a game over at any moment.  A member of the 1,000 point club in high school.  Also a hard-nosed defender.

2. Andrew Horde (U of D Jesuit)- A.J. may not be tall in stature, but is tall in heart.  One strength of Horde’s game is his ability to shoot over taller defenders.  Whether he is behind the three-point line or driving to the basket.

3. Darius Bean (Chandler Park Academy)- Tall, silky smooth athlete with great penetrating abilities.  Excels in transition.  Compliments Michigan commit point guard Derrick Walton nicely.

4. Sam McClendon (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s)- There is nothing that Sam can’t do on the offensive side of the ball.  Has nice size and strength to compete at the next level.

5. Ali Farhat (Dearborn)- Ali is also quite a football star for Dearborn.  But on the hardwood, he is not bad as well.  So far he is 28 points per game for the Pioneers.  A strength of his is the way he can take defenders off the dribble to the hole.

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Unsigned Senior Point Guard Rankings

23 Jan

My ultimate goal here at Metro Detroit High School Athletics is to get athletes noticed in order to play at the next level.  And in order to accomplish this goal, I have decided to do something special.  Today and the next few days, I will do my mid-season rankings of high school basketball players in the Metro Detroit.  Today I will be starting with unsigned senior point guards.

Senior Point Guard Rankings

1. D’Andre Johnson (Detroit Cass Tech)- Quick guard who plays with a high basketball IQ.  Also a tenacious defender, who will step up and take a charge when needed.

2. Lorenzo Bonam (Dearborn Heights Robichaud)- A 6’4″ point guard who can finish around the rim with either hand, has an up and coming jump shot.

3. Jarod Jones (Pontiac)- If you want some highlights and some athleticism, you should have Mr. Jones on your team.  A true athlete who can attack the basket.

4. Ramel Robinson (Detroit Community)- Not the biggest of guards, but can still find openings in the defense either to pass or create for himself.

5. Jeff Greer (Southfield)- Do not let size fool you on Jeff, the kid can play.  He excels in the open court.  A solid passer for the Southfield Blue Jays.  Contains a variety of ways to get to the rack.

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Interview with Monte Morris

21 Jan

Flint is known for their basketball, no doubt about it.  Greats like Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, Morris Peterson, and Glenn Rice are living examples of that.  But there is one kid at Flint Beecher who will certainly be added to that list.  Monte Morris is probably right now, the most accomplished player in the history of Beecher.  He is already a two time defending Class C player of the year, has won a state championship (2012), and has signed a letter to play at Iowa State next winter.  Monte’s game is limitless.  He can hit a shot in your face, beat you off the dribble, or cross you over.  Pretty soon, not only people from the Flint area know you Monte Morris is, but the country will when he takes his talents Iowa State next year.

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Interview with A.J. Turner

21 Jan

A.J. Turner is 2014 combo point guard for Warren De La Salle.  Some of his strengths is that is a bigger guard so he can out muscle smaller point guards, athleticism, and a nice jump shot.  He will have to carry the load the remainder of the season for the Pilots if they wish to compete for a Catholic League title.  Has the ability to take a game over, which is evident in the fact that he had 35 points over Drake Harris and Grand Rapids Christian earlier this year.

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Interview with Detroit Western’s Romondo Ray

21 Jan

Romondo in his first year at Detroit Western, although it will be his only year, has made a case to be one of the most dominant big man to come out the school.  Watching Western play a couple times this year, it is evident that when they take this kid out of the came, there whole team struggles.  In an earlier game this year against Pershing, Romondo scored 23 points, grabbed 14 total rebounds, and swatted three blocks.  Rebounding is his biggest strength, not just on the defensive end of the court but also on the offensive side of the ball.  Ray is not just a low post presence as well, he can also hit the occasional jump shot from the free-throw line extended.  His talents are a bit raw but with a some coaching he could turn out to be a diamond in the rough.

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2013 Horatio Williams Classic Recaps

20 Jan

Southeastern 57 vs. Detroit Community 54:  The lesson Community should take away from this game is to play with the same intensity you started the game with as you should finish the contest.  The Hurricanes built a healthy 20-9 lead after one, Bo Zeigler was hitting permitter jump shots, and sophomore Darryl Smith was playing well for a 5’7″ point guard.  But, SE would not give up.  Throughout most of the game, the only Jungaleer doing anything offensively was Jovone Haynes.  Haynes was getting to the rim and hitting the occasional jump shot.  The game became only a two point contest at 49-47 Community holding the advantage with 3:14 left in the contest.  But things became complicated for the Hurricanes, as star wing Bo Zeigler fouled out of the game.  Which ultimately led to Southeastern taking the lead on a steal-and-score by Leonard Harper-Baker with :25 left in the game, giving SE a hard-fought, well deserved win.

