Less than a week past the high school season, the travel circuit has commenced. With less than one week until the first NCAA live period of the Spring, teams look to find continuity among one another prior to viewings from college coaches.
What’s The Hype About?
The opening of every team’s travel season begins with optimism, Hype Athletics is no different. Team Hype has found a new 17u head coach, local legend Mike Talley. Talley’s team went 2-0 on the day, with an impressive victory against the traditional respectable Michigan Warriors. 6’5″ forward Jaylin McFadden (pictured) completely dominated the game, pouring in 28 points. Jaylin has always thrived in the open-court and in transition with his athleticism, but McFadden also expanded his range beyond the arch on the night. Combined with high-motor and effort, McFadden is going to be one to watch in the travel circuit.
McFadden will pair well with Ypsilanti ’17 5’10” point guard Marlin Talley to give Team Hype a reliable front and back-court presence.
Reach 17u Reloads
Reach every year is one of the premier programs in Michigan, and ’15 is no different. Reach went 2-0 on the evening in pool play, and appeared unstoppable at times. The Legends are led by dual-sport star Trishton Jackson. The versatile 6’3″ guard is just as much a problem on the grid-iron as on the hardwood. Jackson is complimented by guards Armani Tinsley, and Karim Murray in the backcourt, two competitive Detroit Western Cowboys fresh-off a state championship. 6’3″ Terrance Sewell has a nose for the basket and initiates contact at the rim, and Churchill’s Joan Andoni will be a reliable three-point shooter Reach will use to space the floor.
Up front, Reach could be mistaken for All-State football squad. 6’3″ Jalin Martin, and 6’6″ Alaric Jackson. Martin, Chandler Park, is a division one prospect at wide receiver, but finishes above the rim on the court and rebounds well. The 6’6″ Jackson clogs the lane defensively, and can face-up offensively, shoot from the perimeter, and find open teammates from the post.
16u Section Loaded
The 16u division is the most competitive at the Michigan Invitational.
Common Bond has three to four 6’2,” 6’3″ guards/wings they use in their rotation, notably the Huron combination of Alec Anderson and Lawrence Rowley. The two are highly athletic and active on both ends of the court. Rowley and Anderson finish above the rim, rebound, and alter shots defensively due to length.
While the front-court for Common Bond is Huron, the back-court is Pioneer. Cedric Benton and Deric Murray are two guards primed to a big circuit. Benton is a 6’2″ guard that enjoys attacking the rim in both the half-court and transition, while Murray is an aggressive point guard with a quick first-step to blow past defenders and get into the paint.
The Michigan Warriors have a guard and a forward on the 16u level as well.
Kelvon Merriweather is a freshman, but plays up an age level. Physically, he does not look reminiscent of a ninth grade, 6’2,” wide shoulders. Merriweather competes relentlessly with a high-motor and the competitiveness that has become a staple of a Romulus guard. He should be able to defend both guard positions, and his ability to finish above the rim should bring Merriweather attention from the next level.
6’5″ John Glenn forward Daijon Parker is the anchor of the Michigan Warriors defensively. Parker moves well laterally for a young post, as he blocked numerous weak-side shots on the night. Parker isn’t the quickest to get off the floor, but is very methodical with his positioning on the glass.
Other Standouts
Jesse Scarber (Michigan Playmakers 16u)- A joy to coach on the floor. Only 5’8,” but plays with a bigger heart. He’s a quick and athletic point guard that does most of his work defensively. Scarber can defend the opponent’s best offensive player and stay in-front without fouling the length of the court. In one game, Scarber came away with five steals. Jesse dives on the floor for loose balls, and anticipates errant passes well.
Derek Jamerson (Michigan Soldiers 17u)- Jamerson continues off a strong high school season at Cornerstone. At 6’5,” Jamerson is a knock-down catch and shoot three-point assassin. In one game against Reach, Jamerson connected on three-straight beyond the arch attempts to keep his team within striking distance. He just needs to see one go through before he catches momentum.
Terrance Bowens (Michigan Playmakers 16u)- A lanky 6’3″ wing, Bowens showed flashes at times of developing into a promising scorer. Put a smaller defender on him, and he’ll rise up off the mid-range for two. Put a bigger defender on him, and he use his dominant left hand to put it on the floor and get to the rim. His footwork hasn’t caught up to his body yet, but should improve as time goes on.
The Prep Ball Report 
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