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East Michigan’s 20 Duos To Watch This Season

8 Nov

200430632-001Most high school teams have one good player, but when a team has two good players, then the team becomes increasingly difficult to defeat.  Below is a list of duos that can and will shape the outcome of the 2014-2015 Michigan high school basketball season.

Saginaw Arthur Hill’s Eric Davis and Brian Bowen: The Texas Longhorn verbal commit Davis enters his senior with debatably the best Arthur Hill team he’s had during his high school career. A top 50 prospect nationally and top ten overall guard, Davis averaged 27 points per game for the Lumberjacks a season ago. Davis will run the point with 6’7″ sophomore Brian Bowen on the wing. Bowen in his own right is a top ten prospect for his 2017 class nationally after averaging 15 points and 14 rebounds a game last season on varsity. After dominant performances during the AAU campaign with The Family, Bowen received offers for various high major programs including Louisville, Michigan, and Iowa State.
Josh McFolley and Brailen Neely: With these two in the back court, expect plenty of three pointers to be made for the Cowboys this upcoming season. The U of D Mercy commit senior McFolley, last season at Mt. Clemens, averaged 19 points in leading his team to a Class C quarterfinal appearance. Both Neely and McFolley will share time running the point guard duties for Western, only making them more dangerous when both are on the court at the same time.
Romulus’ D’Angelo Hansbro and Jaylin Walker: These two guards carry on the lineage and prestige that comes with being a Romulus guard. Both are high IQ players that take as much pride in their defense as they do offense. The senior Kent State commit Walker is instant offense. Just when you think you have him contained, he’ll score 20 on you in a heart beat. While Hansbro will make the transition from primarily a sixth man player last year to a starting point guard this season. D’Angelo earned a scholarship from Buffalo while playing the distributing role on a very talented The Family 16u team over the Summer.
Milan’s Latin Davis and Nick Perkins: It’s not too often the case a team has the luxury of pairing a division one forward next to a division one point guard. However, Milan returns Buffalo bound Nick Perkins and Youngstown State commit Latin Davis from last year’s Class B state championship team. The two seniors benefit each others game when on the floor at the same time. When Nick is down low on the block, he can easily pass it out to the three point marksman Davis. And when Davis penetrates and collapses a defense, he can find Nick down under for the easy score.
Detroit Henry Ford’s James Towns and Josh Davis: The Western Michigan commit Davis has the reputation around the state as a knock down perimeter shooter, which pairs well with the play of 5’10” James Towns. Towns plays fearless on both ends of the court, taking pride while defending the opposition’s best guard. On offense, he looks to the attack the basket, bringing defenders with him, and in doing so, defenses tend to often leave Josh open for what he does best.
Allen Academy’s Jason Williams and Danny Pippen: Juniors Williams and Pippen are referred to as their head coach as “Detroit’s Best Kept Secret.” Allen Academy is a Class C charter school on Detroit’s Eastside with an enrollment of only 250 students. However, Coach Covington will rely on Danny and Jason to build off of last year’s district championship season. A 6’7″ stretch-four forward, Pippen can do damage to the opposition from both the perimeter and in the paint, and has already received a scholarship offer from U of D Mercy. Jason will see his role increase with the departure of cousin Pakiya Ellis to Ferris State. Like Ellis, Williams has a quick first step and does most of his work from attacking the basket with a strong handle. With these two, the Wildcats have the formula to win some games this year.

East English Village’s Kamari Newman and Chris Rollins: Rollins joins Newman in the Bulldogs after transferring from Warren De La Salle, giving EEVP a dynamic scoring backcourt.  Rollins played on varsity for De La Salle since he was a freshman, and now as a junior gives The Village a true point guard that can both distribute and score.  His classmate Newman is an elite scorer in the state’s 2016 class.  The southpaw has always been able to shoot the ball, but is now starting to take defenders off the dribble and slash to the basket.  With Newman and Rollins guiding EEVP, the Bulldogs not only are a sleeper in the PSL but perhaps Class A.