Detroit Douglass 51 vs. Warren De La Salle 45: This game I knew was going to be good with two bright junior combo guards competing against each other in Douglass’ Darrell Davis, and De La Salle’s A.J. Turner.  In a low scoring, defensive oriented contest, A.J. was harassed throughout most of the game by Terrell Hale of Douglass, making life tough on A.J. just to bring the ball up the court.  Darrell Davis, similar to A.J. struggled to create offense in the early portion of the game, the key word being the word early.  Davis hit a three with 5:15 left in the game to give Fred. D a 40-39 lead they would not give up the rest of they way.  Davis finished up with 16, and A.J. finished up with 10.

Detroit Renaissance 82 vs. Ann Arbor Huron 66: Coming into this game, Renaissance senior guard Clark Bishop needed 26 points to enter the 1,000 point club.  And the four-year varsity player accomplished that goal tonight with 7:20 remaining in the fourth on an and-one.  Clark finished up with a game high 29.  Ann Arbor Huron has a sophomore to keep an eye on in wing guard Xavier Cochran.  The young man finished up with 22 points, showing some nice transition moves, and penetrating abilities.

Detroit Pershing 81 vs. Flint Beecher 74: The prime time game at the Horatio Williams Classic proved to be the $10 worth of admission.  The game in the first half looked like one of those early non-conference games in NCAA Basketball, where you have a team like Kentucky going up against Mid-Majors.  Despite two early flagrant fouls in the game, Beecher held it together on the road away from the comfy confines of Mt. Morris Twp.  Everyone in the gym was surprised of Beecher’s flawless offensive execution put on in the first half.  Iowa State commit Monte Morris was doing his usually thing of scoring the ball with his jump shot and showing off some nice handles, but also being a facilitator to the likes of Emmanuel Phifer, and Eric Cooper.  Beecher was ahead at the half 48-34, leading to some Buccaneer fans in the house chanting to Pershing “overrated.”  Even though Pershing is in their first year with head coach Wydell Henry, Coach Henry must’ve been like Bob Knight in that locker room, because he lit a fire under his Doughboys.  Because Kahlil Felder hit a big three with under four minutes to go making the deficit single digits at 56-48 Beecher.  In every big game, there is that one player who doesn’t seem to make a lot of shots, but when he does make a shot, it counts.  That player was junior Doughboy point guard Darsean Woodson.  With 1:45 remaining in the third, Darsean hit the second of his back-to-back threes giving Pershing the lead at 61-58, the only shots Woodson made on the night.  In the end, Beecher fought valiantly in the fourth, but the likes of Felder and fellow senior Lorenzo Collier seemed to be too much.  Collier finished up with 20 huge points for Pershing.  Huge because stud wing Martez Walker only tallied nine points for Pershing, while Oakland bound guard Kahlil Felder finished up with 25.  Morris led Beecher with 25, CMU football commit Eric Cooper chipped in with 17, while junior forward Emmanuel Phifer added 24.  If only these two teams were in the same class we could see a rematch at the Breslin Center in late March.

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The 3rd Annual MLK Freedom Games Preview

18 Jan

The Horatio Williams Foundation once again this year has filled up a whole slate of great high school basketball action.  The Schedule goes as follows: 1:00 Warren Fitzgerald vs. Troy High, 1:45 Southeastern vs. Detroit Community, 3:30 Detroit Cass Tech vs. Walled Lake Western, 5:00 Frederick Douglass vs. Warren De La Salle, 6:30 Renaissance vs. Ann Arbor Huron, 8:30 Flint Beecher vs. Detroit Pershing.  Here are some games to I have circled.

Cass Tech vs. Walled Lake Western: Walled Lake Western has one of the most dominant centers in the state in Miroslav Jaksic.  Reports have shown that one of the schools interested in him is Duke.  And for Cass, I know they are a football school, but this year they have a good hoop squad.  The triumvirate of D’Andre Johnson, DeAngelo Stewart, and Kyle Steward may be the best in the state.

Frederick Douglass vs. Warren De La Salle: The Purple Pilots have one of the best juniors in the state in A.J. Turner, who previously picked up an Iowa State offer a few weeks ago.  Douglass on the other hand has a very good junior combo guard as well in Darrell Davis.  Look for this game to be a dog fight.

Flint Beecher vs. Detroit Pershing: The defending Class C champions Beecher take on perennial Class A power Pershing, in what should be a great game.  Beecher is led by Iowa State signee Monte Morris, a two time Class C player of the year, and will be matched up against Oakland bound point guard Kahlil Felder of Pershing.  If Monte’s supporting cast can contain the likes of Martez Walker and Dwayne Embry, Beecher has a chance to take a win back to BucTown.

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Interview with Westland John Glenn’s Da’Mario Jones

16 Jan

 

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Da’Mario Jones just might be the most skilled player to come out of Westland John Gleen.  He runs a low 4.4 forty, but at the same time, strong enough to go up and out muscle the defender for the ball.  The kid is an absolute playmaker.  He lined up at running back sometimes for the Rockets and was still able to make some plays.  Will complete Devin Funchess nicely when they are out on the field together.  Reminds me a little of Mario Manningham.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Take me back to this previous season, not the best of years for John Glenn, but you had a great season?  Do you still consider this season a success?

