Archive | December, 2016

Class C Pre-season Top 10

4 Dec

Beecher took home Class C last year.  However, the Bucs will have multiple competitors this season with realistic possibilities to dethrone the champs.

Class C player of the year: Jamal Cain Cornerstone 

  1. Beecher– The Bucs’ senior class will look to make three state championships in four years.
  2. Detroit Edison– Might have the best starting five of any team in Class C.
  3. Monroe St. Mary– Always roll through the Huron League, but now have the size to match teams that gave them fits the last couple of playoff runs.
  4. Detroit Cornerstone– Jamal Cain is a household name.  However, Cornerstone picked up a few transfers, particularly at the guard spot, to balance out their whole roster.
  5. Grandville Calvin Christian– Gave Beecher a great game in the final last year.  Blake Verbeek is a match-up nightmare at this level.
  6. Detroit Loyola- New coach but Loyola will still be the favorites to win their portion of the Catholic League.
  7. Hanover-Horton– Steady as the come over the past few winters as any team in the state.
  8. Detroit Pershing– Will take their lumps in the PSL but should prepare them for a run in March.
  9. Dansville– Caleb Hodgson is force in the lane.
  10. Riverview Gabriel Richard– The best collection of talent ever assembled at Richard.

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Class B Pre-season Top 15

4 Dec

Class B is the most balanced class throughout the state.

Class B player of the year: Romeo Weems New Haven

  1. Wyoming Godwin Heights– Too much talent to not be ranked number one heading into the season.
  2. River Rouge– Mark White won two state championships and with son Darian at point guard will look to bring River Rouge their first state championship 1999.
  3. Hazel Park– Have made strides the past two years with now being their best roster.
  4. New Haven– Have fallen short the past two seasons in the playoffs but on paper are extremely talented.
  5. Wayland– The best point guard and forward duo in the entire class.
  6. Northwestern- Will not sneak up on anybody this year.
  7. Detroit Country Day– Young again but no short of talent.
  8. Grand Rapids Catholic Central– Marcus Bingham, a transfer from Ottawa Hills, rose his stock in the Summer and will now rise GRCC into the top ten of the state.
  9. Dearborn Divine Child– A nice trio that has been building up to this point for some years now.
  10. Voyageur– The new name for the old Consortium.  A versatile and dynamic backcourt will lead the Cougars.
  11. Corunna– Coach John Buscemi, the former Detroit Loyola coach, brings Detroit toughness to the middle of the state.
  12. Detroit Old Redford– After starting at the now closed Allen Academy, Rocket Watts is now the alpha dog of the Ravens.
  13. Detroit Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies– Trevion Williams is no stranger to Michigan anymore.
  14. Benton Harbor– Young but a scrappy bunch that play with heart.
  15. Adrain– Remember the name Antwan Ficklen.

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Class A Pre-season Top 20

4 Dec

A lack of separation from top to bottom makes Class A very interesting this winter.

Class A player of the year: Xavier Tillman Grand Rapids Christian

  1. Clarkston– A well balanced roster throughout allow the Wolves to throw a variety of line-ups at opponents.
  2. U of D Jesuit– Losing Mr. Basketball hurts, however, the Cubs have the best front-court combo in the class.
  3. Grand Rapids Christian– The Eagles now have a full year to get accumulated to each other and build chemistry with three division one players in the starting line-up.
  4. Macomb Dakota– The Cougars eye another trip to the Breslin.
  5. Belleville– The time is now for the Tigers’ talented junior class.
  6. Kalamazoo Central– Not as deep as in years past, but always find a way to win games.
  7. Detroit East English– Can score and run with any team in state, the key will be defense and rebounding.
  8. East Lansing– Following an undefeated regular season last year, the Trojans are now amongst the state’s strongest teams returning basically everybody.
  9. Muskegon- The Big Reds can always be penciled in for a deep Class A run.
  10. Detroit Western– Lose a great deal from last year but at the same time gain a lot.
  11. Saginaw– It’s been a minute since the Trojans made it to the Breslin, three years to be exact.  Not typical from a Trojan perspective.
  12. Wayne Memorial– Solid core that has been built from the ground-up.
  13. Detroit King– A dark horse contender for the PSL championship.
  14. Romulus– The model of consistency for every team in the state for the last 15 years.
  15. Ann Arbor Huron– A team that has played together for a very long time usually wins a lot.
  16. Ypsilanti– Never count out the Grizzlies despite what was lost from last year’s team.
  17. Crestwood– An under the radar team that with the right match-up could catch a higher ranked team napping.
  18. North Farmington– Amauri Hardy gets buckets.
  19. Detroit Cass Tech– This senior class does lack experience since playing varsity since sophomores.  Extremely deep at guard.
  20. Davison– Crack the top twenty due to an interesting transfer.

 

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Class D Pre-season Top Five

4 Dec

Class D appears to be at least a bit more competitive this season compared to years past.

Class D player of the year: Jason Whitens Powers North Central

  1. Southfield Christian– Move down after spending the last two years in Class C but have the talent of a larger school.
  2. Powers North Central– The defending state champs return their top scorer from an undefeated season last year.
  3. Waterford Our Lady– Always a tough out regardless who is on the roster.
  4. Bellaire– Nearly made it to the Breslin Center and return a solid core.
  5. Detroit Public Safety– This small, independent school has made great strides over the past two years and look to put it all together this winter.  Have the depth and a path to the Breslin.

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