Southfield’s Michael Flowers and Amauri Hardy: The pair Blue Jay sophomore guards are back along with two seniors for Southfield giving them four total returning starters and full of hope.  Hardy, already with a scholarship offer from Buffalo, is the scorer of the two.  He’s always looking to take defenders with his left hand and finish around the rim.  While Flowers is the shooter, but worked on developing his point guard skills during the Summer AAU circuit.

Ypsilanti Lincoln’s Ty Groce and Devin Haygood: Ypsilanti Lincoln will start the season with high expectations from a year ago, coming off a 14-7 record and only losing one senior from last year’s team.  If the Railsplitters are to achieve success this season, the front court duo of Groce and Haygood will have to set the tone.  Devin, an early commit to Youngstown State, gives Lincoln an athletic, rebounding, inside presence.  Junior Ty Groce became one of Michigan fastest rising prospect this past Summer, amassing eight total scholarship offers in a three month span.  The 6’7″ Groce plays predominantly as a guard, he can run the point, handle, pass, and shoot for Lincoln.

Warren De La Salle’s Kevin McKay and Jack Ballantyne: Not to0 many teams around the state have the front court combination De La Salle does.  An undersized power forward, McKay gets the most out of his 6’4″ frame.  With his back to the basket type game, with great footwork, and hands, McKay earned a scholarship offer from Central Michigan.  His front court mate Ballantyne comes in at 6’7″ and played on varsity last season as a sophomore.  He’s a pick-pop type forward that moves well for his size and rebounds his position well.  As always with a Greg Elster led squad, just when the outlook is bleak, the team rallies and finds ways to win.

River Rouge’s Lamonta Stone and Jalen Gibson: The Panthers enter the new year with a change at point guard and head coach.  Coach Lamonta Stone returns to the school where he delievered a Class B state championship in 1999.  Coach Stone’s son, Lamonta Jr. comes along with him from Bowling Green High School, where Stone Jr. was regarded as one of the premier point guard talents in Ohio.  Lamonta Jr. comes to River Rouge after playing with current University of Wisconsin sophomore Vitto Brown as a tenth grader.  The 6’8″ Gibson is a bit unpolished, and does most of his damage around the basket, on putbacks and in the paint.  Having the presence of Stone on the court will make Gibson look a whole lot better and give Rouge a chance to compete in Class B.

Ann Arbor Huron’s Trio of Xavier Cochran, Jalen Thompson, and Dave Wren: Ann Arbor Huron returns four starters from a year ago, giving Coach Samaha plenty of options for the opposition to deal with this year.  Huron will be led by senior Xavier Cochran, a 6’5″ crafty scoring wing with point guard type skills.  Along with Cochran will be classmates Jalen Thompson, and Dave Wren will also be relied upon for Huron to become a force in Class A.  Both Wren and Thompson score in bunches for Huron, predominantly driving to the basket.  Given the skill set, Huron’s best offensive play this season could possibly be a defensive stop, then Cochran, Thompson, and Wren pushing tempo in transition and attacking the rim.

Not to be outdone:

North Farmington 6’4″ forward Anthony Qasawa and 6’7″ forward Jeron Rogers

West Bloomfield 6’3″ guard Trishton Jackson and 6’7″ Zack Allread

Rochester Adams 5’10” guard Joey Ziniti and 6’2″ Spencer Littleson

New Haven 6’8″ forward Jerry Ben and 6’8″ Innocent Nwoko

Walled Lake Western 6’0″ Jerald Booker and 6’3″ forward Marcus Bailey

Flint Beecher 5’8″ point guard Malik Ellison and 6’6″ forward Levane Blake

Detroit Renaissance 6’2″ guard Justin Turner and 5’10” Richard Talley

University of Detroit Jesuit 6’2″ guard Cassius Winston and 6’2″ guard Gary collins

 

 

 

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Way Too Early 2015 Mr. Basketball Candidates

6 Nov

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Last season, Muskegon’s Deshaun Thrower won the prestigious Mr. Basketball award, who will it be in 2015?

