While Muskegon High School is known for their football program, winning three state titles in the last ten years, their basketball program is quietly becoming a contender for Class A basketball championships . Last year, Muskegon made it all the way to the Class A quarterfinals, losing to Drake Harris and Grand Rapids Christian 64-61. However, the Big Reds this year are looking to improve on last year’s season and make it to the Breslin Center. The team returns guard Will Roberson, wing Joeviar Kennedy, and 6’8″ forward Deyonta Davis, who destroyed the AAU circuit hauling in multiple division one offers over the Summer. But the one player that will determine the success of the Big Reds’ season is senior dual sport star and one of the most underrated guards in Michigan, Deshaun Thrower.
Thrower is also currently the starting quarterback for the Big Red football team, who are one of the early season favorites to win the division two title in Michigan. And although Deshaun will choose basketball at the next level, interestingly enough, playing football for Deshaun has helped develop his skills on the basketball court.
“Football helps me in basketball with contact” Thrower had to say, “I don’t mind contact and it helps me stay aggressive, and the fact that I play quarterback and point guard helps because I need vision and awareness [on the floor].”
Playing football has certainly helped shaped Deshaun’s game when it comes to his individual skill set. You can tell that he lives in the weight room with the football team because he has the size and explosiveness that is hard in Michigan’s 2014 guard class. He can get to the rim at will putting a shoulder down and out muscling his way to the basket, and keeps defenders honest with a solid mid-range and pull-up game in transition. Thrower is one of those players that always has a constant motor running, he likes to push the ball on the break and whether he is on offense or defense, you know that he is going to give the team 110% effort.
Over the Summer competing with ACB Bankhoops 17U, one of the top AAU travel teams in the western part of Michigan, Deshaun pulled in three offers from the likes of Northern Michigan, Stoney Brook, and UIC after impressing during the July Live Evaluation Period. With added interest coming from U of D Mercy, Northern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, and Western Michigan, all the hard work that Deshaun has spent playing two sports is starting to pay off.
“Basketball recruiting has been going well” Thrower said, “A couple offers and I hear from coaches everyday but football is ok, no offers yet but I’m sure if I have a good season they will come.”
The Class of 2014 in Michigan is a front-court dominated class with many of the state’s top players being either power or small forwards, so it is easy for a guard to slip under the radar when it comes to exposure at the next level. And to go on top of that, Deshaun knows that he must outwork his competition because of the fact that he is from Muskegon.
“I don’t think it’s fair that they overlook me because where I am from” Deshaun had to say, “I truly think if I was to live in Detroit or Saginaw [or] somewhere I would have way more offers and looks than I do now, but I mean it is what is and I’m happy with the offers that I do have and coaches that took their time to come see me play so I can’t worry on too much what I have no control of.”
We know that Thrower is an accomplished high school athlete on both the football and basketball court, and it would be easy for such an athlete to forget about where he comes from. But Deshaun wants to leave a mark on the future generations of Big Reds that attend Muskegon High School and become recognized for more than just winning games.
“I would like to win states in both sports, and be the first to go D1 in basketball from here in a while, and go on and have a good career in college and go play professional somewhere and come back a give back for everybody to remember me as a hard worker, a leader, and a winner.”
Deshaun and the Muskegon Big Red football team take the field August 30th to open the 2013 season at Grand Haven.
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