Da’Mario Jones: Not really where I wanted to be at a team standpoint, but personally, I did ok.  I still have a lot to work on.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Now, you previously committed to CMU, but changed once Michigan offered.  What was is like for you and your family the day U of M offered?

Da’Mario Jones: It was pretty crazy, we had a lot of phone calls coming when we really needed time to think about what had occurred.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Could you describe your skill set entering your first year at Michigan.  Both strengths and some weaknesses?

Da’Mario Jones: Strengths: I have long arms, a good pair of hands, and speed is the biggest asset.  Weaknesses: lack of game experience, not knowing the plays.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What was the difference for you picking Michigan over some other schools that were interested in you?

Da’Mario Jones: The coaching staff are family oriented.  It’s a world-class university as far as academics.  And they run a multiple spread which is relative to my skills as a football player.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: A lot of the recruit in the 2013 class are pretty well-recognized.  From your point of view, how much chemistry would you say you have developed with this incoming class>

Da’Mario Jones: Well I played with two of the other commits, so we all have pretty good chemistry.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What are you hearing from the U of M coaching staff as far as playing time and how they are going to use you?

Da’Mario Jones: Well, they told me they play the best, so I’m going to have to compete.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Predictions for yourself and the team in 2013?

Da’Mario Jones: We may surprise this whole country with what we do in the classroom, on the the football field, and in the community.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

Da’Mario Jones: Haha.  Uhh, I can dance and draw very well.

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Interview with Windsor CC’s Shavon Gayle

14 Jan

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Shavon is a lighting fast point guard who just finds ways to beat you.  Seeing him play a couple times this year, it was evident that this kid is one of the elite point guards in Canada.  His first step is very explosive, and has the athleticism to finish around the basket.  Not to bad a shooter as well.  Makes his teammates around him better by giving them easy shots because of his penetrating abilities.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Height, weight, and position?

Shavon Gayle: 5’11” 175 pound point guard/combo guard.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Most memorable game since being on varsity?

Shavon Gayle: Dunking on a 6’8″ kid in the freeds tourney.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What are some players you model your game after?

Shavon Gayle: Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Pierre Jackson, and Damian Lilliard.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Individually describe your game to us.  What are some strengths and what are some areas that are up and coming?

Shavon Gayle: My game is consistent.  I can shoot the three, drive kick, run the floor, and explode at any given moment.  Quick first step and a high motor.  My strengths are breaking down defenses, getting rebounds and creating open jumpers.  Up and coming areas are working on different ways to be un-guardable, and getting my teammates to reach their highest potential.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: How much does playing with Mychal Mulder elevate your game?

Shavon Gayle: It makes it easy for me to find holes in an offense and keep team guessing.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Coming into the season, there were some pretty high expectations set for your Windsor CC team.  So far do you think the team has lived up to those expectations and how much pressure is there?

Shavon Gayle: I think we still have a lot to prove.  The most important thing for us is winning in OFSAA play and winning our city championship.  Our team is very talented and I see no limits for us.  There is not much pressure if you have high expectations for yourself before other people give them to you.  Pressures all mental, and what you think about and if your thinking positive thoughts, chances are there will be a positive outcome.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What are some schools that have showed some interest in your talents?

Shavon Gayle: Grand Valley State, Nova Scotia University, University of Windsor, Ferris State, Santa Clara, Henry Ford, Kwantlyn, St. Clair College, Vincennes, Sharidan College, Owens Ohio, Lake Superior State, Northwestern Tech.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: What do you think you could bring to a team at the next level?

Shavon Gayle: I think I could bring a winning mentality, strong work ethic, leadership, and scoring.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: I think playing in Canada gives limitations and more work than a kid that lives in the states would academically, and basketball wise, our system is set up so differently that it keeps NCAA scholars to a limit.  Canada basketball is growing tremendously and you can see it now from the talent already in the NCAA and NBA.

Metro Detroit High School Athletics: Doesn’t hurt to see Tristan Thompson make it to the league right?  Your predictions for remainder of season, for you and the team?

Shavon Gayle: Not at all, it give people hope and motivation.  My prediction for our team for the remainder of the season is to win every game we play, and strive towards our ultimate goal.

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Follow Shavon on Twitter: @Thedonshavon

 

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Interview with Cass Tech’s D’Andre Johnson

10 Jan

D’Andre is an experienced  varsity player who knows how to break a defense down.  He is an excellent one-on-one player.  He keeps you on your toes as a defender.  Because you don’t know if he is going to break your ankles or whether he will hit one in your face.  Knows how to make a solid pass, and find the open man.  If you want some excitement on your team, I definitely recommend taking a looks at this kid.  Not to bad a defender, willing to take a charge or two a game.  Has offers from, Central Michigan and Western Michigan just to name a few of his nine offers he has.

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