Michigan’s annual Mr. Basketball Award is handed out in March, yet it’s never to early to speculate on who the possible candidates will be.  Around February, voters will have a solid idea of who the front runners will be.  For now, everyone is in the mix, the list is not confined or limited to the eight players seen below.

Deyonta Davis 6’10” Center (Muskegon High School)– Everything has been right for Deyonta Davis in the past calendar year.  He’s committed to Michigan State, won a Class A state title, and was ranked a top 50 prospect nationally for 2015 according to various recruiting services.  A second straight title would be icing on the cake for a tremendous prep career.

Eric Davis 6’4″ Guard (Saginaw Arthur Hill High School)– This Saginaw Arthur Hill Lumberjack has been one of Michigan’s most coveted recruits across the country throughout his high school career.  He has all the individual accolades, All-State/Dream teams, the only piece missing from Eric’s resume is a state championship.  Davis will have his best chance this year to capture states, along with sophomore forward Brian Bowen, the number one player for his class in Michigan and a top 10 prospect in the country for his class.

Nick Perkins 6’6″ Forward (Milan High School)– Perkins aided Milan in capturing a Class B title last year, and will look to repeat this year with Youngstown State bound point guard Latin Davis back for the Big Reds.  Perkins averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds a game last year for Milan, and verbaled to Buffalo early in the Fall.

Seth Dugan 7’0″ Center (Otsego High School)– Dugan saw his recruitment increase significantly during the AAU campaign, amassing double digit scholarship offers in just a few months during the Summer.  Seth averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds a game last year, and will look for a strong senior season with Otsego having the luxury of placing five seniors in a starting lineup for a top 5 squad in Class B.

Josh Davis 6’6″ Wing (Detroit Henry Ford High School)– Davis leads a promising group of Trojans into a season with high expectations.  Ford competes in the traditionally difficult Detroit PSL as a Class B team.  Once March comes along, look for the Trojans to make a run for the Breslin Center.  The Western Michigan commit Davis averaged 14 points and seven rebounds per game last season.

Sleepers

Josh McFolley 6’0″ Point Guard (Detroit Western High School)– McFolley, a transfer from Mt. Clemens, will unfortunately be forced to sit-out the start of his senior year per state rules.  Josh, a perimeter shooting specialist, scored 19 points a game for the Bathers a season ago.  Western begins the year as a top five team in Class A, with depth, size, and skill at every position.  If the Cowboys are able to manage the first half of the season, and play at a high level the second half, the team’s chances of becoming “Breslin Bound” will run through McFolley.

Latin Davis 5’11” Point Guard (Milan High School)– Davis and the aforementioned Nick Perkins lead Milan into the new season with hopes of repeating and ending their high school careers as Class B state champs.  Davis tied a state record with seven three pointer in the title game last March vs. Benton Harbor, and averaged  16 points and 4 assists per game a year ago.

Jaylin Walker 6’2″ Shooting Guard (Romulus High School)– One of the state’s most explosive leapers, Walker heads into his senior year after committing to Kent State at the beginning of the school year.  Already with a state championship on his resume from Romulus’ 2013 state crown, Walker leads the traditionally respectable Eagles into the new season as legitimate contender in Class A.

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Huron 2015 Wing Xavier Cochran Enjoying Recruiting Process

29 Oct

xavier-cochran-huron-boys-basketball-03042013-thumb-646x418-145890Ann Arbor Huron senior wing Xavier Cochran had an impressive junior campaign, averaging 17 points, and five rebounds per game for his River Rats.  Combined with his dominance on the AAU circuit with the Michigan Mustangs, Cochran currently holds seven reported scholarships offers, Eastern Michigan, Rice, Oakland, Northeastern, Buffalo, Kent State, Dayton, and Buffalo.  Still, the 6’5″ southpaw swingman is enjoying the process and allowing every school to deliver their own individual messages.

