The third edition of the Coaches Against Violence Invitational was yet another building block is the ascension of this event as a premier showcase in Michigan.
This year, the brand was elevated with the prominent media coverage of Branden Hunter of Michigan Preps and Rico Beard of Spartan Mag.
Also, it would be remiss if the one-and-only Chicken King was not mentioned for providing quality meals and discussion worthy cornbread. Check them out at their Farmington location on Grand River. Tell them the Coaches Against Violence Invitational sent you.
DeMario Turner leads Community to win.
This game featured a battle between quality senior wings DeMario Turner of Community and James Jordan of Westside, both of whom should be on the radar for college coaches. The two finished in double-digits scoring wise, but the Hurricane depth and strong defensive game-plan were enough to overpower the Warriors and cruise to a sold victory. Outside of Turner, many of Community’s key players are either sophomores or juniors. Meaning the future is bright for head coach Damon Porter’s group.
MVP- 6’4″ senior wing DeMario Turner 17 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks
Vince McKinney is the heart for DPSA.
These two teams met last year with Arbor Prep defeating DPSA by twenty at home. This year on a neutral court, DPSA left little doubt about who the better team was. Simply put, DPSA could have named the score after the first quarter. After losing their first four games of the year, DPSA has won the next seven in a row, including a quality road victory at Waterford Out Lady of the Lakes. It has been interesting to watch the progression of DPSA as a program the past three Coaches Against Violence Invitationals from a team with promise to a program that expects to win games each night. The Eagles have the talent, athleticism, and size to match with any Class D team in Metro-Detroit this year. The Breslin Center is a realistic expectation for this group.
MVP- 6’3″ senior forward Vincent McKinney 19 points and 16 rebounds.
Farmington’s Jordan Graham can fill the basket.
It is truly astonishing to realize how much high school basketball can change in the course of three years. These two teams squared off at the inaugural Coaches Against Violence Invitational in 2015, Voyageur (former Consortium) had just come off a Class C state championship, while Farmington was slowly but surely developing a quality program in Oakland County.
Now fast-forward to 2017, the experience laden Falcons dominated the Cougars, holding a commanding double-digit lead throughout most of the second-half. Voyaguer is a relatively young team, sophomore point guard Elijah Belle is the building-block going forward for the Cougars. However, Belle and his teammates had no answer for 6-5″ swingman Jordan Graham, arguably the top unsigned senior talent remaining in Michigan. Farmington will go as far as Graham takes them, but he has capable guards in Ray Bryant and Jay Kirby to aid the way as the Falcons are in prime position to make a deep playoff journey through Oakland County this year.
MVP- 6’5″ senior wing Jordan Graham 28 points and eight rebounds.
Marquette bound Jamal Cain brought his A game for the event.
As far as overall team-play is concerned, Cornerstone did win convincingly against the Mustangs. However, this game drew a solid following due to the match-up of skilled big men in senior Jamal Cain (Marquette) and junior Trevion Williams.
Williams had three fouls before intermission, and Cornerstone took advantage of that time frame to build a lead to put the game out of reach for SCS. But for the limited time Cain and Williams guarded one-another, it was a compelling battle with the contrasting styles the two feature, the finesse and smooth game Cain processes and the rugged throwback game Williams highlights. These two are amongst the top in their classes and the state overall, and challenged themselves against a player with equally comparable talent, an act the two deserve to be exalted for.
MVP- 6’7″ senior forward Jamal Cain with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
It will be hard to keep Kelly Broadus out the paint this year.
Last year, the second annual Coaches Against Violence Invitational had a team in Detroit Northwestern that flew under the radar in the Public School League, then in the city playoffs stunned one of the larger schools.
This year, Douglass fits that narrative. The Hurricanes deploy a three-headed monster senior guard attack with 5’7″ speed-demon Kelly Broadus, 6’1″ cerebral Jarnard Smith, and 6’4″ marksman Carlos Walker-Byars. The trio combined for 70 of Douglass’ total points. The recipe for success come March is guards and seniors, Douglass happens to have both.
MVP- 5’7″ senior guard Kelly Broadus 32 points and four steals.
All-Invitational First Team
Douglass senior guard Kelly Broadus 32 points and four steals
Old Redford sophomore guard Mark Watts 32 points
Farmington senior wing Jordan Graham 28 points and eight rebounds
Public Safety senior forward Vince McKinney 19 points and 16 rebounds
Cornerstone senior forwardJamal Cain 22 points and 12 rebounds
All-Invitational Second Team
Douglass senior guard Jarnard Smith 18 points
Douglass senior guard Carlos Walker 20 points and eight rebounds
Public safety sophomore guard Thomas Henderson 16 points
Farmington junior guard Jay Kirby 15 points
Community senior wing DeMario Turner 17 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
The Prep Ball Report 
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