“As of right now,” Cochran said, “I will probably wait till, during, or the end of my season (to commit).”

“Rhode Island, Eastern Michigan, Oakland, Western, and Cleveland State and a couple others are recruiting me the hardest.”

Xavier has a specific set of criteria which will influence his college decision when he is ready.

“Style of play, how they develop players, relationship with the coach,” Cochran chimed in.

“And just a place I will have a chance to contribute right away.”

For now, Xavier shifts his attention to Huron’s upcoming campaign.  Cochran headlines a trio of talented senior guards in Jalen Thompson and Dave Wren.  The River Rats return four starters from a season ago, and will start the season as a top 15 team in Michigan.  Expectations will be high at Huron this year, with the ultimate goal of capturing a Class A state title.

“Going into my last season, I’m expecting a state championship,” Cochran noted.

“That’s the high expectations I’m setting for me any my team.  I’m not saying it’s all or nothing, but that’s just our expectations as a team.”

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Luster’s Turn to Shine for Consortium

24 Oct

-61f8fb0343b575c8-sized (1)Detroit Consortium junior Luster Johnson stood breathless at the Breslin Center last March.  His Consortium Cougars had just captured the Class C state championship.

“It was a very big moment being that it was our first ever school championship,” Johnson said.  “And knowing Consortium’s history of having so many good teams and players.”

Although the Cougars will enter the new season eager to defend their hardware, the task became increasingly difficult compared to last season over the Summer. Gone from a year ago is Josh Jackson, the consenus number one national recruit in the country’s 2016 class.  Jackson decided to finish his remaining two years of eligibility at Prolific Prep in California. The 6’7″ swing-man averaged 28 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists per game for Consortium.

“We are family,” noted Johnson.  “And he was always on me, in school or out on the court.  I was forced to play defense on him in most of the practices.”

“But that’s what made me better, and I can say that also made him better.”

Along with having played alongside Jackson during the school year, Johnson also had the opportunity to play travel basketball on Josh’s AAU team, Under Armour 1Nation.  Despite the two playing in separate age groups, Johnson was able to challenge himself in the 16u division against quality competition and better his game on a weekly basis.  A 6’2″ scoring combo guard, Johnson said he improved his perimeter shooting over the off-season, developing various ways to attack the basket, and becoming an impact defender, while adding collegiate interest from U of D Mercy, Florida A&M, and Youngstown State.  Luster notes he learned the high school game after another successful Consortium guard, Travon Baker, an All-State graduate of 2012, who accepted a scholarship to Northern Illinois to further his basketball career.

The base of the Consortium program is built around family.  When Coach Al Anderson tragically passed away in the winter of 2013, it only brought the Cougar community closer.  Last year’s team embodied the term family, two-three seniors routinely started every game and while others played their own unique individuals roles in path to winning the championship.  This upcoming campaign is significant on many levels.  First, Consortium moves from Class C to Class B, and second, only two returning starter come back from last season.  Luster acknowledges Jackson at times during the year made it easier on his teammates to succeed, but Consortium was a collective unit.  According to Johnson, the absence of Josh only gives Consortium added drive to outwork their opponents just a little bit more.

“People don’t think we have a chance cause we lost Josh,” Johnson remarked. “But they don’t know that the two games we played without him, we won by 30.”

“So they better not rest on us this year.”

Johnson undoubtedly enters his junior year as the leader of the team, as he averaged 12 points, and four assists and steals each game last year, even earning his way into the starting lineup for a majority of the season. Luster, or Pookie as he is referred to, still believes his team can reach their championship aspirations this upcoming season.  He wants to lead by example this year, he stated he got into the off-season condition program more this Summer than he had in years past, and developed a higher IQ for the game.  But still something else fuels Luster’s drive to achieve.  When Consortium won the crown, Luster said he was the first to do something big in his family.  This season, however, Luster and his Consortium Cougars will take a different path to success, one of perseverance, confidence, and most importantly, a sense of togetherness.

“Everyone plays a role in the CCP (Consortium) roster,” Lusted said.  “It will be a challenge, we just have to come together as team, we are just waiting our turn to have a chance to prove ourselves.

 

 

 

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2014 Michigan Playmakers College Showcase

22 Oct

Unsigned senior showcases get off to a quick start this year, with the 2014 Michigan Playmakers College Showcase.

On Sunday November 2nd, coaches from division III, NAIA, prep schools, and junior colleges will be in attendance at Beechwood Recreation Center in Southfield, Michigan from 3-6 PM.

The Michigan Playmakers are a travel club basketball team located in the greater Metro-Detroit area.  With teams from middle school through high school, the Playmakers competed in various tournaments across the the midwest this past Spring and Summer.

Participants in the showcase will be be instructed through various drills, and compete in team scrimmages.

For more information, contact Coach Wendell Green at 248-688-2998 or michiganplaymakers@yahoo.com

Space is limited, and participants must be registered by October 30th.

Beechwood Recreation is located on 22200 Beech Rd, off of 9 mile Rd.

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Kris Clyburn Just Settling In At Notre Dame Prep

20 Oct

7c4ee686c5b4059c14118f7db8a3570e_lKris Clyburn, a 2014 graduate of Romulus High School, has only been on the campus of Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Massachusetts for a little more than two months.  However, through open gyms, scrimmages, and workouts, Clyburn has accumulated two division one offers, one from Buffalo, the other from Fairfied.

The Buffalo scholarship offer is unique to Clyburn.  Bulls assistant coach Nate Oats was Clyburn’s head coach at Romulus for Kris’ sophomore and junior seasons.

“We are pretty close,” Clyburn had to say about Coach Oats, “he’s a good guy and coach, it feels good to have that offer because I know for sure that I can go there and have someone that will take care of me.”

“It feels good to have any offer really, I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to receive division one offers.”

Kris had multiple collegiate offers in high school, but when he decided to attend a prep school for a year, many went off the table.  Notre Dame prep has a reputation as one of the premier post-graduate basketball programs across the country, with distinguished NBA caliber alumni such as Michael Beasley and Ryan Gomes.  Given the prestige of the school, Clyburn has worked endlessly this fall to improve on his individual game.  He notes he has been increasing in strength, improving upon his ball handling, and becoming craftier around the rim to go along with his strength of perimeter shooting.  All of which will aid in Clyburn fulfilling his goals for the upcoming campaign.

“My goals are to win a championship,” said Clyburn, “and I plan on pulling in more division one offers.

 

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Allen Academy’s Danny Pippen and Jason Williams are “Detroit’s Best Kept Secret”

14 Oct

IMG_0924-1Charter schools are abundant in Michigan, and particularly in the City of Detroit.    A charter school is an independently run public school given flexibility in its operations, in return accountability for performance. The “charter” is the contract detailing the school’s mission, programs, students served, performance goals, and methods of assessment.

Detroit Allen Academy is one of many charter schools located in Detroit.  The schools sits at the corner of Quincey and Blaine Street on the city’s east side.  A K-12 school, the Wildcats compete in Class C for athletics with an enrollment just barely over 250 in the high school.

Craig Covington Junior is entering his second season as the head coach at Allen Academy.   After coaching for 20+ years out of state, Coach Covington inherited a 13-8 squad, and upped their win total total nine games to 22, as well as capturing a district championship, and a spot in a regional final.

Finding talent in Detroit can be difficult.  Established basketball programs like Pershing, Cass Tech, and Renaissance routinely receive the cities coveted talent pool, leaving it hard for Allen Academy to form an identity athletically.  However, Allen is unique because they are K-12, and start basketball in the elementary school.

“Any time you are the small fish in the big pond,” Covington notes, “it is going to be difficult.  But at Allen Academy a K-12 school with basketball starting with 3rd grade, it’s kind of fun watching your players develop through the elementary and middle school years.”

dannyThen the hard part comes, convincing the athletes to stay for high school.  Family is just as much a part of the Wildcat program as any drill, or offensive play they run.  Covington learned how to develop relationships with his players by watching his father, Craig Covington Senior, who is now the head man at Detroit’s Marygrove College, growing up.  And while Covington values his relationships with all players on his team, he has built a true bond with juniors Danny Pippen, and Jason Williams.

Pippen and Williams have known each other well before high school started, they met one another at a neighborhood Boys and Girls Club.  Jason said he came to Allen Academy to play with his older cousin, Pakiya Ellis, now at Ferris State, while Danny came for the experience of a smaller school with the opportunity to play right away.  After their freshman seasons, Coach Covington was hired.  Danny decided to stay, but it took some consideration on Jason’s part not to transfer.  Coach and player relationships, especially in the early stages, are going to be difficult, full of misunderstandings.  Relationships grow and Danny, Jason, and Coach Covington, have all genuinely developed a relationship that extends deeper than basketball.

“In this year,” Covington says, “I believe I have become very close with both Danny and Jason.  Not just as a player/coach but as a young man/older man.  I believe they understand that there isn’t much I wouldn’t do for them or any other player in the program for them to become successful.”

The relationship can be seen in the results on the court.  At 5’10” Jason has developed into an elite scoring option as a combo guard with college interest, while Danny has already received collegiate offers.  At 6’7″ Pippen streches the floor with his perimeter skills, and is a dangerous weapon when he combines an inside presence with three-point range.    Danny and Jason could easily be complaisant given their basketball gifts, however both acknowledge Coach Covington’s commitment to strive beyond average, but to be excellent, and to appreciate the mentality of hard work.

“Coach Covington has pushed me to limits I have never been pushed to before,” Danny notes.  While Jason added he has improved on defense, and becoming vocal leader for the team.

Covington speaks highly of his players athletic skills, but even higher does he speaks of his players off the court characteristics.  He called Danny and Jason “Detroit’s Best Kept Secret” because he admires how they carry themselves as young men within the school, classroom, community, and on the team.  Class C schools draw minimal interests from the media, college coaches, and hoop fans.  Danny and Jason embrace the title their coach has given them, it only gives the duo a greater amount of motivation to compete in Michigan’s most populated city as the proverbial “underdog.”

“I think it means we are the best many people don’t know about,” Jason chimed in, “and it’s time for us to put Allen Academy on in Detroit, as well as the State of Michigan basketball scene.”

Gone from a year ago is Pakiya Ellis, a guard who scored over 1,000 point in his high school career, and later went onto commit to Ferris State.  Allen Academy is among the pre-season favorites to capture Class C this season.  Danny and Jason will be counted upon heavily if the Wildcats are going to march to the Breslin Center this Winter.  Chemistry goes a long way in developing a winning basketball team, and despite the loss of a leader Ellis was, Pippen and Williams are confident the bond they have built with each other, and Coach Covington, separates them from any opposition they will face both on the hardwood this season, and in the endeavors life has to offer them.

“We have great chemistry…,” Danny added, “even though sometimes we (Jason and Coach Covington) don’t see eye to eye, but we both have a passion to win. We understand how each other plays and we will be able to rely on one another during the rough times because we have been together so long.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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West Bloomfield’s Zach Allread Commits to Northwood

12 Oct

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West Bloomfield 6’7″ senior Zach Allread was perhaps one of the best forwards in Michigan who received the least amount of attention.  Allread had only three scholarship offers before deciding on committing to the Timberwolves of Northwood University in Midland, Michigan.

How does it feel to commit to Northwood?

It’s an amazing feeling, feels like all of my hard work to get to this point has finally paid off.

What was Northwood’s reaction when they heard you committed?

They were happy and excited I chose Northwood.

You committed shortly after visiting the campus, what was that experience like?

The campus is in a perfect location that my family can come watch me play and they have a great atmosphere there, perfect fit.

How do you see your play style fitting into Northwood’s system? How do they plan to use you?

They have talked a lot about me coming in and playing a stretch 4 for them because I have the ability to shoot 3s but also can get to the basket.

Are there any other commits in the class of 2015? If so, do you know any of them. If not do you know any players already on the roster?

I don’t know if there are any other commits I don’t think there are.  But I didn’t know any players but met a couple on the visit.

What were some other schools looking at you and what was different about Northwood?

I had offers from Malone and Madonna and I was talking to Depauw and had a recent workout with U of D Mercy who showed interest.  Northwood has a great business school and the atmosphere at the school really caught my eye and I loved it.  And obviously the coaches and players were great and they have been successful the last couple years

And what are you expectations for this upcoming season, what role will you have on this team and how good can West Bloomfield be?

Expectations are high, I will be a 3 or a stretch 4 primarily. The goal is to bring back some hardware and no reason we can’t do it. We have goo leadership and talent from Trishton Jackson and Michael King and have a trio of talented sophomores that will play a big role.

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John Glenn’s Mike Edwards Fastest Rising Prospect in Michigan

9 Oct

Westland John Glenn senior Michael Edwards is one of the most coveted prospects in Michigan currently. The 6’8″ Edwards currently has offers from U of D Mercy, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Akron, and UC-Davis just to name a few.  However, several High Major programs such as Michigan and Iowa State have all been at John Glenn open gyms this year.  Even with the constant attention of schools and recruiters, Edwards is enjoying the process and knows he is blessed with the opportunity.

“It feels great!” Edwards had to say of the attention.  “I love it alot, and now I get to make a right decision to go to the right school.”

At 6’8″, it’s hard to miss Edwards when he is on the basketball court.  However, much of the recent recruiting attention can be attributed to the month of July AAU he had for Michigan United in front of college coaches.  According to Edwards, he says college coaches have shown interest in his ball handling abilities, mid-range jump shot, attacking the glass, and taking defenders off the bounce to the basket.

Edwards is open to all schools at this point.  He has visited Ball State this Fall, and plans to take a few more visits before the high school season starts.  When he decides on a school, it will be because of the “campus, the way the teamates are, head coach, the majors, and feel of it.”

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U of D Mercy Grabs Local Duo. Detroit Western’s Josh McFolley and Gerald Blackshear

7 Oct

MtClemensHoops_0-full“It feels great to commit to U of D Mercy,” were the words of Detroit Western senior guard Josh McFolley, “because the minute they recruited me they treated me like I was family.”

The 6’0″ 155 pound McFolley ended his recruitment with a pledge to the Titans on Monday night, after strongly considering fellow Horizon League members Cleveland State, and Oakland.

“It (U of D Mercy) fitted my playing style and the coaches seem like they care a lot about getting the players their education and helping them become better to get to the next level.”

Josh over the course of his high school career has been labeled a deadly perimeter shooter, but during his final year of travel basketball took on the responsibility as a primarily ball handler, distributor, and play maker for his AAU team.  He’s also improved on his agility, and athleticism throughout the progression of his prep career.

??????????????????????????????Josh last season attended Mt. Clemens High School, where the Bathers bowed out in the Class C quarterfinal game against eventual champion Detroit Consortium.  But with coaching changes, and rumors of the school district closing as a whole, McFolley decided it was best for him to finish high school at Detroit Western International.  Along with McFolley, Western also received transfer Gerald Blackshear, a 6’8″ senior forward from Mt. Clemens as well, who committed to U of D Mercy the same day as Josh did.

“It feels great to be going to school with a brother figure (Gerald),” Josh had to say, “and somebody you be around with everyday.”  “To get a chance to play with him and continuer our journey is incredible.

Both McFolley and Blackshear, in accordance with MHSAA rules, will have to sit the first semester of the school.  The two will be eligible for competition roughly around Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the Cowboys, who are favorites not only the win a Detroit City title but challenge for a Class A state crown as well.

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